A big beach, a nice pier and a short train ride to get there!
Looking for a Victorian-inspired sea-side experience on the Jersey Shore? Last weekend we spent the afternoon at Ocean Grove, located at the center of the Shore next to Asbury Park. The town is unique in it’s Victorian architecture that lines the streets of town and can be admired from the boardwalk. The tree-lined streets are full of quaint restaurants and shops that are a throw back to a much earlier era. Walking down the boardwalk, alongside the ocean, is a nautical experience like no other.
Ocean Grove now holds events year round such as The Victorian House Tour in December, Chocolate Lovers Weekend in February, and the Garden State Film Festival in April.
We parked in a lot close to the beach. Parking can be extremely difficult to find, and the earlier in the day you get there, the better. The same rule also applies to traffic. Access to the beach will cost you: adults pay $7 each and kids are free. Parking is free all over town, as the fees are included in the beach entrance price.
The beaches can be crowded, but we found a good spot. Our kids spent the next four hours working on a sand castle and we adults lounged on the beach gazing out at the sea. There’s a lovely pier to walk on, sea shells to collect and enormous waves to jump over. There was an arts and craft fair on the beach. There’s also a snack stand on the beach with hot dogs, wraps, hamburgers, ice cream, all the usual suspects.
There is plenty to see and eat on Main Street right down from the beach. Since we were with four kids, we chose to eat at the first and simplest restaurant we came across, the Pizza Shoppe (60 Main Avenue). Homemade pizza, pasta and calzones. Not a good place if you’re on a diet, but definitely a hit with our crowd. We paid $60 for seven of us.
For homemade chocolates and salt water taffy, stop by Just Treats (56 Main Avenue). There’s plenty of temptations lurking behind the counters in this shop.
Swoon (53 Main Avenue) is a new boutique that sells vintage clothes, accessories, jewelry, household items and more. Literally, I was swooning over many things in this shop.
Gingerbreads (49 Main Avenue) specializes in all things Victorian. They offer a selection of gifts, souvenirs, lamps, home furnishings and accessories, stained glass, art prints, bone china teapots and cups.
There are loads of Victorian bed & breakfasts in Ocean Grove, and you could easily stay a weekend with our without the kids.
Other activities you can do other than visiting the beach: rent bikes for the family, visit flea markets, take a guided historical tour, go on a boat ride or go fishing.
Here are some events that are coming up in Ocean Grove:
| August | 13 (Fri) Altered Books Workshop, Centennial Cottage, 10:30am-1pm* 16 (Mon) Workshop-Beginning Quilting, Centennial Cottage, 10:30am-1pm* 28 (Sat) Postcard & Antique Show, Auditorium Pavilion Grounds, 10am-4pm* |
| September | 03 (Fri) Ocean Grove Antiques Auction, Youth Temple, (Preview 3-5pm), 5pm* 04 (Sat) Giant Quality Craft Show, Ocean Pathway, 9am-4pm (OGCMA Event) 11 (Sat) GIANT FALL FLEA MARKET, Ocean Pathway, 9am-4pm 25 (Sat) BRITISH CAR SHOW, Main Avenue Business District, 10am-4pm |
To get there: The New Jersey Transit from Penn Station takes one hour and twenty minutes; it costs $12 one way. By car, it takes about an hour. Take the I-278 West to the Garden State Parkway South to exit 105 to merge onto NJ-36 E toward NJ-35/Eatontown Long Branch and head toward Main Avenue.
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Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Holly Rosen Fink has spent the last 15 years in NYC working in all facets of media, from MTV to the world of traditional and online publishing. Now working as a consultant in Westchester, she blogs about travel, theater, film, art, books, advocacy and more at The Culture Mom Blog. She has two children, ages 5 and 7, who share her culture addiction.