What was supposed to be a quick errand to pick up Lucky’s prescription at Costco turned into an unexpected urban adventure across state lines. Living in Queens, we already knew a trip to New Jersey would be a bit of a production, but we didn’t realize just how much of New Jersey we’d end up seeing in the process.
We started off by taking the subway into Manhattan, heading for the World Trade Center complex. From there, we transferred onto the PATH train, which whisked us under the Hudson River and into Exchange Place, Jersey City. The PATH itself was smooth and efficient—one of those rides where you briefly forget that you’re moving between two states.
At Exchange Place, we caught the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail toward Costco. New Jersey’s light rail system has a very different vibe from the subway—slower, quieter, with views that open up to waterfront developments and industrial landscapes. It felt more like traveling through neighborhoods than commuting through tunnels.
That was, at least, until we managed to take the wrong train. Instead of heading straight for the nearest stop to Costco, we were carried deeper into New Jersey. Our “extra tour” gave us a bonus glimpse of towns and views we hadn’t planned to see. It was one of those moments where frustration and exploration mix: inconvenient in the moment, but funny in hindsight.
Eventually, we rerouted and made it to Costco. Lucky’s prescription in hand, we took some time to marvel at the strange reality of traveling through three transit systems just to do what felt like a suburban errand. The Costco itself was familiar—giant carts, bulk goods, and cheerful samples—but knowing we’d worked so hard to get there gave it a slightly surreal edge.
The return trip was a retracing of steps: light rail back toward Exchange Place, PATH under the river to lower Manhattan, and then the subway back out to Queens. By the time we reached our Airbnb, it felt like we had completed a full day’s trip, even though the main event was nothing more glamorous than picking up medication for our dog.
It was a reminder of how geography can complicate even the simplest tasks—and how sometimes the journey ends up being the real story. What started as a practical errand became a mini adventure, complete with tunnels, detours, and a sweeping view of life beyond the New York City limits.