Attractions near Ocean Grove

The Great Auditorium

Sunday services: 10:30 am and 7:30 pm, June 10 - Sept 9. (Casual attire is the norm)
Childcare/Sunday School for children 3-11: 10:15 in the Youth Temple.
Communion service: 9 am at the Tabernacle
Contemporary praise service: 9 am at the Pavilion on the Boardwalk
Choir rehearsal: Sunday morning at 9 am - all singers are welcome to drop in!
(Additional rehearsals are Friday nights, 7:30 and Tuesday nights in July and August)

Special Events

Ocean Grove and Asbury Park host dozens of special events all year round. All summer, fun musical acts visit the Auditorium on Saturday night -- headliners like Tony Bennett, Garison Keilor, Sha Na Na, and the Beach Boys have visited or are on the schedule for this coming summer. In July, there are organ concerts on Wednesday nights and visiting classical performers on Thursday. Visit the Camp Meeting web site for schedules and to order tickets: http://www.ogcma.org The giant flea market and craft show fill the two blocks between the Auditorium and the boardwalk with booths and people. The 800-voice Choir Festival is held the Sunday after the 4th of July weekend -- you'll find me in the alto section. Asbury Park hosts the Bamboozle weekend-long rock concert this May, and a film festival in April. Some of the beautiful Victorian homes in Ocean Grove are opened up in December for a Christmas house walk. The OG Auditorium Ladies' Auxilary runs wonderful events like the book sale, rummage sale, ice cream social, and their famous fish & chips dinners (do NOT forget to buy the onion pies!).

Activities for the younger set

Kids can learn to fish for free Tuesday and Thursday mornings, 7-10 am, July and August. Poles and bait provided, Ocean Grove pier. There are daily craft/Sunday-school activities in Thornley Chapel. A "Junior Lifesaving Program" run by the Camp Meeting Association teaches water safety to children age 6-10 Tuesdays (2:30-3:30) & Saturdays (9:30-10:30) right on the middle beach, and builds their confidence in ocean swimming. Older kids (11 and up) can meet Tuesday & Thursday 1:30-3:30 and Saturday 9:30-10:30. (A fee of $20 will be collected and parental permission must be obtained). If you are here for an extended time, your kids can participate in the annual summer musical. Check the Sunday bulletin or the Camp Meeting web site http://www.ogcma.org for details.

The Beach

Ten adult beach badges are provided - they are kept in the bowl on the desk in the entryway. Additional daily ($7), weekend ($12) or weekly($35) beach badges can be purchased at the Beach Office on the boardwalk at Ocean and Embury Avenues. Badges must be worn by anyone over 12 to get onto the beach during the hours below when lifeguards are on duty:

Memorial Day Weekend thru June 17: Weekends Only
June 18th to September 5st: Monday to Saturday, 9am-5:30pm
Sundays from 12:30pm-5:30pm
Final Weekend: Weekend after Labor Day

Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult to get onto the beach; be sure to keep an eye on them when they are near the water. Always pay attention to the lifeguards when you are in or near the water.

Tide schedules are published in the papers and are posted at the entrance to the beach. Beach towels and a blanket are in the first floor bathroom. Beach chairs are in the hallway closet - store them outside when they are sandy. There's an outdoor hose on the east side of the house. Please try to keep sand outside!

Miniature golf

There are courses on the Boardwalk at Bradley Beach and Asbury Park.

Pinball Hall of Fame (Silverball Museum)

Boardwalk in Asbury Park, opposite Stone Pony. Pay one fee for an hour of play on over 100 vintage pinball machines. 732-774-4994.

Fireworks

Asbury Park, every Wednesday night at 9pm July and August. Good views from OG Boardwalk, best from Asbury. Also on the Fourth of July and Sundays before Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Ghost & Paranormal Pub Tours of Asbury Park

http://www.paranormalbooksnj.com Every Thurs, Fri, Sat night, 8 pm, start at the Paranormal Bookstore, 627 Cookman Ave. (732) 455-3188. Suitable for ages 21 and up only, sorry kids

Bike rentals

You can rent bikes at the hardware store in Ocean Grove, and there are other rental places in Asbury (on Main St. and on the Boardwalk) that rent fancy multi-person "bikes". From May to October, the Boardwalk limits hours for bike riding - check the signs on the Boardwalk.

Fishing

The Ocean Grove Fishing Pier is a "members only" spot - but you can join. (732) 774-3910 Striped Bass, Fluke & Kingfish can be caught right off the jetties! The best time to fish is 5am - 7am and 8 pm. Kids can learn to fish at the pier Tuesday and Thursday mornings, 7-10 am, July and August, poles and bait provided.

Charter/rental boats/Paragliding

Several boats leave from Belmar/Shark River for all day, part day, or overnight trips. Visit www.belmarcam.com/belmarmarina.html . Call 732-681-Ufly for parasailing or visit www.belmarparasail.com/

Pedal Boats on Wesley Lake

Just over the bridge into Asbury. $18 for an hour for two, $20 for three (third seat really fits only a small child). Pick a swan, a dragon, or a pelican.

Tennis & Shuffleboard

There are tennis and shuffleboard courts on the south end of the Grove. Call 732-531-WAVE for information on hours and fees.

Monmouth Park Racetrack

Races are run mid-May through early September. Post time is 12:50, gates open 11:30, races end by 5 or 6. Admission is only $2. Get more information at http://www.monmouthpark.com. Garden State Parkway to Exit 105, to Route 36 East. Follow signs.

Six Flags - Great Adventure & Wild Safari Park, Plus Hurricane Harbor Water Park

The kids will love it! This is the largest Six Flags amusement park in the country. Directions: Six Flags is in Jackson, NJ. Take NJ Turnpike to exit 7A, I-195 east to exit 16A or Garden State Parkway exit 98, I-195 west to exit 16, then one mile west on Rte. 537

Point Pleasant Beach -- Jenkinson's Amusement Park

Rides for all ages, arcade games, fun house, aquarium. Carousel, roller coaster, tilt-a-whirl, tornado, bumper cars. Take Corlies Avenue to Rte 35, go south. Just past the Belmar bridge, turn left on Rte 71. Follow 71 for about 5 miles, then it joins back with 35. Take 35 across the bridge into Pt. Pleasant Beach, stay in the left lane. Make the left jug handle turn a 1/4 mile after the Exxon. Complete the turn and head North on Route 35 and make a right onto Broadway (last right before going over bridge). Take Broadway all the way to the end and follow the right turn lane and make a right onto Ocean Avenue. Stay on Ocean Ave and approximately 1/2 mile up on your left will be the Aquarium parking lot. (about 30 minutes)

Atlantic City

Take a drive south to Atlantic City and try your luck at the casinos or catch a show. Directions: Take Corlies Ave. to the Garden State Parkway, go south to exit 38, take the Atlantic City Expressway to Atlantic City. Takes about 90 minutes.