Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Jersey Shore fame sucks in the raucous twenty-something summer crowds with two
amusement piers (one of these was torn apart by Hurricane Sandy, leaving the Star Jet
roller coaster stranded in the ocean until June 2013) and an above-average number of
boardwalk bars. Because the beach is relatively narrow, this is not the place to go for pri-
vacy or quiet. Better yet, ride the chair lift running from the Casino Pier to the northern
end of the boardwalk. If the ocean is not to your taste, beat the heat on the lazy river at
the Breakwater Beach Waterpark ( www.casinopiernj.com/breakwaterbeach ; admission $25;
10am-7pm May-Aug; ) . There isn't much to recommend about a stay at one of the
crash pads on the neglected sun-baked streets inland from the boardwalk. Camping at
Surf & Stream Campground ( 732-349-8919; www.surfnstream.com ; 1801 Ridgeway Rd/Rte
571, Toms River; campsites $45) in Tom's River about 6 miles to the west is a convenient op-
tion. Tucked away in the K-Mart shopping plaza in Tom's River is the silly and sarcastic-
ally named Shut Up and Eat! ( 732-349-4544; 213 Rte 37 East; mains $9) , where wait-
resses in pajamas adept at snappy repartee serve up stuffed French toast, pancakes and
more. Just to the north of Seaside Heights in Lavallette is Music Man (
732-854-2779;
www.njmusicman.com ; 2305 Grand Central Ave/Rte 35, Lavallette; ice cream $3-8;
takeout 6am-
midnight, shows 6pm-midnight;
) , an ice-cream shop where servers belt out Broadway
show tunes tableside.
Occupying the southern third of Barnegat Peninsula is Island Beach State Park (
732-793-0506; www.islandbeachnj.org ; per car weekday/weekend $6/10) , a 10-mile barrier is-
land that's pure, untouched dunes and wetlands. Although the very southern tip of the
park is within throwing distance of Long Beach Island , just across a narrow inlet to the
bay south of here, to reach this long sliver of an island with beautiful beaches and im-
pressive summer homes you have to backtrack all the way to Seaside Heights and travel
along Rte 9 or the Garden State Pkwy. The landmark Barnegat Lighthouse State Park (
609-494-2016; www.njparksandforests.org ; off Long Beach Blvd; 8am-4pm) , at the very
northern tip of the island, offers panoramic views at the top while fishermen cast off
from a jetty extending 2000ft along the Atlantic Ocean. Tucked down a residential street
in North Beach Haven is Hudson House (13th St, Beach Haven; 5pm-1am) , a nearly
locals-only dive bar about as worn and comfortable as an old pair of flip-flops. A few
miles south of Rte 72, which bisects Long Beach Island, is Daddy O ( 609-361-5100;
www.daddyohotel.com ; 4401 Long Beach Blvd; r $195-375) , a sleek boutique hotel and restaur-
ant near the ocean.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
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