Say Yay to Saying Boo Down by the Shore

It is the middle of the year, hardly the time to think about ghosts and other spooky stuff, right? If that's what you think, Kathy Kelly of Asbury Park’s Paranormal Books & Curiosities and The Paranormal Museum would like to change your mind.

The shop is set up like a "warm and welcoming Victorian sitting room, complete with a fireplace," Kelly said. It includes books on a range of subjects from apparitions to zombies.

A backroom includes ghost hunting equipment, movies, T-shirts and other related items.

Next door is the museum, which includes exhibits on the Jersey Devil, vampires, werewolves, psychic phenomena and "all things paranormal," Kelly said.

"Legend, myth and reality mix in this fun and educational museum," she said.

If you're not easily spooked and wouldn't mind the nearby-ish ocean breeze offsetting the summer heat, you might wanted to check the store and museum out. That's why we've selected them for this installment of Day Tripper, a weekly look at destinations that are out of town, but in reach, and worth the trip.

DAY TRIPPER DIGEST

Estimated Travel Time: 50 minutes

Why it’s Worth the Trip:  A visit to Paranormal Books & Curiosities makes for a unique afternoon, and its location in the heart of Cookman Avenue (five blocks from the Ocean) means there is no shortage of great restaurants and shops to fill out your day. Check out the oddities in the museum, look through the books in the shop, and then prepare for a scenic, and spectral, tour led by the guides from the store.

How to Get There from Here: Detailed driving directions.

You’ll Probably Get Hungry:  On Cookman Ave. alone you’ll find America’s Cup Coffee Co., the Twisted Tree Café, Anybody’s Tavern, Old Man Rafferty’s and Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices, and that’s just one street. You’re also close to Tim McLoone’s Supper Club, the Tiki Grill, and Jimmy’s Italian, to just name a few.

While you’re in the Area:  For the younger crowd, Asbury Park is not far from State Route 35, where you can find many places to shop. Farther north is the Monmouth Mall, and in-between you can catch a movie at the Middlebrook Cinemas. For the adults, Asbury Park has several clubs featuring music and drinks including the famed Stone Pony, and The Saint, a venue highlighting up-and-coming Jersey acts as well as national performers. Farther south in Ocean Grove, you’ll find the Asbury Lanes, a combination bowling alley/music venue specializing in the rockabilly/garage rock sound.

The last thing people want to do during the summer, especially if the weather is nice and the breeze is coming off the shoreline, is to stay indoors. Kelly said the bookstore and museum have a solution: The Ghosts & Legends Tours of Asbury Park.

The family-friendly downtown tour is offered Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. A boardwalk tour is Fridays at 7:30 p.m. And an adults-only Haunted Pub Tour is offered Thursdays at 8:30 p.m.

“The popular tours are heavy on history and a fun way to spend an evening learning about one of New Jersey's most famous ghost towns," Kelly said.  “We also bring people on full paranormal investigations, which is exactly what it sounds like. We take you to a haunted location and you do the investigating.”

Kelly reminds all that it is meant to be fun and keeping in that spirit (pardon the pun) allows visitors to get the most of their experience.

“We keep things very fresh by listening to our guests and asking questions," she said. "A sense of humor and a creative mind goes a long way as well. PBC appeals to people of all ages and backgrounds and The Paranormal Museum offers one-of-a-kind exhibits of the paranormal. The only thing required is an open mind.”