Every Summer my husband and I look for beaches close by for weekend trips and every year we have a hard time finding one we know we will like. Last Summer we went to Cape May, New Jersey and we absolutely loved it! You can read all about that trip here. But, this year we wanted to try somewhere new and came across Long Beach Island, New Jersey. This place is such a hidden gem and definitely under rated. If you are looking for a fun little getaway then I highly recommend checking out Long Beach Island! We liked it so much, we went here twice this Summer. The beaches are beautiful, there’s tons of good food options, and a lot to do. Save this list for later if you plan to visit.
SPEND YOUR TIME AT:
The Beach
The most important part of any vacation is the beach! The beach here is so nice compared to other Jersey beaches. It’s super clean and well taken care of. Both times we were there it wasn’t over packed either. There was plenty of room to spread out and not be right next to other people.
Bay Village
This is a cute shopping area with lots of little stores, food, and pretty views. There’s also a little amusement park, a outdoor brewery, a place to sit and look at the bay side, and these pretty colorful houses all next to the Bay Village.
Ship Bottom Brewery
Fun little outside brewery located in the Bay Village serving up hand crafted beer. You can BYOF (bring your own food) too which is pretty cool!
The Boat Yard
A super fun marina where you can eat, drink + play lawn games (like corn hole & connect four). People can get here by land or water and just hangout. There’s a lot of food to choose from at their 2 food stands and drinks.
The Barnegat Lighthouse
Don’t pass up visiting the light house! It’s a very beautiful lighthouse and you can even go inside and climb up 217 steps to get a stunning view from the top.
GRAB A BITE TO EAT:
MKT Eatery
Make sure you grab some delicious brick oven pizza from MKT Eatery. I recommend grabbing a pizza and having a little picnic on the beach!
DaddyO Roof Top Restaurant
Roof top bar with delicious apps, meals and drinks. The vibes here are immaculate!
Buckalew’s Tavern
Hit up Buckalew’s Tavern for a delicious dinner on your trip. Their outdoor seating area is absolutely beautiful and the food was so good too.
Ship Bottom Shellfish
If you’re looking for a great place for a nice dinner this is it. I think this was my favorite restaurant we tried in Long Beach Island. We ate outside and had the most delicious dinner. FYI: It’s a BYOB restaurant.
Chicken or the Egg
If you like buffalo chicken tenders then you need to stop in and try Chicken or the Egg. I had a few people recommend this place to me and I’m happy we tried it. They have a lot of other things to offer along with breakfast too!
Sandbox Café
You must get breakfast at the Sandbox Café! They have fun décor (the mugs are all mismatched & quirky), the owner is super sweet, and most importantly the food was delicious. Best Belgian waffles I’ve had in a while.
Scoop City Ice Cream
There are ice cream places (and mini golf) on every corner – 2 must do activities while on vacation! We chose Scoop City Ice Cream and it did not disappoint.
STAY HERE:
Surf City Hotel
First time we visited LBI we stayed at the Surf City Hotel. It’s very affordable and just a few steps away from the beach! It’s also within walking distance to some restaurants and shops. They have their own restaurant outside too, which is nice if you don’t feel like going far.
Daddy’O Hotel
Stayed here the second time – so cute! This hotel has a bit more amenities than the other. They have complimentary breakfast (coffee, muffins, bagels) along with complimentary beach chairs & umbrellas too! There’s also multiple restaurants on site including a roof top bar. It’s about the same walking distance to the beach as the other hotel.
GET CAFFINEATED HERE
Coastal Coffee
Super cute coffee shop with delicious coffee! Literally obsessed with the décor in there. They have so many different options too. We just went with classic vanilla lattes though 😉
How You Brewin’
Another great coffee shop worth checking out on your visit. They have delicious iced coffee, indoor and outdoor seating, and food options as well.
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