Asbury Park Shines as New Jersey's Top Beach Town

The Jersey Shore city celebrates its diverse community, vibrant entertainment, and rich musical history.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:50pm

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A highly stylized, geometric illustration in the Art Deco Monumentalism style, featuring sweeping gradients and towering, streamlined forms that capture the scale and energy of a bustling beach town.Asbury Park's vibrant boardwalk and beach scene evoke the grandeur and excitement of a classic Jersey Shore destination.Asbury Park Today

Asbury Park, a city on the New Jersey Shore, has been named the second-best place to live in the state by Travel & Leisure magazine. The city is enjoying a resurgence, with its boardwalk, restaurants, bars, and music venues thriving thanks to its welcoming and diverse community. Asbury Park's rich musical heritage, including its connection to Bruce Springsteen, and its hosting of major events like the See, Hear and Now music festival have also contributed to its recent accolades.

Why it matters

Asbury Park's transformation from a struggling city to a top beach destination highlights the power of community, diversity, and embracing a city's unique cultural assets. The city's success serves as an inspiration for other shore towns looking to revitalize and attract visitors.

The details

Asbury Park has received national recognition for its lively boardwalk, diverse and welcoming community, and thriving entertainment scene. The city's restaurants, bars, and music venues, including iconic spots like the Stone Pony and Wonder Bar, have helped drive its resurgence. Asbury Park has also hosted major events like the See, Hear and Now music festival, which drew over 70,000 attendees to the beach.

  • In August 2025, Asbury Park was named the Best Small Beach Town in the U.S. by Travel & Leisure magazine.
  • Asbury Park was recently named the second-best place to live in New Jersey.

The players

Asbury Park

A city on the New Jersey Shore that has experienced a resurgence, becoming a top beach destination known for its diverse community, vibrant entertainment, and rich musical history.

The Stone Pony

An iconic music venue in Asbury Park that has been named the best bar and best music venue in New Jersey.

The Wonder Bar

A renowned music venue in Asbury Park that has been named the best bar in New Jersey.

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What they’re saying

“Asbury Park has received accolades because the city is enjoying a controlled meteoric rise. Things are working. The entertainment venues are bustling, and the outstanding restaurants and bars are thriving because they offer unique choices with well-prepared offerings.”

— Big Joe Henry, New Jersey 101.5 Weekend Host

What’s next

Asbury Park continues to work on addressing challenges such as parking, as the city aims to build on its recent success and maintain its status as a top beach destination.

The takeaway

Asbury Park's transformation from a struggling city to a thriving beach town showcases the power of embracing a community's diversity, cultural assets, and unique identity. The city's success serves as an inspiration for other shore towns looking to revitalize and attract visitors.