Truly silly question for the Jersey crowd--Asbury Park detour post cruise?

[markeb]

OK, as the title says, this really is a totally silly question! I just did the Mapquest out of curiosity, and given that we're driving home to Virginia post cruise this summer, and are not on any sort of time crunch, there is a part of me that wants to detour off of the Jersey Turnpike to Asbury Park, just to see the boardwalk, and probably more importantly for a middle aged caucasian music fan, the Stone Pony...

 

And, bonus points that Mapquest takes you through Freehold to get back to the 'pike. And, if middle aged, music fan, Asbury Park, Stone Pony, and Freehold in the same post don't give a clear picture, I'm only on my 9th (I think) Springsteen show, which isn't even worth discussing in fandom, but it still seems kind of cool.

 

So, is there much to see along the boardwalk? Is it worth a couple of hours on the way home? Totally silly and not worth it at all (in late June, of course, which is probably peak season on the shore)?

 

Thanks!

[sammee]

Even sillier yet, I live in NJ and have not been there. They are rebuilding the boardwalk (Sandy took it out). StonePony is still open. There's a lot of restaurants and shows downtown, they have restored a lot of that.

 

If you have facebook, look up Asbury Park NJ, from there, you'll find the FB links for everything else. This way you'll get present coverage.

 

When you leave the cruise and hit the turnpike, follow to Garden State Parkway South, that will bring you to Asbury Park, between exits 102-100. When you're checking out your maps or GPS, you'll see what I mean.

[mjkacmom]

I haven't been there since I was a kid. It got pretty run-down, but is making a comeback. What day of the week? The weekends are a mess going south on the turnpike/parkway (starting at noon on Fridays).

[markeb]

I haven't been there since I was a kid. It got pretty run-down, but is making a comeback. What day of the week? The weekends are a mess going south on the turnpike/parkway (starting at noon on Fridays).

 

Yeah, we get in on Saturday morning. I had thought of that as well. The cruise ends on the 28th, so the 4th is right around the corner. I suspect the whole shore is a zoo at that time.

[Nitemare]

Definitely worth the trip.

 

You going to the Virginia Beach show?

[markeb]

Definitely worth the trip.

 

You going to the Virginia Beach show?

 

Unfortunately no. We fly out first thing the next morning to visit family for Spring Break.

 

We all know there will be Philly and DC shows; there always are. Just don't know when yet! From the pit in DC in September of 12...

 

[megr1125]

worth going...lots to do...the boardwalk has many great places to eat...and the pony is cool...

 

i will post more later from my laptop with some links....

 

Sent from my Galaxy S3, somewhere in the galaxy

Edited March 16, 2014 by megr1125

[megr1125]

Great shot of Bruce and Jake...

 

BTW you should get Debra Rothenberg's book "Bruce Springsteen: In Focus"...she's got AMAZING pix....and she's a good friend!

 

Anyway....if you want eats, here are a couple choices...not sure what time you'll be around...

 

Check out the Wonder Bar too.....it's right across from the boardwalk..

 

http://www.timmcloonessupperclub.com/index.php

 

http://langostalounge.com/

 

http://www.cubacan.net/

 

Stone Pony:

 

http://www.stoneponyonline.com/

 

Yes, it's worth it...the beach is pretty nice...sure parts of Asbury are still recovering, but all in all, it is in decent shape....

 

There are places to stay in Neptune/Wall Twp/Tinton Falls as well if you're so inclined...

 

Here are a couple...

 

http://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/neptune/nepnj/hoteldetail

 

 

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ewrwt-courtyard-wall-at-monmouth-shores-corporate-park/

 

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ewrnp-residence-inn-neptune-at-gateway-centre/

 

NONE will be cheap in the Summer...but I just was tossing them out there..

 

 

If it were me, I would book a room, stay over and have a nice dinner and go to see whomever is at the Pony or Wonder Bar....

 

(and really, ya gotta catch up on the Springsteen shows...I stopped counting at 20 :D:eek::p;):rolleyes::p)

[markeb]

Great shot of Bruce and Jake...

 

BTW you should get Debra Rothenberg's book "Bruce Springsteen: In Focus"...she's got AMAZING pix....and she's a good friend!

 

Anyway....if you want eats, here are a couple choices...not sure what time you'll be around...

 

Check out the Wonder Bar too.....it's right across from the boardwalk..

 

http://www.timmcloonessupperclub.com/index.php

 

http://langostalounge.com/

 

http://www.cubacan.net/

 

Stone Pony:

 

http://www.stoneponyonline.com/

 

Yes, it's worth it...the beach is pretty nice...sure parts of Asbury are still recovering, but all in all, it is in decent shape....

 

There are places to stay in Neptune/Wall Twp/Tinton Falls as well if you're so inclined...

 

Here are a couple...

 

http://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/neptune/nepnj/hoteldetail

 

 

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ewrwt-courtyard-wall-at-monmouth-shores-corporate-park/

 

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ewrnp-residence-inn-neptune-at-gateway-centre/

 

NONE will be cheap in the Summer...but I just was tossing them out there..

 

 

If it were me, I would book a room, stay over and have a nice dinner and go to see whomever is at the Pony or Wonder Bar....

 

(and really, ya gotta catch up on the Springsteen shows...I stopped counting at 20 :D:eek::p;):rolleyes::p)

 

Thanks!

 

Staying over probably isn't an option, but it is a thought. I haven't bounced this off the wife yet, so it may be a nonstarter!

 

Going to have to look up that book! Thanks.

 

I, unfortunately, grew up if not poor, certainly not well off, and in the upper southwest (Oklahoma) where Bruce didn't play when I was young. I have a friend who swears he saw Bruce 70 times BEFORE Born to Run was released, but he is from Brooklyn...

 

I do have the somewhat unfortunate fortune of having been in Baltimore on November 20, 2009, on the next to last show on the "Working on a Dream" tour, when Bruce played "Born to Run" in its entirety. It was, to the best of my knowledge, the last time C played Jungleland with the E-Street Band. What a night, made even more amazing by the reality that transpired...

[Nitemare]

Great picture!

 

We're going to Mohegan Sun -- I'm sure they'll add a Boston or Foxboro or Hartford show, but tickets in hand are worth it!

Edited March 17, 2014 by Nitemare

[Travel Bear]

When you stop in Asbury take time to drive through Main Street the next town over (a few blocks away only) and see Ocean Grove. A delightful stroll along the street which is lined with little shops and indoor and outdoor places to get a quick snack, lunch or sit outside and people watch. Ocean Grove is a unique town in the state. It is home to The Great Auditorium, the tent homes, and so much more. Tiny streets that all end at the ocean and boardwalk. Years ago during the "blue laws" you could not drive your car in O.G from midnight Sat to midnight Sun., you could only walk into and through the town. It is quaint, delightful and a step back in time.

Edited March 18, 2014 by Travel Bear
typo

[BBsails]

Oh Travel Bear, you're bringing back such fond memories. I worked at Hotel La Pierre in Ocean Grove during the summers that I was an undergrad. Most of the staff were college students. Totally awesome experience for someone who grew up in Virginia. Best memories of being introduced to opera in the auditorium over the ocean in Asbury Park where the summer Met did productions. Now really dating myself, I saw Bob Dillon there as a scruffy young guy in overalls. He was unknown then and introduced by Joan Baez. Many nights we did last minute dashes to get our cars out by midnight.

 

Betsy

[Travel Bear]

Betsy,

Do you remember "The Circuit" in Asbury Park? That was a rectangular stretch of roads that were one way and everyone would drive around real slow in the summer with the windows open and the same radio stations on, dancing at the red lights, etc. Such fun. Actually I met my husband there one weekend when I was home from school. We would meet each weekend as we were getting to know each other. Such great fun, meeting up with everyone, it was like a soda shop/coffee hourse meeting place only with different drinks!!! Did you ever go to A's Bar and play Bumper Pool? And Morissons cafeteria in Ocean Grove, the best chicken pot pies!!!! I remember when I needed eye glasses in the second grade and my parents took me to the "city doctor" in Asbury (we lived in Ocean County) to see the "specialist" I remember thinking something was really wrong becasue we drove so far and even had to get dressed up. Acutually my parents always made up get dressed up when leaving the local area. We had to wear our good shoes and nice clothes if we were driving on the Garden State Parkway!!!!!! .Also in AP we would shop in the great stores like Stienbach's (the Macy's of Asbury) and Woolworths. Oh, the good old days.

[megr1125]

Thanks!

 

Staying over probably isn't an option, but it is a thought. I haven't bounced this off the wife yet, so it may be a nonstarter!

 

Going to have to look up that book! Thanks.

 

I, unfortunately, grew up if not poor, certainly not well off, and in the upper southwest (Oklahoma) where Bruce didn't play when I was young. I have a friend who swears he saw Bruce 70 times BEFORE Born to Run was released, but he is from Brooklyn...

 

I do have the somewhat unfortunate fortune of having been in Baltimore on November 20, 2009, on the next to last show on the "Working on a Dream" tour, when Bruce played "Born to Run" in its entirety. It was, to the best of my knowledge, the last time C played Jungleland with the E-Street Band. What a night, made even more amazing by the reality that transpired...

 

Cool..

 

I was front row center in front of Bruce twice at the Pony....my best friend and I were getting smushed...He even said to the crowd, "back up, you're squashing them..." And we almost got whacked in the head by Jon Bon Jovi's guitar...

 

it was AWESOME....but if we'd have gotten whacked, I would have owned that guitar!!