For Immediate Release:
November
26, 2018
MONMOUTH COUNTY
DEVELOPS SERIES OF CULTURAL & HERITAGE VIRTUAL TOURS
Users can explore
and enjoy county-based attractions online
FREEHOLD, NJ – The Monmouth County
Division of Planning has announced the launch of its Cultural and Heritage
Virtual Tour series. The series provides eight virtual tours of interconnected
historic, natural, cultural, and arts attractions throughout Monmouth County,
modeled after state and federal scenic byway programs as recommended in the
2016 Monmouth County Master Plan. The online format allows for flexibility in
route selection, allowing visitors to explore a variety of points of interest along each route.
The Cultural & Heritage
Virtual Tours program was designed to increase public awareness about the many
natural, cultural, historic, scenic, architectural, institutional, and
commemorative sites located in Monmouth County. Each tour has a unique
theme which showcases numerous attractions throughout Monmouth County in
categories including: scenic, historic, architectural, art, cultural, science
and technology, military, civic spaces, neighborhoods,
crossroad/downtowns/commercial districts, pop, culture, myth/folklore/legends,
unique or unusual and more. Some sites are privately held and not open to the
public. The complete series results in a network of tours featuring all 53 towns in Monmouth County.
Freeholder Deputy Director Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the Division of Planning said, “We are thrilled to announce the
launch of the Monmouth County Cultural & Heritage Virtual Tours. In
addition to connecting our communities, the program showcases our Grown in
Monmouth economic development initiatives by featuring partners in the program,
while supporting local and regional tourism.”
Eight tours are available by
visiting the Monmouth County Division of Planning Webpage or link
directly to the site through http://bit.ly/monmouthmap. They include:
- South Monmouth Emerald Byway:
Travel through parks and open space along the Manasquan Greenway across
southern Monmouth County.
- Monmouth County Crossroads Byway: Take
a journey through American history along our historic crossroads following
Revolutionary War troop movement from Millstone to Sandy Hook via Monmouth
Battlefield.
- MoCo Cultural Byway:
Discover the best cultural happenings and places to be down the Jersey
Shore between Matawan and Manasquan.
- Bayshore
Drive:
Unexpected natural beauty and fascinating stories abound in the waterfront
towns of the Raritan Bayshore.
- Country
to Coast Byway:
Travel through time from villages and horse farms to boats and beaches.
- Ocean
Drive:
Meander along our famous Jersey Shore towns, beaches and boardwalks.
- Two
River Tri-Way:
Enjoy the peninsula’s picturesque charm and community-based culture that
defines the Two River region.
- Upper
Freehold Historic Farmland Byway: The lush rolling hills and farmland of Upper Freehold
set alongside colonial Allentown provide the backdrop for this loop tour
through the rural reaches of western Monmouth County.
Monmouth County towns, local
tourism boards and chambers of commerce are encouraged to link to the Cultural
& Heritage Virtual Tours to generate interest in visiting their
communities. The tours can also be used as a tool by educators to teach
students about local history, science, geography, arts, culture, innovation,
architecture and city planning.
Additional sites will be
considered for inclusion on the byway tours. To nominate a site, email the
name, location, brief description and photo (if possible) of the site to: planning@co.monmouth.nj.us
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