Ocean Grove-Asbury Park Walk-Tour

With so many really nice guys joining this event, it was well worth all the planning and making this summer day special. A few of us gathered early to try out one of Asbury Parks revamped area local breakfast hot spots. Excellent digs and slick atmosphere. Thank you "TOAST"! This was followed by the rest of the group meeting in front of one of the local LGBTI night clubs where we started our walking tour from  of the area. Wonderful things happening in Asbury Park. The come back this town is doing is amazing. From a boarded up/burned out ocean front town (which however was hopping with tourists before the mid 1970s) to a once again vital summer hot spot at the NJ shore once again. We saw many of the historical buildings from the late 1800s/early 1900s being restored and a board walk that is once again alive and energetic. Though the day was hot and humid, the cool ocean breeze was a great welcome on this long walk through two towns (we scanned the every quaint town of Ocean Grove next door as well). If  you haven't been to Asbury Park, NJ then it's time to find a weekend or day trip to hit the this new LGBTI summer vacation destination (beaches, lots of restaurants on the board walk and in town, bars, theatres, shopping, miles of board walk, biking, boats, historical charm, etc) Thank you guys all once again for participating to make this a super success! 

For those that can get their early, we will meet at Toast the restaurant on Cookman St. for breakfast at 9:30AM. Then at 10:30AM we will meet in front of Paradise/Empress Hotel (LGBTI get-away/club) we will start to meander in and around the streets of beautiful neighboring Ocean Grove, then back down the very much revitalized board walk to historical Convention Hall, Casino Hall, Wesley Grove, Paramount, Berkley Hotel, the famous Tillie Face, Stone Pony, then end up back to the wonderfully revived shopping/restaurant area of Cookman St. In-between we will stop for lunch at either one of the boardwalk restaurants or save our appetite for when we get back up to the Cookman St. area. If possible, I will look into a possible tour of the inside of the Paramount Theatre and or possibly try to have someone join us who can give us some historical tour guiding perhaps. (not promising anything but I will attempt to look into this for us). It's a great spot especially for those in the city who want to get away, it's accessible by train! And you can walk from the train to either Toast (about 5 blocks) or Empress Hotel (about 9 blocks). BTW...If you want to hit the beach later, there is a fee to get a beach tag. Those that may want to go to the beach may want to do this after we walk/tour, before we return up to Cookman Ave to the main town/shopping/restaurant area.

Come see how Asbury Park has recreated itself from years of great despair to a vacation spot once more. And better yet, one with a wonderful LGBTI population. You may even want to spend the weekend to hit the beach and catch some waves later, take in Club Paradise at the Empress Hotel, visit more of the shops in the area and take in a few more of the restaurants that seem to spring up every year. I am sure shows will be going on too during this time of year at the Paramount, Wonder Bar or Stone Pony or other local shore area venues.  There's lots to do there and in the towns north and south of there as well. It's the SHORE! Look up the area and perhaps enjoy a few days, but come sign up for this GO event first to get the weekend started.

Please note that at restaurants, each GO participant will be responsible for paying for all food/drinks they order plus tax and 20% tip!  Bring small bills/change to pay you portion of the bill please (we will not split the bill as some folks drink libations& have extra meal items while others do not)