Everyone goes to their local beaches and oceanside towns when summer rolls around, but I’ve noticed that going “down the shore” is a special term that stays reserved for people from New Jersey specifically. I was raised in Northern NJ and lived there well into my 20s until recently when I moved to NYC, so Jersey always holds a special place in my heart, and going down the shore is something I’ve been doing for years. My go-to spot for the past few years has been Pier Village in Long Branch, but when I had a chance to go to the town of Asbury Park for a quick mid-week getaway with friends, I was all for the adventure.