When Julie suggested renting a house on the Jersey Shore with our daughters and their families, Amy mentioned Asbury Park, a tourist mecca for east coast city dwellers for decades.
The postcard-like cover for Greetings from Asbury Park N.J., Bruce Springsteen's debut album, served as my introduction to Asbury Park, albeit as just a postcard view. Julie and I had enjoyed our trip to Belmar Beach in 2023, but we were happy to have a chance to visit the more famous Jersey Shore locale.
We agreed that Julie and I would pay for a rental house for us all to share, and the kids would provide meals. Gina jumped into action, finding a nice house and restaurants sure to please our diverse tastes and nutritional requirements.
Gina rode with Julie and me, while Laszlo and Emma would follow a little later that day, giving Emma a chance to skate first. Amy would take the train from Jersey City, and Lukas would drive over after he got out of work that evening.
Julie, Gina and I arrived in Asbury Park at about lunch time. We parked beside Lake Wesley, which looks more like a wide canal or very calm river. It's a pretty area.
We soon were strolling around the village, checking out menus and open tables at busy restaurants on this gorgeous summertime Friday.
We found a pretty cafe called Homesick that promised meals "made from scratch."
Our meals were very good, and the ambiance quite pleasant, possibly because most of the patrons were demure young ladies involved in polite conversation with their friends. A wedding shower or two among other gatherings?
After lunch, the boardwalk beckoned.
Julie and I learned that a senior summer pass was available for the price of two days of beach admission --- yes, there is an admission charge to go to beaches on the Jersey Shore in summer --- so we bought that so we could go to the beach that very afternoon.
Gina wasn't ready for the beach, so she went on a reconnaissance mission to the upscale beachfront restaurant, Iron Whale, to see how they might accommodate our reservation the next day in terms of table selection with a slightly expanded party to include Emma's friend Maple who had recently decided to join us, as she had in 2022 for Julie's birthday.
Later that afternoon, we picked up Amy at the train station and headed over to our rental house, where Laszlo and Emma soon joined us.
Lukas would not arrive for a few hours, so we went to a nearby restaurant pre-screened by Gina, Brick House Tavern and Tap. It could not have been a better choice for my personal tastes, with great burgers, Philly Cheesesteak and beer. Everyone seemed happy with their meals in this comfortable sports pub.
At my request, our friendly waitress recommended beer.
We all ordered something different than those, but she didn't hold that against us. I think Laszlo went with Yeungling Lager while Amy and I went with Asbury Park Blondes. Light and refreshing.
Lukas arrived later that evening, and I'm sure whatever meal he had on the road paled in comparison to our feast.
Amy brought wood for a bonfire, marshmallows, Hershey's bars and graham crackers, prompting us to have s'mores by the back yard fire ring.
The next morning, we had coffee and breakfast at the house.
A beautiful sunny day made the morning on the Jersey Shore special.
It was hotter than I expected, so I walked up on the boardwalk to find shade a couple of times. We were avoiding swimming before lunch, or that would have been a good choice to cool down.
At lunch time, we headed to Iron Whale, where we were met by not only Emma's friend Maple but Laszlo's parents, Z and Ria, who we're always happy to have join us.
I had the Jerk Mahi Mahi Tacos, as did Z. I think Gina and Ria both had sea food, and I'm not sure what the others had, but we all enjoyed lunch.
The chic, modern beach vibe of the restaurant was very appealing, and we again had a great waitress.
Back to the beach where it still felt very hot and sunny. We had a beach umbrella from the rental house, which helped some.
We all took a few dips in the refreshing 70 degrees ocean water, which helped even more.
Amy and Lukas offered to pick up dinner at either of two beachfront restaurants pre-screened by Gina: Pasta Volo or Mogo Korean Fusion Tacos. I already ate tacos for lunch, and Julie's not a big experimental eater, so tacos were out.
Frankly, we couldn't see how to order anything but pasta without toppings, though after we decided on door number three, Julie figured that out.
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| No one took a video of me flipping over when I first plopped down in this hammock. |
In any case, my usual calculator of health, taste and cost continues to tally, and Julie doesn't usually eat pasta even when she makes spaghetti sauce at home. Only Darlene can tempt Julie with noodles, so we opted to go to a nearby Arby's to snag roast beef sandwiches instead. That decision was not a well-loved by the others, but we were happy with our meals.
Everyone else loved their tacos.
I tried to get everyone to watch a conspiracy theory video about the Titanic, eventually putting on a video that seemed almost like the one I wanted but wasn't as good as selling the outrageous premise. I put the one I intended to share here, for inquiring minds who want to know the fascinating truth.
The next morning, we headed to reserved tables Gina reserved at retro-Parisian Cameo Love Market for brunch.
Thinking back on it, there was a guitar on a stand when we entered. I should have picked it up to play when we arrived, because we were the first ones there. I thought it must be for a performer about to arise, but in retrospect, I think it was for customers. I hadn't brought my guitar and would have liked to play a couple of songs.
Anyway, I went with Niçoise Salad, as did Gina and Emma, and it was my only meal miscue. To be fair, granddaughter Emma seemed to love it. When the waitress said they didn't have honey mustard dressing, I should have switched to the Mediterranean Tuna sandwich like Lukas had.
It looked delicious.
Lesson learned?
After brunch, we walked back to the beach. Gina and Laszlo rented an umbrella to go with the one Amy and Lukas brought from their home. That provided a good oasis of shade for the hot afternoon, and later in the day, it also cooled down some.
About four, we went our separate ways.
It's always wonderful being with family, and I know Julie had a very happy birthday with this late summer escape. I enjoyed the long weekend, and I think the others did too.
