As we stepped off of the NJ Transit Train, we were immediately welcomed by a light and airy breeze that carried the scent of the salty sea. The train ride was long, taking us almost 2 hours to reach our destination of Asbury Park, NJ. Summer is swiftly coming to an end and we wanted to experience the pleasures of the beach before the autumn. Thinking about possibilities for a weekend getaway, we remembered the invitation extended to us from our friend and PistachiOats client, Patricia Patton, owner of Sea Greens in Asbury Park, NJ. I immediately contacted Patricia and asked for recommendations on places to stay and the best way to get there, to which she was most helpful. It was also about time for her re-order and so we decided to make the delivery a personal one and ventured off to Asbury Park.
We met Patricia at the Fancy Food Show in Chicago and have been in touch since. Patricia opened Sea Greens this summer and as we could see, business was doing well. The shop is located on the Asbury Park Boardwalk and offers all the healthy goodies you’d crave for after spending a long day in the sun and on the beach. Mom and I ordered “Veggie Shakes” which were delightfully light and fresh and were made with beets, carrots, and “cukes”. Ben had a fresh and all natural fruit smoothie. Visitors to Sea Greens can also delight themselves with a variety of fresh and healthy meals and snacks, including PistachiOats.
After dropping off our delivery of PistachiOats and enjoying our shakes and smoothies, we asked Patricia places she recommended visiting while in the Asbury Park area. She pointed us in the direction of Ocean Grove, a neighboring town to Asbury Park and we made our way accordingly. Strolling down the boardwalk, the open beach to our left and the beautiful wrap-around porch Victorian homes to our right, we savored each moment of quietude and peace we so seldom get to experience living in the city. We then made our way to downtown Ocean Grove and had a delicious meal at an Italian restaurant called, Isabella’s.
Our return train was scheduled to leave at 3 leaving us a few hours to roam the town. We made our way back toward the beach by walking along Wesley Lake admiring more of the beautiful Victorian homes. Finding our way back on the beach, we sat in silence, taking in the moment of utter contentment, soaking in the sun in all its glories.
We made our way back to the train station in silence, once again grateful for being part of a business that has found us new friends and exposed us to new places.
You can see more of our weekend getaway pictures at: http://picasaweb.google.com/PistachiOats/SeaGreensAsburyParkNJ.
And if you’re ever in the Asbury Park area, visit Patricia and enjoy a lavender lemonade and Belgian waffle while staring out at sea.
