Pier A juts straight out into the Hudson at the southern end of the Hoboken waterfront — a green lawn the size of a city block jutting into open water, with the Manhattan skyline as a wraparound backdrop. Built on the foundations of a 19th-century shipping pier, it is the busiest spot on Hoboken's promenade on a sunny weekend.
The lawn is dotted with shade trees, benches, and a small playground; food trucks park at the entrance in summer. The view back toward the city from the tip is unbeatable. Free, always open. Bring a blanket and a sandwich and you have most of a Saturday afternoon planned.