Monmouth County Chamber of Commerce

On the narrow peninsula between the Shrewsbury River and Atlantic surf, lies Monmouth Beach, a quiet community of single-family homes set off by high-rise condos overlooking the ocean. Sprawling Victorian homes along Ocean Avenue hark back to the heyday of the Jersey Shore when New York millionaires and high-level politicos - including a few presidents - from Washington, DC summered in 25-room "cottages" all along the coast. Most are long gone, but some fine examples of Jersey Shore cottage architecture live on in Monmouth Beach.

The late-nineties multi-million dollar beach replenishment program brought a renaissance in summer attractions for fishermen and sun worshippers. Not only is the beach back on a large scale, it has its own summer residents, palm trees. Membership in the town-operated MB Bathing Pavilion is open, for a fee, to out-of-towners as well as residents. Free beach access is available over the seawall stairs across from the MB Cultural Center which offers many varied programs and a fascinating archive of Jerseyana