By Sunayana Prabhu
The Two River area is a summertime paradise with boardwalks and beaches, national parks
and riverfront movies, shopping and entertainment galore. As local and shoreline businesses spruce up their storefronts for a busy summer, we caught up with some Two River area residents to hear how they plan to spend their summer, as pandemic restrictions relax and the excitement of open-air avenues returns.
“I’m hoping that we have a movie in the park this year again because that’s my favorite thing to do with him (her son). We do like some of the Monmouth County parks. Since COVID we haven’t done as much, so maybe this year we will.”
Emily, Fair Haven
“We visit the local parks or just come out here (Riverside Gardens Park) and have a picnic. We do have paddle boards. Sometimes we go on the water. We’re going to the beach for sure (and) probably one of the local parks; Hartshorne Woods is really good. We have a boat but we didn’t go out last year so we’ll be on the river, just riding along the river right here.”
Jill, Fair Haven
“I have a lot of softball tournaments every weekend, that’s most of this summer. I am excited for that. And I want to get to the beach a lot, too, and get a tan.”
Molly, Holmdel
“I am going to be playing soccer tournaments and I am going to take bike rides around throughout the neighborhood.”
Shannon, Holmdel
“I plan to go surfing this summer at the beach. And in the summer I like to come in the afternoon with my friends to Red Bank to get dinner and have sleepovers with my friends and go on lots of bike rides and adventures.”
Sarah, Highlands
“This summer I want to go surfing. I just want to play a lot of soccer, have sleepovers with my friends, go out to Red Bank, just have an all-round good time.”
Katie, Holmdel
“We just like to walk around here because people are nicer, as compared to, say, New York. I have family living around there but here I can walk and not have to worry about getting hit by a car. All I have to worry about is a horn being honked at me.”
Laura, Little Silver
“I love to go to Urban Outfitters here (in Red Bank), get Starbucks and just walk around downtown and the train area.”
Alyssa, Hazlet
“I just kind of like going out here (in Red Bank) to eat or if there’s a show at the Vogel.”
Juliana, Red Bank (not pictured)
“I’ve been in Red Bank a year and I’m looking forward to this area because I came from New York City. I’m very excited to be around the water. The Navesink River is very beautiful and they have live music here a lot and I am always interested in that.”
Pat, Red Bank
“I love living in this area. I’m a competitive sailor, so I sail out of Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club. It’s a great place for that.”
Karen, Red Bank
“I like to row out of Navesink River Rowing and I’m one of the adult instructors, so I spend most of my time on the water in a rowing shell. But I like to hike and just sit by the water and look at the boats and the sunsets and sunrises. I usually go out very early in the morning so I get to see the sunrise.”
Linda, Middletown
“I’ve already started rowing this summer. And the sailing club has started racing already.”
Bob, Middletown
“We like to go to Sea Bright, get smoothies at Long Branch and grab some Donovan’s, Tommy’s and beach.”
Brie, Red Bank (not pictured)
“I like going to (see) a band playing at a bar or trivia nights at Jamian’s. That’s fun.”
Anna, Little Silver (not pictured)
This article originally appeared in the May 26 – June 1, 2022, print edition of The Two River Times
