rshana t1_j6g5nqt wrote on January 30, 2023 at 2:20 AM

I grew up in Manalapan. I wasn’t bored as a teen but I think I did miss out on having a “downtown” to walk to with my friends like my daughter does now in our north Jersey town.

deluxepepperoncini OP t1_j6g60lm wrote on January 30, 2023 at 2:23 AM

Yes! That’s what I think I miss. The areas you can walk around and have local spots to hangout.

rshana t1_j6g8tl5 wrote on January 30, 2023 at 2:41 AM

Yeah. Though to be fair, I didn’t even know I was missing out on something until I was an adult. (My husband grew up with a downtown and insisted it was the greatest thing ever). There was no place at all I could walk to from my house growing up.

deluxepepperoncini OP t1_j6g969t wrote on January 30, 2023 at 2:43 AM

The good thing is that we’re not far from traveling there. It’s just that my daughter won’t get to experience that same feeling as when I was little in NY. I was always around the neighborhood, walking with friends, biking to the parks. I just don’t get that feeling you can do that here.

829357083 t1_j6gdwo1 wrote on January 30, 2023 at 3:15 AM

Matawan has a downtown that's slowly getting better every year. We have a donut shop!

deluxepepperoncini OP t1_j6ge1f6 wrote on January 30, 2023 at 3:16 AM

Awesome! We’ll have to check it out! We are currently in Old Bridge so not too far!

Oilo t1_j6kms36 wrote on January 31, 2023 at 12:11 AM

If you’re going to Matawan, Keyport shouldn’t be too far. The Lawrenceville section of old bridge is on the water and has some parks/playgrounds with views on the water. Keansburg is also nice for walking around I think—it’s been a while. I forgot which one has a nice boardwalk with restaurants and shops further in—keyport maybe?? but it’s not very far at all from old bridge/Matawan. We used to go for little day trips and it was nice, even in the cooler weather. Lots of people bundled up and walking around, some guys fishing, nice cute little shops and restaurants and a fish fry take away spot.

Hopefully someone else can chime in or I’ll ask my husband which one was which. We used to drive over from old bridge and it was a 20-30 min drive. It’s right near Cheesequake park too, which I mentioned in another response.

Good luck!

deluxepepperoncini OP t1_j6ksyag wrote on January 31, 2023 at 12:56 AM

Is it Asbury Park? I heard some good things about Keyport recently but I always thought the neighborhood may be bad?