Closest decent beach (Long Branch, Point Pleasant, Asbury Park: live, park, area)

[millerm277]

Originally Posted by Stechkin

so is long branch less crowded than sandy hook?

On the weekends, I'd certainly so. On the weekdays, eh, it doesn't really matter where you go, nothing is terribly crowded.

If you go to Sandy Hook, I suggest going to North Beach, it's further out, and a bit of a hike from the parking lot when you get there, both of which usually mean it's the least crowded of the beach areas there.

[CaptainNJ]

but is sandy hook crowded on weekends?

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by CaptainNJ

but is sandy hook crowded on weekends?

In January? No.

Neither is West End beach. Here's what it looks like at dawn on New Year's Day:



And here's Sandy Hook at sunrise on Christmas Day. Not crowded at all. Of course, it was overcast.

[Mightyqueen801]

Long Branch is kind of empty on September 17th, too, at sunset:

[Mightyqueen801]

And one more taken on that bleak Christmas dawn in 2011, but it shows just what a narrow slice of land Sandy Hook really is. View is from Mt. Mitchill in Highlands.

[Stechkin]

is there anyth closer or these two are the best bet?

[JerseyGirl415]

Originally Posted by Retriever

Only if you are holding the map upside down...

Actually, since Sandy Hook is so out there, it does take me longer to get there than it would Long Branch. Geographically, it's closer, but the road getting there has too many lights, then there's traffic, then there's driving the peninsula to the beach you want… Long Branch winds up being a quicker drive each time I go from Union County.

OP, I love Seven President's beach in Long Branch. I like Sandy Hook for only a few hours, mostly laying in the sun or for the natural setting. For a beach day, I pick Seven Presidents as my go to.

Sea Bright, as MightyQueen mentioned, is also a very nice beach and area, and like MQ also said, between Sandy Hook and Long Branch.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by Stechkin

is there anyth closer or these two are the best bet?

Closer to what? I thought you were coming from the north.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by JerseyGirl415

Actually, since Sandy Hook is so out there, it does take me longer to get there than it would Long Branch. Geographically, it's closer, but the road getting there has too many lights, then there's traffic, then there's driving the peninsula to the beach you want… Long Branch winds up being a quicker drive each time I go from Union County.

OP, I love Seven President's beach in Long Branch. I like Sandy Hook for only a few hours, mostly laying in the sun or for the natural setting. For a beach day, I pick Seven Presidents as my go to.

Sea Bright, as MightyQueen mentioned, is also a very nice beach and area, and like MQ also said, between Sandy Hook and Long Branch.

The trouble with Sea Bright is that it suffered terrible damage in Sandy. It was still pretty depressing to drive through in May.

[Stechkin]

Originally Posted by JerseyGirl415

Actually, since Sandy Hook is so out there, it does take me longer to get there than it would Long Branch. Geographically, it's closer, but the road getting there has too many lights, then there's traffic, then there's driving the peninsula to the beach you want… Long Branch winds up being a quicker drive each time I go from Union County.

OP, I love Seven President's beach in Long Branch. I like Sandy Hook for only a few hours, mostly laying in the sun or for the natural setting. For a beach day, I pick Seven Presidents as my go to.

Sea Bright, as MightyQueen mentioned, is also a very nice beach and area, and like MQ also said, between Sandy Hook and Long Branch.

ok thanks

Originally Posted by Mightyqueen801

Closer to what? I thought you were coming from the north.

to me