My original summer 2022 travel plans did not include New Jersey, but I am so glad we were able to go and see Tyler’s family for his cousin’s wedding! We hadn’t gone to the Jersey Shore since 2018, and a lot has changed since then. These were the best parts of our visit:
The Carriage House
We searched long and hard for a place that was close to the beach and the wedding venue (Cross & Orange), as well as didn’t break the bank. The Carriage House Bed & Breakfast fit the bill exactly. We didn’t love having a room with two twin beds, but we knew that going into things; selection is limited over a holiday weekend! If you want Victorian charm, TCH covers it. Just make sure to read their kid policy!
Kane Brewing Company
Kane Brewing Company’s stellar Google reviews brought us over there, after we’d taken the bus to the nearby shopping center. We had a liquid lunch with some really great beers in their beer garden, but they also offer a nice selection to go. Note: they’re currently doing some construction, so right now, the only available bathrooms are portapotties – you’ve been warned.
Chicken Holiday
Because we needed an actual lunch after KBC, we made our way to Chicken Holiday! We ended up chatting with the owner for a bit about our visit to NJ, who was super friendly and had a ton to share about the area. This is definitely a hole in the wall, but the chicken was great – crispy and tasty. We saw a customer wait fifteen minutes for one piece of chicken to-go, so you know it’s worth it.
Days Ice Cream
It was so good, we ate there twice – and I already wrote a blog post about it! If you find yourself in Ocean Grove, Days Ice Cream is an absolute must-do. Not only does it have the longest hours of any other restaurant we saw, the line will indicate that it is well-loved. The expansive menu will probably have you going back to. 😉
The Boardwalk
Everyday we were in Ocean Grove, we walked along the boardwalk. It’s important to note that if you’re going to the beach during the day, you do need a beach pass, but we found the boardwalk was the perfect way to get around the area at night. From the boardwalk, we even listened to a concert at The Stone Pony one night! There’s a reason this is a classic.