Me, I’m an Asbury Park kinda girl. The vibrant city is a little gritty and a lot of fun; it’s quirky, trendy…alive. The music scene thrives and there’s almost always something going on. It’s also a stark contrast from neighboring Ocean Grove, equally incredible but a bit more refined. Often called “God’s Square Mile on the Jersey Shore,” it’s a truly special place.

If you're familiar with Ocean Grove, you've probably seen the Great Auditorium.
Wikipedia/Zeete
The heart of Ocean Grove, the Great Auditorium was constructed in 1894 and is mostly unchanged.
TripAdvisor/ShakeleeDistributor
The building is famed for its exceptional acoustics and was compared to Carnegie Hall by composer Leonard Bernstein. It is also home to one of the largest pipe organs in the world.
TripAdvisor/Stephany B.
The auditorium was designed so that a preacher's words would reverberate throughout an audience - the town was founded by Methodist ministers as a Christian camp community.
Flickr/Todd
Many simply spent the summers here, in quaint little tents that still line Pilgrim Pathway. Available seasonally, there is quite the wait list for a summer home here.
Flickr/Jazz Guy
In addition to the tents, you'll find enchanting Victorian homes...
Flickr/Jazz Guy
...And charming businesses like Bürbelmaier's which sells spectacular savory pies.
Flickr/Jazz Guy
And at the end of the day, residents and vistors get to enjoy enchanting sunsets like this.
TripAdvisor/Tricia F.

This historic little community has hosted countless big names over the years including Ulysses S. Grant, James Garfield, William McKinley, Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Richard Nixon, James J. Corbett, Max Baer, F.W. Woolworth, Tony Bennett, Kenny Rogers and Ray Charles. Why have they all spent time in Ocean Grove? Because there’s no place in the world quite like it. To discover other charming towns in New Jersey, check out this list.

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