Thinking of Warm Weather and Summer Vacations at the Jersey Shore?
Are you already tired of the winter weather? Grey skies, snow, sleet, rain? Now is probably a good time to start thinking about your summer getaway. Especially if you can’t take one now for a reprieve from the cold.
The Jersey Shore is the perfect place to look for a summer vacation! Although I am a native, I still get warm and fuzzy when I think Jersey Shore. It’s my home after all. Since I live at the Jersey Shore, I want to tell you about “my Jersey Shore”.
I grew up here in the LBI/Manahawkin region. Where summers were spent bicycling around town, canoeing on the lagoons and days spent on the beach. Backyard barbecues, shucking clams, parades and fireworks. Although it is a different time, not that much has changed. Families still come to the Jersey Shore to enjoy their beach season and to make memories with their families. I love the Long Beach Island beaches with the sugar white sand. There are ice cream shops galore not only on the island, but off too. If you enjoy the nightlife, the Beach Haven area is a good place to check out. Beach Haven also has an amusement park for the kiddies, waterpark, Surflight Theater and shopping mall for those local goodies. The island overall has an abundance of shops and restaurants. On the North side in Barnegat Light, there is the fishing village and Lighthouse area too. And let’s not forget boating! Manahawkin offers waterfront properties so you can keep you boat right at your home. LBI also has waterfront locations. This is just a taste of what the area has to offer. If you stop down, don’t forget to pick up your copy of The Sandpaper. It offers information on all the local stuff like restaurants, bands, concerts and more. This is not what you see on the reality show. LBI is a very different shore area than that which was featured on television.
Now is the time to start planning your summer retreat. There are many options to look at to find that perfect stay. If you are looking for a temporary stay, then a rental is what you will need. Sites like LBIVRBO, VRBO and Airbnb are very helpful. Local real estate offices can also assist. Proximity to the ocean is what drives overall price. When renting, ask the questions as to what you might need to bring with you. Are linens provided? Do you need pillows, etc.
Barnegat Lighthouse
Long Beach Island
If it’s a second home you prefer, then Beach Haven West or LBI can offer you a wide range of prices and accommodations to suit whatever your lifestyle and needs are. On LBI, the proximity to the beach can drive price, but so can location on the water. There’s the North End and the South End. Both have very different appeals. The South is very active with night time entertainment for all while the North end is quieter. Pricing on the island will generally start around $400k and go up from there.
On the mainland side, Beach Haven West (not to be confused with Beach Haven on the island), is the waterfront area of choice. Most homes are not too far from the bridge to the island if you like to enjoy both beach and boating. Homes generally range from a low of $300k and up. There may be some foreclosures a bit lower, but will most likely need extensive repair or need to be raised higher. There are a bevy of restaurants on the mainland side as well as shopping. Additionally, you can find other activities such as a movie theater, canoeing in the creeks/rivers, Atlantic City is only about 35 minutes from Manahawkin and more.
Speaking of AC, we are really centrally located in this area. As mentioned above, only 35mins to AC, 1.5 hrs to Philadelphia and 2 hours from New York City. If you are coming in out of state, it could be a great opportunity to spend time at the shore, but also branch out and visit another hotspot.
Of course, if you have any questions about “My Jersey Shore”, please feel free to reach out!
Hope to see you at the Jersey Shore this 2019 year!
This blog, HARNJ.com is based on the opinion and expertise of the blogger, Lisa G Lopez.