Atlantic Highlands - My Place Of Solace

From its marina to its business district it's a place to relax and enjoy

Atlantic Highlands New Jersey is perhaps best known for its marina. Home to fishing boats like this one and private motor and sailboats as well.

It’s the reason why, more than two decades ago during a stressful time in my life, I moved there to an apartment building overlooking the marina. Because I knew when things became too trying, a simple walk through the harbor would quickly set things straight. And it always did.

Atlantic Highlands, which broke away from Middletown Township and was reincorporated in 1891, prides itself on having strong maritime ties, a traditional downtown business district and a strong residential area. The marina empties into the Raritan Bay which extends into New York Harbor and hundreds of people commute via ferry from here to lower Manhattan daily.

In fact, I was living in Atlantic Highlands on September 11, 2001 and when I got the call from my assignment desk in Atlanta (I was working for CNN Radio at the time) I ran outside and from the dock I could see the Twin Towers burning. Some survivors of the attacks were brought by boat to the Atlantic Highlands marina where a triage center was set up. Of course, sadly no one survived the collapses but many people who got out before or who were in the area when the towers came down were brought here.

The marina was originally built in the 1930s. The adjacent downtown strip boasts many restaurants but I especially enjoy eating at the ones that are on the water.

Among those restaurants are Monte’s BBQ and the Towne Diner as well as the Kunya Siam Thai restaurant.

When I lived there my kids (and they were kids back then) would often walk to this theater - although it was under a different name and different ownership then. But it still maintains its small town theater feel. Believe it or not, this building was first built in 1912 as a garage. But was converted into a theater in 1921. It unfortunately closed during the pandemic but has since been resurrected as the Smodcastle Cinemas.

These stately homes are among those overlooking the marina. They have a fantastic year-round view of course but they also have the best vantage point for the annual Fourth of July fireworks display!

This apartment building, with its view of the harbor, was my home when I lived in Atlantic Highlands.

All photos copyright Gary Baumgarten.

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