We used to live in Eatontown and spent many evenings strolling the oceanside streets of Long Branch, along the boardwark and piers and on the beach.
The city of 31000 people is loosely divided into several communities:
Beachfront with its new Pier Village (what used to be The Pier where everyone fished); Branchport where the little shops are; Downtown-Uptown; West End which is really the south end, North End and Elberon with its mansions along the shore.
a good visitors website for Long Branch is:
http://www.longbranchchamber.org/visitorinfo.htm