Long Beach Island: The North Side
Written: Jul 29 '02 (Updated Jul 29 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: diverse choice of activities; great food; clean beaches
Cons: none
The Bottom Line: Plenty to do for all can be found on New Jersey's Long Beach Island.
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| whitty's Full Review: New Jersey |
It has taken me several summers to really learn where to go and not go on Long Beach Island (LBI). It also took me awhile to finally define the difference between the top half and the bottom half of the island.
I'll refer to the top and bottom half of the island as being divided by the bridge that comes over from the mainland. Everything north of the bridge being the top and everything south being the bottom. Once you cross over the bridge from the mainland, it can take up to a half an hour to get to either end of the island. South is Beach Haven, north is Barnegat and at the tip of the island, Barnegat Lighthouse.
When I visit LBI, I spend the majority of my time on the top end of the island. Most of the specific stores and restaurants I mention in this review will be in that area. The towns north of the bridge consist of Ship Bottom, Surf City, North Beach, Love Ladies, Harvey Cedars and Barnegat. Ship Bottom and Surf City are a mix of commercial and residential buildings... as you travel north into Love Ladies and Harvey Cedars, there are mainly large beach homes here. Harvey Cedars has a small town with a few shops.
The beach itself
Two important points about the beach on LBI:
BEACH TAGS- it's not "free" to sit on the beach on LBI. I am not sure if this is true on all Jersey beaches or not, but on LBI, during "peak" summer days (Memorial Day-Labor Day) you need to have a beach tag to be allowed to be there. Beach tag inspectors will walk around every few hours and ask to see everyone's. They are usually pretty nice about it if you don't have one, or forgot to get one. (I have left mine in the house before.)
SURF- one of the reasons people love LBI so much (and one of the things I hate about it so much!) is the surf. The waves here are *very* aggressive, moreso than most other beaches in Jersey. In fact, this is why all of the surfers end up at LBI. The ocean here is not toddler-friendly, except at low-tide which only happens twice a day and doesn't always happen during convenient beach-going times (6 am and 6 pm, for example.) That said, if you are a surfer, you'd love LBI. Much of the culture on the island revolves around the "regulars" discussing the latest wave they caught. If you aren't a surfer but are a good swimmer, or have a good understanding of when to go under and how to deal with a big wave, then you'd be fine in the water. And to add to that, there are lifeguards on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 7-days a week from about 9-5 pm.
Beach alternatives
On rainy, or non-beach days, there is still plenty to do around the area.
One of my favorites is to visit the Surf City Day Spa & Salon on the Boulevard around 22nd Ave. The Salon offers hair, nail, massage and other services. When I get burned, or feel like spending a few hours inside, I love going down to here for a manicure.
There are tons of mini-golf courses all over the island. There are 3-4 of them north of the bridge and you won't have a hard time finding any of them. Each of the courses are small though, and it can get crowded, so prepare to wait a little bit as you walk around the course.
Also, there are several rental stores along the Boulevard where you can rent dung buggies, bikes, two- and three-seater bikes, mopeds are more.
Basically, it is hard to be bored on LBI!
Where to Eat
The restaurant and food options seem endless on LBI. No matter where you stay on the island, you are bound to be near a good seafood restaurant. The best way to decide where to go is by picking up one of the island newspapers when you first get into town -- the Beachcomber or the Sandpiper.
One of my personal favorite restaurants is The Wheelhouse in Ship Bottom. Right on the Boulevard, the Wheelhouse is a BYOB restaurant. When you walk in, they take your order in the front and then seat you. Your number gets called and you go pick up your food as it's ready. The prices are affordable and the seafood is good. They only take reservations for large parties.
For great breakfast or lunch food, also in Ship Bottom, you will find Subogies. They specialize in subs and breakfast foods at affordable prices. The dining area is small but the food and prices make it worth it. You can't miss Subogies - it's located on the Boulevard as well in a bright turquoise building that has various sea creatures painted all over it.
(Btw, also notable for breakfast lovers - there is a 24-hour breakfast joint down in Beach Haven called the Chicken or the Egg, so if you get a 4 am craving, you can get food! It is located on the Boulevard on the very south end of the island.)
Boulevard Clams is located in Surf City and has take-out seafood as well as a small dining area. It is located right next to Anchor Produce, one of the only "supermarkets" on that end of the island.
Really, there are a seemingly endless amount of seafood and other restaurants on the island. You can't go wrong and if you ask around, you'll get
More information
Although there isn't much there, LBI does have an "official" website which can be found at: http://www.longbeachisland.com. And unofficial website that seems to have a little more information is: http://www.lbinet.com
Recommended:
Yes
Best Time to Travel Here: Jun - Aug
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Epinions.com ID:
whitty
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Location: Philadelphia, PA
Reviews written: 142
Trusted by: 126 members
About Me:
is d'eirinn me
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