Bye-Bye Brooklyn: 6 End of Summer Getaways
Day Trip:
Asbury Park, NJ
Asbury Park is known for its beach, its boardwalk, and its Boss. But you don’t have to be a Springsteen fan to get something out of a trip to this Jersey Shore town. The ongoing renovation of the Asbury Park boardwalk has brought great things to the area and an influx of people to its beautiful beach. But don’t let the fact that there might be crowds stop you from going! It’s a nice change of pace from the Rockaways or Coney Island and has its own specific charm. From the murals that decorate the shells of the old casino buildings to the larger than life Elvis statue in the boardwalk’s Silverball Pinball Museum, there is a ton of stuff to see.
But you’re here for the beach, right? It doesn’t disappoint. It’s much cleaner than any beach in the five boroughs, so take advantage of not having to pick your way around broken Corona bottles and dig your toes in the sand. And when you’ve gotten your fill of the sun and the sea, definitely go check out the Pinball Museum because it has an amazing collection of arcade games from as long ago as the 1950s. That’s a really long time ago! If you’re hungry, there’s always plenty of boardwalk fare like burgers and ice cream, but you could also check out Stella Marina Bar and Restaurant for something a little nicer, if you’re feeling fancy.
Getting there: Take the train from New York’s Penn Station to Asbury Park Station. Simple, right?