Ocean Grove

Take Me Back to Ocean Grove, We'll Get There Easy and We'll Take It Slow....

Ocean Grove Beach, New Jersey

Ocean Grove is slowly becoming one of my favorite beach getaways that do not need a plane ticket and it's not necessarily just for the summer.  I am falling love with the town in it self.  Maybe its the largest neighborhood of Queen Anne Victorian houses in the country.  Maybe its the neighboring towns of Asbury Park that is making a comeback or Allenhurst that of home that put the show Downton Abby to shame but there is certainly something about this little New Jersey beach town that is extra charming.

Allenhurst, New Jersey

I first rediscovered this town from my childhood when I started making pilgrimages back to Ocean Town Ship where I had spent my formative years in a sleepy cove named Elberon.  I main train stop where in the 19 century you were greeted by horse driven carriages to take you to your summer chalet.

Quaker Inn, Ocean Grove

It was only when a friend had bought a home in Asbury Park at the time, very cheaply I might add that I began to venture out by bicycle that I came across the beach town lost in time.

Somewhere between Asbury Park and Bradley Beach is a a little town that was founded by American Methodist Church.  In fact, it is the oldest Methodist settlement in America.  While you may certainly buy a home here; the land itself is owned by the church.  There is a 99 year lease signed when purchasing the home in where you must resign a new lease once you have lived over the 99 years.

Ocean Grove Main Street

You would think that might sound Orwellian but it works out nicely.  The town has been nicely preserved.  If  a house becomes unlivable or a fire takes it away you must follow strict guidelines when building again.  Main Avenue, while small has very cute shops as you would find in a town like this.  Nagles is a staple in the community, it used to provide pharmacy service and double as an ice cream shop.  It had changed hands only a few times and still functions selling ice cream and works as a diner.

Ocean Grove Summer Tent Beach Cabins

Young adults riding down the streets on skate boards chewing bubble gum with little ones in pig tails following on tricycles gives you a sense of another time.  This definitely resonates with the senior crowd on a random Friday night pull out the old key board and sit on a random stoop and sing the classics.

While the beach might make Miami Beach look like an abandoned desert, patiently you will find a spot with some careful planning, especially on the weekend.  Don't miss out next summer on the delights of the easy summer breeze of Jersey and maybe some Beach Boys ABBA, Air Supply - they play at the Methodist Hall from time to time.

UMC Hall circa 1894

Hiking the Peaks Surrounding Putnam County, New York

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

For years I have taken the Metro North for day trips up the Hudson River and marveled at the mountains that cover the landscape of New York State.  I would watch people get on at Grand Central in hiking shorts and back packs and think to myself these people are freaks. I mean, you work hard all week to then work harder on the weekends with exercise? I would even see mountain bikes and protective gear.  People are going out for day trips two hours out of the city for this? I can't believe this also is a weekend getaway thing but alas there are people who travel with just a backpack, water, wallet and a change of underwear for these types of trips. No thank you sir, that's a little hardcore for me but a day trip, yes ma'am!

Storm King Mountain was named after by a proposal for the name by 19th century writer Nathaniel Parker Willis.  Willis was quoted saying -

"The tallest mountain is...looked upon as the most sure fore teller of a storm.  When the white cloud-beard descends upon his breast in the morning...there is sure to be a rain-storm before night. Standing aloft before other mountains in the chain, this sign is peculiar to him.  He seems the monarch, and this seems his stately ordering of a change in the weather.  Should not STORM-KING, then, be his proper name?"

That's right on target with those clouds, seeing how I was once trapped on another mountain as its beard swallowed up the the mountains' tah-tahs.  Ah, poison ivy on the eye. There is nothing like it.

• Note: When you are caught in a storm and take cover under a rock, there is a great possibility the run-off from the mountain will drizzle off the rock into your eye! Viola! Maybe check the weather on your phone app before trying to be a hero.  It might save a trip to the doctors office.

Having said that, Storm King is a great place to start if you are not an avid climber. There are basic trails but you do need to pay attention when having to climb on a slight incline now and again. This loop around the mountaintop is very rewarding by means of not being a long hike at all.  The bonus is in the view, of course.  This is an easy day trip by train or car.  I recently drove south along Storm King Mountain and wrote an article about it. I must say at 200 meters above sea level, the views are amazing.

• Note: When taking a train to the City of Beacon you will have to take a cab across Beacon-Newburgh Bridge to Storm King Mountain.  A car might be the better bet after all.  Being on the opposite side of the river where Metro North tracks are prove driving oneself to this adventure is easier and cheaper in the long run. What Uber driver wants to pick you up 410 meters above sea level?

***

My first indoctrination into becoming one of these weirdo hikers was Mt. Taurus. The stop is Cold Springs Train Station where you arrive in a beautiful quaint town from another era.  A recent article of mine covered my love affair with this town. One can stop and have a light lunch at any of the cafe's that line Main Street next to antique shops but don't let that distract you for long. There is a mission and that mission is to climb a mild but long trek up Mt. Taurus.  This has been a staple for myself for years. I spend more time midway on a rock that appears to look more like a couch then ever climbing to the top.  I sit on my couch rock and take in the view like a couch potato would be glued to a TV screen.  You cannot get better than this.  Just make sure that you are with trusting, faithful friends. Your feet literally dangle off the ridge that goes several hundred feet down to an abandoned quarry.  

Go on, stretch your legs and take in all that nature goodness!

Flatironbetty at Mt Taurus 2012

***

My last consideration and one that I have not taken yet is actually a quite popular hike for the Tri-state area.  It's even open on the evening of July 4th.  Many hikers may enjoy the fireworks above the river from neighboring towns.  You can see almost 5 towns away all the star spangled display.

Break Neck Ridge is a great place but as you can see from the video below, is a little more on an incline and a very narrow path.  I have friends in the 70's who make their way up in about two hours and then climb down to the neighboring town of Cold Springs for lunch. So this is doable by anyone not minding a little concentration with footsteps and pacing.  The views are amazing any season from photos I have seen.  I must confess that fall is my jam but again don't let the winter barren trees persuade you to stay away. It's a fantastic morning hike from what I have been told.  This is another great view of seeing the winding Hudson River as it makes its way up to the Canada and down to New York City.  

• Fun Fact: The Hudson is considered an estuary because the currents run both north and south.

Get out and hike today in New York State.  Who knows? We might meet one day while I'm twirling and singing The Sound Of Music somewhere on a mountaintop near the Hudson River.

Ladies, Liquor, Law and the Lord: A Look at Ocean Grove, New Jersey

A Dry Town on Jersey Shore?

If you ever want to stretch your legs for the weekend and sit on a porch of a Victorian style bed and breakfast on beachfront property, I recommend Ocean Grove, New Jersey.

This summer I got to experience this quaint historical town just two hours outside New York City.  If you choose to take the NJ Transit train you can sit back and take in the sights of neighboring towns filled with seaside manors of Elberon, Allenhurst, and Deal before getting off the train at Asbury Park.

This jewel of town started out as a Victorian-era camp meeting site for the United Methodists of America in the 19th century.  The land itself is still owned by the church.  This means you can buy a house in Ocean Grove but you lease the land for 99 years before returning it to the town.  It's odd for me to comprehend but I suppose instead of property taxes to the government, you are pay a leasing fee to the city.  Don't quote me on that.

Everywhere you look is a Victorian style residence.  The town claims to be the largest neighborhood of Victorian style homes in the Northeast and I believe them.  You walk ten blocks in any direction and are inundated with Mansard roofs or Queen Anne style homes with some blend of pink or purple in the moldings.

This summer the Township of Ocean Historical Museum put on an exhibit that presented women of the Methodist Church that owned their own businesses and/or were leaders in the community.  Yes, before 20th century feminism ladies like Amanda Smith inspired both black and white women by being a preacher and traveling the world. She made her way through Ocean Grove to share her stories during summer camp with other Methodist women.  She started numerous charities to help disadvantaged children and left a legacy for those to follow in her footsteps.

There are many women who worked around the Ocean-township dry town. It seemed women had more power because of it.  They were were privately owned inn keepers and young professionals that took care of the people.

While most Ocean Grove Methodists lived elsewhere and gathered here only for the summer. It eventually became a year round residence for all kinds of folks.

The town itself is still dry.  This means you cannot buy alcohol ANYWHERE in town. OK, before you freak out, you can walk over to Asbury Park.  This is literally a two minute walk.  Then, make your way to the nearest wine store and Voila booze yourself sideways to your hearts content.

The rules are laxed when it comes to 'in town' wine tastings and, of course, having a gathering at one's home.  If you rent a house or even a room you needn't worry by sitting under the table with a flashlight and flask.

You can still see the remnants of the gate that used to surround Ocean Grove when you stroll to the outer parameter. These were efficient in stricter times.  Up until the 1970's the town used to lock up and have night watchman let "year round residents in." This was a century old way of protecting the town from outside "sinners."  My grandfather, a World War II vet from South Amboy, used to sit in his Buick with a Michelob and a cigar on the Asbury Park side making fun of them, classy guy.  Sigh. I miss him.

I must say though, this did come in handy when Asbury Park, a once seaside resort town for the wealthy, took a downward spiral in that same decade.  Now as the neighboring towns have come back in recent years with city folk buying up and rehabilitating once dilapidated houses. The town of Ocean Grove is attracting more and more visitors every year. Many of the old residences have been bought up and chopped into condos or bed and breakfasts.

There are plenty of inns to pick from. My favorite are the "Inns of Ocean Grove."  They are pretty cheap in the off season.  Having said that, there are not many places you can stay in luxury and pay under 200 a night for a weekend in peak season right across from the beach. So forget Cape May before the summer is gone. Check out this boozeless, hip town that supported broads to do something with themselves long before Friedan or Steinem.

Check out the history. Check out the beach!

The Little Explorer in Me

Why Am I Such An Explorer?

This traveling blogger started her adventures around four years of age. She lived for the first few years of her life in a small coastal town not very far away. It had much history and was well lived in by a few generations.

She started by visiting with Oma, the elderly Russian woman whose backyard was adjacent to hers.  Sneaking around the fence from the side with a hole big enough for a little one to sneak through, she would crawl down on her knees to get the vegetable garden Oma kept.  Once through the fence, the little girl would walk through the patch of tomatoes, lettuce, and sunflower stalks that were so high they were touching the sun.

Ariel View of Elberon, New Jersey

She marveled at the colors and the smells of the garden.  This was her first experience of the outside world by herself.  There were no adults, nobody holding her hand or talking over her four year old inquisitiveness. She knew that the outside world, away from her own boring realm of cartoons, naps and playtime in a guarded area of the house could have possibilities of sights, smells, and activities that were beyond her imagination.

One day she decided to ride her red tricycle through Oma’s garden.  This took her through the yard to the driveway that led to the street on the other side of the house.  She felt empowered and not afraid to ride down the sidewalk past unfamiliar houses that would lead her to that next adventure.  Just like Pippi Longstocking, Alice and Wonderland or little Jackie Paper (friend of Puff the Magic Dragon) she would meet new friends and have those memories of merriment to carry all her life into the boring adulthood that she saw all around her in the grownups that she knew.

Elberon Train Station

She made it all the way to the train tracks, looked both ways, and crossed over.  She was of course a mature, responsible four-year old.  No one understood how articulate she was but just like any other life form on the planet, she could figure things out.

She rode past the stable of beautiful mares looking perplexed as this little human rode by on that red tricycle and waved, “Hi horsey’s!”  The beach was two blocks away and the smell of pine and salt water inspired her to keep peddling.

The little girl made her way to a firehouse with the fireman washing the big red truck.  “My bike is red is too,” she said.  A young fireman smiled and looked over her head.  She knew in her little mind he was looking for an adult that should have been minding her.  She waved and mentioned she was running an errand for her mother and quickly rode away. 

Elberon Firehouse and Drug Store

The excitement of being sneaky was overwhelming but the little one realized she was testing the limits of freedom that day.  That didn’t mean she couldn’t stop at the candy store with a few pennies she found in the yard. Afterwards, it was a nod at the tracks, look both ways, and ride as fast as she could all the way home.

This time she rode down the street she lived on. The little girl rode up to her front yard where she was met by the towering hedges.  A great place to hide a bicycle, she thought, as she heard her mom walking in those platform sandals clonking down the driveway. 

The little girl stood on the sidewalk and pretended she was playing hopscotch as her mom grabbed her hand and said to her, “Dear, you shouldn’t play outside the yard where mommy can’t see you.” The little girl responded, “I’m sorry mommy. I was playing hide and seek again with my (pretend) friend Marsha.”

She then was whisked inside for another bout of a cartoon afternoon.  She reveled in the excitement of the next sneaky adventure to come.

Now, to my readers: This is an actual event that I have a clear memory of from childhood.  I am sure this inspired my adventurous side.  I thank God everyday, I was never harmed and it goes to show you, how easy a child can wander out of eyesight.  Either way, I learned early on that outside play and fresh air when we are young could inspire our adventurous side the rest of our lives.

Enjoy Living.

Get Outta Town With The MTA!

Fall in love with Autumn in Duchess County 

The season is upon us and I want to share with you a little known secret that I have known for years. 

The MTA has getaway packages for day and weekend trips for sale! Right now!

Traditionally, they were set for just the fall season.  However, they have expanded and added museum, attraction and festival visits for all year round.

This is, in fact, how I became enamored with the state of New York's country side.  All you must do is purchase a ticket, get on the train and a tour bus will be waiting when you arrive an hour later in upstate New York (in some cases an hour in a half)

The MTA has been in cahoots with Duchess County tourism board for over ten years.  They offer a multitude of day trips starting at the end of August.

A typical trip will have 3 stops in day.  They will include a visit to small historical towns like Millerton, Rhinebeck, or Beacon. 

This will be followed by an encounter at a farm with piggy’s, cows and chicks waiting for hands for petting ( ex. McEnroe Farms).

Then, will be topped off with a tour of a vineyard (ex. Millbrook), maple syrup farm (ex. Madava), a distillery (ex. Duchess Spirit’s) or of course apple picking (ex. Meade Orchards).

Yes, you will do all this via tour bus and will be back on a train headed to the city by 6pm.  It doesn’t seem possible because the scheduling seems a little crammed but it is a quite lovely relaxing day.

Don’t forget the amazing views of the mountain ranges and valleys right off the country lane as you are driven from each location.

For a few years I have made my own itinerary and now travel via car.  I also book on AirBnB so I can take my wine, cheese, chocolates from local vender's of the day back to a quaint room to relax so I may possibly take in more sights the next day. 

Eventually, as you become more acclimated to different sites you will feel more comfortable to do the same.  As New Yorkers, it can be stressful to just want to get out of your head for the day or the weekend.  Instead, you find your face in a map or glued to the GPS on your dashboard nervous you've missed a turn to a place out in the middle of nowhere you have never been before.

Calgon… I mean MTA, take me away!

Note: If anyone takes my advice and uses this opportunity to travel outside the city, I will gladly post your trip as a guest blogger in the fall. Looking forward to hearing from you and enjoy!

Picnic for the Cheap and Bougie

How to pack for a bougie (ˈbo͞oZHē/) picnic on the cheap

First of all, let’s just give an Amen to the Almighty Trader Joe’s for art thou this great feast would never be upon us!

It is the little things that make a great day in the park, minus the bologna and mustard on stale white bread, that make all things better.

Can I just add before we begin that having the basic accoutrements before packing will make things go a lot easier? Before buying for the date in question, please think about keeping a few things for use during the year in your cabinet; picnic basket, insulated lunch bag and condiments stored accordingly. I always keep olives, grainy mustard, honey, fresh herbs, and jams on hand.  I usually buy seasonal for snacks for home light bites.  You cannot go wrong with soft cheese and jams instead of excess sugar for a midnight snack.

First you need a picnic basket and insulated lunch bag.

A basket that comes with glassware, silverware and plates will add a little bit of style when outdoors. You need to remember that anything refrigerator worthy needs to be packed responsibility.  No salmonella cases please.

Insulated lunch bag will set you back about 3 dollars at most drug stores. This filled with ice packs will determine if your salami stays fresh.  Who doesn’t want their salami to be fresh? You might not eat right away when spending time outside. Remember, ice is nice!

Now, getting back to Trader Joe’s.

If you are on a budget and when I say budget about twenty bucks comes to mind. You need to stretch those dollars but still look like a fancy pants when dining alfresco.  At Trader Joe's, cheeses are below market value and from time to time sold in combinations. This can run you about a whole five bucks.  There are combo crackers that run two dollars. They sell four variations of crackers in one box. 

Salami with infused truffle oil, anyone?  Between that and the three buck chuck cabernet, you will still have enough left over to buy flowers at the front of the store. A brick of chocolate and maybe some fruit for a few dollars more.

Now for the ambiance!

Invest in a good picnic clothe.  The answer is yes.  Yes, you should spend (ahead of time) a few dollars on cloth napkins.  Whether it’s wine or mustard that dribbles, the product Shout Out will remove any stain applied within 48 hours.

A sprig of rosemary or basil placed on your hors d’oeuvres tray and a canister with slices of cucumber, mint and lime poured into portal plastic wine glasses will create elegant snacking. Flowers can be stored along with dry goods and wine in basket.

Wind Chimes! Yes, you can.  If you plan on being near trees, nothing will say I need to adopt a cat and try more online dating than bringing chimes to hang above you and your dining companion.

Set Up:

When spreading out the blanket make sure to use jackets, shoes or any loose items to hold the ends down. This will prevent wind kicking it up.  Have a smaller round or square clothe to lay in the center of the blanket for food to be placed on.  It will help from keeping spills off the blanket and create a table optic. When setting up the basket, use the closed top to lay food on so ants won’t get ideas. Also, put the basket at the bottom of the blanket to give you some privacy for at least one side.  Nosey Nancy’s always want to bring down the party with comments on how many calories your lunch is while walking their schnauzer. Thank you but I didn’t ask.

Remember coffee mugs are always an option if in a state run park that frowns on open containers of alcohol.  Flasks are coming back in style and don’t have the hobo appeal they did a decade ago.

Look, we are all adults here.  Don’t try to pretend you have never shared a forty in a paper bag with a friend on the D train to Coney Island. Possibly trying to conceal it in your Vera Bradley overnight bag. Just be conscious and smart about your choices of whether or not you should sweep the legs of the owner of the schnauzer.  After all, this is supposed to be bougie day in the park celebrating all things that are elegant.

Now where is the music?  Cue soft music from cell phone that is cohesive with the birds chirping and Bon Appetite!

North Fork Wineries of Long Island

The Winery Whining of North Fork

Or as we called them by the end of the day “the vineries of North Fork, Long Island.”  Let’s just start off by saying when you are traveling with group or even by yourself – three vineyards please.  Three is the magic number when deciding to spend a day in the country and go from one vineyard to another.  Now I am not saying four is that terrible but if you are given the choice to either taste or try a full glass of this year’s pinot, there is not enough complimentary cheese to soak that buzz up without a lunch involved.

We started out the day with a lovely trip to Dilberto’s Winery.  Located in Jamestown a few blocks from the Main Road; literally, the name is Main Road. I will eventually take you to one of the most eastern points of Long Island which is Greenport. Dilberto’s is a nice start to a very, very, very long day of drinking – I mean tasting wine.  You can order a nice thin crust pizza that Italy would be proud of.  You even get the offering to pay an extra 5 dollars to take home the wine of your choice.  If you don’t mind previously opened bottles that were poured into one.  Who cares? Doesn’t the alcohol kill all the germs anyway.  And what germs?  Who is directly drinking from the bottle? Not me, yet.

Oh, did I mention the air-conditioned table area?  This was very key to the rest of our day.

We then made our way to Jason’s Vineyard. It was set up like a party scene with tour buses and limos for bridal parties backing up the drive way. However, we were still able to maneuver into a parking spot and walk in unscathed.  This place encourages byof – food.  We had decided to bring some grapes, cheese, salami, and crackers because that’s how Italians roll on car trips. The vineyard did offer an amazing cheese selection. We chose a

creamy Havarti.  The inside was a bit livelier and air-conditioned but we decided to go outside where the band was going to play. Other than the porch area, there was no real coverage from the blaring sun. The picnic area had just a few strips of cloth on lines tied to poles near the vineyard. So melting in the summer heat, eating warm cheese and smelling farm animals (picnic area next to goat pen) took its toll on my sensitive prone migraine symptoms.

The third was a little further down the road in Cutchogue; Pugliese’s Vineyards.  Can I just say, hands down, best one yet? I can’t understand when I looked online how it got low ratings as being one of the smaller vineyards in the area. I was pretty big and secluded from what I saw.

Now keep in mind, from where we began, every sign on Main Road in the Northfork is a friggin vineyard. We must have passed 30 by time we got to our third destination.

I know I haven’t mentioned much about the wine.  You want to know why? Because after the first stop you can’t taste anything anymore.  It doesn’t matter how many crackers you stuff in your mouth.  Ok, if you twist my arm, I’ll say Dilberto’s red table wine.  The magical mixture of God knows what thus far was pretty tasty.  In fact, it’s sitting my fridge right now.

Ok getting back to Pugliese’s.  First of all, ample parking.  No matter how many limos, yes I know again with the limos.  Who are these women? Doesn’t anybody go to Atlantic City anymore?

Coverage?  Perfection.  A huge trellis that could easily fit 200 people under it comfortably. Grapes were dangling over us giving us a very picturesque atmosphere.  The pond with a fountain and swimming koi set the bar for the day.  We ordered a bubbly red.  I am a fan of chilled Lambrusco in the summer and this hit the spot.  Not because I could actually taste anything because I was passed 3 sheet...but because it was cold and refreshing and went great with my migraine medication.

The band played rock that I like; none of that new mumbo jumbo stuff. I heard James Taylor, Stevie Nicks and some good ol Boz Scaggs.  Ah Yayeh!

It was a pretty sunny day.  With some voting, it was unanimous that the fourth “vinery” (Webster’s, your welcome) was probably not needed.  Especially, because the inside area of the vineyards accommodations looked like a utility shed.  We aren’t going to name the vineyard because we feel sorry for the persons who bought it.  Apparently, it was a recent purchase.  When you list in the menu the notes of the wine but decided to replace all the “wine speak” with” nice taste,” “a great accent to any dish” or “great for gatherings,” methinks you don’t really know a lot about what you are growing.

Also, would it kill you to put the wires to the household appliances away.  I thought while sitting on the stool a guy in overalls was going to come out and tell me I needed an oil changed and my suspension was busted.

At this point, we could have just spit the wine into the air like lawn sprinkler. We were so done with the tastings.  Plus side: we did get three free bottles with our Groupon.  I have no idea what the notes or after taste was as they are sitting in a cabinet waiting to mixed for Sangria eventually.

The only after taste I remember is stuffing my face with fried fish for dinner and anything else greasy I could get my hands on.

So remember, vineyards are a staple in our culture to partake in enjoyment and spending time with others in the beautiful countryside. 

Just remember. you don’t have to partake the whole countryside in one day.

Cin Cin!