Visiting Jersey Shore During COVID-19

Our third summer living in Jersey was here and we still had not made it out to see any of the beaches yet. The first summer was filled with the excitement and craziness of moving across the country from Texas, the second summer (can you call a 10 day break a summer?) was taken up by a whirlwind trip back to the Motherland (Taiwan), and the third summer was upon us. COVID-19 has definitely made this summer one to remember. With proper social distancing precautions, masks on, and sunscreen slathered, we ventured out to…^^drumroll^^… The Shore.

We planned to pass through Edison, NJ on the drive south towards the water, and were not about to pass up the magic that is Coco’s– a Malaysian/Thai restaurant with Chinese flair (I’m pretty sure everyone who works/cooks there is Chinese). The selection of Southeast Asian cuisine around where we live has been a bit disappointing, so we don’t ever miss the opportunity to chow if passing through Edison! In what is quickly becoming the classic COVID-era dining style in our car, we ate from little boxes perched on laps in the shade of a tree in the parking lot. And yes, these boxes were selected specifically for this purpose.

With bellies and hearts full, we set off again for our destination — Asbury Park Boardwalk! Of note— we didn’t plan to get on the beach or in the water this time, but if you are a beach-lover make sure you check online to get a beach pass and comply with any new rules, especially during these crazy times. Beach passes do sell out especially on weekends so plan ahead to avoid disappointment!

Asbury Park Boardwalk was super fun, laid-back, and small enough to explore in a day. The north end has a small collection of partly indoor (and thankfully air-conditioned) shops and eateries. We stopped by Urban Pops for a popsicle that promptly began melting at such an alarming rate we must have looked ridiculous trying to catch all the drippage.

As the afternoon heat intensified, we sought shade and found ourselves at Beach Haus Brewery in Belmar. Life in this little beach town is so different from life in bustling Manhattan! Here everyone was in bikinis and flip flops, their sun-bleached pastel cruiser bikes fitted with surfboard racks, with sandy-footed puppies trotting alongside. A couple of beers on the patio while people watching made for the perfect end of our day.