Asbury Park might be the coolest place on the Jersey Shore here’s why.
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This summer, head to a destination with a bit more rock ‘n’ roll.
“We’re attracting people from all over the world now.”
Credit:Abby Mercer/Travel + Leisure
An average stroll through town could reveal a drag queen bingo party or an impromptu drum circleon the boardwalk.
Asbury Park delights in the unexpected.
“This town is about acceptance,“Rachel Ana Dobken, a local musician, told T+L.
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“People here are so accepting of new art and music, anything that’s eclectic and unique.”
Asbury Park is also about creativity.
Asbury Park History
Asbury Park was, at its inception, a carnival town.
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In the later part of the 19th century, people came forits newfangled merry-go-round and boardwalk.
By 1930, the Convention Hall and Paramount Theatre began gathering crowds for live entertainment.
It then quickly became known as a center for culture, which is still very much the spirit today.
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Pay homage to the days of yore by flipping through time at theSilverball Museum.
The boardwalk staple has more than 600 working pinball machines that date back to the 1950s.
Asbury Park Music Scene
Music is the pulse of Asbury Park.
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To get a real sense of the scene, head toThe Stone Pony.
The legendary venue is most famous for launching the careers of Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi.
“it’s possible for you to’t find parking here on the weekends anymore,” said Kerekes.
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“We know we’re creating history.
A lot of these musicians are up-and-coming.
You know they’re going places.
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you’re able to feel it.
you might see it.”
TheAsbury Lanesmusic venue became a part of the Asbury Park resurgence when it reopened in 2019.
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Although it has gotten a high-tech upgrade from its early days, there are still hints of the past.
You’ll find stickers and posters from historical shows plastered above benches from the 1960s bowling alley.
TheWooden Walls Mural Projectfestoons the empty walls of the boardwalk with work from internationally recognized artists.
Nikolas Koenig/Courtesy of Asbury Ocean Club Hotel
Meanwhile, places likeArt629,Parlor Gallery, andWhitepointcurate contemporary work from local artists and others around the world.
The shop stocks designers like Rachel Comey and Clare Vivier alongside exclusive Asbury Park merch.
Drop by the Convention Hall for the closest thing Asbury Park has to a mall.
Browse for vintage goodies at the cave of treasures known asAntique Emporium of Asbury Park.
Everything from costume jewelry to plush carpets to weathered books can be found on its shelves.
(The first Asbury Pride parade was held in 1970.)
Get a peek into the LGBTQ+ scene at weekly drag bingo atParadise.
Best Asbury Park Beaches
For sheer accessibility, it’s possible for you to’t beatAsbury Park Beach.
But it’s this very convenience that can cause the beach to get crowded during the summer.
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, visitors must pay a daily beach fee.
Passes are $6 on weekdays and $9 on weekends and holidays for visitors ages 13 and older.
Anyone younger than 12 can enjoy the beach for free.
Four-legged friends are almost universally adored in Asbury Park.
But there’s only one place they’re allowed on the sand: the Asbury Park Dog Beach.
The dog-friendly beach permits pups to run off leash, as long as owners remain vigilant.
You’ll find the small enclave on the northernmost part of Asbury Park’s coast.
Enter through Fisherman’s Parking Lot and follow the sound of barking.
Within its borders, you’ll find everything from standard boardwalk fare to elevated Ethiopian cuisine.
When you start to get peckish on the beach, head toPop’s Garagefor tacos.
This is the key in of Anthony-Bourdain-ate-here greasy spoon that feels like a perfect relic from a bygone era.
And like all the best diners, this one is cash only.
When the occasion calls for a celebration, hit upPascal & Sabine,a Parisian-style brasserie.
Go for the raw bar, stay for the rum flights.
Just be sure you know how to get back to your hotel.
“It was always intended to be approachable and affordable.
People feel very comfortable in it.”
