Bruce Springsteen: The Boss

I am a Bruce Springsteen fan, and have been for 28 years or so. This year, for the first time, myself and my husband, visited his home state of New Jersey, and fully explored the shoreline and state. With 127 miles of beach to choose from, just about anything goes - from boardwalk sideshow to casino sizzle. Once you get past the industrial area of Newark (New Jersey’s capital) it really does become what it is called – the ‘Garden State’ and we had a wonderful time. Made more wonderful by the fact that I met Bruce Springsteen, not once, but three times in a week! That’s me with him, by the way.

With my love of Bruce, and as an independent travel advisor, with the backing of ABTA, I would like to be able to help you to visit New Jersey. Depending upon the time of year prices start from £811.00 for 5 days. Who knows, you might be lucky enough, like me, to also bump into ‘The Boss’. What excellent value for money that will be!

Bruce is obviously a very private person and a family man, but the fact is that he lives in New Jersey. The locals take it for granted that they bump into him in the local grocery store or restaurant and maybe see him with his family on his local beach.

Ever wondered what the streets and swamps of New Jersey that Bruce Springsteen sings about, look like? Just where is the local beach that ‘The Boss’ takes his children to? Fancy a visit to the Stone Pony in Asbury Park? Stroll down the streets of Freeehold and New Jersey and take a look for yourself. Try one of the following holidays. These are tailor made trips and days of departure, duration, and places to visit can be agreed between us, and organised for you, by me! Prices will obviously vary depending upon length of stay, accommodation and the things you wish to do once you are there.

GREETINGS FROM ASBURY PARK

With your hotel or self catering accommodation just 10 minutes away, Asbury Park is just a short drive. Visit The Convention Hall and see for yourself where Bruce rehearses before he starts his tours. Walk along the boardwalk and experience for yourself the scenes and places which were such a part in Bruce’s music evolutionary career.

Maybe have a drink at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, just a stones throw away from the Convention Hall – you never know who might drop in whilst you are there!

Your hotel is also a central point from which to visit Freehold. From this starting point you can also visit Bruce’s current hometown or visit his local beach, with a view over to New York. If you don’t bump into Bruce (or Patti), you will get a wonderful view of New York from the beach.

MY HOME TOWN/LOCAL HERO

Walk the streets of Freehold and search for the picture in the shop window from this song. Find Bruce’s old haunts and homes where he grew up. Visit the club where he used to sing as a teenager. If you are lucky enough to be there when the Car Convention is taking place, you might just bump into ‘The Boss’ as well. The locals see him all the time, so they told me.

AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS)

Why not start your break in New Jersey with a few days in New York to walk the streets Bruce soften sings about, as in American Skin. He was seen out shopping with his family in New York when we were there, and was in all the New York newspapers. There are plenty of different things to explore in New York, whether it be for shopping, museums and galleries, or simply the regular tourist sites. Take a trip to the 86th floor observatory tower of the Empire State Building and look out across the Hudson River to New Jersey. Take the boat trip out to visit the Statue of Liberty or have a stroll in Central Park. There is such a wide choice of things to do in New York that you will have difficulty deciding where to go and what to do next.

MEET ME IN ATLANTIC CITY

Add 2 or 3 days onto your trip by cruising down the freeway, past the swamps of New Jersey. Possibly stop off to visit the local boardwalks and funfairs along the way. Spend some time in Atlantic City casinos – a mini Las Vegas - and see if your dice ‘keep coming up 6’s and 9’s. See if you can find the giant picture of Bruce in one of the major hotels along the boardwalk.

THE STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA

Add a further 2 or 3 days onto your trip and follow in the footsteps of Bruce’s video - walk the streets of Philadelphia and see this city of the Founding Fathers for yourself. Whilst there you can seek out the Liberty Bell – something obviously dear to Bruce’s heart, as shown with lyrics in a lot of his songs. You might even find the building where they filmed ‘Ghostbusters’ too!

PRINCETON’S UNIVERSITY SIDEWALKS

You might like to take a slight detour – but still on a main route – and visit the lovely, almost ‘Oxford and Cambridge’ like world famous university, township of Princeton. It is worth a visit. The Princeton university campus is huge – and runs alongside each side of the main road through the town. You can’t miss it! Nassau Street is the main street of Princeton (on the main road and pictured) and contains a variety of shops and cafes and restaurants. The whole area is very pretty.

BRUCE CONCERTS

There are a limited number of tickets available for some of Bruce Springsteen’s shows, both here and abroad. Let me obtain tickets for you, and then make a break of it. Stay a few days in the concert’s location - I can arrange hotels and/or flights if appropriate to the concert location.

CONCERTS IN THE U S OF A!

If you think that Bruce is a marvellous performer in the UK – you are right - BUT, it is possible to top this – and he does, when he performs in the States. There is nothing quite like attending one of Bruce’s concerts in his own country. If you can see him in either his own home state or the State of New York – then, incredibly, he is even better. Although, I have been to both and to Boston – and, according to the locals I talk to at the concerts – “Bruce just loves the local crowd” – no matter where he is they all tell me that! Let me get you concert tickets and arrange flights and hotels and have a break in the United States before or after (or both) seeing ‘The Boss’ in concert. Make a break of it.

Of course, these are only suggestions, please either e-mail at Russy@explorertravel.co.uk or telephone me on 0150 849 2465 and let me know your requirements, and I will do my best to help you have a wonderful ‘tailor made’ trip to New Jersey and/or New York and Philadelphia. I am sure that you will enjoy it – my husband and I did. And good look with the spotting.

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