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Long Branch is an oceanfront city of about 32,000 people in Monmouth County, New Jersey, on the northern Jersey Shore. In the late 1800s it was one of America's most fashionable seaside resorts, known for grand hotels, gambling and horse racing, and seven U.S. presidents vacationed here, including Ulysses S. Grant and James Garfield, who died in the Elberon section in 1881.
The modern city is centered on its beaches and the Long Branch Promenade along the ocean bluff. Pier Village brings shops, restaurants and apartments right to the sand, and Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, a Monmouth County park named for the presidential visitors, offers a guarded beach and a playground near the dunes. In the Elberon and West End neighborhoods, large old summer homes line the shaded streets.
Nearby Monmouth Park Racetrack carries on the area's racing tradition each summer, and Lake Takanassee offers a quiet walk. Long Branch is also the birthplace of Bruce Springsteen, and Asbury Park and Sandy Hook are a short drive away.
An oceanfront complex of shops, restaurants, cafes and apartments set right beside the beach and promenade, with outdoor dining and summer events. It is the busiest spot in Long Branch on warm evenings. Buy beach badges here in season, and park in the nearby garages or lots to avoid circling for spaces.
A long paved walkway along the ocean bluff and beach, running past Pier Village and stretching for miles between the city's beaches, with benches, ocean views and access stairs to the sand. It is popular for walking, jogging and cycling early in the day. Sunrise over the Atlantic is the highlight.
A Monmouth County beach park named for the seven presidents who vacationed in Long Branch, with a guarded beach, dunes, a playground, a skate park and picnic areas. It is a family-friendly alternative to the busier city beaches. Daily beach fees apply in summer; arrive early on hot weekends for parking.
The elegant southern section of Long Branch where wealthy families built large summer houses in the late 1800s, and where President James Garfield died in 1881. Shaded streets still hold grand homes and the historic Church of the Presidents. Drive or bike slowly through and respect private property.
A relaxed neighborhood near the beach centered on Brighton Avenue, with small restaurants, bars, ice cream shops and a West End beach access, plus older shore homes on nearby streets. It has a more local feel than Pier Village. Walk Brighton Avenue in the evening, then head to the promenade for the sea breeze.
A small shingled chapel from 1879, formerly St. James Episcopal Chapel, where seven U.S. presidents worshipped while summering in Long Branch. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been the focus of restoration efforts. View it from Ocean Avenue in Elberon; interior access is limited.
A small lake close to the ocean in Long Branch, with a walking path, benches and views of swans, ducks and other waterbirds, just a short walk from the beach. It is a peaceful break from the summer crowds. Walk the loop in the early morning or late afternoon, when the light on the water is prettiest.
A classic thoroughbred racetrack opened in 1870 and rebuilt in 1946, next to Long Branch in Oceanport, famous for the Haskell Stakes each summer. Its shaded picnic grounds and historic grandstand make a relaxed day out. The live racing season runs in summer; check the schedule and dress code for the clubhouse.
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