Asbury Park, once a quiet retreat for music aficionados and architecture lovers, has blossomed into a vibrant cultural hotspot on the Jersey Shore.
While its popularity has been on the rise since the 1990s, the last decade has seen the city transform into a must-visit destination for travelers from New York City, just a short 70-minute drive away.
“Asbury Park isn’t just for us locals anymore,” shares Tina Kerekes, a local designer and manager at the Danny Clinch Transparent Gallery, in an interview with Travel + Leisure. “We’re attracting people from all over the world now.” A casual walk through town might surprise you with a lively drag queen bingo event or an unplanned drum circle on the boardwalk, showcasing Asbury Park’s flair for the unexpected.
Creativity thrives here; it seems every local has their unique side hustle. From a newspaper editor running a beloved coffee shop to drag balls organized by restaurant owners, and musicians owning vintage clothing stores, there’s a sense of artistic spirit in the air. The scent of the beach wafts through the streets, and you’ll find that swimsuits are accepted attire just about everywhere.
If any place captures a certain charm, Asbury Park may just be the East Coast’s leading contender. Originally, the town was known for its carnival atmosphere, attracting visitors in the late 19th century with its merry-go-round and boardwalk. By 1930, venues like the Convention Hall and Paramount Theatre were drawing crowds for live shows, cementing its status as a cultural center—an identity that remains vibrant today.
For a taste of nostalgia, visit the Silverball Museum, a boardwalk fixture boasting over 600 functioning pinball machines dating back to the 1950s. You can dive into an interactive history experience or challenge yourself to a game on the machines.
Music is the lifeblood of Asbury Park, with an impressive array of live performances available in this compact 1.6-square-mile city—at least ten official venues, along with nearly every bar and restaurant hosting live music.
To truly immerse yourself in the local scene, check out The Stone Pony, a legendary spot renowned for kickstarting the careers of Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi. Or swing by the Wonder Bar, a local favorite where “Bruce hangs out on Sundays,” as one resident shared.
The Asbury Lanes music venue joined the Asbury Park revival when it reopened in 2019. This space was iconic in the early 2000s for its DIY and punk vibes, featuring a vintage bowling alley at the back. While it has undergone modern upgrades, traces of its history remain, with vintage stickers and posters from past performances adorning the walls above benches from the 1960s bowling alley.
And for one unforgettable weekend every September, Sea Hear Now, a festival celebrating music, art, and surfing, takes over the beach, drawing crowds with a mix of emerging local talent and big-name acts like Stevie Nicks, Green Day, and Courtney Barnett.