When you think of the Jersey Shore, what comes to mind?

Spring breakers and party-goers? Ladies dressed to the nines in heels and miniskirts? Maybe just boardwalks and beachgoers?

I had never been to New Jersey before, and I was excited to add a new state to my “visited” list. But the only thing I knew of the state was the famous TV show “Jersey Shore.” Even then, I had never actually watched the show.

But I was well acquainted with the stereotype.

So you can imagine my surprise when I drove into Ocean Grove, NJ, a lesser-known section of the Jersey Shore, and was met with Victorian-style homes and small-town charm. Not a miniskirt or drunk college student in sight. (Shocking, I know.)

I was only in town a few days as part of my visit to Mary’s Place by the Sea. But in those few days, my idea of stereotypical Jersey Shore was proved wrong again and again.

And I loved it. I absolutely loved that I was wrong, that this town was so unlike the stereotype of the rest of the shoreline.

I was regularly greeted with smiles and hellos. There were more families on the beach than trendsetters or those flaunting their summer bods. And should you manage to get up in time for a sunrise, I absolutely recommend it! Sunrise at the beach is beautiful anyway, but I loved that there were several early risers out on the sand or the boardwalk, all waiting reverently for the sun to join them.

Sunrise at the pier. Photo by Beth DeLong

A Bit of History on Ocean Grove, NJ

I think a brief mentioning of the town’s history will help paint the scene of its charm… And explain some of its quirks.

The Methodist Influence

Ocean Grove, NJ owes its humble beginnings to a Methodist campground that was established in 1869. The area was well-shaded and conveniently situated between the two major cities of New York and Philadelphia. As part of the camp meeting movement of the mid-1800s, about 20 tents were pitched, and within a year plans were made to form a permanent town there. Thus the Victorian-style homes and buildings were formed.

Large tabernacles, or open-air wooden shelters, were built as a meeting place for the residents, each one being outgrown as the population grew. The third tabernacle, the Great Auditorium, was completed in 1894, and still stands as a prominent landmark and concert hall in town.

Sticking to the theme of the campground movement, no driving was allowed in town on Sundays (the beach was closed that day as well), and you can still see the gates at the entrances to town where the roads could be blocked to outside traffic.

A Living Time Capsule

All was well and good in town with the residents and tourists until about 1920. At that time, WWI had ended, and people were less interested in the camp meeting style activities. Within a decade the Great Depression would hit. These things combined meant that Ocean Grove had very little development, and the town became a time capsule of sorts for late Victorian and early 20th century construction. In fact, in 1975, Ocean Grove, NJ was deemed a State and National Historic District, and it has the most extensive representation of Victorian and early 20th century architecture in the United States.

Have no fear, laws have since changed, and you can now drive on Sundays. Ocean Grove, NJ remains a dry town, but you can actually order in alcohol from outside the city’s gates, which I find absolutely amusing.

SeaGrass does not skimp on the calamari in their Warm Calamari Salad! Delicious! Photo by Beth DeLong

Tent City

Another fascinating remnant of the town’s history is the tent city that stands near the Great Auditorium. There are 114 canvas tents in the community, some of which are rented out each summer. It’s town tradition, and certainly a unique vacation option. And oh my gosh are some of those tents adorable!

Perhaps one of the more surprising facts is the waitlist to rent (much less buy!) one of these tents. So if you have an interest, you may want to contact the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association sooner rather than later.

Ocean Grove’s Tent City at sunset. Photo by Beth DeLong

Lodging

Because of the longer drive, I arrived in town the day before my stay at Mary’s Place. As such, my first impression of Ocean Grove was the lack of chain hotels in the area as I searched online for that night’s lodging. On the one hand, this is charming and exciting to see small businesses and privately owned boutique hotels rather than huge chains. On the other, it’s a bit more daunting to try and narrow down your choices as you rely on the reviews of previous patrons to help guide your decision.

And since we’re on the topic, I do recommend The Majestic Hotel, which is where I chose for my extra night in town. There are several large porches and common areas, and the metal utensils, glass cups, and ceramic mugs in the rooms bring joy to my little tree hugger heart – baby steps in reducing single-use plasticware. And let’s not forget the bed! Y’all I kid you not, I have never enjoyed a hotel bed and comforter as much as that one! So comfy!

Parking

As you can imagine with its history of driving laws, parking in Ocean Grove is a bit of an issue in the area, especially in summer. The parking is free (yay!) but very limited given the number of hotels and residents.

Regarding beach access, it does cost $9 (at the time of writing) to get a beach permit. BUT this only runs from roughly 9am to 4pm, or as long as they have the booth open. So if you wanted to go enjoy the sunrise or the evening in the sand, you won’t have to pay.

Shopping and Eating

Regarding shopping and eating, there are several options along Main Street.

SeaGrass Restaurant was frequently recommended by locals, and their warm calamari salad was so good! Day’s Ice Cream near the Great Auditorium had a large variety of flavors that all sounded delicious. And the long line out the door proved that they were! And for those of us in need of a caffeine fix, I’d like to suggest Odyssey Coffee. I had planned on stopping in for a drink to help sustain me on my long drive home, but I knew I had to stop in when I found out the owners are also originally from the Columbus, Ohio area. (Represent!)

Enjoying my mocha from Odyssey Coffee! Photo courtesy of Linda Lee.

There’s also a yarn store in town! If you need a restock of yarn for your vacation, you can find Balzac & Co. on Main Street.

And should you run through all your options in Ocean Grove, Asbury Park is a lovely 10-15 minute stroll down the boardwalk. Several other shore towns are also within a short driving distance.

For those of you who have been to Ocean Grove, what are your favorite recommendations? I’d love to hear about any suggestions in the comments below!

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