So my daughter (20) and I want to do a road trip in March, We are both Kevin Smith fans and she wants to see an ocean so we're off to New Jersey. I'm looking for suggestions on what there is to see there and any really good seafood we should hit.
We will probably hit Red Bank first, then just drive the coast south.
Thanks for any help.
First, where are you coming from? Second how far south are you looking to drive afterwards? Third, you should know if you only go to Red Bank, you are going to be extremely disappointed. Red Bank is small. Like really, really small. Maybe a few blocks and thats it. If you really like Kevin Smith, you'll get a kick out of his store for maybe 15 minutes. The store is pretty much every comic book store you've ever been in + a few movie props from his movies. That's it. Red Bank itself is an overpriced hipster town with really nothing to do but find a really expensive restaurant or if you plan your trip right, you can maybe find something going on at the Count Basie or The Two Rivers Theater right down the road or go to the Clearview Arthouse Cinema to see a movie that you've most likely never heard of. Afterwards you can say you saw a movie in a theater built in the early 70's that is still in operation today. The Broadway Diner is very popular down there too but it's pretty much a hole in the wall old diner with plates of greasy food. There's also about nine coffee houses, a store that is pretty cool called Funk & Standard (right across from Jay & Silent Bob's) thats part clothing, part bakery, part record shop, part arcade and a really expensive music store a few doors down called Jack's that sells old vinyl, instruments, and movies.Originally Posted by almitysufx
"Many Shubs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Sloar that day I can tell you."
Didn't mapquest it but the Asbury Park Boardwalk is nice. None of the nonsense
of shore boardwalks, nice ocean and a new favorite of mine, the Pinball Museum. $10 for two hours (machines are on free play) or $20 for the day. In a similar vane there's the High Scores Arcade Museum in Burlington, NJ with pretty much every old school aracde game for a quarter or 50 cents. Those are just a couple of things I personally like , your daughter may be looking for other sights.
Hey Spacecaps, I should have mentioned I've been to Red Bank about 10 years ago. Only had a few hours to stay there but that was plenty. You are completely correct about there not being anything there. We plan to hit the comic shop and the record store across the street, used in Chasing Amy, then buy some gum at the Quick Stop and get some pictures. It's good for about a half day of the 4 day trip. Thanks for the heads up on the Broadway Diner, we'll avoid it. I hope to see a lot more of the ocean front so I was hoping for some good suggestions for after Red Bank.
Hi Mike, Asbury Park Boardwalk sounds like a great place to stop off, even the pinball museum sounds pretty neet. Laura survives the Mego Meet every year so she may enjoy that too. Her only rule so far is no flea markets, lol.
For the beach, I like Long Beach Island. Dune lined beaches, family place. It is about 1 hour south of Red Bank.
Depends on what you are looking for. Do you want a boardwalk with rides, games etc? Then Point Pleasant for younger kids, Seaside Hts. teens, Wildwood (big board walk at the end of NJ). Atlantic City cascinos?
If you go in March none of this stuff is going to be fully opened. I actually prefer Keansburg (right down the road from Red Bank) to all of those places. Its cheaper than the rest of them and old timey. The Spook House, Bumper Cars and some of the other rides and games were built in the early 60's and almost all the rides are about $2! The games are pretty cheap down there too. Lots of wheels to play for a quarter and a dime toss. Point Pleasant's very modern and upscale but their prices are insane. Every ride is like $5 and up + parking + games adds up quick. Seaside is...trashy. Asbury Park is in a "rebuilding period". Sure the town of Keansburg is a dump but its a fun little amusement park. Just stay on the Boardwalk or um blacktop if you ever go. If you all the way south, you could do Cape May in the day and Wildwood in the evening but that is a hike from Red Bank. You'll spend most of your time driving. But again, these are all Summer spots and I don't think any of the rides and most of the stuff they have to offer will be open at any of those places this time of year though so your probably better skipping all of them.
I think your best bet would be to check out Atlantic City because it really is more than casino's. There's lots to do when your down there and you can probably find some great ideas online before heading out (the Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum on the boardwalk is pretty cool). Things down there are open this time of year for sure. If you go down that way, you may want to check out a small little village type town called Smithville on your way to A.C. It's maybe 15 minutes outside of Atlantic City and will be right on your way if your heading down from Redbank. That place gets old by about the second or third visit but if you've never been there before, you'll like it your first time. Also, if you go on the weekend, there's the Renault Winery right down the road from there that you could take a tour of. Even if your daughter isn't 21 you can still tour the place and see how wine is made and the grounds look like The Shire from The Hobbit.
Last edited by spacecaps; Feb 25, '12 at 9:51 PM.
"Many Shubs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Sloar that day I can tell you."
Cape May has a real nice little zoo,not sure about the hours you could google it. Atlantic City is a BLAST, so much more than just the casinos.If you can check out Trenton and their famous bridge.On the side of it it says " Trenton makes and the world takes"
^^^
oops missed the March part. Yes, most of the NJ shore attractions will be closed that time of year.
Agreed then Atlantic City is probably the best bet.
Just a note the Pinaball museum I mentioned is in fact open year round. Most of the Asbury Park Boardwalk is open year round due to the presence of the Stone Pony and Convention Hall where events are held regularly.
http://silverballmuseum.com/
$10 to play for two hours + kids 5 and under play free...I may have to take my son down there one of these days.
I liked Asbury when it was just a bunch of abandoned carnival buildings. I was very sad to see them all get torn down and I've only been down there once since the big unfinished hotel came down but I was very underwhelmed by what it had turned into.
Last edited by spacecaps; Feb 25, '12 at 9:57 PM.
"Many Shubs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Sloar that day I can tell you."
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