Schedule

LISTEN LIVE

New Jersey Has One Of The Best Off-Season Beach Towns In America

After Labor Day, many popular beach towns slow down as we head into fall. However, Daily Passport recently named the best off-season beach towns, and a New Jersey was named…

The Beach in Asbury Park, New Jersey with a rock jetty and cloudy sky.
Stock Photo / Getty Images

After Labor Day, many popular beach towns slow down as we head into fall. However, Daily Passport recently named the best off-season beach towns, and a New Jersey was named among the best. Daily Passport provides an enlightening perspective saying, "The long, warm summer days may be gone, but the good news is so are the crowds from America’s most popular coastal towns."

The best off-season beach towns named here are all across the country. From northern Florida to California and up the coast of Oregon, these areas all see significant local traffic throughout the year.

In New Jersey, we are talking about a town that just held one of the biggest annual music festivals in the state last weekend in Sea.Hear.Now.

Asbury Park

The infamous boardwalk in Asbury Park loosens the collar on dog rules in mid-September. Dogs are allowed on the boardwalk from September 15 to May 15 as long as they are leashed and supervised.

Obviously, you can't mention Asbury Park and not mention the legendary Stony Pony. This venue has top-performing acts all year. In fact, there are already some big names on their calendar for the remainder of the year. This includes Jake Clemmons (from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band), Lukas Nelson, and Marky Ramone.

A wide range of unique museums also draw attention all year in Asbury Park. The Paranormal Museum on Cookman Ave has Ghost tours perfect for this time of year. Then, see why Asbury Park is called the Pinball Capital at the Silverball Retro Arcade. They offer over 600 games on rotation.

In addition to taking advantage of the weekly arts scene, the Daily Passport suggests checking out the "new boutique hotels, quirky shops and galleries, and an impressive array of restaurants that offer old-school Italian options, Korean tacos, and, of course, terrific seafood."

Though Asbury Park was the only New Jersey spot named among the best off-season beach towns, it was not alone in the Northeast. Mystic, Connecticut and Nantucket were also named.

2 New Jersey Destinations Among The Best For Solo Travel

There are some major benefits to taking a trip by yourself. The solitude gives you time to clear your mind and gather your thoughts. And it also enables you to create your own schedule, taking in the sights you set out for. Good Housekeeping published a report that details America’s best places for solo travel, and New Jersey was all over this list.

By The Numbers

In addition, Fifty Grande recently conducted a solo travel survey. They found that “52% of respondents said they planned to take a solo trip before the end of the year, and 64% of them planned to take that trip in America.” Furthermore, they found that 40% of those that participated in their survey answered “10” on a scale of 1-10 on how comfortable they were to travel alone. 83% said answered a 7 or above.

Other interesting items to note were 89% of the people had already taken a solo trip. The main reason was to “explore a new place and/or immerse in a local culture.” 22.9% said they traveled alone because it was “more fun when I’m 100% in control.”

Moreover, 52% of people plan on traveling solo before the end of the year. Much of that will be within the United States, Fifty Grande shows.

New Jersey is filled with areas that are prime for solo travel exploring. Of course, Atlantic City has a major nightlife scene. There are pristine golf courses all throughout the state, some of which are in close proximity to New York City (if you want to head in for dinner or a show). Finally, there are miles of beachside attractions along the Atlantic and historic sites deep in the heart of the Garden State. So, let's take a look at the two New Jersey destinations that were named best for solo travel. They happen to over a hundred and thirty miles away from each other, and vastly different in terms of what you can explore there.

Princeton

Home to the Ivy League Tigers, Good Housekeeping calls out the historic sites this central New Jersey town house to offer. "Princeton Battle Monument honors the battle fought and won by George Washington in 1777." The University Art Museum and the Morven Museum and Garden often attract tourists from all over the world. Lastly, Carnegie Lake is one of the most serene spots in the state.

Carnegie lake in Princeton, New Jersey featuring old bridge on the background

Getty Images

Cape May

"Spend your day wandering the cute shops, sunbathing at the beach or climbing the 199 steps to the top of Cape May Lighthouse in Cape May Pointe State Park," Good Housekeeping suggest. Cape May draws a lot of visitors in the summer months. It's very common that you will find families, couples, and solo travelers among them. In addition to one of the most beautiful lighthouses on the east coast, you can visit winery's, theaters, safaris, or just rest along the shore of the beautiful beaches.

Cape May branded Lifeboat on the beach with the ocean in the back

Getty Images

Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.