One of the great things about going to school in the Monmouth area is its location. It’s only a short train ride away from New York City, and when the weather’s nice, you can go to the beach. As a senior, I can say that during my freshman year, it was hard to find things to do on the weekend when you’re new to the area.
However, it doesn’t take long to learn about and experience all of the places this area has to offer. The neighboring towns offer many places that students love to venture to after class or on the weekends. Whether they are clothing stores, fun activities, or great restaurants and bars, there is always something to do.
There are so many great restaurants, bars, and diners to go to that will shortly become one of your favorite places to grab food. The best thing about this area is the amazing food. A common favorite restaurant is MeeMom’s in Wall, NJ It is the perfect place to go to for brunch because it has a variety of French toast and amazing sandwiches. Another great restaurant and bar to go to is Tommy’s Tavern & Tap in Sea Bright. They have a huge selection, from amazing freshly made pizzas to delicious burgers. Its rustic atmosphere makes it a really cool place to meet up with friends. When it comes to breakfast, one of my favorite places to go in the area is Amy’s Omelette House in Long Branch, which is popular for its large selection of omelettes.
Finding new things isn’t hard to do in Asbury Park because there are a lot of amazing places to go. Erin Shevlin, senior communication student, said, “One of my favorite places to go to in the Monmouth area is Asbury Park. There is always something to do which makes it the perfect place to go to when you want to go out with your friends.” Asbury Alehouse is one of my favorite restaurants. It has amazing burgers and appetizers. Matthew Lawrence, specialist professor of communication, said, “La Tapatia in Asbury is one of my favorite Mexican places to go to in this area.” Asbury has a lot more to offer than just restaurants and bars. Lawrence added, “House of Independents just opened in Asbury and is a venue that usually has different things like concerts going on during the week.”
Other than restaurants, there are many places to go to and have fun with friends. Emily Shapiro, senior communication student, said, “Pinot’s Palette is a newer concept where you and your friends go to a paint studio, bring wine, and paint a picture. I go to the studio located in Manalapan and it is a great time. You need to sign up online because classes fill up fast.”
Even a couple of minutes away in Ocean, there are fun things to do when you want to kill a couple of hours and don’t want to go too far. Shapiro said, “Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Ocean is not only great for children, but is also so much fun for adults. This trampoline park is filled with trampolines and obstacle courses to get you and your friends active.”
There are many opportunities to go to different places for shopping. In Red Bank, there are not only small boutiques like Lucki Clover but there are also popular stores like Urban Outfitters that can be a fun way to spend the day.
These are just a few places out of many that can be a lot of fun for you and your friends. During these years at the University, it is important to see the great things this area has to offer because you may miss out on some really great experiences. So grab your friends and explore all of the new places you’ve never been.
IMAGE TAKEN from meemoms.com
