Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
Barnegat Lighthouse is an important marker on the New Jersey Costage Heritage Trail. It has long been a pivotal location for vessels changing course on voyages to and from New York. The lighthouse is over 150 years old and has a new Interpretative Center and breath-taking views from atop its 217 steps.
Ship Bottom Beach
The beautiful beach of Ship Bottom is unsurprisingly an important boat launch for the island. At the waterfront park there is a gazebo and a playground, plus conveniently situated crabbing piers, tennis and baseball courts. The beach itself is a perfect span of fine, sugar-like sand licked by moderate waves and breezes, but protected enough to enable swimming.
Museum of NJ Maritime History
This fascinating museum has featured on the television series Prime Time and is devoted to the preservation of New Jersey's defining maritime history. Besides a database of shipwrecks in the vicinity of the museum, there are rare documents, log books, and nautical paraphernalia to immerse yourself in.
Schooner's Wharf
This picturesque resort town has an enduring traditional charm that translates across the years. Surrounding a turquoise marina you'll find an array of restaurants and farmers markets selling local products and hearty fare. Ice cream and coffee shops and a vintage sweetshop contribute to its charm and relaxing ambiance.
Holyoke
A supreme surf location, Holyoke is a favorite of intrepid surfers year round. This natural paradise is surprisingly under three hours train or drive from New York although it feels like another world. Heavenly beaches and large, old-style houses have made many a vacation-tripper fall for this atmospheric little gem just down the road from the Big Apple.
