Sightseeing in Asbury Park and Ocean Grove on Kick Scooters

[ KICK SCOOTING - 9/27/2011 - www.LetsKickScoot.com ]

>>  The similarities between New Jersey's neighboring Asbury Park and Ocean Grove cities include their shared boardwalk and the Atlantic Ocean. These two historic destinations offer plenty of special events, too, many of which attract the same big-named stars that appear in nearby New York City. Their differences?

• Asbury Park provides public changing facilities, numerous boardwalk restaurants, high-quality specialty shops, a kid's spray park, miniature golf, bike and beach rentals, easy parking (for a reasonable fee), early-1900s Art Deco architecture, The Carousel (a stunning entertainment center), and a convention center.
  
  
• Ocean Grove provides a visual feast of Victorian Painted Lady Inns and a quaint, historic shopping and dining avenue. Most important for some people is its Christian retreat center run by the United Methodist Church that features a world-famous Tent City, beautifully landscaped grounds, and The Great Hall that is used for religious and secular special events.

We toured the area by kick scooter because we knew in advance that we'd be covering a lot of ground. Kick scooting combines the convenience of strolling with the ability to easily cover long distances that otherwise could not be easily achieved in one day. My husband rode a snappy, red Xootr Mg, while I rode on a KickPed, which provides a softer ride.

We began this trip on the far northern end of Asbury Park's boardwalk, enjoying a long stretch of its beautiful wooden boardwalk virtually by ourselves. The boardwalk's herringbone pattern protects kick scooter and bike wheels from being caught in cracks.

Note: A few days after our visit, at the end of August, 2011, this boardwalk was flooded by Hurricane Irene. According to news accounts, the sandy beach was washed away, but the boardwalk did not sustain major damage. New Jersey is now in the process of fixing and/or rebuilding its shore areas.

Asbury Park features two pavilions (called "casinos") on each end of its boardwalk. During their glory days in the early 1900s, this resort area was similar to Coney Island, with games and vendors of all types. Today, the northern pavilion, also called the Fifth Avenue Pavilion, as well as The Grand Arcade, contains restaurants, shops, and a convention center. It is probably the only structure of this type in which you can ride a kick scooter or bike right through! Biking, however, is confined to specific periods during the summer.

Tip: If you enjoy capturing interesting images, make a point of photographing the terracotta tiles that surround this pavilion.

Exiting the northern pavilion, you walk or ride toward the south end, with the beautiful ocean beach to your left and attractive restaurants and shops to your right. The architecture looks sparkling new, but most of the buildings were erected in the 1930s, with more than a nod to sleek, Art Deco design.

In addition to dining and shopping, this stretch also features a large spray park, bike rentals, miniature golf, a playground, several entertainment areas, and, possibly the most important, rest rooms. All buildings are easily accessible from a parking lot.

Nearing the south end, the south casino, which is also called The Casino Arcade because it once anchored a famous Coney Island-type game area, comes into better view. Currently, it is just a shell, however, just off the boardwalk behind it is a beautiful Art Deco-designed entertainment center, The Carousel Building. Make a point of seeing it!

The Casino Arcade is currently decorated with interesting murals, evidence of ongoing construction, and a few people relaxing on benches to escape the hot sun.

Once outside of The Casino Arcade, continuing south, are several white, ocean-side buildings that house shops and a sea-side restaurant. (During our visit, the restaurant was closed and for sale.)

Note: The picture below looks north towards The Casino Arcade from Ocean Grove's boardwalk area. The beach and ocean is behind the white buildings.

After passing the above buildings and Wesley Lake, an inlet just across from them, the landscape changes from crisp white to rustic. You are now in Ocean Grove.

Ocean Grove is sometimes called "God's Square Mile at the Jersey Shore." It is actually private property owned by The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, a United Methodist Church organization. The area is shared with the general public by New Jersy law and the beach is maintained as a natural space.

Between its cross-bearing beach (where the gospel is periodically preached) and The Great Auditorium (seen in the distance, below) is a long sidewalk. It is here where large revivals and popular outdoor events take place.

Outdoor and indoor events include craft shows, car shows, flea markets, popular and classical music, and religious services, among many things. For current events, see the calendar on The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association's site: Oceangrove.org. While there are more events held during the summer, this community is active year-round.

Lining the walkway leading to The Great Auditorium are Victorian summer homes, most of which are beautifully decorated with lacy-looking porches, wooden trim, and stunning gardens. Originally, many of these homes were built as inns and single-family dwellings. Today, most are condominiums, with the remaining inns being popular for weddings, family reunions, and (of course) church retreats.

Even if you are not Christian, I think you'll enjoy strolling around these historic church grounds. The surrounding neighborhoods feature early 1900s homes, which together provide a preserved view of small town, tree-shaded America.

While we toured the city on kick scooters, there were no shortage of people on bikes and skate boards doing the same thing. Biking is especially popular during the summer when its Tent City is completely occupied. It's also popular because city parking is limited. There is far more room to park in Asbury Park. At about a mile away, however, riding some type of human powered vehicle to get from here to there is especially convenient.

Ocean Grove's Tent City surrounds The Great Hall and consists of a little more than 100, canvas tents fronted by striped awnings. These tents provide around 300 square feet of living space; just enough for families to live in during a summer retreat.

Note: You can walk around all of the tents, but some of the alleys between them are posted as private property. Still, if you are respectful, you can continue your stroll. Residents won't bother you if you don't bother them, however, do your sightseeing on foot and in small groups.

Not everything in Ocean Grove is related to religion. Its Main Avenue features authentic "old town" shops that sell rustic and Victorian-type crafts, as well as beach gear. Restaurants are particularly rustic. Two of my favorite places are Nagle's, an authentic old apothecary store with its original lunch counter, and the nearby The Ocean Grove Bake Shoppe, which specializes in bar cookies.

You'll have no problems finding places to relax in Ocean Grove and Asbury Park. The beach and boardwalk, of course, beckons, as do Ocean Grove's park benches. Westly Lake, a former inlet, seperates the two communities and borders a park in Ocean Grove. This location is a particularly pleasant place to relax (and, of course, eat bar cookies).

Note: Behind me in the picture below is the Carousel Building and The Casino Arcade in Asbury Park.

Links

• Day Trip to Ocean Grove and Asbury Park from New York City: Read my previous article about these two beach towns on Littleviews.com.
  
  
• Resort Maps: Search for "Ocean Grove, NJ" to see a detailed resort map on Ocean Grove and Asbury Park.
  
  
• Ocean Grove Historic District Walking Tours: Follow walking tour maps provided by The Historical Society of Ocean Grove.
  
  
• Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association: Learn more about the association that owns the town, plus view its events calendar.
  
  
• Ocean Grove Community: Learn more about the Ocean Grove Community and its special events.
  
  
• Tent City in Ocean Grove, New Jersey: Read about the history of Ocean Grove's Tent City.
  
  
• Ocean Grove Bake Shoppe: See some of the great cookie bars this bake shop produces.
  
  
• Search for Ocean Grove Inns: View a list of Ocean Grove Inns.
  
  
• City of Asbury Park: Learn more about the city as well as its famous beach.
  
  
• Asbury Park Boardwalk Association: Review a calendar of events, check out its resources, and see really cool graphics.
  
  
• Cycling the Asbury Park Boardwalk: View a video of the Asbury Park boardwalk from the handlebars of a bike. Check for hours when biking along the boardwalk is permissable.
  
  
• Brielle Cyclery: Rent individual and group bikes on the Asbury Park boardwalk.
  
  
• The Carousel Building in Asbury Park: Learn more about Asbury Park's stunning, Art Deco entertainment center by the South Casino.
  
  
• Irene damages some beaches, spares others along coast: Read an August 30, 2011, Reuters article about the aftermath of Hurricane Irene in Asbury Park.
  
  
• Asbury Park, New Jersey - From Wikipedia: Read a very informative (but a bit out-of-date) historical information about Asbury Park.
  
  
• Palace Amusements - From Wikipedia: Read a very informative article about the now-gone Palace Amusement park that was next to the south casino that today is best known for its logo, Tillie. It depicts a garish, wide-smiling boy who has way too many teeth. You can still see an original Tillie in Asbury Park today.
  
  

Questions? Just ask!
Karen Little

Article and photographs by Karen and Philip Little. First published on www.LetsKickScoot.com on 9/27/2011. All rights reserved.