Places to Eat
Although our FAVORITE place to eat is absolutely on our own porch watching the Sunset over the Bay, there are times that we want a change of pace – or just feel lazy and don’t want to cook. Below are a variety of Local Restaurants and Eateries that we go to and would recommend – starting at the North (Point Pleasant, Bay Head), then working West (Brick Town), and then South (Lavallette, Seaside). There are surely many other great places, but these are the ones we best know and like.
Point Pleasant
Bay Head
Brick Town
Lavallette & Seaside
Things to Do
While there are many things to do in and around our House (and doing "nothing" in this beautiful & tranquil setting tops our list), sometimes it is nice to get out and enjoy one of the many activities in the area. Below are some things to do in the area that we might recommend.
Boardwalks & Amusement Parks
One of the most uniquely “Jersey” things you can do at the Jersey Shore, a visit to the Boardwalk is sure to provide a diverse selection of activities that will please everyone. We are most fortunate to have two Classic Jersey Shore Boardwalks within a short drive of our house. Your visit will not be complete without visiting at least one of them.
The Point Pleasant Boardwalk (often referred to as Jenkinson's or Jenk's) is just a 10 minute drive North, and is perhaps the most “Family Friendly” Boardwalk in all of New Jersey. Big enough to be diverse, yet small enough to easily cover in a few hours, this is as clean and friendly as Boardwalks get. This is definitely our favorite local family activity.
Seaside Boardwalk is much larger and more diverse than Point Pleasant, with a great little water park across the street, and many other attractions. Just 20 minutes South of our house, you can easily spend an entire day there, and still have more to do. Seaside can have a bit of an edge, so daytime may be better for young Kids. For the Adults there is quite a diverse nightlife all around the Boardwalk area of Seaside, and some pretty wild amusement rides too.
Fireworks
If you like Fireworks, we are fortunate to have nice displays during July and August every Wednesday evening at Seaside Boardwalk, and every Thursday evening at Point Pleasant Boardwalk. There are a number of other displays in the area during the Summer, and of course on the 4th of July. In Point Pleasant you get the best view at the North end of the Boardwalk, past Jenkinson’s Aquarium. Our favorite evening there is: rides/arcades followed by dinner on Jenkinson’s Oceanside Dining deck – and right from your table is a great view of the fireworks after dinner.
Six Flags Great Adventure and Safari is one of the premier Amusement Parks in the US, and is only about 30 minutes from our House. With 13 Roller Coasters - including 2 of the top 10 ranked in the World, plus the Tallest in the World and Fastest in the US - this park will not disappoint the thrill-seekers. The Safari Park offers the largest Drive-Thru Safari outside Africa, with over 1,200 Exotic Animals living in a 350+ acre habitat. Right next door is Six Flags Hurricane Harbor - the Premier Water Park in the tri-state area - with over 2 dozen rides/attractions including a Million Gallon Wave Pool, Slides up to 75 feet high, and a half-mile long Lazy River.
If you have any interest in Gambling, Live Shows, or a unique Big City Beach experience, Atlantic City is the “Original” Jersey Shore resort community. Second only to Las Vegas, the selection and scale of Resort Casinos in Atlantic City is truly impressive. Only a little more than an hour South of our House, this is an easy day-trip.
Golf & Mini Golf
There are several Mini-Golf courses at each of the Boardwalks, and others throughout the area, providing a diversity of fun for all ages.
For the more serious golfer...
Quail Ridge offers a diverse selection of golf-related fun for people of all skill levels. Mini-Golf for the kids, Pitch & Putt, a Driving Range, and a 9-hole Executive course offer the pleasure of a beautiful real-course experience for beginners, or a place for the Pros to work on their skills. While we are not a “golfing family”, we find this facility offers a nice change of pace in a beautiful setting.
Fishing & Boat Cruises
If you are interested in Fishing, Bogan’s Basin has multiple party boats, and is a local favorite. There are of course a number of other party boats operating out of the Manasquan River area and you can find them here:
There are also many private charter boats in the Manasquan area – some may be found here:
The River Belle offers lovely sightseeing and dinner cruises around the Manasquan River and northern Barnegat Bay area – indeed you will often see them out in front of our house. If you want to spend some relaxing time on the water and see the area by boat, this is a great way to do it.
Other Attractions
This local aquarium is small but nicely done. Great for Kids, and even a nice diversion for Adults on a rainy day, it is located at the north end of the Point Pleasant Boardwalk.
Coastline Adventures has offered rental surfboards and surf school for 25 years. They are a great local attraction that keeps the kids occupied and can teach people of all ages how to body board, surf, and paddle board. They also offer some yoga and fitness adventures.
This nice 10-Plex is nearby and offers all the latest movies. Perfect for a rainy day.