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Sure, winter activities like outdoor ice-skating and cross-country skiing are an invigorating way to enjoy the season. But sometimes warming up inside is more preferable to chilling outside. So this winter, when you’re looking to take a break from the cold, check out one of these indoor places in New Jersey—from spas to museums to cozy restaurants and bars—that offer good times without the need to bundle up.
When Sojo Spa Club opened in 2017 in Edgewater, the buzz was mostly about its zen-looking outdoor space with 10 different pools and baths (open year-round) overlooking Manhattan, but the indoor treatments are equally therapeutic. There are infrared and Himalayan-salt saunas, whirlpools and a myriad of body treatments in this oasis of relaxation, where it is easy to spend a day—or even a night, as there’s a hotel and restaurant. —Deborah P. Carter
660 River Road, Edgewater
Craft a fun night out with a unique twist on the classic paint-and-sip experience. Jersey City’s ReWax & UnWine is a BYO candle-making studio with special events like ladies’ nights. The coolest part? After designing your candle, a karaoke party begins! Meanwhile, at Hoboken’s Tipsy Tie Dye, you can select merch to dye with custom colors. There is fun for all ages during the day, but after 5:30 pm it’s adults only and BYO. —Emily Melvin
Rewax & Unwine, 2 Division Street, Jersey City; Tipsy Tie Dye, 155 First Street, Hoboken
Morristown Game Vault, located in an old bank, is a veritable playground for retro-game enthusiasts, with more than 100 arcade games and pinball machines. If you’re farther south, pinball is king at Silverball Museum Arcade in Asbury Park. A bonus? Morristown and Asbury Park are both great restaurant towns, so grab a bite at Morristown’s buzzy pizza spot Coniglio’s, Asbury’s Black Swan Public House, or another eatery after playing. —Julie Gordon
Morristown Game Vault, 22 South Street, Morristown; Silverball Museum Arcade, 1000 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park
Warm Up With Hot Chocolate at Vesta
Not only is Vesta worth a stop if you are strolling the Upper Montclair’s shopping district, this chocolate haven is worthy of a dedicated trip. Chockful of handmade treats—including the limited-edition Amethyst Holiday bean-to-jewel bonbons that earned a spot on Oprah’s Favorite Things list in 2023—the hot chocolate is also to die for! Come in from the cold, sit and sip the dreamy, creamy beverage made by the husband (a self-taught chocolatier)-and-wife (a pastry chef and food stylist) team behind Vesta. —DPC
598 Valley Road (Suite 2), Montclair
Tucked into the lower level of Congress Hall, which is widely consider the country’s oldest beach resort, the Brown Room lounge is as classic as the building that houses it. Leather chairs, comfy sofas, a large, handsome bar, and a crackling fireplace set a relaxing tone in this cocktail bar, where the soft hum of conversation and music (often live) are as welcoming as a hot toddy on a cold day. —DPC
200 Congress Place, Cape May
Crawl Through the Newly Reopened Liberty Science Center Touch Tunnel
Photo: Courtesy of Liberty Science Center
The Liberty Science Center’s iconic Touch Tunnel reopened in late 2023 after a pandemic-induced hiatus. A favorite since first opening in 1993, the Touch Tunnel is a pitch-black, 80-foot tunnel that visitors crawl through with the objective of finding their way out. While at Liberty Science Center, also check out the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium and exhibits like “The Science Behind Pixar,” running through May 5. —JG
222 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City
Visit an Under-the-Radar Museum
There’s always something to discover in New Jersey—and our many museums highlight that sentiment perfectly. This winter, check out one of our state’s quirkier, more under-the-radar museums. They specialize in everything from art to pop culture to cars to history to, yes, even bugs. Check out New Jersey Monthly’s guide to under-the-radar museums for the full list—and have fun exploring!
Like millions of others, Becky and Frank Gabriele and Sharon and Bob Voelzke discovered a love for pickleball after the pandemic started, playing the mix of tennis, table tennis and badminton in their cul-de-sac almost daily. Last year, the couples opened Mercer Bucks Pickleball Club in Ewing. The 26,000-square-foot indoor space is the Northeast’s largest pickleball facility. It boasts nine courts and hosts open play, tournaments, lessons and more. —Gary Phillips
370 Sullivan Way, Ewing
Photo: Courtesy of Michael Russo/Genesis Global Group
The Wine Cellar at Lambertville Station is an ideal spot for a respite from winter. Located in the basement of the hotel on the banks of the Delaware River, it features circa-1800s stone walls and exposed beams and, of course, a fireplace. With 50 small-label wines on tap plus cocktails and bites like a charcuterie board, it is easy to settle in and forget the cold. —DPC
11 Bridge Street, Lambertville
Tee Up for Indoor Mini Golf
If you thought miniature golf was just for spring or summer, think again. There are several indoor options around the state. Monster Mini Golf has 18-hole, glow-in-the-dark courses under black lights in locations from Cherry Hill to Paramus. Blacklight Mini Golf at American Dream offers a space-themed adventure under black lights (Shop or explore the massive mall’s other attractions, like the aquarium, afterward). Haunted Golf on the Ocean City boardwalk offers 5,000 square feet of creepy fun; during the off-season, it’s open only on weekends. —Connor Carlin
Check Out NJ’s Best Thrift and Consignment Stores
For those shoppers who love a bargain and one-of-a-kind finds, check out our list of the top thrift and consignment stores in the state. Know the lingo before you go: Consignment stores usually carry pre-owned designer items while thrift stores carry all sorts of pre-owned merchandise, from home goods to clothes, at a deep discount.
Having made its premiere splash over the summer, the 103,000-square-foot, tropical-themed Island Waterpark at Showboat features more than a dozen slides, a 1,000-square-foot surf simulator, and a 11,000-linear-foot lazy river. The year-round attraction features a retractable roof. A zip line and the Cloud Coaster roller coaster offer ocean and Boardwalk views. After dark, a section of the venue becomes an adults-only zone with music and cocktails. —DPC
801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City
Photo: Jacqueline Mroz
What could be cozier than curling up with a good book in front of a fireplace? At the new Collective Bookstore in Verona, you can get suggestions from staff and take a book for a test drive in a comfy leather chair next to an electric fireplace. —Julia Martin
460 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona
Try an Escape Room and Hatchet Throwing—in the Same Afternoon
Need a workout for your mind and body? Look no further than Amazing Escape Room and Bury the Hatchet in Bloomfield. Get into detective mode at this escape room, then cross the street and try axe-throwing. A package deal of one hour at each place costs $61.58 per person. —CC
Amazing Escape Room, 281 Liberty Street, Bloomfield; Bury the Hatchet, 672 Bloomfield Avenue, Bloomfield
Make Learning Fun With the Kids at Morris Museum’s SparkLab!
Education has long been a mission of Smithsonian affiliate Morris Museum. In addition to bringing the kids to visit the museum’s dinosaur-fossil collection in the Earth Science Gallery (where you can touch a real dinosaur egg) and the mega model-train gallery, make sure to stop into Spark!Lab, an interactive children’s room geared toward inventing and project-based discovery. Volunteers work and play right alongside the kids, encouraging them and fostering a love of learning. —JG
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown
Embrace a Need for Speed at RPM Raceway
Race over to Jersey City’s RPM Raceway, where the longest go-kart track in the world opened a year ago. the multilevel, 2,200-foot track features a 72-second lap time that speed demons will love. Once drivers are done tearing up the track, they can check out the venue’s virtual reality experiences, bowling and more. There’s also the RPM Bar & Grill—just don’t drink and drive! —GP
99 Caven Point Road, Jersey City
Dine at one of NJ’s Best Restaurants
Every year, New Jersey Monthly puts together its list of the 30 Best Restaurants in New Jersey. This year’s list features a wonderful mix of long-standing classics and newbies to the scene that span cuisines including include Indian, Japanese, American and, of course, Italian—the most popular type of restaurant in New Jersey. Pick your favorite on the list, make plans for a lunch or dinner out, and enjoy!
Indulge at a Steakhouse
Steakhouses and winter just seem to go together. Check out our list of New Jersey’s top steakhouses, and get ready for a sublime dining experience. The list includes restaurants all over the state.
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