Barely a month into the New Year, and we’ve already lived through polar vortexes, snow storms, political upheaval…and those are the ones we can remember! So, you will not be blamed if you seek out an affordable Jersey Shore weekend itinerary to a location within 3 hours of NYC and accessible by train.
I did the hard job for you by spending a luxurious – but rainy – escape in Asbury Park on a fall weekend and it was fabulous! My weekenders are usually to the Hudson Valley, Upstate New York cities, or other Northeast cities; rarely do I cross the Hudson into New Jersey and when I do, it’s usually for day trips to Jersey City.
In a change of scenery from the bustle of New York City, Asbury Park during off-peak travel i.e. early fall, winter, and spring, is more affordable and less crowded than its summer boardwalk throng. Read through for a fun weekend itinerary to Asbury Park in any season.
Asbury Park Weekend Itinerary
Article Contents
#Getting to Asbury Park from Manhattan
Get to Manhattan Penn Station and go through the New Jersey Transit entrance on 32nd Street & 7th Avenue, down the escalators, and locate the ticket vending machines nearby. Purchase return tickets to Asbury Park for under $20 and wait for your train on the concourse below.
Note This: There is no direct train to Asbury Park from Penn Station so you will take a 2 hour train to Long Branch then transfer directly across the platform for a short ride to Asbury Park. Don’t worry, most travellers will be transferring as well so you won’t be alone. Alternatively, you can hail a rideshare from Long Branch to Asbury Park, but I promise you that the train is much faster.
Your return journey will be in reverse: train from Asbury Park to Long Branch then transfer across the platform to the Penn Station bound train.
#Day 1: Check In At The Asbury, Go For a Brasserie Dinner Afterwards
Hail a rideshare from Asbury Park Station to The Asbury, described as an “out-of-the-box getaway” with a history shaped by artistic rebels and rock ‘n’ roll legends.
You will fall in love with its plush seating, wall of cassette tapes, and vintage vinyl library – a nostalgic throwback for Xers and elder Millennials to squeal over.
The rooms have a Scandinavian, minimalist vibe to it with blinds and a beachy atmosphere, which makes sense as you can catch ocean glimpses depending on the room’s orientation. Some rooms are perfect for a girls’ or bachelorette weekend as they have bunk beds for up to eight persons. Rooms also come with a Victrola Vintage record player and I was instantly influenced to add that to my “want” list.
You’ll feel a tad peckish after the train rides so grab some pastries from the hotel’s The Counter’s Grab & Go to quench your hunger before a large dinner. Experience the hotel’s amenities, like its snug pool in summer, browse the vinyl library in the lobby, or chill on the comfy sofas.
Now, it’s time for a luxurious dinner at Pascal and Sabine, a European-style brasserie named after characters from an Ernest Hemingway novel. It has a moody interior, banquettes, and beautiful artwork, coupled with the most delicious dishes like French onion soup, escargots, Dover sole, scallops, and desserts. I feasted on several of these plates, with dessert, and wine, and was ready for bed within three hours as I had a couple of days of activities planned.
Asbury Park Weekend Itinerary
#Day 2: Retro Breakfast, Rock ‘n’ Roll History, and Boardwalk
I was up bright and early for breakfast at The Diner at Asbury Lanes, a a retro-inspired eatery within the iconic Asbury Lanes bowling alley. The Diner is known for its vintage ambiance with throwback seating, mirrors, and photos of rock legends on its walls. The fare is classic American with modern options like burgers, milkshakes, and all-day breakfast options.
Go for the fluffy Dutch pancake and a boozy milkshake if you dare. The shakes are thick, creamy, and sweet, and the pancake comes in its own cast-iron skillet so save room for that!
After The Diner, walk to Transparent Clinch Gallery for photographs and vinyls of rock, hip hop, and pop legends of all generations. Asbury Park is known for Bruce Springsteen and other rock legends that began their careers in this Jersey Shore beach town, and the gallery has album covers and black and white photographs from Springsteen to Beyonce. For the music nerd, this is a must experience activity.
Next on this Jersey Shore weekend, walk to the Stone Pony, an Asbury Park music venue that opened in 1974 and saw the early start of rock legends like Springsteen and Steve Van Zandt. It builds on its musical legacy by hosting rising stars and tours for music aficionados and you might even get a mini music legend tour where you’re shown where Springsteen took photos for his album cover and Bon Jovi – or another legend, I forget – shot a music video on the Asbury Park boardwalk.
Transparent Clinch Gallery, Asbury Park
Keeping with the retro vibes, walk across the street to the boardwalk for an array of 80s and 90s pinball and video gaming, like PacMan, Eight Ball, and so many others, at the Silverball Retro Arcade. It is a veritable retro gaming museum for some of the original arcade games going back to the 70s!
Depending on the season of your visit, the boardwalk could either be heaving with humanity or empty of visitors.
Asbury Park boardwalk is home to several colorful murals, mini golf, restaurants, music, gaming, and too many pizza places to count, so throw on comfy shoes and get your steps in.
All this walking leaves you starving so take a leisurely 2o minute walk to downtown Asbury Park for dining, bars, a Paranormal Museum – scroll to end for that! – a brewery, galleries, and more. These spots are centered around Cookman Avenue and parallel streets so just let your eyes and wandering spirit guide you.
Downtown Asbury Park
Food…yes! Talula’s is a sourdough pizza spot with a wood-burning oven but their menu also has salads and wheat-free grain bowls; Iron Whale for modern interior and options like cocktails, oysters, jerk shrimp; REYLA for modern Middle-Eastern cuisine, and an array of bars, pizza places, a kimchi spot, and lots more. Really, you need to explore on foot to discover your food preferences.
Asbury Park is very walkable but if you prefer a chauffer, rideshares are just an app away and arrive within 5 minutes.
Asbury Park Weekend Itinerary
#Day 3: Asbury Ocean Club and Live Music
My second hotel in Asbury Park was a two-night stay at the luxurious, ocean-front Asbury Ocean Club which is a 2024 recipient of the 1 MICHELIN Key by the MICHELIN Guide. It needs to be experienced because words literally cannot do it justice.
The property is also part luxury residence for those with deep pockets to purchase apartments, it has separate amenities for both the hotel and residence section, spa, hotel deck facing the ocean, beautiful interior that instantly calms you upon entry…I can go on.
My room had a balcony that the rain put out of service but believe me when I say I created GRWM content in that lovely room. It comes with a tablet, Saratoga Springs bottle water, Grown Alchemist products, bathrobes, and transparent showers that are the rage in luxury hotels.
@musingsandadventures I rarely do GRWM, but I wore my #NYFW gifted Arvino earrings for the first time. #blackgirltiktok #nyctiktok #jewelrytok #grwmroutine #grwm #creatorsearchinsights I’m just a girl, aesthetic video, aesthetic look, jewelry tok
The Drawing Room, the hotel’s in-dining restaurant is only open to guests and this is where it gets ultra exclusive…because the food is absolutely delicious! The menu is curated by an in-house chef with seasonal ingredients and the dining area is uncrowded with live music on certain days.
My last night in Asbury Park was at the historic bowling alley and live music venue Asbury Lanes for The Japanese House. It reminded my Millennial self that I prefer live events with seating, thank you very much. Lol!
Asbury Park Weekend Itinerary
Other Asbury Park Must-Do Activities
#PorchFest
Asbury Park PorchFest is an annual community-driven music festival where local musicians perform on the porches of homes throughout Asbury Park. It’s a family-friendly event that turns neighborhoods into stages, allowing visitors to walk to porch events across the city, enjoying live performances from a variety of genres.
#Brewery
Asbury Park Brewery in downtown Asbury Park has a tasting room with a rotating line of beers and pictures of rock legends on its walls, keeping with the rock music status of Asbury Park. It’s ideal for a quick flight of beer tastings before you continue downtown exploration.
#Paranormal Museum
I’m not a fan of anything horror…but I am fascinated by the paranormal, so imagine my squeals when I spied this museum in downtown Asbury Park.
I took their offered 1 hour Paranormal Museum tour – after a quick prayer lol – and was regaled with tales of the Jersey Devil, current Asbury Park haunted places, possessed objects, life like dolls that moved at some point in the past, body parts of Abraham Lincoln, furniture made with body parts, ritualistic objects…phew!
Not gonna lie, I said another prayer as I exited because I very much believe in spirits attaching themselves to our corporeal form.
@musingsandadventures I did an hour tour of the Paranormal Museum in Asbury Park 😆 It was…interesting and I loved the back stories to everything. #spookyseason #spooky #paranormal #museumtok halloween season, Paranormal Museum new jersey, things to do in Asbury Park, fall activities to do in New jersey, travel inspo spooky activities
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I hope you got some ideas for a Jersey Shore weekend to Asbury Park. Summer is ideal for beach activities obviously, but I prefer warm spring and fall for an Asbury Park visit.
*My Asbury Park accommodation and dining were hosted as part of a FAM trip.
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