List: The Jersey Shore’s “Don’t Miss” List

There are many wonderful places to visit on the Jersey Shore. They include places with easy access from Manhattan and Philadelphia to those that require a 4X4. There are opportunities to hang with throngs of people and places to be left alone to find inner peace. So whatever your fancy, the Jersey shore is the place to be. Following are those items that I recommend you "Don't Miss."

o Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: Blue Bay Inn
The Blue Bay Inn is easy to get to from Manhattan by taking the Sea Streak Ferry from East 35th Street or Pier 11 Wall Street – takes about 40 minutes (it also stops in Highlands). Overlooking Sandy Hook Bay, it is a rare boutique hotel on the Jersey shore offering a great location for a business meeting out of the City or a quick getaway.

o Highlands, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: Twin Lights of Navesink
Twin Lights Lighthouse, also known as Navesink Lightstation, is now a site for visitors, standing 200 feet above sea level in Highlands, New Jersey. Built in 1862, this majestic sentinel was made out of local brownstone and had, as one of its lights, a beacon that could be seen as far as 70 miles out to sea.

o Sandy Hook Unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area
DON’T MISS: Sandy Hook Lighthouse
Nestled in the center of Fort Hancock, past the pristine beaches along Sandy Hook that face the bay and the Atlantic Ocean, is Sandy Hook Lighthouse. The area gives you the chance to wrap some history around your sojourn to this retreat for the whole family (but avoid Gunnison’s beach with the kids – it’s a nude beach area).

o Red Bank, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: Count Basie Theater
The Jersey Shore offers many venues for top shelf entertainment, including the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel and The Stone Pony in Asbury Park. But when in or near Red Bank you will want to visit the theatre named after “The Kid from Red Bank” – The Count Basie Theatre.

o Oceanport, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: Monmouth Park
Known as the Resort of Racing, Monmouth Park Racetrack is home to the $1 Million Haskell Invitational for thoroughbred horse racing. Host to last year’s (2007) Breeders' Cup, it is truly a beautiful venue that is among one of the best in the country.

o North Long Branch, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: The Windmill
Looking for a good foot-long hot dog? Then you will want to try one of the griddle franks that can be found at one of its eight outlets. The original can be found in North Long Branch, New Jersey.

o Asbury Park, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: Asbury Park Convention Hall & Paramount Theatre
The Asbury Park Convention Hall and Paramount Theatre straddle the Boardwalk in Asbury Park, New Jersey, offering world class acoustics and headliners that have included Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. The reconstruction in this once vibrant town, seems to be emanating from the work that can be seen here.

o Ocean Grove, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: The Great Auditorium
Since 1894, The Great Auditorium has been the heart and soul of Ocean Grove on the Jersey Shore. Inside, it is said to be almost the size of a football field. During the summer it is used for Sunday services and often features big-name concert acts and shows for visitors to the shore.

o Belmar, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: Klein’s Fish Market & Waterside Café
Situated on the Shark River in Belmar, New Jersey, this fish market has been boasting some of the best seafood on the Jersey Shore since 1929. The original market still sells fresh fish for patrons to take with them, while three dining options offer everything from an oyster pan roast to fresh sushi or grilled fish.

o Wall, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: The Circus Drive-In
Located in Wall Township, New Jersey, on Route 35 (near Belmar), this drive-in restaurant is open from March through September. Established in 1954, this spot features car-hop service and was recently seen on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" for their crabcake sandwiches.

o Spring Lake, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: The Beach
Well-manicured, uncluttered beaches with its two-mile long, non-commercial boardwalk have made this town a unique experience for visitors for over 100 years. If peace and tranquility are what you seek, this is the place for you (although peak summer months will be crowded on the weekends – so get there early).

o Manasquan, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: Bayou Café
The Big Easy at the Jersey Shore? Manasquan has it! This quaint little spot has a Creole gumbo and crawfish etoufee that makes you feel like the Saints have really been marching in. Executive Chef Robert Lumley will most likely stop by your table to make sure that everything is to your liking.

o Brielle, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: Shipwreck Grill
Fans of the book Shadow Divers by author Robert Kurson will want to come to this restaurant – formerly the Harbor Inn – that was once a frequent stop of the divers that found a vintage World War II U-Boat off the Jersey Shore. However, the site’s past reputation has been replaced with fine dining that is only surpassed by it desserts.

o Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: Sea View Sweets
When visiting the Jersey Shore you will want to have a go at a local treat of waffles and ice cream. At the boardwalk, there is no better place to do it than Sea View Sweets. Made-to-order waffles are topped with fresh ice cream and are big enough to share. Yum!

o Seaside Heights, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: The Dentzel/Looff Carousel on Casino Pier
Circa 1910, the Floyd Moreland Historic Dentzel/Looff Carousel operates year-round at the Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. The horses and other animals on this antique attraction are all hand carved and have been lovingly preserved; some are well over 100 years old, dating from the 1890s.

o Island Beach State Park, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: Surf Fishing
Perhaps the best surf fishing on the Atlantic seaboard can be found at Island Beach State Park. With a beach buggy you can access some of the really remote sections of the park to get that large striped bass – but try to keep an eye on your bait as Scooter the Fox and his friends might try to sneak a treat.

o Barnegat Light, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: Barnegat Lighthouse
The north end of one of New Jersey’s barrier islands, Long Beach Island, is the home to New Jersey’s most famous lighthouse given its picture that appears on many of the state license plates – the Barnegat Lighthouse. The current tower, originally commissioned in 1859, stands 165 feet above sea level.

o Atlantic City, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: The Boardwalk
The Boardwalk in Atlantic City… While it conjures up dreams from a bygone era, it is now also home to some of the best gaming in the country – sort of like Las Vegas with an ocean. But as you stroll along the boardwalk, try to find your way a few blocks north of the Steamboat where New Jersey’s tallest and newly restored lighthouse can be found – the Absecon Lighthouse.

o Margate City, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: Lucy the Elephant
Some call it the Eighth Wonder of the World… We call it Lucy the Elephant, a National Historic Landmark built in 1882 that is actually a six-story building made of wood with tin sheeting. Tours are given inside of Lucy seven days a week.

o Wildwood, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: The Giant Wheel – Morey’s Mariner’s Landing Pier
As you drive down the Garden State Parkway, you will see it! Topping off at 156 feet, The Giant Wheel at Morey’s Mariner’s Landing Pier is New Jersey’s tallest (although the Meadowlands’ Xanadu complex in Northern Jersey has been threatening a much larger wheel…).

o Cape May, New Jersey
DON’T MISS: Almost any B&B
The borough of Cape May is a National Historic Landmark. So what better way to get into the mood of this Victorian town than to stay at a bed and breakfast in one of its “Painted Ladies.” Competition for the best breakfast is always intense. So if you are only passing through, and even if you’re not, you may want to add The Mad Batter to your list for an incredible breakfast experience.

o Cape May Point
DON’T MISS: Cape May Lighthouse
At the southern point of New Jersey where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean sits the Cape May Lighthouse. It is still an active lighthouse owned by the U.S. Coastguard but is available for visitors to climb to its light for a spectacular view of the coast. The sight of its light from the beaches of Cape May as the sun sets makes it a romantic spot.