Visiting Asbury Park - The coolest shore town in New Jersey
The historic Asbury Park Carousel at night. All photos by John O'Boyle / The Empty Nest Explorers
Top sites to visit in Asbury Park
The Stone Pony
Silver Ball Museum
Transparent Clinch Gallery
Mogo
Asbury Park Ale House
Grand Arcade
Casino building
Read all about these attractions below
If you are a fan of Bruce Springsteen - or if you’ve ever heard of him at all - you probably know the name Asbury Park, the NJ shore town where The Boss first hit the music scene, on his way to becoming the unofficial patron saint of New Jersey.
But even if a pilgrimage to the hallowed ground of The Stone Pony and the “circuit” (the drive north up Ocean Ave, then loop south down Kingsley) isn’t on your bucket list, there is plenty to see and do in Asbury Park, NJ to make this quirky, still very original shore town worth a visit.
A concert at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. During the summer there is also an large outside stage.
Why we like visiting Asbury Park
There is no shortage of beach stops on the Jersey shore; something for everyone is not an understatement.
If you are looking for a more Disney-esque boardwalk experience with kiddie rides, arcades, and amusements, you have Point Pleasant to the north and Wildwood and Ocean City to the south. For summer-long rentals and the family vacation experience, Long Beach Island has been a longtime favorite of ours. And if a more gentrified beach town is what you are looking for, there’s Long Branch, with newer restaurants, shops, and ritzier accommodations. But while all those spots have their own appeal, there’s just something a bit magical for us about taking a day trip or evening jaunt to Asbury Park.
It’s the unique charm of a place that, even with recent revitalization, has never lost its “edge”. A bit artsy, a bit nostalgic, a bit weird; there’s something soul-satisfying about walking those boards with your baby on a Saturday night.
What to see in Asbury Park
A bonfire on the beach at dusk. The city sponsors the fire and even provides a firefighter to keep everyone safe.
Don’t miss the Silver Ball Museum, a retro little establishment (with surprisingly good pizza!) that houses an impressive collection of vintage pinball machines and arcade video games from decades past. You can purchase a wristband for about ten bucks for a nostalgic half-hour of ‘banging those pleasure machines”. Who doesn’t love a little Galaxian to get your night off to a good start? The Silver Ball Museum is open year-round.
There are lots of eats along the boardwalk. We personally love the Korean fusion tacos at Mogo and always plan a stop at their boardwalk stand while we are taking a stroll. You can get 2 tacos for under $10 in a variety of protein choices.
Just be warned these tasty creations are a mess to eat! Grab an open bench and assume “the position”, leaning forward as to not get the toppings all over you. The seagulls with thank you for it. If it’s not summer and the boardwalk concession stands are closed, don’t worry.
They have a regular shop on Cookman Ave. as well. Fun fact - The Cookman location features Jones real cane sugar soda, the spicy pickles are great too.
A recent addition to boardwalk fare is Cousins Maine Lobster. We are big fans of Cousins’ food trucks so we are very excited that they now have a restaurant on the boardwalk. Their lobster rolls are fantastic. They are a little expensive but a great treat.
For something other than boardwalk fare, Cookman Avenue, a few blocks away from the beach, offers an array of nicer dining experiences. Take a walk down this street and discover some eclectic shops (we recently discovered a very Harry Potter-y “Paranormal” shop!).
There are plenty of options to have a nice meal. We like the Asbury Park Ale House for its gastropub atmosphere, 60+ beers on tap, and its famous seasonal cocktails
Also off the boardwalk route are two of our favorite spots - Porta and the Transparent Clinch gallery. The homemade mozzarella at Porta is worth breaking your diet for, and the kitschy decor of an eclectic collection of doors and long, picnic-style tables just makes this a fun gathering spot for groups of friends.
Being both photographers and music fans, we love dropping in on the Danny Cinch gallery, housing some of his most famous images of rock stars over his star-studded career. And it’s free!
The music scene that brought us the Boss is still very much alive in this little shore town. Catching a show at the iconic Stone Pony, open since 1974 and relatively unchanged, is definitely worth it for music fans. I was surprised by how small and intimate it still is. A recent addition is the Stone Pony Summer Stage, bringing the music and magic outdoors in the summer air.
If you can’t get a ticket, don’t worry - you can hear the music from the summer stage on the boardwalk, so pull up a beach chair! There are plenty of other venues for soothing your musical soul, so check out the boardwalk calendar here (link).
Of course, many people come to Asbury Park to go to the beach, and it is a rather nice NJ beach, though I might place it in the “funky” category for its cast of characters and lack of anything too fussy. Beach chairs and umbrellas can be rented, usually cash only. Bathrooms are located on the boardwalk but you can’t change there. A beach pass is about $6 for the day; a little more on a weekend day.
If you happen to be going there with littles, there are some free playgrounds on the beach and if you need a break from the sand, there’s a cute garden-themed splash park on the boardwalk Mini golf is available as well. I particularly love the beach at Asbury for the Fourth of July fireworks. But it’s a popular event so if you have driven down and parked, it may take you some time to get out of the parking lot, so chill and get an ice cream.
For me, what keeps Asbury in the “magical” category is the bits of architecture and worn structures from the past, covered in romantic motifs and “gargoyles” of the sand and sea. The ghosts that seem to haunt these places are an artist’s dream.
The sun sets on Convention Hall on the Asbury Park Boardwalk.
Take a walk heading north on the boardwalk and pass through the Grand Arcade of the old Convention Hall, where there are quirky art displays and small shops that sell Tillie-themed beach wares and a few good bites. If you need a restroom, the ones in this building are usually open. The Grand Arcade spans the area between the Convention Hall on the left and the Paramount Theater on the right, where concerts are still held. If the doors are open, take a look around inside the theater. It’s a blast from the past, and pro tip, you can use the restrooms in there as well.
I always try to hit up the Asbury Park Roastery while I’m there, though it closes pretty early in the afternoon. Some of the best artisan coffee I’ve had in NJ and the hot chocolate for the hubs gets the thumbs up as well. Perfect for a chilly day walking the boards - yes we tend to visit Asbury in all seasons. Memorably for me, one February afternoon, we sat on a log on the beach sipping Roastery drinks and discussing our future plans. That’s Asbury Park. It’s dreamy like that.
While Bruce Springsteen is the most famous name in Asbury Park it's not common to see his name on the board for an upcoming concert. He recently was the headliner at the Sea Hear Now concert on the beach.
Pass through the doors of the Grand Arcade, and you can continue to stroll up the boardwalk. Though this side doesn’t have the stands and shops of the other end, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its own charming offerings. Notable are the ultimately Instagramable murals that cover the walls of the Sunset Pavilion. It’s actually part of an art initiative called The Wooden Walls Project, meant to bring inspirational art to the masses after the area was hit hard during Hurricane Sandy.
Further up this way is North Eats, the Asbury Park food truck court, with a variety of tasty offerings, picnic tables, and maybe a guitar player or two. Make sure you google for times and dates before you go though - we always seem to just miss it somehow!
The south end of the boardwalk features the Casino building, another iconic Asbury Park structure. The towering breezeway, designed by the same architects who designed New York’s Grand Central Terminal, used to house a carousel, skating rink, and other amusements.
But today it serves mostly as a bit of history and a location for some interesting art installations. The imposing structure is a perfect spot for creative photos, especially when lit at night. You’ll usually be entertained by a busker or two in and around the breezeway as the acoustics are pretty sweet.
On the other side of the Casino, you will be heading into Ocean Grove. Keep walking; it’s interesting! Ocean Grove was once a religious community, and you’ll still see some signs of that, with a cross on the beach and a pavilion for services. It’s also known for its quaint Victorian architecture and bed & breakfast options.
A strange juxtaposition right next to the funkier, even somewhat “seedier” Asbury, but isn’t that what makes Jersey great?
How to get to Asbury Park
If you are driving, Asbury Park is a little over an hour from NYC via the Garden State Parkway. Parking is metered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so even if it’s a trip down during a snowstorm in January, be prepared to pay. (It’s easy enough though. You can use a credit card or Parkmobile app.) That said, remember that Asbury Park is a shore town, so summer is when it’s in season, and at other times during the year, some things will not be open.
If you are coming from NYC, a great option is taking a NJ Transit train from Penn Station. Depending on the schedule, you may have to switch trains in Long Branch, but it’s easy. Everything is walkable from the train station. If you are staying late, make sure to check the schedule for the return train.
Where to Stay in Asbury Park
Thanks to our American Express Platinum card we recently stayed at the fabulous Asbury Ocean Club. The Platinum card provided substantial discounts and travel benefits that allowed us to stay at a luxury hotel that normally would be way over our budget. You can read about it in our blog post: A stay at the Asbury Ocean Club.
The Asbury Ocean Club at sunset.
You can check out other Asbury Park hotels here.
Note - This blog post contains affiliate links. This means that if we are recommending a product, activity or a hotel, we might be receiving a small commission if you buy or book from these links. This is done at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we have personally used or have thoroughly researched.
Thanks for taking a walk with me at one of our favorite places. For now, “this boardwalk life’s through, babe. You oughta quit this scene too.”
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