Once known as Ocean Park, the post office told early investor William B. Bradner he would need to change its name due to its similarity to Oceanport. In town, fuse boxes and garbage cans have been painted and turned into whimsical works of pop art. And I love my town. #CapeMayNJ #Spring. Visit: Fantasy Island Amusement Park; Harvey Cedars Shellfish Clam Bar; Ship Bottom Brewery (yes, the latter two are in Beach Haven); Crust & Crumb Bakery; Pearl Street Market; New Jersey Maritime Museum. There is no Jersey town quite like Ocean Grove, the "Jewel of the Jersey Shore." Wait, Point Pleasant  and not Point Pleasant Beach? In 1880, a mere seven families lived on the entire island. Here they are, in alphabetical order: BERNARDSVILLE Somerset County. The town, once known as Seaside, became Highlands in 1900. Follow him on Twitter at @PeteGenovese or via The Munchmobile@NJ_Munchmobile. Margate is not here just because of the world's most famous six-story elephant. Having one of the state's great classic diners (Mustache Bill's, shown here) might have been enough to put Barnegat Light on this list. Avalon, Cape May County, NJ On the other end of the spectrum is Avalon, a borough in Cape May County on Seven Mile Island. Home to the Jersey Shore's longest non-commercial boardwalk, Spring Lake features one of the Shore's more picturesque downtowns and aptly named Divine Park (shown here), which wraps around Spring Lake. And let's not forget the famous (or infamous) Wildwood tram car. Interlaken seems frozen in Shore time. Visit: Wonder Bar; Talula's; At the Table; Cookman Creamery; MOGO Korean Fusion Tacos. The Bread Lady — Elizabeth Degener — and her Enfin Farms roadside stand is on Sunset Boulevard in Lower. Start with Del Ponte’s Bakery, tiny but teeming with cakes, doughnuts, pastries and maybe the state’s biggest biscotti selection. Downtown is where the sophistication’s at, with boutique-lined Third Avenue a mecca for fashionistas. — the Boardwalk Chapel. No Shore town has quite the views like Highlands, with its stunning panoramas of Sandy Hook Bay, the Atlantic Ocean and the NYC skyline. The state’s only boardwalk chapel is here; it’s called — what else? Visit: Air Circus (the coolest boardwalk shop anywhere); Kohr Bros.; Johnson’s Popcorn; Bob’s Lemonade; Tee Time mini-golf; Shriver’s; Brown’s (doughnuts); George’s Homemade Ice Cream; Bashful Banana; Crunchik’n. Visit: Bradley Beach is one of the state’s best under-the-radar dining destinations. OK, so maybe Seaside Heights is on here mostly because of its boardwalk. There is no Jersey town quite like Ocean Grove, the "Jewel of the Jersey Shore." Vic’s Italian Restaurant is a thin-crust legend. They don't make towns like this anymore. Vic's Italian Restaurant is a thin-crust legend. Visit: The Flaky Tart; Hartshorne Woods Park (unbeatable views, nearly 20 miles of trails); Carton Brewing; Mt. Tuckerton is a perennially underrated Shore destination, and well worth a detour (Exit 58 on the Parkway) the next time you're heading to AC. Lawn mowers, leaf blowers and chainsaws are prohibited on Sundays, "unless in the case of emergency." Here is my list of the 25 best Shore towns. He legally anglicized his name to Lavallette in 1830. Visit: Aversa's Bakery (the Shore's best rolls and sticky buns); Ernest & Sons; Marine Mammal Stranding Center; The Cove. — the Boardwalk Chapel. New Jersey's top 50 towns for families are: Montgomery, Somerset County. You walk up one of Lucy's legs to reach the informative museum. Bear with me here. It's an essential Jersey Shore experience. “The Nation’s Oldest Seaside Resort” is named after Dutch captain Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, who explored the area in the early 1600s. I’ve lived all over the state but keep returning to the Shore, despite all the maddening qualities that seem guaranteed to keep everyone away. The first boardwalk here was built in 1915 by entrepreneur James Vanderslice, who added a carousel and pier. The greatest boardwalk of all time is in Wildwood, and that alone puts this town on this list. read a recent message from Mayor Gary Giberson on the Port News newsletter. For breakfast, The Buttered Biscuit. "The Nation's Oldest Seaside Resort" is named after Dutch captain Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, who explored the area in the early 1600s. Lavallette describes itself as "a mature town, with little buildable space available." Ventnor has its own boardwalk, beautiful beaches, and year-round attractions. Hip, hot, happening — Asbury is all these, but there is still room for throwbacks such as the Wonder Bar (photo), the divey Bond Street Bar and the legendary Stone Pony. When you add the state's best-known lighthouse (Barnegat Light, known as Old Barney) and an atmospheric, end-of-the-road feel (it's the northernmost community on Long Beach Island), it's a Shore small-town slam dunk. I love every Jersey Shore town (seriously!) Shops, bars and restaurants crowd Cookman Avenue, the main commercial drag, and surrounding streets. Visit: Boulevard Clams; Sandbox Cafe; Woodies Drive-In; Shore Fire Grille; Scojo's. Neighboring Loch Arbour is smaller, but at least there's a restaurant/bar there. The Pennsylvania Railroad once ran through town, but today the loudest noise you'll hear is probably your own breathing. Beach Haven is LBI's throbbing commercial heart; if you're bored after an hour or two, check your pulse. And did we mention the 100 or so tents residents call home in the summer (rules: no barbecues, no dogs, and definitely no loud music). Aug 1, 2017 - Explore Lisa Gurevich's board "Best Jersey Shore Towns" on Pinterest. The post office is on the ground floor of a faded white house. Situated on the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County, the town is a popular getaway thanks to its quaint feel, stretch of sandy beach, and elegant boardwalk. Order and decorum are maintained to this day. Here you'll find the Shore’s most jam-packed schedule of summer events — from concerts and beauty pageants to french fry-sculpting contests and the Miss Crustacean Pageant, where hermit crabs are dolled up in tiny costumes and paraded on miniature floats. Let me be clear: This is not a ranking of the best Shore towns to visit as much as the best towns to live in. It was destroyed in a 1955 fire. Ocean Grove, part of Neptune Township, is a dry town, but you can have beer or wine on your tent porch, as long as it's in a cup (no cans or glasses allowed). Thousands of people drive past this picture-postcard town every week without realizing it; it’s to your left as you cross the Mullica River southbound on the Garden State Parkway around milepost 50. Visit: Vintage Automobile Museum of New Jersey; Pat's Pizza (excellent cheesesteaks); Idle Hour Bar & Grill. by Women's Health. Minutes from frenetic Seaside Heights and perched sleepily along the Toms River, Island Heights was formed, like Ocean Grove, as a religious camp meeting/summer resort in the late 1800s. August, July and June are the most pleasant months in Jersey Shore, while January and February are the least comfortable months. Many worthy Shore towns were left off this list. Our friends at the Wilbraham Mansion Inn & Suites are showing off their daffodils on this sunny Sunday. These include sections of larger municipalities, the Ocean Groves, Bayvilles and Manahawkins of the world. The Shore's first summer resort, Tucker's Island, may have been here. I hear the birds chirping!" Which means it’s the perfect time to plan an off-season getaway. Best Places to Live in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania Small town - North-central Pennsylvania along the upper Susquehanna River. West Windsor, Mercer County. You can't stop Seaside; you can only hope to contain it. In normal times, there are free movies on the beach, a clamshell pitching tournament, and several acclaimed music festivals. Visit: Bahrs; the 25th annual Clam Festival, in August. Cape May is one of the nation's Victorian jewels and the Jersey Shore's most romantic town, with its postcard-pretty inns/B&Bs and generally unhurried manner. What would we do without the Shore? Down the Shore, that's a good thing. Any town with a classic five-and-dime (Surf City 5 & 10, in photo) is aces in my Shore book. Credit Archelaus Pharo, a Tuckerton businessman who in 1871 bought 666 acres of Long Beach Island property for the grand total of $243. Lawn mowers, leaf blowers and chainsaws are prohibited on Sundays, "unless in the case of emergency." Visit: Point Creamery; Pat’s Pizza (excellent cheesesteaks); the Idle Hour. And did we mention the 100 or so tents residents call home in the summer (rules: no barbecues, no dogs, and definitely no loud music). About that elephant? Order and decorum are maintained to this day. Oceanfront setting, charming main street (Main Avenue), cute shops, ample restaurants, maybe the state's most splendid structure (the Great Auditorium). In 1930, the year-round population was just 287, but the construction of Route 35 and the Garden State Parkway resulted in what the town website diplomatically calls a "torrent of traffic" from North Jersey. That changed dramatically in 1914 with the opening of a causeway over Barnegat Bay and a boulevard to Beach Haven. I still think Wildwood is the greatest boardwalk of all time, but you can’t deny Seaside’s appeal. Neighboring Loch Arbour is smaller, but at least there's a restaurant/bar there. All is forgiven — almost anyway — which is why Manasquan sneaks onto this list. Legend goes that Captain Kidd once buried a treasure chest here. The Pennsylvania Railroad once ran through town, but today the loudest noise you'll hear is probably your own breathing. However, the Connecticut shore town decidedly popular in the summer, when the population triples to 30,000 from 10,000. for varying reasons. Yeah, no kidding. Mitchill Scenic Overlook (the view from the top is jaw-dropping — Sandy Hook, the Atlantic Ocean, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and the New York City skyline). Interlaken seems frozen in Shore time. Wildwood is more than the boardwalk, of course; the town sports its share of shops, hotels, restaurants and ice cream stands. Port Republic. . Margate is not here just because of the world's most famous six-story elephant. These include sections of larger municipalities, the Ocean Groves, Bayvilles and Manahawkins of the world. Stone Harbor. distinguished himself in the battle of Lake Champlain, 100 or so tents residents call home in the summer. "), Uncle Bill's Pancake House, Mildred's Strathmere Restaurant and The Old Shack, a sandwich spot. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Thai, try Bamboo Leaf. There's no public beach, no commercial boardwalk, no rides, just peace and quiet. As of this writing, indoor dining is still not allowed at restaurants, so it’s takeout only there. Visit: Steve & Cookie’s by the Bay; Margate Dairy Bar; Robert’s Place (for the wings); Lucy the Elephant. Arguably one of the most iconic beach towns in the United States, Cape May, New Jersey is also one of the most popular family getaway spots on the East Coast. Maybe the most under-the-radar Shore town, Interlaken is squeezed amid Deal, Allenhurst, Loch Arbour, Asbury Park and Ocean Township. "Let's all gear up for some beautiful Spring weather. CHERRY HILL One of South Jersey’s largest towns, Cherry Hill is the perfect place to settle down and start a family. He legally anglicized his name to Lavallette in 1830. About this List Surf City. There are free movies on the beach, a clamshell pitching tournament, and several acclaimed music festivals. Bear with me here. Jersey Shore, PA Housing Market No meters in the downtown area; three-hour parking limit. Sure,”Point Beach” has the ocean and boardwalk and “Point” has neither, but the latter seems more live-able and down-to-earth. Visit: Fantasy Island Amusement Park; Long Beach Island Museum; New Jersey Maritime Museum; Harvey Cedars Shellfish Clam Bar; Ship Bottom Brewery (yes, the latter two are in Beach Haven); Crust & Crumb Bakery; Pearl Street Market. A Wawa sits smack in the middle of town, but don't hold that against this atmospheric bayfront town. Glen Rock, Bergen County. Bradley Beach may forever stay in the shadow of Asbury Park, but this town of 4,200 people is a laid-back alternative to its too-cool-for-school next-door neighbor. Many extremely popular and hyper-publicized Shore towns did not make the list — sorry about that. Okay, so maybe Seaside Heights is on here mostly because of its boardwalk. My list takes in big towns and small towns, noisy towns and quiet towns, oceanfront and bayfront towns, and those in between. Boy, was this a tough assignment. The Shore's first summer resort, Tucker's Island, may have been here. And don't forget Twisties, a red-shingled neighborhood bar with a great bayfront setting. We all have our favorite beaches — and towns. Here are the 25 best Shore towns, ranked. You walk up one of Lucy's legs to reach the informative museum. In 1930, the year-round population was just 287, but the construction of Route 35 and the Garden State Parkway resulted in what the town website diplomatically calls a "torrent of traffic" from North Jersey. One cool thing: You can drive on the beach with four-wheel drive, as long as you obtain a permit. It’s only four... 2. Robert Louis Stevenson spent six weeks here, writing parts of "The Master of Ballantrae." I hear the birds chirping!” read a message earlier this year from Mayor Gary Giberson on the Port News newsletter. 1 … You can't stop Seaside; you can only hope to contain it. The state’s only boardwalk chapel is here; it’s called — what else? The town, divided in half by the Manasquan/Bay Head Canal, split from Brick in 1920. Avalon is home to the north end of the Seven-Mile Beach, a piece of land that juts out one mile farther into the Atlantic Ocean than any other Jersey Shore town. Visit: Steve & Cookie's by the Bay; Margate Dairy Bar; Robert's Place (for the wings). Asbury Park "America's Greatest Family Resort" is the official town slogan, and Ocean City has also been called "America's Happiest Seaside Town" (Coastal Living magazine). Visit: Port Side Cafe; Harry Bowen Memorial Field. Five of South Jersey’s best towns to explore, enjoy, and call home. there is something about all that water, and sand, and sky, that beckons. And what other Shore town allows you a grace period on your expired meter? That changed dramatically in 1914 with the opening of a causeway over Barnegat Bay and a boulevard to Beach Haven. Cape May is one of the nation’s Victorian jewels and the Jersey Shore’s most romantic town, with its postcard-pretty inns/B&Bs and generally unhurried manner. All is forgiven — almost anyway — which is why Manasquan sneaks onto this list. The town started, like Ocean Grove, as a Methodist summer resort. You’ve got to love the chutzpah here — it’s “the beautiful borough of Surf City,” with its “endless shopping” and “robust beaches.” How does a beach get robust anyway? Today, Point Pleasant Beach has the glitz and glamor; Point Pleasant has soul. What Are the Best Jersey Shore Towns to Purchase a Home? Named after Ebenezer Tucker, Tuckerton, settled by Quakers in 1699, was formerly known as Clamtown, Fishtown and Middle-of-the-Shore. Ocean Pier, distinguished by two 100-foot-high turreted towers, was renowned. ), “America’s Greatest Family Resort” is the official town slogan, and Ocean City has also been called “America’s Happiest Seaside Town” (Coastal Living magazine). Rolling chairs took visitors up and down the boardwalk. There are modest tree-shaded homes on sizeable lots. Visit: The Great Auditorium; Day's Ice Cream. Where did this idea come from, I wonder. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. On the boardwalk, there are clearly marked pathways for pedestrians, runners, bicyclists and surreys. It's doubtful, though, Bradley would recognize Asbury today. No New Jersey municipality lives up less to its official “city” designation than Port Republic, a town of barely 1,000 on the Mullica River. No Shore town has quite the views like Highlands, with its stunning panoramas of Sandy Hook Bay, the Atlantic Ocean and the NYC skyline. © Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com/nj.com/TNS. In the best and worst of times, there is something about all that water, and sand, and sky, that beckons. It's the Jersey Shore town many have never heard of, much less visited. Home to the Jersey Shore's longest non-commercial boardwalk, Spring Lake features one of the Shore's more picturesque downtowns and aptly named Divine Park (shown here), which wraps around Spring Lake. Visit: Beach Plum Farm; Willow Creek Winery; South Cape May Meadows (in West Cape May and Lower Township), 200 acres of dunes, wetlands, meadows, and a mile of protected beach. Thanks for the share, @mm4prez! North Caldwell, Essex County. Here you’ll find the Shore’s most jam-packed schedule of summer events — from concerts and beauty pageants to french fry-sculpting contests and the Miss Crustacean Pageant, where hermit crabs are dolled up in tiny costumes and paraded on miniature floats. Sure,"Point Beach" has the ocean and boardwalk and "Point" has neither, but the latter seems more liveable and down-to-earth. Millions of people come to Atlantic City each year to try their luck on the tables, eat at... Ventnor Real Estate:. When you add the state’s best-known lighthouse (Barnegat Light, known as Old Barney) and an atmospheric, end-of-the-road feel (it’s the northernmost community on Long Beach Island), it’s a Shore small-town slam dunk. The town — "Where the Jersey Shore Begins" — boasts the highest point of land on the coast from Texas to Maine (226 feet above sea level). Shrewsbury. Residents are within an hour from Atlantic City and Philadelphia. Get excited because $1 Kiddie Ride Weekends starts today! Thousands of people drive past this picture-postcard town every week without realizing it; it's to your left as you cross the Mullica River southbound on the Garden State Parkway around milepost 50. You'll never go hungry here; there's a head-spinning array of restaurants, cafes, bars, ice cream stands, bakeries, markets and more.