Now that we know Central Jersey does exist, there are dozens of reasons why you should take the kids to visit Monmouth County: there’s Native American and Revolutionary War history, beautiful beaches along the Jersey Shore and several amusement parks, both indoors and outdoors. Here’s our list of the best places to visit in any of the 53 municipalities in the county, plus some hidden gems.
1. Have some Jersey Shore fun. From Keansburg down to Manasquan and everything in between (Asbury Park Avon, Belmar, Spring Lake, etc.) there are beautiful, clean, safe beaches where the kids can swim, surf, fish, crab or lay around all day. Sunrise and sunset are especially beautiful, especially off-season when it’s calmer and quieter.
2. Go downtown. Downtown areas such as the expansive Red Bank or the quainter Freehold Borough where you can walk around, shop and eat. Plus, their business chambers hold festivals throughout the warmer months.
3. Act out. Whether you enjoy concerts, plays, operas or one-man shows, there are a variety of theaters that offer great performances for everyone in the family, such as Count Basie Center for the Arts and Two River Theater in Red Bank, Holmdel Theatre Company, Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal, NJ Repertory Company in Long Branch and Center Players in Freehold.
4. Park it. Thompson Park in Middletown, Holmdel Park and Longsteet Park in Holmdel and Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold all have gorgeous grounds where you can walk, hike, camp and celebrate nature. Check out the beautiful flowers, look for deer or read a book along the lake.
5. Be fair. There are fairs and festivals year-round. Aside from the giant Monmouth County Fair during the summer, the Made in Monmouth arts and vendor fair is held in the spring and winter to celebrate artisans who live and work in the county.
6. Work it. Bell Works has a unique concept, between its tenants ranging from a VR arcade to Pilates to ice cream. On the roof is Bar Bella for the adults, but downstairs kids can run around and play, walk through the farmers market or join a Halloween parade.
7. And they’re off! If you enjoy horseracing, Monmouth County is home to two of NJ’s three tracks: Freehold Raceway in Freehold and Monmouth Racetrack in Oceanport. Kids love watching these beautiful, giant creatures speed by. Plus, Monmouth Park holds family-friendly festivals throughout the summer, and Freehold’s venue is known for its Fourth of July spectacular on Independence Day.
8. Be a book worm. The Monmouth County Library System is one of the biggest in the state, with several branches located throughout its town. The main branch is in Manalapan, and many kid-friendly programs are offered on the weekends on a weekly basis such as cultural programs, arts & crafts and artist meet-and-greets.
9. Try some pinball magic. The Silverball Retro Arcade is a really cool spot if you want to play classic pinball or arcade games. Located off the boardwalk in Asbury Park, you can cool off after spending hours at the beach or head there in the winter when you need to occupy the kiddos with something fun. YESTERcades in Red Bank is another option for reliving your childhood.
10. Enjoy play time. If you love the boardwalk but prefer cooler temps, iPlay America in Freehold brings a taste of the Shore indoors. There are boardwalk-style games, a huge arcade, smaller indoor rides (like Go Karts, the High Flyer or the mini Ferris wheel) and laser tag. The Loaded Spoon restaurant recently opened inside, with giant milkshakes and a kids’ menu that includes fried PB&J.
11. Blow off some steam. Glassblowing may seem like a lost art, but Hot Sand Glass Studio on the Jersey Shore, located in Asbury Park, will teach you how to make beautiful objects by blowing into a long, thin tube that molds the hot liquid glass.
12. Pick-your-own. At spots like Battleview Orchards in Freehold you can grab your own strawberries, apples and peaches from the fields. Or stop by the stores at Wemrock Orchards in Freehold and Delicious Orchards in Colts Neck for farm-fresh products like vegetables, soups, cheese and local honey, plus tons of sweet fruit pies. In the fall, hot apple cider donuts are the main draw, plus pumpkin picking.
13. Ride on. Keansburg Amusement Park & Runaway Rapids is a hot spot during the summertime. With rides like Frog Hopper, Pharaoh’s Fury and Looping Star, there is something for every adrenaline level. Or relax along the Lazy River, Castaways Creek or Water Mushroom at the water park.
14. Give in to ‘pier’ pressure. Pier Village in Long Branch has a carousel, McLoone’s Pier House, Coney Waffle ice cream shop, boardwalk games, a year-round scavenger hunt, a Fourth of July pooch parade in addition to Oceanfest, a kite festival and more than 30 restaurants.
15. Learn a lesson. Monmouth County is packed with history. The Battle of Monmouth, one of the more important battles in the Revolutionary War, took place in the Manalapan area – and if you visit Monmouth Battlefied State Park, you can learn all about it. Plus, every year on Father’s Day weekend a reenactment takes place. The county historical society also hosts house tours and schoolhouse tours. There are even museums that show cannon balls located in Spring Lake!
16. Open your ears. PNC Bank Arts Center offers outdoor concerts from spring to fall either in seats or on the lawn. It’s a great, inexpensive way to hear your favorite artists in person.
17. Cool off. Jersey Freeze is an iconic establishment – not just because Bruce Springsteen pops in from time to time, but because they have the best ice cream, cookie sandwiches and birthday cakes around. The original location is in Freehold, but you can find a satellite shop inside Bell Works in Holmdel.
18. Visit an icon. Another icon of Monmouth is The Stone Pony (and, coincidentally another Springsteen hot spot) where you can still hear the hottest and up-and-coming bands play on the historic stage in Asbury.
19. Time travel. The Historic Village at Allaire transports you back in time to the 1800s. At this living history museum, you can watch in real time as reenactors take you through the former iron-producing factory town known as the Howell Iron Works, Co. The village has a carpentry and pattern making shop, a blacksmith shop, a bakery, a boarding house, a blast furnace, mills to finish iron products, a school, a church, a general store with a post office, and workers’ home that you can tour.
20. Make a lunch date. If you prefer Jersey’s own Bon Jovi to Springsteen, then have lunch at JBJ Soul Kitchen for a possible Jon sighting! JBJ Soul Kitchen was founded by Jon Bon Jovi and lets you eat what you want without paying, though the expectation is you do some community service there.
21. Eat!!! There are lots of towns food lovers will enjoy throughout the county. In Asbury, you’ll find everything from overstuffed burritos at Pop’s Garage to Neapolitan-style pizza at Porta to carrot cake pancakes at Toast City Diner. Between the half-mile long Main Street and its offshoots in Freehold, there’s no lack of cuisine in the area: Sweet Lew’s is a traditional café, serving breakfast and lunch. The best thin-crust pizza is served at Federici’s Family Restaurant, which has been around for 100 years. El Meson Cafe and Tacos TKO are favorites for Mexican food. 618 Restaurant has been named the most romantic restaurant two years in a row. Sea Bright offers the best of the Shore, such as Anjelica’s Restaurant‘s classic family Italian cuisine. At Drifthouse by David Burke, in addition to its custom-made lobster tanks and oyster spas on display, there is a market-style seafood case stocked on ice where you can select your own “from-the-sea” seafood. The Rum Runner by Tim McLoone has a special a la carte Sunday brunch, Wing Night and Oyster Night.
22. Pet a fur baby. There are dozens of alpaca farms in NJ, several of which call the county home. Arrow Acres Farm and Edel Haus Alpaca Farm in Wall, and Cedar Lane Alpacas in Howell are just a few places where you can pet the cuddly creatures, take lots of photos and learn about their habits.
23. See the light. Although lighthouses aren’t the beacons they once were for sailors, there are a few in Monmouth County that are open to the public as museums and/or on National Lighthouse Day in August. Twin Lights Lighthouse and the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, both in Highlands, plus the Sea Girt Lighthouse in Sea Girt
24. Go fish. The Keyport Pier is perfect for fishing. After you work up an appetite, have some seafood at one of the restaurants in the neighborhood.
25. Bring Fido. If you want to take your pooch to the beach (and fish at the same time) Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park in Long Branch is very dog- and kid-friendly.
26. Admire art. 2022 started a new tradition in Freehold Borough: the Half Mile of Horses Art Walk. Different artists were commissioned to paint horse statues that were placed along Main Street. This July you can check out the sculptures again and vote for your favorite.
27. Cross water. The pier in Ocean Grove was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and more than a decade later it reopened this spring in the shape of a cross, which has some people wanting to view in person.
28. Experience beauty. Deep Cut Gardens in Middletown, Erlanger Gardens in West Long Branch and the David C. Shaw Arboretum in Holmdel are just a select few of the many beautiful gardens, arboretums and nature centers located in the county. Plan a day to take a leisurely stroll, have a picnic or grab your camera.
29. Take an outdoor adventure. If you love to camp, whether in a trailer or tent, there are several sites in the county perfect for s’mores around the campfire. Nomoco Activity Area, Pine Cone Resort and Turkey Swamp Campgrounds in Freehold; Camp Getaway in Highlands; and Allaire State Park Campground in Wall are great places to teach the kids about outdoor living. Bring your bug spray!
30. Wine down. Monmouth County has its own selection of wines, craft beers, distilled spirits and hard ciders that are brewed right in the county. 3BR Distillery in Keyport is known for its Soviet punk-style tasting room, while Cream Ridge Winery has an assortment of fruit-flavored wines, and Little Dog Brewing in Neptune City.
31. Horse around. Colts Neck is known for its horse farms, so take the kids for an afternoon of horseback riding at Sandstone Stables, or sign them up for some lessons at Painted Pony Riding Academy.
32. Take a tour. There are beautiful homes in Freehold Borough, so whether you walk along Main Street or veer off to the side streets, you’ll see porches and balcones and architecture similar to Cape May. Don’t forget to walk toward 64 E. Main St., which was used as the exterior of the house featured in “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.”
33. Show respect. The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located in Holmdel, and although many towns in the county were affected by the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, the largest memorial is located in Middletown at the WTC Memorial Gardens to pay tribute to the 37 lives lost on that fateful day.
34. Start the party. When Grandma is available to babysit, leave the kids at home and go to D’Jais in Belmar. Whether you are going for happy hour, for a drink after a long day at the beach, for their Monday night buffet or for a late-night weekend dance party, it’s a great time near the shore for the over-21 crowd.
35. Don’t worry, be happy. Happy Day Farm in Manalapan buzzes all year with fun for the kids. Aside from selling farm fresh eggs, kettle corn and apple cider donuts from their shack, you can learn about maple sugaring, pick blueberries and grab some freshly cut lavender. In the fall, weekends are filled with festival activities like sunflower picking, a corn maze, spider web climb and giant slide.
36. Pick flowers. Holland Ridge Farms in Cream Ridge is a must-see during peak flower seasons. It’s the most beautiful thing next to Holland you’ll find in the spring for tulips, and then sunflowers come alive during the fall, when you can also see the barnyard animals, shop at the market and take a wagon ride.
37. Sail away. The Belford Ferry departs from a section of Middletown and goes to NYC, so even if you don’t want to commute you can hop on board for a leisurely sail and take in the beauty of both the New York skyline and the Jersey shoreline.
38. Take a hike. The Manasquan Reservoir is a popular trail for walkers, runners and hikers. There is more than 1,200 acres of land here, where you can fish, kayak and even ice skate (when it’s cold enough).
39. Shop ’til you drop. Shopping malls are almost a thing of the past … but not quite yet. Forget your Amazon list and instead go in-person shopping at the Freehold Raceway Mall or the Monmouth Mall in Eatontown. The Jersey Shore Premium Outlets has an array of stores accessible from the outside in Tinton Falls.
40. Swing a club. Monmouth County has a collection of golf courses for the amateur and the pro. Invite your caddy and tee off at Charleston Springs Golf Course in Millstone, Shark River Golf Course in Neptune or Trump National Golf Club in Colts Neck.
41. Say hay! C. Casola Farms offers a hayride come October … but it’s not for the faint of heart. The haunted attraction in Marlboro is filled with twists and turns, plus a haunted barn and a haunted corn maze.
42. Dive into culture. If you’ve seen the iconic “Jay and Silent Bob” movies then you’ll probably want to visit Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash store in Red Bank, a collection of comic books, movie memorabilia and other pop culture items.
43. Mangia some more! There are lots of Italian markets around, like Livoti’s Old World Market (Aberdeen, Freehold, Marlboro, Middletown) and Pastosa (Eatontown and Manalapan), but Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace’s recent opening in Shrewsbury has drawn food lovers from all around the state who don’t want to drive to north Jersey for fresh mozzarella, the butcher shop and homemade desserts.
44. Explore your roots. The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County is located in Mounts Corner, a very historical section of Freehold Twp. You and the kids can learn about the different sects of Jews, the prevalent Jewish population in India and the stitching of military uniforms by the Red Bank Jewish community.
45. Dive into history. The Major John Burrowes Mansion is a timepiece in Matawan: this is where the first New Jersey Company of the Continental Army was formed! The mansion was constructed in 1723 in Georgian style, the home of Burrowes and his family during the Revolutionary War. There are lots of exhibits inside to keep the history of the country alive. The T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center in Red Bank harkens back to the times of slavery; Fortune was a slave but then became a journalist and newspaper publisher.
46. Grab a slice. NJ has hundreds of yummy pizza joints. At a few in Monmouth County, you can make your own. Plan a birthday party at Carlo’s Gourmet Pizza in Marlboro, or for $5 on Tuesdays your kids can make their own masterpiece at Tre Pizza Pasta Beer Garden in Freehold.
47. See the waterfalls. Tinton Falls is named for the beautiful waterfall on Tinton Avenue, which is considered the highest on the Jersey Coastal plain. There’s a wooden platform where you can stand and look down at the falls.
48. Get fort-ified. Fort Hancock and the Sandy Hook Proving Ground National Historic Landmark have a history that dates back to the 1700s. You can tour gun batteries and the historic post as well as enjoy Sandy Hook’s trails and beaches.
49. Come all aboard! The New Jersey Museum of Transportation’s Pine Creek Railroad in Wall Twp. is one of the oldest narrow gauge railways systems in the country. It’s a working museum, meaning that you are experiencing history right in front of you. You can ride the train on weekends, and even plan a birthday party on board.
50. Go back in time. Historic Walnford is a treasure trove in Upper Freehold. The best time to visit is after it snows, when it will look like a Hallmark-esque postcard. But it’s beautiful in the spring, too, with all the beautiful flowers. Step inside to learn about life in the 18th century, the 19th century gristmill, World War I times, World War II autos and more. Special events include tea time, story time, woodworking and old-fashioned fun & games.
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