An Ocean Grove, NJ Shore Vacation

As an early Christmas gift to my wife this year, I decided to make reservations and take her away for a weekend and visit New York City. After spending several hours looking for a place to stay in Manhattan, and realizing it was going to cost around $350.00 per night, I started looking along the Jersey Shore. The Internet had an advertisement for a town on the shore called Ocean Grove, and there was a hotel that looked like a Victorian property that I’m use to seeing in Cape May.

After further investigating, I found that we could stay in Ocean Grove for two nights, with continental breakfast at the Majestic Hotel, which is located ocean block with a great view, for less than one night in Manhattan. There was a train station only two minutes from Ocean Grove, so we were set. The weekend I chose happened to be the Christmas House and Inn tour, which I knew my wife would enjoy.

On the Friday we left, the weather was extremely cold, so we decided to pass on New York City, and possibly go on Saturday, depending on what we found in Ocean Grove. Like many travelers in Central and Northern New Jersey, we normally only stay on the Garden State Parkway, or New Jersey Turnpike when traveling north. We were directed to travel North on the Parkway to Exit 100A and take 33 East to Ocean Grove.

As we exited the Parkway and headed east, we were not impressed with the congestion and commercial businesses on every corner. My initial thought was not good. When we arrived at Ocean Grove and drove through the large pillars that distinguish you are in Ocean Grove, it felt like we went through a time warp and were now in an era of late nineteenth, early twentieth century. Most houses were built over a century ago, and the town had the charm and quaintness of years gone by.

As you head towards the beach you drive through the main section of town with it’s shops and restaurants until you reach the beach block and our Majestic Hotel sits on the corner with it’s Victorian flare. We were greeted by one of the owners, Valerie Hegarty, who welcomed us. We were about three hours early for check in, but she welcomed us and told us that our room was almost ready. By the time we went out to our vehicle to get our luggage, Valerie escorted us to our room and told us she was there for us if we needed anything.

Valerie, and her boyfriend Sean Holmes, purchased the Majestic Hotel less than a year ago. Both were in the Hotel business and had experience in this field. She decided to leave her job in New York and operate the property during the week, and Sean would join her on the weekends. Although Valerie had only been in Ocean Grove a short period of time, she was extremely knowledgeable on Ocean Grove and the surrounding area.

The Majestic Hotel, although called a hotel, is more like a Bed & Breakfast. With only nine rooms, but a full service restaurant, this property was extremely impressive. Our room had every amenity we would have expected, and then some. The room was very spacious, the bathroom had tiled floors and walls, and we had a small kitchen area with a small refrigerator, coffee maker, and counter and cabinets. The room offered bathrobes, bottled water, and other little personal items that most properties don’t offer.

Valerie informed us on the History of Ocean Grove and how the Methodist Church purchased the land many years ago as a summer camp and retreat. She explained to us about the house and Inn tour, and recommended a great local lunch spot for us to eat. Her favorite in town was the “Starving Artist”, which we went to and had a wonderful lunch.
My wife and I spent the afternoon shopping in some of the fine shops in town. Maureen wanted to get some Christmas shopping taken care of, and the shops offered some unique gifts that you would not find at the mall.

After spending an afternoon of eating, and strolling through town, we went back to the Majestic and relaxed while trying to decide where to go for dinner. Valerie made several suggestions and we choose one in Asbury Park called Moon Struck. This restaurant was located in an old Victorian Home with a water view. Our meal was great and we enjoyed the atmosphere and service the restaurant offered.

Since everything in Ocean Grove was going very well, we decided to skip New York City and concentrate on Ocean Grove and the surrounding area. I started my morning with a sunrise walk along the boardwalk in Ocean Grove. As I watched the sun rise, I felt a sense of calmness and peace in this town that was different from most. The boardwalk did not have the commercial properties lining it, but was very sparse with a fishing pier and white sandy beach.

After our relaxed continental breakfast in our room, we set off to tour the homes and Inn’s in Ocean Grove. There were many properties on the tour, and everything was within walking distance as long as you enjoyed walking. We’ve been on house tours before and to our surprise, this tour had ample properties and it gave you two days to enjoy them at your own pace. We had several other things we wanted to do on Saturday, so we wasted no time going through all of the houses and Inn’s.

Almost everyone offered their guests some kind of food or drink. A few places had soups or chili to sample, which warmed us as we walked in cold temperatures. Every property had informative hosts that gave us all the information we asked about. We walked away feeling we knew what Ocean Grove was all about.

In the late afternoon, we drove north on the coast and visited other towns on the Jersey Shore that we had only heard of. Valerie gave us a crinkled, ripped, map that was her favorite for guests because it spelled out exactly where you were going with little need for gas station directions. Once again she suggested stops we should make which were perfect for what we were looking for.

After driving through several towns with beautiful homes and views, our first stop was the Pier Village, located in Long Branch. Valerie told us there were several shops and restaurants. We ate a late lunch at the “Avenue”, which was located with an ocean view. Afterwards, we walked through some of the specialty shops, where some Christmas gifts were purchased.

We continued our drive north until we reached Sandy Hook, and then we went west through Rumsford. We made several stops and then headed back to Ocean Grove. Our day was complete and we felt we had a new opinion on the Central and Northern Jersey Shore.

After another walk on the boardwalk and our continental breakfast, we packed our bags on Sunday and thanked Valerie for her hospitality and her knowledge on the area. We left Ocean Grove and drove south along the coast. Just a few miles south of Ocean Grove we found another town, Spring Lake, which was as fabulous as you could find. We picked up a brochure for a B&B, and made a commitment to ourselves to come back to this area in the summer for another visit.

Ocean Grove is a town that everyone should visit. With it’s quaintness and friendliness, its quiet, clean streets, it allows you to take a break from everything and step back and relax and enjoy. To contact the Majestic Hotel, which I highly recommend, you can do so at 1-732-775-6100, or www.majesticoceangrove.com. Tell Valerie we sent you!!!