Home to the Stone Pony (the place where Bruce Springsteen performed early on in his career)...and now undergoing a major revitalization...Asbury Park, New Jersey should be renamed Asbury Perk! It still has a way to go until it comes close to other shore towns, but I'm telling you guys...it's perking up and is definitely worth checking out!
Cookman Avenue- the main street from the train station- used to be lined with dilapidated buildings and empty store fronts, but now there are coffee shops, restaurants, retail shops, and even a high-end dog store! (Yes- I have a dog and love that sort of stuff)
And the boardwalk which used to have not much more than a run-down HoJo's (Howard Johnson) is now filled with eateries, boutiques, high-end furniture & home stores, miniature golf , a water park for the kids (open only in the summer), and fancy condominiums.
By car, it'll take about an hour & 20 minutes from Manhattan. New Jersey Transit also runs frequently daily and on weekends
http://www.njtransit.com/ and will take about 1&1/2 to 2 hours from Penn Station.
My husband and I went a bunch of times over the winter (on the warmer days, of course) because the beach & boardwalk are dog friendly that time of year. We've also gone a bunch this summer and continue to be amazed at how it keeps on getting better. I definitely say you should check it out for a day trip, maybe as a Labor Day getaway, or in the fall shoulder season (JetSetSmart idea!) when the weather is still nice, the water's warm, and the rates go way down.
Here's some ideas of where to stay: (Plus they are pet friendly!)
