Hugging the south bank of the Navesink River, Red Bank is a residential borough in New Jersey’s Monmouth County. It was originally home to the Lenape people, who referred to the area as “Navarumsunk” and traded for many years with English and Dutch settlers. When the town was established in the late 19th century, it was named after the area’s red soils.
Things to do in Red Bank
Coincide your visit to Red Bank with a performance at the Count Basie Center for the Arts, which is named after the locally-born jazz pianist. It was designed by the New Jersey-based architect William E. Lehman and opened to the public in 1926 as a vaudeville theatre. In addition to hosting charity shows and jazz performances, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra also regularly makes appearances here.
On the southern edge of Red Bank is Count Basie Park, which encompasses an American football field, baseball/softball diamonds and a basketball court. Kids can let loose in the children’s playground while fitness enthusiasts can stroll or jog along the circular track. After you’ve built up an appetite, you can refuel at Gianni’s Pizzeria or Annie's Cafe.
Overlooking the Navesink River is Riverside Gardens Park, which hosts cultural events and concerts throughout the year. Coincide your visit with an early morning yoga class or an evening jazz performance, then relax on one of the park’s benches and watch the world go by. A walking trail hugs the riverside to neighbouring Marine Park, which is home to a children’s playground and the Monmouth Boat Club.
Getting around Red Bank
Red Bank is just under an hour’s drive from the centre of Newark and 45 minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Red Bank railway station and buses travel through the borough.