Beach Haven:
If you haven't been to Beach Haven, you're missing a real gem. A village towards the southern end of LBI, it's the center of activity. On the ocean side are uninterrupted white sand beaches for as far as the eye can see. Every street provides access to the beach!! Enjoy surfing, boogie boarding, kite flying or just plain relaxing. The bay side has several marinas. You can rent boats, kayaks, wave runners etc. Boat trips to Atlantic City leave several times daily from the bay on Centre Street just a few minutes walk down the block from our home. Go to the incomparable Fantasy Island - part amusement park, part children's casino. Next door is the water park, all right in the middle of the Village. Take in the night life on the boulevard, a play at Surflight theater or an open air concert at the village green. Restaurants, shopping and live music venues abound. Enjoy the sunset from one of the decks of the restaurants by the bay just down the street from our home.
Long Beach Island:
LBI is one of the barrier islands off the Jersey shore. It's immediately north of Atlantic City. The extreme southern end of the island is a nature preserve - part of wildlife management area that extends to the wetlands on the mainland. Each community on LBI is different and has its own distinct flavor. Visit them all - Holgate, Brant Beach, Ship Bottom, Surf City, Harvey Cedars, Loveladies and Barnagut Light and, of course, Beach Haven. At the top of the island is Barnagut Lighthouse. Climb to the top or just enjoy the views and atmosphere. Marinas, parks, restaurants, historical museums and specialty stores abound. There are virtually no chain stores on LBI because of land use restrictions. Experience the home grown talent. Rent kayaks, wave runners or even sail boats. Try parasailing from one of several locations. LBI is a cyclers paradise. You can do the ~40 mile trip up and down the island, casually cruise on the bike paths of Beach Haven or anything in between.
The Jersey Shore:
From your base in Beach Haven, there are many fun day trips. Close by is the excitement of Atlantic City. You can take the boat just down Centre Street or drive (about 1 hour). Further down the coast are other shore communities - Ocean City, Sea Isle, Avalon, Stone Harbor, Wildwood and Cape May. Each has a very distinctive atmosphere. You can experience the fast paced night life on the boardwalks of Wildwood or Ocean City, enjoy the Victorian atmosphere of Cape May or just the restfulness of Avalon and Stone Harbor. For the environmentally minded, there are kayaking Eco-tours of Little Egg Harbor, the open spaces of Island Beach State Park and many ways to explore the intracoastal waterways. If your not satisfied with the size of Fantasy Island, try a trip to Six Flags in Jackson, NJ about an hour away with Kingda Ka, the fastest roller coaster on earth, the huge water park and the wild life park.
Other Activities:
Amusement park, water park, live theatre, outdoor concerts, miniature golf, kayaking
