Friday at Jersey Shore (No Swimming/Sun Bathing)?
August 6, 2015 3:59 PM Subscribe
I want to hit the Jersey Shore tomorrow with Spanish tourists eager to explore that culture. Where's an extra evocative/photogenic old-timey spot to spend the day walking around, eating, and generally enjoying one single afternoon? Sunbathing/swimming not possible, she's on meds and must avoid. So...just walking (with hat and sunscreen). Extra points for tips on driving (from Manhat) and parking on a summer Friday.
Maybe that weird religious town on the beach down there? I think I remember hearing it's really quaint...
also, thinking about Atlantic Beach, to hit Carton Brewing and the great bakery nearby. If so, maybe take the ferry from Manhat?
Maybe that weird religious town on the beach down there? I think I remember hearing it's really quaint...
also, thinking about Atlantic Beach, to hit Carton Brewing and the great bakery nearby. If so, maybe take the ferry from Manhat?
Best answer: Sounds like you're thinking of ocean grove, which has a religious tent community and big, cool auditorium. And you heard right - it's very quaint! It has a little downtown block with a few little cafes, shops, and ice cream parlors.
And it's right next to Asbury Park (a nice walk or short drive) which has cool architectural remnants from its heyday alongside the current restaurants and bars, etc.
posted by moogs at 4:41 PM on August 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
And it's right next to Asbury Park (a nice walk or short drive) which has cool architectural remnants from its heyday alongside the current restaurants and bars, etc.
posted by moogs at 4:41 PM on August 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: One more for Ocean Grove/Asbury Park. Good eating and good walking, totally photogenic and has that history. The boardwalks are connected and there are sites along the way. Also near the Stone Pony if any Bruce Springsteen fans in the group! You can also play pinball at The Silverball Museum if you want to escape the sun/heat.
posted by the twistinside at 5:07 PM on August 6, 2015
posted by the twistinside at 5:07 PM on August 6, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks! Anything good to eat in Ocean Grove/Asbury Park area?
posted by Quisp Lover at 6:26 PM on August 6, 2015
posted by Quisp Lover at 6:26 PM on August 6, 2015
Definitely...what kind of food and place are you looking for?
posted by moogs at 8:33 PM on August 6, 2015
posted by moogs at 8:33 PM on August 6, 2015
Best answer: 3rding Asbury Park/Ocean Grove - really your best pick since you can't swim. That will give you the most browsing and cultural interest for your steps.
Atlantic Highlands (not Beach) is where Carton is. I'm really familiar with the town, and unfortunately it can't really keep anyone busy for more than half an hour. Head for Ocean Grove.
Parking on a side street in OG will not be much of a problem on a summer Friday. You'll have to walk a few blocks, but it's no big deal. In Asbury, there's plenty of metered parking and you can find a space, but don' t let your meter expire for even 10 minutes. They'll get you.
If you want to walk on the beach in either town, you'll need to purchase a badge. it's inexpensive. If you stick to streets and boardwalk, no worries on that front.
posted by Miko at 8:43 PM on August 6, 2015
Atlantic Highlands (not Beach) is where Carton is. I'm really familiar with the town, and unfortunately it can't really keep anyone busy for more than half an hour. Head for Ocean Grove.
Parking on a side street in OG will not be much of a problem on a summer Friday. You'll have to walk a few blocks, but it's no big deal. In Asbury, there's plenty of metered parking and you can find a space, but don' t let your meter expire for even 10 minutes. They'll get you.
If you want to walk on the beach in either town, you'll need to purchase a badge. it's inexpensive. If you stick to streets and boardwalk, no worries on that front.
posted by Miko at 8:43 PM on August 6, 2015
Best answer: For eats - Nagel's in Ocean Grove is a classic lunch-counter type place with a decent sandwich menu and old-timey ice cream/fountain drinks. The best place for ice cream proper in OG is Day's - get a sundae and sit on the veranda. In AP, the Korean taco place on the boardwalk gets raves. There are tons of good places to eat.
posted by Miko at 8:45 PM on August 6, 2015
posted by Miko at 8:45 PM on August 6, 2015
Best answer: I was just in Cape May this weekend! I had a great time, but the boardwalk is less old-timey / photogenic atmosphere and more busy carnival atmosphere. Fun, if you're into that, but not relaxing. :) I didn't spend much time in the town itself, though the shopping area looked pretty enough.
posted by sandraregina at 6:04 AM on August 7, 2015
posted by sandraregina at 6:04 AM on August 7, 2015
Response by poster: "what kind of food and place are you looking for?"
Anything particularly great!
posted by Quisp Lover at 6:12 AM on August 7, 2015
Anything particularly great!
posted by Quisp Lover at 6:12 AM on August 7, 2015
Best answer: In Asbury Park:
MOGO - Korean fusion tacos - amazing. Get the fish taco.
Speakeatery - super delicious sandwiches
Toast - cafe with breakfast, brunch, lunch. Really tasty, infamous for their red velvet pancakes.
posted by rachaelfaith at 6:38 AM on August 7, 2015
MOGO - Korean fusion tacos - amazing. Get the fish taco.
Speakeatery - super delicious sandwiches
Toast - cafe with breakfast, brunch, lunch. Really tasty, infamous for their red velvet pancakes.
posted by rachaelfaith at 6:38 AM on August 7, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks for the tips!
We started in Ocean Grove and walked into Asbury Park and back via boardwalk, as suggested. Such nice houses in OG! We wondered what it costs to get a room in one of those boarding houses. Love the meticulous care-taking.
The beach charge seemed strange; never saw that anywhere else in the world.
MOGO fish and shrimp tacos were terrific, but the kimchi ought not be optional. It really completes it.
Day's ice cream was boffo, nice people, too. Days' also carries by FAR the best salt water taffy I've had in many years, from a company called Taffy Town. Fresh and drippy. Though made from shamelessly artificial flavors (per tradition), they've just perfected the process...i.e. the whole is greater than the parts. Just great.
Nagel's was my kind of place. Wow, didn't know that sort of thing existed any more. My party didn't want to eat there, though. I'll be back!
Silverball Museum looked great - lots of great pinball machines from the 60s. We would have liked to play a game or two, but there was a $7.50 minimum, which seemed as inexplicable as the beach charge, so we just moved on rather than pay north of $22 so two of our three could play a couple games of pinball.
Flaky Tart in Atlantic Highlands was as good a bakery as promised, and prices were unexpectedly reasonable. Carton Brewing is one of my faves. I wanted to eat at Christine's in Atlantic Highlands, but we didn't feel dressed for it. We weren't really dressed for Copper Canyon, either, but we wanted to try some Mezcal, so we snuck into the bar (which has tons of bottles, mostly tequila). Prices okay, staff tries hard, but the bartender screwed up our tasting....got the glasses mixed up. Still not exactly sure what we tried.
We attended a small farmer's market in the park near Carton. Pickle-iscious was there, good as always. Also a nice farm stand with terrific produce, but they had these 15 year old girls uniformed in short-shorts and showing plenty of cleavage, which was gross (not a prude, just because of their age) plus totally unnecessary. Ugh.
Friday afternoon was a good choice. No traffic at all in or out of town via car!
Thanks a lot!
posted by Quisp Lover at 7:58 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
We started in Ocean Grove and walked into Asbury Park and back via boardwalk, as suggested. Such nice houses in OG! We wondered what it costs to get a room in one of those boarding houses. Love the meticulous care-taking.
The beach charge seemed strange; never saw that anywhere else in the world.
MOGO fish and shrimp tacos were terrific, but the kimchi ought not be optional. It really completes it.
Day's ice cream was boffo, nice people, too. Days' also carries by FAR the best salt water taffy I've had in many years, from a company called Taffy Town. Fresh and drippy. Though made from shamelessly artificial flavors (per tradition), they've just perfected the process...i.e. the whole is greater than the parts. Just great.
Nagel's was my kind of place. Wow, didn't know that sort of thing existed any more. My party didn't want to eat there, though. I'll be back!
Silverball Museum looked great - lots of great pinball machines from the 60s. We would have liked to play a game or two, but there was a $7.50 minimum, which seemed as inexplicable as the beach charge, so we just moved on rather than pay north of $22 so two of our three could play a couple games of pinball.
Flaky Tart in Atlantic Highlands was as good a bakery as promised, and prices were unexpectedly reasonable. Carton Brewing is one of my faves. I wanted to eat at Christine's in Atlantic Highlands, but we didn't feel dressed for it. We weren't really dressed for Copper Canyon, either, but we wanted to try some Mezcal, so we snuck into the bar (which has tons of bottles, mostly tequila). Prices okay, staff tries hard, but the bartender screwed up our tasting....got the glasses mixed up. Still not exactly sure what we tried.
We attended a small farmer's market in the park near Carton. Pickle-iscious was there, good as always. Also a nice farm stand with terrific produce, but they had these 15 year old girls uniformed in short-shorts and showing plenty of cleavage, which was gross (not a prude, just because of their age) plus totally unnecessary. Ugh.
Friday afternoon was a good choice. No traffic at all in or out of town via car!
Thanks a lot!
posted by Quisp Lover at 7:58 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The beach charge seemed strange; never saw that anywhere else in the world.
This is standard at every town-managed public beach in New Jersey. It pays for lifeguards, beach grooming, beach cleaning and trash pickup. It is what makes parking charges reasonable or nonexistent, keeps beaches free of trash, and places the burden of maintenance on beach users, not residents alone.
Silverball bills itself as a pinball "museum." Once you pay the entry fee, you play free for some time - half hour or hour, I can't recall.
The 'boarding houses' are really hotels/inns these days. Nightly they are pretty much like a hotel in any seaside town - $100-200 a night, depending on amenities and quality.
posted by Miko at 8:51 PM on August 7, 2015
This is standard at every town-managed public beach in New Jersey. It pays for lifeguards, beach grooming, beach cleaning and trash pickup. It is what makes parking charges reasonable or nonexistent, keeps beaches free of trash, and places the burden of maintenance on beach users, not residents alone.
Silverball bills itself as a pinball "museum." Once you pay the entry fee, you play free for some time - half hour or hour, I can't recall.
The 'boarding houses' are really hotels/inns these days. Nightly they are pretty much like a hotel in any seaside town - $100-200 a night, depending on amenities and quality.
posted by Miko at 8:51 PM on August 7, 2015
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posted by amro at 4:24 PM on August 6, 2015