1643 Bay Avenue in Bay Head, NJ
The Slade Dale exhibition in the Bay shed
The Lenape exhibition
Bay Head Historical Society & Museum 1643 Bay Avenue Point Pleasant, NJ 08742
Category Archives: Exploring Historic Ocean County, NJ
Barnegat Light Museum/The Edith Duff Gwinn Gardens 501 Central Avenue Barnegat Light, NJ 08006
The Barnegat Light Museum and Gardens at 501 Central Avenue in Barnegat Light, NJ
The Barnegat Light Museum Main Gallery
The museum’s main gallery and lighthouse light display
The beautiful gardens in the back and side of the museum
The gardens at their full peak of color
White Oak Market 206 SE Central Avenue Seaside Park, NJ 08752
White Oak Market at 206 SE Central Avenue in Seaside Park, NJ
The Bacon, Egg and Cheese at White Oak Market is amazing!
Day Three Hundred and Nineteen Exploring Seaside Park and Seaside Heights, NJ, the Boardwalk and Downtowns-A Local Journey July 18th, August 1st, and October 20th, 2024, October 26th, and December 30th, 2025
It has been a long time since I had visited both Seaside Park and the Seaside Heights Boardwalk and beaches. I used to come down swimming with my dad at the Seaside Park Beach all the time in the summer in the early 2000’s when I moved home from Guam. I always really enjoyed the park as it was one of the nicest beaches in New Jersey.
I had not been to the Seaside Heights Boardwalk in a long time. I used come down in the summers when I was in high school (like everyone else in New Jersey) but I was writing a series of blogs about museums down the shore and was writing a blog on the new Seaside Heights Historical Museum and Carousel so off I went down the Garden State Parkway again to this popular resort town. While I was down the shore, I went back to Point Pleasant Beach up Route 35 and revisited the downtown for that blog to update it.
The welcome sign to Seaside Park, NJ on a sunny Summer morning
I started my day talking with the Director of Recreation of Seaside Park, who was starting to spearhead a new Historical Society in Seaside Park and invited me to tour their historic City Hall building.
The historic Seaside Park City Hall at 1701 North Ocean Avenue
https://www.seasideparknj.org/
What I thought was interesting about the building is that it originally started out as a lifeguard station. I thought it had an unusual design with a tower and wide doors.
The from of the building faces the ocean.
When we toured the whole building I could see where the lifeguards used to watch the ocean from the tower and the large garage doors are where the lifeguard boats were stored. That’s why the doors were so large. What was impressive were the tower views.
The ocean view from the top of the tower at City Hall
After I got dropped off when the tour was over, I made my way to the Seaside Heights Boardwalk which starts in Seaside Park and passed the well known pizzeria, Sawmill Pizza, which has an excellent reputation and is well known down the shore. I had never eaten there but I heard they had over- sized slices.
The original Sawmill Cafe in Seaside Park, NJ in the downtown area
I had gotten to Seaside Heights so early, it only took me only an hour and fifteen minutes to get there from North Jersey, that most of the businesses on the Boardwalk had either not opened yet or were just opening. The Boardwalk was really quiet and I had the Boardwalk to myself.
The Seaside Heights Boardwalk at 10:30am in the morning was quiet and very relaxing
The Boardwalk by both the Sawmill Cafe and Three Brothers Pizza. The outdoor seating is plentiful.
The long stretches of quiet Boardwalk in Seaside Heights
The Boardwalk is perfect when its quiet and not much of a crowd. It was a sunny day with a pleasant breeze. With some of the businesses preparing to open for the day, I was able to visit many of the stores on the Boardwalk without the usual crowds having to elbow people to see things on the shelves and in cases.
I had asked the Recreation Director of Seaside Park why there had not been the damage during Hurricane Sandy as in other parts of the shore, he said it was due to being on higher land on the shore line and the well built dunes that had been created. These dunes today are well maintained and a valuable part of the beach ecosystem.
The planted dunes by the shore line in the Seaside Park part of the beach
The well built dunes near the Boardwalk protecting both the Boardwalk and beach
As I walked down the Boardwalk to get to the new museum, I noticed the open air art show on the Boardwalk. The Boardwalk was lined with interesting paintings by artists depicting Seaside Heights.
The Boardwalk Art Show:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/44664699737/
The artwork
The artwork
The artwork
The artwork
The Artwork
The Artwork
The Artwork
The Artwork
The Artwork
The Artwork
The Artwork from the show
The newest addition to the collection on the Boardwalk
I thought it was wonderful to have an artwork display that had so much creativity and imagination in each of the pieces. The fact that it was a beautiful sunny morning to enjoy it made it even better. Each piece had such a colorful perspective of life at the shore.
I finally got to the Seaside Heights Historical Society and it was all gated off. I had to stop and ask the woman selling beach badges when it would be opening and she said not until 3:00pm. I am looking at my watch and it was past 11:00am. She said it was open from 3:00pm to 8:00pm so I would have plenty of time to see it.
With so much time before its opening and so much more I wanted to see and do, I decided to take the time to explore not just Seaside Heights and Seaside Park but Bay head and Point Pleasant Beach as well. I had wanted to revisit their downtown area as well as visit other museums in the other towns.
The Seaside Heights Historical Society- The Carousel Pavilion at the dnd of the Boardwalk
https://www.seaside-heightsnj.org/161/Museums
My review on TripAdvisor:
My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:
The information sign on the museum
The information on the museum
Some of the historical pictures of the past of this shore community
After our conversation, I decided to make a morning of exploring the two towns and see what they have to offer. Both towns have so much to see and do both on and off the Boardwalk. The first thing I did was have something to eat. I am not sure if it’s the sea air or just the smells of the boardwalk of fried foods and sausage but I got hungry.
This started my ‘Pizza Fest’ adventure on the Boardwalk. With so many pizzerias located on the Boardwalk, it was going to take several trips to Seaside Heights to try them all. I started on one side of the Boardwalk and would work my way down.
As I passed the Historical Society, I looked at the pizza case at Shore Slice Pizza at 1309 Boardwalk and saw the Sausage pizza in the case. I got to talking with the owner and he was telling me he worked in the City and learned the business there. All I have to say is that the pizza was wonderful.
Shore Slice Pizza & Grill at 1309 Boardwalk
My review on TripAdvisor:
The pizza made first thing in the morning. Pizza at 11:00am was really fresh.
I had to have a slice of the sausage pizza and it was fantastic. I love a slice of pizza loaded with sweet sausage.
After a nice lunch, I walk the length of the Boardwalk and explored the stores and the restaurants. I had a nice time weaving through all the stores looking at candy displays and restaurant menus. I saw plenty of gift shops as well.
The amusement area closed that morning
I passed the amusement area but it was closed in the afternoon so I only got to see the rides beyond the fence. The park would open up later that evening. I walked all around the Boardwalk that morning and have to say that there is nothing like a Boardwalk that is all your own. You are not elbowing people, the shop keepers are not over-whelmed with people and are extremely friendly and it gives you time to really enjoy it and look around.
One store that impressed me was Planet Candy at 615 Boardwalk
https://www.facebook.com/planetcandynj/
I stopped in Planet Candy attracted by all the candied covered apples and chocolates in the window. The smell of the sweets lead me inside and I was delighted by the selection of candy, chocolates and novelties.
I loved the selection of gifts and treats and the service was very friendly
I loved the assortment of fresh candies, gifts and admiring the boxes of fresh salt water taffy, a Jersey shore specialty. Talk about a kid in a candy store. I left with a smile on my face.
Jimbo’s Bar & Grill at715 Boardwalk
https://www.jimbosbarandgrill.com/
Review On TripAdvisor:
I stopped to look at Jimbo’s Bar & Grill menu to see what they were having for lunch. The had an extensive menu which I took note of for another time. I had my eyes set on another pizzeria.
The Sawmill Pizzeria on the Boardwalk
https://www.facebook.com/thesawmillcafe/
My review on TripAdvisor:
I had heard about the pizza at the Sawmill for years and it has quite the reputation down the shore so I had to try it. I have to say that the slices are really large so bring an appetite.
The giant cheese slice The Sawmill I had for my second part of lunch
I have to say that I was disappointed. It was an over-sized slice and it looked good, it was thin on the bottom and could have been cooked more so it limped in my hand. Maybe this happened because it was the first pie of the morning. The guys at the register were really friendly and served the pizza quickly.
I took one more trip around the Boardwalk to work off the two slices of pizza and passed the display of Seaside Heights Rescue Boats that people took pictures in. While it was quiet in the morning by the afternoon you could not get people out of these boats. I was able to get some nice pictures before it got busy.
On my second trip to Seaside Heights, I had done a bit more research on the town and remembered another pizzeria that I wanted to try on the Boardwalk, Maruca’s Tomato Pies Pizzeria at 601 Ocean Terrace on the Boardwalk.
What I had remembered about Maruca’s was that they put an extra swirl on the top of the pizza to finish it once it baked. People in the State of New Jersey call this a ‘Tomato Pie’ since the sauce is on top of the pizza and not below the cheese.
Maruca’s Tomato Pies (Pizzeria) at 601 Ocean Terrace
https://www.facebook.com/MarucasPizza/
My review on TripAdvisor:
The well known sign on the Boardwalk
Maruca’s Tomato Pies do live up to the hype. I had a piece of Sausage pizza and it was very good (but it could have used a bit more sausage on top). It really did have the swirl on top of it and what was nice about the extra sauce is that it added extra flavor to the cheese on top of the pizza. I must have really enjoyed this lunch because it was the same dinner I had when I visited in October. They are so generous with the sausage on top of the pizza and the pizza is so crisp!
My lunch on the second trip to the Seaside Heights Boardwalk
The pizza really does look nice
I had a slice of their Sausage pizza for lunch on my second trip to town and it lived up to its reputation. It could have had a bit more sausage on top and was a little pricey at $7.00 a slice but figured it must be the rent. Still the pizza was flavorful and delicious. Their was nicely spiced and the sausage added a sweet flavor to it.
I returned to Seaside Heights in October 2024, to see what was happening on the Boardwalk for Halloween. There were some nice decorations but nothing had been planned for the Boardwalk that I could tell. We had some warmer weather in the middle of the month and for a week it was in the 70’s.
When I returned to Seaside Park and Heights in October of 2025, the Boardwalk had been busier with a Pumpkin Decorating Contest and the night before a showing of ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’. I also got to see the finish of the Scarecrow Contest. So there were little ones running around but the cool weather kept people from sticking around.
The Boardwalk was very busy but most of the businesses had closed for the season and those that were open closed at 6:00pm. Still it was nice to walk on the Boardwalk and enjoy the warm breezes from the ocean and be able to visit the dunes without having to pay for it.
Seaside Heights Boardwalk was celebrating Halloween on the Boardwalk
Some of the businesses had decorated the Boardwalk for the Fall holidays
I was finally able to visit the beach without paying for it in mid-October
A beautiful view of the now closed Amusement Park at Sunset on a October afternoon
The Seaside Heights Beach by the Boardwalk at Sunset on October 20th, 2024. I was just beautiful the way the sun sparkled on the shore
In October of 2025, I stopped in just after a Scarecrow Making Contest. The contest was already over by the time I got there but people were still looking them over. The kids did a really nice job with the contest. While Seaside Heights and Park don’t have the activities that its northern neighbor Point Pleasant has, the activities led to some creative ingenuity of the kids and there were interesting decorations all over the towns over the Halloween weekend.
The Scarecrow Contest in October 2025
The Scarecrows lined up
Some of the Scarecrows I liked
This one stood out
This jolly creature stood out too
The strange scared scarecrows
The town even decorated the Boardwalk more this year with skeletons and other creatures. There were not many activities on the Boardwalk on the Halloween weekend but the decorations were fun.
Skeletons on the Boardwalk
Zombies on the Boardwalk
I left the Boardwalk to explore Seaside Park’s Downtown area and parks. I can see the beach at any time but what makes the character of a town is where the locals go. The restaurants that are out of the way, the parks families go to and the business districts that the tourists don’t flock to but should. I took a stroll down the Main Street of town. My first stop was the Seaside Park Farmers Market.
The Seaside Park Farmers Market at the Marine Lawn
https://www.facebook.com/SeasideParkFarmersMarket/
The Farmer’s Market is every Monday and Friday when in season. I walked through the market that afternoon and really enjoyed the variety of merchants they had selling their wares.
The entrance to the Seaside Park Marina where the market takes place.
There were a whole array of vendors to choose from at the Farmers Market and you could find what you need to fill your pantry or for the perfect picnic at the beach. The was a pickle man, a woman making gourmet pizzas to go, farm fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms in the area, a bread and pastry man, and a cheese man. There were several people selling homemade crafts and jewelry.
The market was busy that afternoon
The one thing I did notice was that the prices were very similar to those in Bergen County. It looks like the price hikes have affected down here too. When you want quality it will cost you.
There was a lot of nice produce and prepared foods to buy
The Cedar Post Farm Market had a nice variety of fruits and vegetables at their stand
https://cedarpostfarmmarket.weebly.com/
After walking the whole Farmers Market and noting the vendors for my next trip down the shore, I left the Farmers Market to visit the stores that lined the business district. Before I left, I took a quick tour of the marina district behind the park. The views were amazing.
The Marina District at the end of the block with a view of the bridge
The views from the Marina District
The old fashioned clock tower just outside the Farmers Market
There were a number of stores I passed on the walk down the street that were not open at the time but would warrant a visit in future trips. The first business I passed was a whimsical ice cream shop with a very unusual logo.
The Ice Cream Boss at 10 NE Central Avenue in Seaside Park, NJ
https://www.facebook.com/bossicecream/
Review on TripAdvisor:
I noted that they made their own homemade ice creams in house and wanted to try their peach and blueberry while they were in season. The store was not open at the time but this is for another trip to Seaside Park.
On my second trip to Seaside Park, I ended my day and my eating tour of town with a medium dish of ice cream, which equates to two and a half nice scoops of ice cream in a dish. This is far more generous than some the places closer to the City.
The inside of Ice Cream Boss
The selection of homemade ice cream at Ice Cream Boss
I changed my mind on what ice cream flavors I wanted to try when I sampled the Pretzel Caramel Swirl and the Birthday Cake flavors. Talk about wonderful. The ice cream here is all homemade and you can taste it in the quality ingredients.
The combination of Birthday cake and Pretzel Caramel Swirl was delicious
There were loads of chopped pretzel and big swirls of caramel in the first scoop and hunks of vanilla cake, icing and sprinkles in the second scoop. I had no problem devouring this at the end of a very hot day.
What I like about Ice Cream Boss is that you can eat either inside or on the outside tables giving you view of the surrounding homes and gardens. The road is also filled with people heading to the beach so it is busy all the time. On a sunny, warm day there is nothing like it.
The next place I passed was the Union Church of Seaside Park with its historic looking wooden structure. This historic building stood out amongst all the shore homes in the area.
The Union Church of Seaside Park at 47 4th Avenue in Seaside Heights
https://www.theunionchurch.net/
The church was organized by founding members in 1899 and the church was completed in 1901. This historic non- denominator church has been welcoming locals and tourists alike for over a hundred years (Church website).
The main entrance to the church
The next business I visited has been a shore staple for years and that I see in many shore towns, B & B Department store at 500 SE Central Avenue.
The outside of B & B Department Store at 500 SE Central Avenue
https://bnbdepartmentstore.com/
My review on TripAdvisor:
B & B Department Stores are one of the last of the small localized department stores in New Jersey. Many of these disappeared in the early 1990’s with the bankruptcy of Allied, Federated and Macy’s Department stores. B & B seems to know their niche and caters to the Jersey shore downtowns. I visit their store in Beach Haven I am in the area.
I love the way they merchandise their clothes
They a nice collection of seasonable clothes that is perfect if a tourist is visiting and needs to pick up a couple of things for the trip. They also have a nice gift department and a collection of logoed ‘Seaside Park’ merchandise. Each of their stores gears this merchandise to the beach town they are located in.
I thought the displays were very original. This shark display was in the beach merchandise department
After I left the store, I continued down the street to the next store stopping at Park Bakery at 408 SE Central Avenue. I got there rather late in the afternoon and the assortment of baked goods was limited but I took note of the items available and will be back for breakfast in the future.
Park Bakery at 408 SE Central Avenue
https://www.facebook.com/parkbakerynj/
My review on TripAdvisor:
This whimsical little guy greets you when enter the bakery
After I had breakfast on my second trip to town in August it must have been something in the salt air but I was still hungry from my breakfast at White Oak Market and had to stop in the store for a piece of pastry.
There had been so much going on in the store on my last trip with a delivery and a noisy family inside plus being late in the day, there was not that much of a selection. Early in the morning, there is more to choose from. I loved looking at the assortment of twists, yeast breads, doughnuts and turnovers to choose from.
The selection of pastries, cookies and cakes at Park Bakery
What I like about Park Bakery is how whimsical the store is inside. I had not noticed it on the first trip but there are puppets and interactive characters along the walls and by the coffee station.
These dessert Chef’s oversee the counter at the bakery
The talking Moose and Tree interact with one another and the tree is actually a refrigerator
After surveying the turnovers and cookies I chose one of the doughnuts and that was a hard choice as they all looked so good. I had one of the powered Jelly doughnut’s with a raspberry filling and it was a delicious. There was so much jelly inside that when I bit in, the sweet jelly burst in my mouth.
The delicious jelly doughnut with raspberry filling was the perfect way to finish breakfast
When I came back in August, I did a more extensive walk of the town and ended up walking not just the entire length of Seaside Park but all the way to the edge of town to the Seaside Park that is located in Berkeley Township. I thought it had been part of Seaside Park, the town.
The entrance to Island Beach State Park in Berkley Township in the Summer
In the Fall
https://nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/islandbeachstatepark.html
My review on TripAdvisor:
Then turned around and walked the entire length of the business district and Boardwalk again in Seaside Heights and saw all the new developments there as well. Like many of the shore towns in New Jersey that I have visited, the old businesses are being knocked down for pricy condos and more upscale expensive restaurants to cater to the people who will moving in. I have seen this in Point Pleasant Beach and Wildwood.
The Island Beach State park is actually located in Berkeley Township in South Seaside Park
You can’t just ‘walk into Seaside Park’, the park itself but have to drive in and pay a fee so that is where I stopped when I got to the entrance. I noted the restaurants at the entrance of the park and there were some that I wanted to try in the future.
The Seaside Park sign on October of 2035
As I walked back to Seaside Park, I stopped at several of the small parks that line the bay on the side streets. I think the tourists miss these and that’s what the locals enjoy. The first one was a small park near the entrance of Seaside Park two blocks down from the entrance at the end of 24th Street. The small pavilion offered nice views of the park and bay.
The view from the pavilion at 24th Street in South Seaside Park
The nautical display by the businesses in South Seaside Park
The little bohemian houses as you leave the Berkeley Township neighborhood by the beach
The next little gem of a park was by the 13th Street Pier in Seaside Park. This long pier was attracting fisherman and joggers on the hot day. At the entrance of the park, there was a butterfly garden meant to attract monarchs on the migration path.
The sign for the 13th Street Pier and Park
The small garden at the entrance of the pier
This wonderful little park also had a pavilion to rest in the shade and relax and enjoy the views.
The Butterfly Garden by the entrance of the pier
The views from the 13th Street Pier at the park
The views from the end of the pier are just breathtaking of the bay area. On a sunny day you can see all the way up to the bridge. The views are just spectacular and the park is so peaceful on a quiet weekend.
The views from the 13th Street Pier Park
The views from the 13th Street Pier Park looking south
I walked back to the circle where the main part the Seaside Park shopping district starts and had to stop in the police station because there are not a lot of public bathrooms outside the Boardwalk area. They have nice public bathrooms and no one bothers you when you use them.
I walked around the circle of the main shopping area and made my way back up Central Avenue. I could see the Bay Area from the shopping district and went off the path to explore it. One store I enjoyed walking into was the Shore and More General Store at 100 5th Street.
The Shore and More General Store at 100 5th Street
https://www.facebook.com/ShoreandMore/
My review on TripAdvisor:
The Shore and More General Store is for the visitor who forgot the things they needed for their trip or for a day tripper who did not want to drag everything with them for a day at the shore. There are all sorts of beach chairs, towels, umbrellas for sale and inside suntan lotion, snacks, drinks and gift items to take home with you. It reminded me of some of the stores of Amity Island in the movie ‘Jaws’. A little local store that carries everything needed in a beach community for a visitor.
The inside of Shore and More General Store in Seaside Park, NJ
I stopped at the 5th Avenue Bay Pier and Park after my long walk around the shopping district. This wonderful little park has a small beach, a wonderful pier to walk on to see the views and the most breathtaking views of the bay and shoreline. This park is really for the locals and it funny how all the kids seemed to know on another.
The entrance of the 5th Street Pier Park
http://www.seasideparkonline.com/e_fishing.html
The park offers a small beach for a fee for swimming in the bay and the pier looks like it is popular with fisherman and sunbathers alike. Just like the 13th Street Pier Park, it offers the most spectacular views on the bay and the surrounding shore.
5th Avenue Bay Pier in the afternoon
The park is nice to get away from all the hustle of the Boardwalk. I watched everyone fishing on the pier talking and swapping stories past catches. The I got the end of the pier and saw all the sailboats in the distance. That was a beautiful site. It looked like a regatta.
The view from the 5th Avenue Bay pier is breathtaking on sunny afternoon
The 5th Street Pier
This seagull acted like he was guarding the pier
The view of the 5th Street Beach and Pier with our friend the seagull looking on
The weather got hotter in the afternoon and I got the most amazing accidental tan. I did not realize the strength of the sun that afternoon. It was really strong hidden by cool breezes. The pier offers such a nice place to relax and watch families having a nice time on the beach. It is the perfect place for a walk after a day at the shore.
I walked up Central Avenue peeking in the gardens along the way and admiring peoples homes. There seems to be a mix of weekenders and permanent residents.
One of the gardens I admired on my walk up the main street
I loved this shell flag that was on one of the porches
One of the nicely landscaped homes gardens in the downtown district
From the park I made my way back to the shopping district on my way back to the Boardwalk. On the way, I passed the White Oak Market at 206 SE Central Avenue and walked in to see a bustling crowd of customers.
The White Oak Market at 206 SE Central Avenue
https://whiteoakmarket.online/
Review on TripAdvisor:
My review on LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com:
https://wordpress.com/post/littleshoponmainstreet.wordpress.com/4163
The grocery section and deli of the White Oak Market
What a great little grocery and deli. It had the nicest assortment of sandwiches and salads and is the prefect place to get food items for a beach picnic. The people working there could not have been nicer to all the customers. The problem was after two slices of pizza I was not hungry and I was eyeing the breakfast sandwiches coming off the grill.
The hot food deli section of the market
I made note of this and on my second visit to town had breakfast here as my first stop. I had a Bacon, Egg and Cheese on a hard roll that was wonderful. They loaded the sandwich with fresh bacon, about three eggs and a couple of slices of American cheese and tucked all of this into a chewy bun. I was able to enjoy this with a Nantucket Red Plum juice on one of the benches outside the store.
The White Oak Market’s prepared food section and salads
While I was waiting for my order to be finished, I stopped and looked at the gift and beach section. The store has all sorts of shirts for the beach and to take home as a souvenir. What’s nice too is the grocery section is extensive and you can stock up on things you will need for both your hotel room and beach rentals.
The selection of gifts and grocery items
I had a better chance to walk around the store and it is really like a little general store for the locals with a nice grocery section, a section for beach toys like pails, shovels and items like chairs and umbrellas for a day at the beach.
They also have a selection of clothing with logoed items from Seaside Park to take home as gift. What I really liked about the stores is that it really was a gathering place for the residents who were greeting one another by name and sharing gossip with one another. It is one of those stores that every town should have in it.
I took my Bacon, Egg and Cheese sandwich and a Red Plum juice and ate outside on the benches, which is a really nice treat on a sunny day. The sandwich was excellent and was the perfect breakfast that morning after a long walk (see reviews on TripAdvisor and LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com).
The Bacon Egg and Cheese sandwich on a hard roll is definite choice for breakfast
Yum!
When I returned in October in 2025, for lunch I tried the Chicken Salad on a hard roll. The over-sized sandwich was enough for lunch and dinner.
The Chicken Salad with a side of Macaroni salad
It was a great sandwich
Ditto with the Macaroni salad
After my second meal was over, I made my way through the rest of town and into the business district of Seaside Heights which parallels the Boardwalk. This is where the real changes are happening.
Gone are the older motels and shops. The area must have been rezoned because all sorts of upscale condos and apartments are being built where those businesses once stood. It tells me that they are trying to attract a more year round visitor.
The edge of the Seaside Heights Downtown business district by the Boardwalk
A downtown restaurant sign
The Downtown artwork
The Downtown artwork
The Downtown artwork
With all this new building you can see the quality of the coffee shops and restaurants now being built around them. The old hot dog and cheesesteak places that surround the block between this and the Boardwalk are starting to look out of place.
Part of the old Downtown Seaside Heights by the Boardwalk, the waterslide park
I made my way back to the car which I parked near City Hall. I had to go back to Point Pleasant to finish my blog on that town’s downtown area and two of their museums. I came back to the Boardwalk later that evening.
My blog on Point Pleasant and Point Pleasant Beach:
https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/48890
Later that night I was back on the Boardwalk again and there was a nice crowd that evening. The amusement park opened on the Boardwalk and it was a lot more lively with the rides going and the music.
The Boardwalk amusements area was really lively when I returned to the Boardwalk that evening
https://www.seasideheights.net/boardwalk.html
My review on TripAdvisor:
The rides were spinning, flipping and swirling everyone around. It looked like everyone was having a good time on this sunny Friday night. There is nothing like a night at the Jersey Shore.
My view of the rides and activities on the Boardwalk:
The overhead rides a that sunny Friday night
I walked to the end of the Boardwalk to find that the Seaside Heights Historical Society building was open and the historic carousel was in use with its colorful animals and cheerful music.
The Dr. Floyd L. Moreland carousel in the Seaside Heights Historical Society Building
https://www.seaside-heightsnj.org/161/Museums
My review on TripAdvisor:
My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:
The Dr. Floyd L. Moreland Carousel sign
The carousel was only running when people came to ride it so it took a few tries to film the ride.
Here is the video on the carousel ride:
The carousel was so beautifully restored and the music so festive.
The start of the ride and the music
The beautifully restored horses
The camel
The tiger
The gentleman working the carousel that evening told me that the Historical Society plans on having more exhibitions in the future but for right now the doctor’s collection of carousel horses were on display.
The case line of carousel horses being shown at the museum
The panels from the carousel that could not be restored were on display as well
The Seaside Heights Historical Society has done a wonderful job creating a museum that is engaging and interactive. That and the carousel offers a wonderful ride.
The second video of the ride:
The Society has a new exhibition in the back part of the building promoting the “Postcards from Seaside Heights” in October 2024.
“Our History in Postcards” at the Seaside Heights Historical Society
The Seaside Heights “Hodge Podge” of the Town Map and artifacts from the town
The Seaside Heights Banner display
The Seaside Heights Historical Society keeps adding all these interesting displays to the building and you really have to walk around the building to enjoy them. Don’t forget to ride the carousel.
As I walked back down the Boardwalk, I enjoyed all the laughter and yelling going on with people having a wonderful time on the rides and at the games. Before I left for the long ride home, I stopped at the Midway Steakhouse at 500 Boardwalk for some Cheese Balls. All I saw that afternoon were signs for the famous Cheeseballs of Seaside Heights and now had to have some before I left.
What Cheeseballs are fresh mozzarella balls (or have been rolled into balls), breaded and quickly deep fried similar to mozzarella sticks. They are then served with a homemade red sauce. They are heaven on earth and the Midway Steakhouse did an excellent job on them.
The Midway Steak House at 500 Boardwalk
https://order.toasttab.com/online/midway-steak-house-webster-boardwalk
My review on TripAdvisor:
My Cheeseballs meal from the Midway Steak House that I ate on a bench on the Boardwalk
Yum!
I took one last look at the amusement area before I left and watched the summer crowd just having fun. Funny if we’re not for the cellphones and the models of the cars, I would have shown it was 1978 all over again. That’s what the Seaside’s do, bring you back to your youth.
The entrance to the amusement area at dusk
It was a fun day!
The Boardwalk at the end of the day
The clown in the amusement park taking a rest
Greetings from the restaurant section of the Boardwalk
Seaside Heights Boardwalk in October of 2025 during Halloween Weekend
Halloween Weekend in 2025
No matter what time of the year it is, both Seaside Heights and Seaside Park offer interesting and fun activities or just a quiet walk on the Boardwalk is nice as well. It is a relaxing place to just think and have a nice afternoon.
After a long holiday weekend in Cape May in post-Christmas 2025, I decided to head to Seaside Heights and Point Pleasant to see what was happening there for the holidays.
Both Seaside Park and Heights were really quiet in comparison
https://www.seaside-heightsnj.org/
https://www.seasideparknj.org/
I drove though both Seaside Park and Seaside Heights and the towns were both extremely quiet. Most of the businesses I had visited over the summer and late Fall around Halloween were closed up tight with signs that said ‘See you in the Spring’.
The Christmas decorations and the Seaside Park Christmas tree
The festive Santa in Seaside Park
I decided to walk over to the boardwalk to see if anyone was around. Only the arcade with a full staff all on their cellphones because of a lack of customers and one branch of Big Brother Pizza was open with again a bored staff. They have to do a better job of letting people know they are open for business. All the public bathrooms were closed, which was a pain.
The quiet boardwalk was fun to walk in the off season. It has a quiet beauty to it
The snowmen band was one of the few traces of Christmas on the boardwalk
The arcade’s Christmas tree was a real beauty
The one nice thing about the arcade being open is that they let everyone use the bathroom. So, there was a stream of people who were walking the boardwalk that walked in. That meant some business on a quiet day. As I walked around the rest of the Boardwalk, it looked like it was closed until the warm weather returned. Still both Seaside Heights and Park were nicely decorated around both towns for the holidays.
Vintage Automobile Museum of New Jersey 1800 Bay Avenue, Building 13 Point Pleasant, NJ 08742
The Main Gallery at the Vintage Car Museum of New Jersey
The beautiful and classic cars of the Vintage Car Museum of New Jersey
The New Jersey Museum of Boating 1800 Bay Avenue Johnson Boat Works, Building 13 Point Pleasant, NJ 08742
The main gallery at the New Jersey Museum of Boating
Seaside Heights Historical Society 1400 Boardwalk Seaside Heights, NJ 08751
The new Seaside Heights Historical Museum at 1400 Boardwalk in Seaside Heights, NJ
Day Three Hundred and Fourteen Exploring Point Pleasant Beach & Point Pleasant, NJ at the beach and in the downtown-A Local Journey June 18th, July 19th, August 21st, and October 20th, December 28th, 2024, October 26, and December 30th, 2025
I finally got back to the Jersey shore after months of being away. Beach Haven and the extended Long Beach Island with its miles of beach and interesting cultural sites had taken up much of the holiday season for me. I had explored Cape May and all of its museums and cultural sites as well as its wonderful beaches, but I wanted to finish my bucket list of towns before the school let out at the end of the week and the towns were overrun with families and loads of kids. Then these towns are impossible to enjoy.
I have not been to Point Pleasant in years. The last time I had been to the Jenkinson Boardwalk in the summer, I think I was in high school (with the exception of a pre COVID drive through a few years ago in the Fall). I know I had not stepped foot in the aquarium since it first opened in 1991 and it was a really big deal when it opened. I thought there must be more to Point Pleasant Beach than just its Boardwalk and beach and set out to explore the town. There is so much more to the town to explore and enjoy.
In 2025, I was able to revisit the boardwalk and Downtown just before the Halloween holidays and admire the decorations on both. The downtown is always so nicely decorated and I love the whimsical scarecrows that decorate the downtown. The windows are filled with creative displays that always seem to be begging for Christmas decorations even before Halloween is even over (like most stores everyone wants to rush the holidays).
Downtown Point Pleasant in the Fall of 2025
The Gazebo decorated for Halloween
The bat stares at you
The Scarecrow in the Gazebo
I walked their downtown and saw that their Arts Commission added more scarecrows to the downtown light posts.
The scarecrows from 2025
Another creative scarecrow
There was a lot of creativity in this downtown contest
The scarecrows came in all styles
Barbie display
The Phantom bride
More unusual scarecrows
The Point Beach Arts community gets very creative in Downtown Point Pleasant
https://www.facebook.com/PointBeachArts/
https://arts.pointpleasantbeach.org/events/scarecrow-contest-2025
The Winners:
https://www.instagram.com/pointbeacharts/?hl=en
I had done my research before I visited the town and discovered a small gem of a museum tucked behind City Hall. Since it was open only one day a week on a Thursday afternoon, I emailed and made a special appointment on a Tuesday morning to see the Point Pleasant Historical Museum. This was my first stop on the journey with my visit to the Point Pleasant Beach.
The Point Pleasant Historical Museum, which is right behind City Hall, is just off the parking lot and is one large room with a library for research. It was an enjoyable little museum with volunteers who have really organized the collection nicely.
The Point Pleasant Historical Society at 416 New Jersey Avenue
https://www.facebook.com/PPHSMNJ/
My review on Tripadvisor:
My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:
I was not sure what to expect from this tiny museum but what I did find was a treasure trove of information and history on this unique shore town. For a small museum, it was packed with interest artifacts and a historical story on the development of this well-known shore community. The museum is one of the town’s best kept secrets that I am sharing with everyone.
The main gallery of the museum
The back room of the museum has early business artifacts and behind that is the historical library.
For a small museum, it had many unusual artifacts from different eras of the town, some of significant tragic historical events such as the Hindenburg disaster in nearby Lakehurst and the Moro Castle cruise ship fire in nearby Asbury Park. Lost to many contemporary historians, these disasters were the Titanic’s of their time and were once part of the scars of the American travel industry.
The life jacket of the Moro Castle cruise ship Fire of 1934.
The Moro Castle disaster:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Morro_Castle_(1930)
A relic saved from the Hindenburg disaster of 1937 with pictures of the disaster.
The Hindenburg disaster:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindenburg_disaster
The collection starts with artifacts from the Lenape Indians who used these beach barriers as fishing villages for the summer months. As these towns started to develop after the Civil War and during the Industrial Age as the unions created a five day work week , new resort hotels and homes were built to cater to the leisure class. Point Pleasant became one of the first planned shore communities.
The Lenape display of items found in the area
In the library, there is a place to for people to research their families from the area, history of businesses in formed in the town like the Jenkinson Boardwalk and Jersey Mike’s which was founded in the town. There are all sorts of pictures of the town’s past. For a small museum, it was packed with information and the volunteer who I was talking to that morning said he and other volunteer put a lot of care into the museum so well organized. A visit to the Point Pleasant Historical Museum is a nice place to start your trip.
The history of the “Jersey Mike’s” sandwich chain that was founded here
After the museum, it was time to visit the Boardwalk. I had wanted to visit the aquarium and wanted to see if the amusement area had changed over the years. I racked my brain trying to remember the last time I had been here that I had to call my best friend to ask when and if we visited here. She reminded me we had been there a few years before COVID in the off season and that we had eaten at Joey Tomatoes on the Boardwalk. It had been the early fall of 2018.
The Jenkinson Boardwalk is everything you would think about when you mention ‘the Jersey Shore’. The large rides of screaming people, the boardwalk restaurants with pizza and cotton candy and other summer treats, the gift shoppes and of course the beach which had palm trees which I was never sure how they grew there considering our weather.
Even that early in the morning the beach was packed.
I was surprised how busy the boardwalk was by early noon. I sure people were walking the boardwalk in the early morning. I had not seen huge crowds at the hotels since school would not be letting out until that Thursday but that would change by the weekend.
Before I headed on my journey, I stopped at Top That Donuts at 210 Ocean Avenue, a small doughnut shop that I had read about online for a quick snack. I needed a second breakfast and the best part was the doughnuts were freshly fried in front of me.
Top That Donuts at 210 Ocean Avenue
My review on TripAdvisor:
What I was not prepared for was the throwback to the early 1970’s in the design of the shop. I even asked the guy working there how old the place was and he said relatively new but the owners wanted the shop to look like an old fashioned shore business. I thought they achieved it spot on. The color scheme of burnt orange and lime green and the look of the chairs brought me back to 1972.
With the lime green and burnt orange palate and the bucket chairs, I swore it was 1972 again.
The donuts were amazing. They were hot and crisp and you got to select the toppings. I chose two, the Aunt Betty with caramel sauce and crunches and the Pebbles and Bam Bam, which had a vanilla icing and fruity pebbles cleared on top.
The menu selection was like a Saturday morning cartoon
As soon as the donuts came out of the fryer, the guy put the topping on them while they were still hot. I had to keep retro and ordered the Sunny D to go with the donuts.
The donuts are served hot and the toppings blend right into the donut
The Pebbles and Bam Bam donut
The Aunt Betty
Just biting into the donuts was a real treat. The crispness of the donut was like eating a fried cake and the sweetness of the glazes was a terrific combination of complexities and flavors. It was the perfect second breakfast and satisfied my sweet tooth.
These are a delicious for any meal
I did not realize that parking was free on the side blocks of the town so I parked further down one of the roads so I would not have to pay for parking. This gave me the flexibility to walk around the town and take my time in town. It was easy to find parking because like I said before, school had not yet let out yet for the summer so it was quiet in neighborhood.
I walked back to the boardwalk to see what was going on and the boardwalk was busy with who I assumed were locals. Everyone seemed to know each other.
The Jenkinson Boardwalk was busy that morning
https://www.facebook.com/JenksBoardwalk/
My review on TripAdvisor:
Before I visited the aquarium, I walked park of the amusement area to see what rides they had. They have all the traditional carnival rides you would expect from an amusement center. Games of Chance were being played and rides that twirled you, threw you and turned you in all directions were available. It was quiet in this area at first but by the time I came out of the aquarium, it got much busier.
The amusement area in the early morning on the Boardwalk
Families were just starting to fill the rides when I arrived
After I had walked the amusement area to see what it had to offer, I went to the aquarium for the afternoon. This was a real treat as I had not stepped foot in it since it opened. The second floor had just been renovated but I had only been here once thirty years ago and did not have much to compare it to since.
The front of the Jenkinson Aquarium at 300 Ocean Avenue
https://www.facebook.com/jenksaquarium/
My review on TripAdvisor:
My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:
https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/19644
The entrance to the aquarium
As opposed to the New York Aquarium or the Monterey Aquariums, this one is more open displays with people there to explain things to you and let you interact with the wild life. In a controlled environment, they will let you touch certain marine life.
The Mangrove tanks as you enter the museum
From the start, the Jenkinson Aquarium is one of the most family friendly and welcoming aquariums I have ever been to in my many aquarium visits across the US. Young employees and volunteers explain the wildlife to you and how to interact with them. If you get to the aquarium at certain times, you can see the feedings and cleanings.
The first two tanks when you enter the aquarium are the Moon Jellyfish and the Yellow Tara Fish
Each tank on the first floor of the aquarium is like a museum to marine life in which every creature is shown in a form of its natural habitat with scenes from their lives painted in the background.
The sea tanks of the first floor of the aquarium
The same floor for the “Sea of Lights” event
The first open air tank you could visit held the stingrays and hermit crabs.
When I visited the first open air tank, the docent explained to me you don’t see much of this wildlife anymore around us because of pollution and over population. The marine life is shy and will sting you if you get too close. I have no desire to play with the hermit crabs and sting rays. It is just fun to watch them swim around their tanks.
The Stingrays just swim around and do their thing ignoring everyone else
The tanks surrounding the big open air tanks of turtles, starfish and crabs have the larger fish displayed in their own tanks such as sharks, eels and larger fish species who probably fend off one another.
The shark tank
The Larger Fish tank
The exotic fish tank containing Clownfish
The middle of the room has a large open tank where you can observe several bewildered turtles, eels and several types of crabs in a simulated natural habitat.
The spotted Man O Rays
The sea turtles can be quite shy when you visit them
The upstairs of the aquarium had recently been renovated and now held the penguin, small mammal and seal tanks. You could see the seals swimming around the tanks from below on the first floor but the second floor is where you can interact and meet with them.
The penguins were so inquisitive as their trainer was cleaning their home.
I have never seen such friendly penguins who looked at us like long lost friends. They just stared as their trainers and handlers cleaned the exhibit around them and gave them their meal. They must be so jaded being around humans that they are just to us hanging around. Many of these mammals were born in captivity so they don’t know different.
There’s more to see and do in the upstairs tanks
Before the seal feeding, I got a chance to see the sloth and small monkey exhibits. What’s sad about this is that people smuggled these poor animals into the country as pets and then they live outside their natural habitats. I often wonder if they could speak what would they say.
The seal feedings were a lot of fun. The seals they have at this aquarium were both disabled and needed to be in a controlled environment. One had a flipper amputated and had a tough time swimming and the other was blind. They both seemed so grateful that people were helping them and were both very aware of human contact.
The harbor seal was a little charmer
She was always looking around, watching everything we were doing
The little harbor seal could not have been friendlier to the crowd and more engaging. She just showed the crowd what she could do and proceeded to swim around, eat and enjoy herself. She was so used to being around humans she acted like one herself.
The blind seal was just as friendly
The larger seal seemed so at home and comfortable around humans she seemed so relaxed during the feeding. You can tell she was well taken care of by the handlers.
She was also very playful
After the feeding was over and most people left, I stayed to say goodbye to the little harbor seal and she gave me such an innocent look. I just wiggled my mustache at her as she stared back at me.
How can you resist that look?
I walked through the upstairs open pools before I headed downstairs and watched the turtles watching us. Both the Spotted Turtles and the Diamondback turtles just popped in and out and stared at us.
The Northern Diamondback turtle was funny. He just bobbed his head around and looked at all of us looking at him. It is so interesting to watch wildlife observe us and form an opinion. It would be an eye opener if they could talk and form an observation on us watching them.
The Diamondback turtles staring at us
The Spotted Turtle
The Spotted Turtle kept looking at us as well
Both turtles must be so used to humans looking at them, I swear that they are forming their own observation of us. If they were born and raised in captivity, they must be used to us as well.
The one thing I can say about the aquarium from what I observed is that the mammals and aquatic like are very well taken care of and the tanks are very clean. The employees here really take good care of the marine life and of the aquarium itself. I found the staff engaging and knowledgeable on their assigned displays. They interacted with the public very engaged and that’s what made this trip here so enjoyable.
When I came back in October for the Halloween holidays, the aquarium was mobbed with people trying to get in for the Halloween special events inside. I did not even bother getting in line but just walked the Boardwalk to see the decorations. “Boo at the Boardwalk” was a big deal and people came out in droves.
Halloween in 2024 in Point Pleasant with “Boo at the Boardwalk”
“Boo at the Boardwalk” Halloween 2024
“Boo at the Boardwalk”
“Boo at the Boardwalk”
“Boo at the Boardwalk”
Trust me, Halloween is a big deal at the Jenkinson Boardwalk. There were all sorts of activities. Considering that it was almost 72 degrees that day, the Boardwalk was mobbed with people that Sunday afternoon.
In 2025, it was a little cooler than last year but there was still a good crowd walking around the Boardwalk. The afternoon activities and the open stores kept everyone active.
‘Boo on the Boardwalk’ in 2025
Decorations on the Boardwalk in 2025
Limited rides and attractions were open that day
There were decorations all around the Boardwalk
These signs were all over the Boardwalk
The declarations on the Boardwalk on Halloween
The Boardwalk was busy Halloween weekend of 2025
Halloween is always fun on the Jenkinson Boardwalk. There was always something going on.
Christmas in 2024 was a different story. Cold, cloudy, rainy and wet with a touch of fog, the Boardwalk was busy for the last day of the Jenkinson Aquarium “Sea of Lights” festival. I was not too sure what it was but I walked this section of the Boardwalk and found it surprisingly busy.
The Point Pleasant Boardwalk in post Christmas gloominess
The Boardwalk was still active on this rainy afternoon with a busy arcade and aquarium
The Boardwalk around the aquarium was decorated for Christmas and the restaurants, stores and games surrounding it were open and busy
The festive snowmen on the Jenkinson Boardwalk
The penguins in Whoville on the Boardwalk in Point Pleasant
These delightful hosts welcome you to the Jenkinson Candy Shop on the Boardwalk awaiting Santa’s orders back to the North Pole
What everyone came to see was the “Sea of Lights” display and the last visit from Santa before he left for the North Pole
The “Sea of Lights” was pretty spectacular at the Jenkinson Aquarium
The “Sea of Lights” display at the aquarium was pretty cool. The lights were really amazing all over the place.
I may not have seen Santa that day (he probably did his plunge) but the lights all over the aquarium were spectacular and just made the whole first floor festive. It was an amazing site to see all this beauty showcasing the wildlife.
After the aquarium, I took a stroll down both ends of the Boardwalk to see how much has changed since my last visit. When I walk down the Jenkinson Boardwalk, I feel like it’s the 1980’s and I am still a senior in high school. It has not changed much from what I can remember.
The Boardwalk was getting crowded in the early afternoon
There were a lot of the same restaurants and stores I had seen in the past. The problem was the prices on the Boardwalk have gotten so outrageously expensive with a slice of pizza and a Coke being almost $10.00. I am not sure how families afford all this.
The restaurants are getting out of reach for the average visitor
Still the Boardwalk gets the crowds. For a Thursday before school ended, the locals and surprisingly foreign tourists were crowding the Boardwalk eating lunch, enjoying games of chance and sunning themselves while waiting for turns on the rides.
The history of the Jenkinson Boardwalk is told on the panels of the Boardwalk
Having checked my dine around club for recommendations, there was a pizzeria and cheesesteak place in downtown Point Pleasant I wanted to try. So I left the Boardwalk in the late afternoon to explore the town. This is when you find the true heart of Point Pleasant.
The crowds started to increase as the local schools let out and more teenagers and their families arrived on the Boardwalk.
Abbott Street is the core of Downtown Point Pleasant. It is more residential closer to the Boardwalk with larger homes and some older motels but a few blocks down away from the hustle and bustle of the Boardwalk is a nice downtown filled with vintage clothing shops and antique stores.
The bandstand in the front section of Arnold Avenue/Greenacres Park gave the downtown that old fashioned feel to it.
Downtown was decorated for the Halloween holidays as well. The Point Beach Arts Council was having a scarecrow competition along Abbott Street and the whole Main Street was decorated for Halloween. The Gazebo had an interesting display of ghosts and ghouls and things that go bump in the night. There was some real creativity here.
The Gazebo Display at Halloween 2024
The Gazebo Display at Halloween 2024
The Gazebo Display Halloween 2024
The Gazebo at Halloween 2024
The Gazebo Display Halloween 2024
Downtown Point Pleasant is only a few blocks long but offers an alternative to walking the busy Boardwalk. Most of the stores that were open were geared to an outside visitor with trendy beach clothing, some upscale home stores and expensive restaurants not targeting beach traffic. There are many interesting stores in downtown Point Pleasant that you will never get bored on a rainy day. There is a lot to see and do in the blocks that make up the business district of this beach community.
In October, Downtown Point Pleasant was decorated for the Fall holidays
I revisited the town a few weeks later to explore Downtown Point Pleasant Beach (I had not realized that the towns of Point Pleasant and Point Pleasant Beach were two communities) and walked through both sides of the downtown to visit the stores and check out the menus at the restaurants. Once you finish at the Boardwalk, there is a lot to see and do here too.
Downtown Point Pleasant Beach
The downtown is not as upscale as its counterparts in Spring Lake, Beach Haven and the quickly gentrifying Asbury Park. The entire look of the downtown is more juxtaposed with a downtown trying to find its identity. You had funky antique shops and gift stores next to upscale restaurants. You could tell it is a downtown that is transitioning to a new customer moving to the community but not quite wanting to alienate its current customers. That’s what gave the downtown its character. There was a real mix of interesting stores.
I stopped for a cool drink and had to get my phone charged after an morning and afternoon in Seaside Heights and Seaside Park and exploring those towns to see what was happening. I stopped in at Berritazza Cafe at 506 Arnold Avenue for an freshly brewed ice tea and to just relax. It would take about 45 minutes to charge my phone.
Berritazza Coffee Shop at 506 Arnold Avenue
My review on TripAdvisor:
The inside of the coffee shop
The inside of the coffee shop
Enjoying my Ice Tea and relaxing
After I finished recharging both the phone and myself, I explored both sides of the downtown and discovered some interesting stores to visit and gourmet shops plus another park I had not noticed on my last trip.
Point Pleasant Hardware Company-Bain’s Hardware
https://bainshardwarestores.com/
My first stop was in Bain’s Ace Hardware Store in the old Point Pleasant Hardware Company store. I was attracted by all the beach equipment that you could buy for your day at the beach. The store really had a wonderful selection of everything you needed and more for the home. They even had the stain that I use for my deck at half the price I pay for it in Bergen County. I took note of that.
I then walked around the corner and followed the crowd of people outside of Joe Leone’s Gourmet Shop at 650 Cincinnati Avenue. Talk about a wonderful store. The sights and smells of the food and the gourmet products is what makes this store so popular with the clients.
Joe Leone’s at 650 Cincinnati Avenue
https://www.joeleones.com/location/point-pleasant/
The inside of Joe Leone’s in their downtown location
The Prepared foods section
The Hot Foods section
The grocery and gift section
I was really impressed the quality of the foods prepared and the way they were merchandised. The food looked so good that I was tempted to eat another lunch here. Their selection of sandwich specials sounded so good and the smells of the hot foods made me hungry.
More street art in Downtown Point Pleasant
I walked down Bay Avenue just off Arnold Avenue, to see what stores were there and a lot of them were closed on a late Friday afternoon. What I did notice was a lot of street art along the street and buildings. I thought that was interesting and gave the downtown a unique look.
This red bird was lining the street on Bay Avenue
This ocean painting was on the wall of the real estate agency
I thought the jellyfish painting was original
The colorful garden on Bay Avenue
I moved down the block and admired the windows at Deena’s at 704 Arnold Avenue and went inside.
Deena’s at 704 Arnold Avenue
The store was very nicely merchandised and it had some interesting items for the home.
I walked down Arnold Avenue and passed the street art again outside of A-1 Bicycles at 726 Arnold Avenue. This was interesting to have this facing you on the street.
The street art in the downtown on one of the side building at A 1 Bicycle at 726 Arnold Avenue
Here and there tucked in between the small antique shops and resort clothing stores are small gift boutiques and home design stores that were changing the face of the shopping district. Even some of the small Italian and Continental restaurants had Manhattan price tags on their menus.
I stopped for ten minutes in Veteran’s Park at the end of the northern part of the shopping district. It was a nice place to relax on a hot day under the cool shade of the trees.
The Point Pleasant Elks Veteran’s Memorial Park at 820 Arnold Avenue in the summer of 2024
https://www.pointpleasantelks.org/
The park on a quiet afternoon
Downtown Point Pleasant
Street art in Downtown Point Pleasant
Street art in Downtown Point Pleasant
I relaxed for a bit before I ate lunch. It was a nice place for a break on a hot day. While the food on the Boardwalk is overpriced, it is cheaper than most items on these menus. Some of the restaurants in the downtown had Manhattan prices to their entrees. I was a little surprised for a popular shore town so far from the beach.
I had checked online for restaurants in the town that were reasonable and that’s how I found GKnows Cheesesteaks at 713 Arnold Avenue in the downtown. The restaurant I found out later was part of a small chain out of Staten Island, NY. This small restaurant specializes in cheesesteaks and does it really well.
GKnows Cheesesteaks at 713 Arnold Avenue on the Main Street of Downtown Point Pleasant (Closed June 2025)
G’s Cheesesteaks Home
My review on TripAdvisor:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Profile/R4960NKjustinw/mediabatch/12763843?m=19905
I really liked the restaurant with its clean lines and retro appearance. Since when did burnt orange come back in design? This restaurant like Take that Donuts had a 70’s design and look to it. There’s nothing like stepping back into time.
The inside of Gknows Cheesesteaks
Even the name was retro. Just like Gino’s Burgers of the 1970’s, who used to sell hamburgers and fries and also sold Kentucky Fried Chicken at our branch. That’s what it reminded me of when I heard the name.
The food was excellent. I had the traditional Cheesesteak with Wiz (Cheese Wiz) on a chewy hero roll. The thin steaks were piled into the bun and loaded with the gooey cheese mixture.
It is rare that I come across a cheesesteak this good in this part of the state. Usually I have to go further south to towns that cater to the Philly crowd like the Wildwoods to get one this good outside of Philly.
I had also wanted to try their homemade rice balls but I had no more room inside me, so that is for my next trip there. The icy Coke I had with the meal was perfect on a hot day. Its enough of a reason to return to Point Pleasant.
Having seen enough of the Boardwalk, I decided to walk back to the car through the downtown and explore the neighborhoods. The core of the town near the downtown was traditional Jersey shore with it older architecture and Victorian homes.
The neighborhood surrounding Downtown Arnold Avenue neighborhood had that classic Victorian look about it. These houses were so well taken care of and nicely landscaped.
Downtown business windows at Halloween
Downtown windows at Halloween
After lunch was over, I walked the other side of the downtown and came across Opal & Olive, a very nice high end gift shop. I thought this was a little more Bayhead orientated than Point Pleasant but the owner told me that the reception towards the store has been very positive. I could see why as they had so many nice things to buy and such beautiful merchandising and windows.
The Opal & Olive at 611 Arnold Avenue
Not only did the store have some unique items to buy in a very nice setting but he had this friendly fluffy dog that was so welcoming. I swear, the dog just wrapped himself around me when I walked in. Talk about customer service.
The inside of the Opal & Olive
Point Beach Arts was holding a contest for best scarecrow and there was a whole variety to choose from. Arnold Avenue was decorated with more things that went bump in the night.
The Point Pleasant Fire Department display
Point Beach Arts, Point Pleasant’s Arts Council put on this Scarecrow Contest in October of 2024:
https://www.facebook.com/PointBeachArts/
Point Pleasant Arts Scarecrow Contest Downtown Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant Arts Scarecrow Contest Downtown Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant Arts Scarecrow Contest Downtown Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant Arts Scarecrow Contest Downtown Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant Arts Scarecrow Contest Downtown Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant Arts Scarecrow Contest Downtown Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant Arts Scarecrow Contest Downtown Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant Arts Scarecrow Contest Downtown Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant Arts Scarecrow Contest Downtown Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant Arts Scarecrow Contest Downtown Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant Arts Scarecrow Contest Downtown Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant Arts Scarecrow Contest Downtown Point Pleasant
It was a bit more gloomy downtown when I came back in December. The rains started right after Christmas and would be going on for the next five days. Still you could see the decorations for the holidays here and there between the businesses. Even on a rainy and cloudy afternoon, the spirit of Christmas still shines on Downtown Point Pleasant.
The lights and decorations along Arnold Avenue, Point Pleasant’s Main Street
These beautiful potted plants lined the downtown area
Even the Grinch welcomes you to Downtown Point Pleasant, NJ
When I returned to the shore in 2025, Downtown Point Pleasant and their Boardwalk were much livelier especially with their year-round population then Seaside Park and Heights. I parked in Downtown Point Pleasant, which is such a great downtown.
Downtown Point Pleasant decorated for the holidays
https://www.pointpleasantbeach.org/
My review on MywalkinManhattan.com:
https://mywalkinmanhattan.com/category/walking-downtown-point-pleasant-nj/
Downtown Point Pleasant is always so nicely decorated for the holidays. I have been here at Halloween and the beginning of the Spring and the town does such a nice job making it festive looking.
The downtown decorations
The decorative pots dotted the downtown
I parked at the edge of downtown and walked to the boardwalk, passing the gazebo. It felt like I was just here looking at the Halloween decorations. The town’s Christmas tree was still up and looked beautiful.
The gazebo downtown decorated for the holidays
I loved the Christmas tree in the gazebo in Downtown Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant always does such a creative job decorating their downtown for the holidays. Even though Christmas was over it puts you in the Christmas spirit.
The Point Pleasant Beach Jenkinson Boardwalk by the aquarium
My review on TripAdvisor:
The Point Pleasant Beach Boardwalk was active as there were people heading to the aquarium to see the lights and tour the displays. The whole side of the Jenkinson Boardwalk was open and the restaurants, shops and arcades had families popping in and out of them as the day got nicer.
The snowmen announced the coming of Winter
These festive penguins greeted me at the restaurant
The Christmas tree in the restaurant across from the aquarium
Even though it was the holidays, I thought the prices at the restaurant were a bit ridiculous for hamburgers and pizza considering what was coming out. I walked around the boardwalk and looked over the amusements that would be opening in four months. I could not believe it would be that short of a period of time.
Santa was there in the restaurant greeting patrons
I walked around the boardwalk and the downtown one last time. I decided to head home for dinner. There were some places I wanted to try in Point Pleasant but I would wait until the weather was warmer and I could enjoy the afternoon with some warm weather.
When the weather was nicer earlier in the week, the downtown must have been pretty spectacular but on this cold and rainy late Saturday, it as not the same. Still the decorations in Downtown Point Pleasant both for Halloween and Christmas were great. They put you into the holiday spirit.
After I finished my tour of downtown, I knew I needed some dessert after that big meal and I decided to walk down to Hoffman’s Ice Cream store before I headed back to the car. What a great decision on a hot afternoon. Now this is classic Jersey Shore. Ice Cream at the beach.
Hoffman’s Ice Cream and Yogurt at 800 Richmond Avenue
My review on TripAdvisor:
The store had originally been one of the first Carvel branch stores in New Jersey in 1955. When they gave up the franchise in 1976, they decided to head in a different direction and create a brand of fresh homemade ice cream under the family name. All the ice creams made for this and their Spring Lake Heights store are made in this store (Hoffman’s website).
This was Jersey Shore at its best. I felt like I had just stepped back to my junior high years again and our family stopped for a treat before heading home. I love ice cream and a trip to Hoffman’s made it even better.
The Cookie Monster and Strawberry Lemonade Sundae
The only problem with Hoffman’s is the flavors to choose. When there are other creative choices other than vanilla and strawberry, I get overwhelmed and want to try them all. I got a small dish of the Cookie Monster and Strawberry Lemonade. Talk about intense and delicious flavors.
The Cookie Monster was a vanilla base loaded with chunks of cookie dough and chocolate chips. The Strawberry Lemonade was mind blowing. It was the type of flavor combination of sweetness and tartness that when you bite into it, you see God. It was that good!
The one thing that I like about Hoffman’s is they are not only fair in their pricing but generous in their scoop sizes. I had a small dish of ice cream and it consisted of four nice sized scoops. Hoffman’s small dish of ice cream is what a medium or large would be in Manhattan and double the price. I have a lot of respect for this. The staff could not have been nicer and more accommodating. It was not that crowded and everyone was so welcoming to the customers.
The inside of Hoffman’s Ice Cream store
After a wonderful dessert and a great way to end the meal, I headed back to the car to head home. Walking around Point Pleasant, I discovered that there is more to the town than just the Boardwalk. There is a whole community to discover and explore once you leave the beach.
When I returned the second time to tour both Point Pleasant and Point Pleasant Beach, both the Vintage Car Museum of New Jersey and the New Jersey Museum of Boating were both open. They both have such strange hours because they are small museums run by volunteers. Still they are both worth the visit. I found them interesting and packed with information.
I got to go to the Vintage Auto Museum of New Jersey on a return trip to Point Pleasant. Both the Vintage Car Museum and the New Jersey Museum of Boating at 1800 Bay Avenue share the same building and are both open on Friday afternoon. So viewing their collections is a little easier.
What I like about the Vintage Car Museum is the selection of cars that they have on display. These are the cars of the early silent films and the beginning of ‘sound pictures’. Most of the cars date from the late 1880’s to show the development of the automobile through its early years. From the early automation of steam engines to gas powered cars, I could see Victorian men and women driving these early cars to the flappers and underworld bosses driving the get away cars of the past. These are cars that you will see in the movies.
The front of the Vintage Automobile Museum of New Jersey in Point Pleasant, NJ at 1800 Bay Avenue Building 13
The front of the gallery of the museum.
The front gallery of the museum
The front gallery of the museum
The cars on display are in pristine condition with accompanying signs so you will have a full description of the make and model of each automobile. There is a small selection of cars so the collection is easy to see in one afternoon.
On the side walls there are secondary collections of driving accessories, pictures of cars and a small collection of toy cars in one of the cases. It is the perfect museum for car buffs or for visitors interested in the history of automobiles. It is perfect for those who love the silent films and early American engineering. These pristine cars are lined like jewels on a carpet that are meant to impress.
The front of the New Jersey Museum of Boating at 1800 Bay Avenue in the Johnson Boatyard in Point Pleasant. This is in the back part of the building that the Vintage Museum is in.
The entrance to the New Jersey Museum of Boating at 1800 Bay Avenue
The sign that welcomes you
I made my way next door to the New Jersey Museum of Boating in the other part of Building 13 and looked at the displays of boats both inside and outside the museum. While I admired all the boats outside the museum and the Johnson family Boat Works Marina and all the pleasure boats, all the nautical displays were in the inside of the museum.
The inside of the museum offers a gift shop and an introduction to the museum’s mission on the history of Boating
One of the first displays describes the famous shark attacks at the Jersey shore in 1916 as summer beach bathing was becoming popular. These were noted in the film ‘Jaws’.
The New Jersey Shark Attacks of 1916
The next display I visited was the World War II display to our veterans and their contributions from the State of New Jersey. There had been many sightings of enemy submarines on the Jersey shore.
On display as well was the ‘Frisky’. The ‘Frisky’ is the first ‘Beaton Built’ sneakbox. It was built in 1941 by David Beaton & Sons which won numerous championships in the 1940’s and 1950’s (museum pamphlet).
The “Sneakbox” sign
The ‘Frisky’ sneakbox
In the back of the museum, there was an exhibition of vintage outdoor motors which powered boats over the years.
The sign for the “Vintage Motor” exhibition
The Vintage Outdoor Motor display
The outdoor motors from times past
For two small museums, there was a lot to see (there is a more lengthy write-up on my blog, VisitingaMuseum.com). The displays were very detailed and I enjoyed my visits.
From its traditional Victorian neighborhoods and well landscaped parks and its eclectic downtown filled with a variety of stores, and the wonder of all the museums, there is a lot more to do in Point Pleasant when you leave the beach to take a stroll in town. Of course you don’t want to miss there Boardwalk with classic rides, beach treats and the excellent aquarium but there is a real heart to this beach community if want to walk a few blocks away. There are many options though on a rainy day to enjoy as well.
You will find that there is a variety of things to do and see here. You just have to walk around the town to enjoy them. I know that I did and will be back to explore it more.
Welcome to Point Pleasant, NJ at the Boardwalk parking lot
The Boardwalk beckons you.
I took one drive around the Boardwalk as it filled for the evening. It was now back to the Garden State Parkway to head home after a wonderful morning and afternoon in Point Pleasant Beach and Point Pleasant, NJ.
Downtown Point Pleasant during the Summer of 2025
Places to Visit:
Jenkinson Boardwalk
300 Ocean Avenue
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
(732) 892-0600
https://www.facebook.com/JenksBoardwalk/
Open: Sunday -Saturday 12:00pm-11:00pm (Seasonal-please check the website)
My review on TripAdvisor:
Jenkinson Aquarium
Jenkinson’s Aquarium
300 Ocean Avenue North
Point Pleasant, NJ 08742
(732) 899-1212
https://www.facebook.com/jenksaquarium/
Admission: Adults $18.00/Seniors $13.00/Children 3-11 $12.00/Children under 2 Free
Open: Sunday-Saturday Check website due to Seasonality
My review on TripAdvisor:
My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:
https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/19644
Point Pleasant Historical Society Museum
Point Pleasant Historical Museum
416 New Jersey Avenue
Point Pleasant, NJ 08742
(732) 892-3091
https://www.facebook.com/PPHSMNJ/
Admission: Donations accepted
My review on TripAdvisor
My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:
https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/19638
Downtown Point Pleasant Beach
Along Abbott Avenue
https://visitnj.org/nj-shopping-districts-villages/point-pleasant-beach-downtown
Vintage Automobile Museum of New Jersey
1800 Bay Avenue, Building 13
Point Pleasant, NJ 08742
(732) 899-0012
http://www.vintageautomuseum.org
My review on TripAdvisor:
Open: Sunday 12:00pm-4:00pm/Monday-Wednesday Closed/Thursday Please check the website/Friday & Saturday 12:00pm-4:00pm
Admission: Free but donations are accepted
My review on VistingaMuseum.com:
https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/20371
The New Jersey Museum of Boating
1800 Bay Avenue
Johnson Boat Works, Building 13
Point Pleasant, NJ. 08742
(732) 701-2581
Open: Sunday 9:00am-5:00pm/Monday-Tuesday Closed/Wednesday 12:00pm-4:00pm/Thursday Closed/Friday-Saturday 12:00pm-4:00pm
Admission: Free but donations accepted
My review on TripAdvisor:
My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:
https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/20382
Places to Eat:
Take That! Donuts
210 Ocean Avenue
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
(732) 899-2552
Open: Sunday 7:00am-5:00pm/Monday-Friday 7:00am-4:00pm/Saturday 7:00am-6:00pm
My review on TripAdvisor:
GKnows Cheesesteaks (Closed August 2025)
713 Arnold Avenue
Point Pleasant Beach , NJ 08742
(732) 202-7287
G’s Cheesesteaks Home
Open: Sunday-Thursday 11:00am-11:00pm/Friday and Saturday 11:00am-3:00am
My review on TripAdvisor:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Profile/R4960NKjustinw/mediabatch/12763843?m=19905
Hoffman’s Ice Cream and Yogurt
800 Richmond Avenue
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
(732) 892-0270
Open: Sunday 11:00am-11:00pm/Monday-Friday 11:00am-10:00pm/Saturday 11:00am-11:00pm
My review on TripAdvisor:
Berritazza Coffee Shop
506 Arnold Avenue
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
(732) 206-6334
https://www.facebook.com/Berritazza/
Open: Sunday 7:00am-4:00pm/Monday-Saturday 7:00am-5:00pm
My review on TripAdvisor:
My blogs on other great New Jersey Beach Towns:
Visiting Somers Point, NJ-Day Two Hundred and Forty-One:
https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/24373
Visiting Cape May, NJ-Day One Hundred:
https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/7142
Visiting Cape May, NJ-Day One Hundred and Twenty:
https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/7804
Visiting Cape May, NJ-Day One Hundred and Forty-Four:
https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/10049
Visiting Beach Haven, NJ-Day One Hundred and Seventy-Eight:
https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/15226
The Water Park in full swing at the end of the day
Point Pleasant Historical Museum 416 New Jersey Avenue Point Pleasant, NJ 08742
The front of the Point Pleasant Historical Society & Museum at 416 New Jersey Avenue in Point Pleasant, NJ.
The main gallery of the museum is in the back of City Hall
The back part of the gallery and the historical library of Point Pleasant, NJ
Day Two Hundred and Forty-One Exploring the Somers Point, NJ-A Local Journey: Visiting the historical sites of this unique Jersey shore town June 25th, 2022 (again October 5th, 2025)
I took time out of my walking project in Manhattan after finishing the Chelsea neighborhoods, walking the 13-mile Broadway walk for the sixth time and preparing to do “The Great Saunter” on my own next week to go ‘down the shore’ as we say in New Jersey (it’s never ‘Down to the Shore”, that takes too long).
I had never been to Somers Point, NJ before. It is a small waterfront community across the bay from Ocean City, NJ, which is a popular resort and recreation town. Somers Point is low key with wonderful restaurants and bars, a popular waterfront and beaches on The Great Egg Harbor Bay and beautiful little turn of the century beach homes and a town steeped in history. I read about three historical spots on Shore Drive in the heart of the Historic District and had wanted to visit them.
Somers Point, NJ by The Great Egg Harbor Bay on Shore Avenue by the Somers Mansion
There was also a traditional ‘Jersey Shore” seafood restaurant named “Smitty’s Clam Bar (The Clam Bar at Smith’s Cove as it is known officially) that I had read about in the magazine “Edible New Jersey” back in 2019 and had wanted to try it. It had been on my “to do/to eat” list for three years but COVID closed the place and it just opened back up a few weeks ago. So there was some things that I wanted to do and see at this quaint Jersey shore town.
Smitty’s Clam Bar at 910 Bay Avenue
https://www.facebook.com/smittysclambar/
I had to plan this visit like I was going abroad as the historical societies were only open a certain hours and were not going to stay open past those times. This on top of the fact that schools were just letting out for the summer and the chance of getting to the shore with no traffic on the Garden State Parkway would be next to impossible after this weekend.
So off we went at 8:00am to get to Somers Point by 10:00am. It really was two hours with traffic (of course) especially when you go past the Newark exits. The airport exits still do create traffic jams all over the highway even if you are in the fast lane.
We managed to get to Somers Point by 10:30am and the traffic out to the town was minimal. Most of the traffic was going over the bridge to Ocean City, NJ with its popular boardwalk. It was nice turning off to the quaint bay side town of Somers Point, NJ. The nice part was all the destinations that we would be going to were within three blocks from one another and the main road back to the Parkway.
Reaching the Marina District at Somers Point
The three historical sites that I wanted to visit were the Somers Point Historical Society, which specializes in the history of the town, the Atlantic County Historical Society, which specializes in the history of the entire County of Atlantic, NJ and the Somers Family Mansion.
For a late lunch, we would be eating at Smitty’s Clam Bar on the bay which I had read about in an article in “Edible New Jersey” so I was looking forward to dinner there.
The sunshine in the bay
The three historical sites did not take much time to see even with a guided tour. Each took about an hour and we were able to see all three with plenty of time to tour the historical district of the town and the shore line. The area around the bay was pretty compact.
Arriving on Shore Road in Somers Point on a beautiful sunny day
Somers Point History:
The Somers family has had influence in this area since they settled here in 1695. They had bought land that stretched to Egg Harbor and the original homestead was a log cabin where the Somers Mansion is today. The family had businesses in shipping, farming and transportation. The last of the family members moved out of the house in 1937 and donated the house and land to the town (Somers Point town history)
Our first stop was Somers Point Historical Society at 745 Shore Road (See TripAdvisor and VisitingaMuseum.com). This small historical society was founded in 1987 as a result of the “Save Old City Hall” campaign and helped establish the historic district with the State of New Jersey. The building was originally a Baptist Church that was built in 1886 and was the town library before it became the historical society.
The Somers Point Historical Society at 745 Shore Road
http://www.somerspointhistory.org/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/239626702903267/
My review on VistitingaMuseum.com:
The Somers Point Historical Society is a pleasant little museum that features the history of the town. The Society is concentrated in the main room of the old church with displays on all sides.
The Somers Point Historical Society displays are in one large room
There is a display on its nautical past with shipbuilding and fishing industries, the region’s retail past with a trolley system that used to run around the shoreline to Atlantic City, and town historical display of the Somers family, the founding family of the town and relics from the USS Somers, named after Commandant Richard Somers.
Commandant Richard Somers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Somers
The memorial to Commandant Richard Somers and the USS Somers
Items the museum features on Shipbuilding and Fishing
Each display gives a glimpse of the town and how it has changed from primarily a community of nautical businesses to a year-round community of tourism and recreation. Once the Garden State Parkway was constructed, it opened all these small towns by the shore to the entire state and changing the population growth.
The museum even showed the changes in transportation to the community with an old trolley system that used to travel up and down the shore for things like shopping and entertainment. It is amazing that almost fifty years since they got rid of the trolley system, they saw how useful it was and energy efficient.
The ‘Christmas shopping at the shore’ display
When talking with the volunteers at the museum what is nice is that they co-sponsor all sorts of special events like lectures and movie nights with the Ocean City Historical Museum. Their next event is showing the film “High Society” with Grace Kelly, a frequent visitor of Ocean City with her family.
The Somers Point Historical Society is filled with all sorts of artifacts of the town and really brings Somers Point to light. The only problem with the museum is that it is open very limited hours so plan your trip accordingly.
The next site that we drove to be the Atlantic Count Historical Museum at 907 Shore Drive, whose mission is to present the story of the entire county’s history. They have an extensive collection of objects from before the founding of the County (even before the State was founded) until today.
The library at the Society is used by people checking out their family’s genealogy and background with the help of the librarian and the history of the town. They have an extensive collection of records of Somers Point in the library.
The Atlantic County Historical Society at 907 Shore Drive
https://www.atlanticcountyhistoricalsocietynj.org/
https://www.facebook.com/AtlanticCountyHistoricalSociety/
My review on TripAdvisor:
My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:
https://visitingamuseum.com/tag/atlantic-county-historical-society/
Most of the exhibitions are in the lower level of the museum where our tour guide, Sid, took us around and showed us the different displays. I have to say that each display is somewhat overloaded with historical objects that needed a clearer definition.
Each one represented a room in a home over a period of time, but the artifacts were from different eras with some from the 1880’s to others being from the 1920’s and 30’s. They were very interesting but just needed less on display.
The Living Room had multiple items as way of entertainment with musical instruments and things like radios and phonographs. The furniture came from both the 1890’s with classic Victorian looks and 1920’s furniture that was in fashion of the day.
The Dining Room was set from the 1920’s but would have been at home in the 1930’s or 50’s as well as formal entertainment was the highest form of flattery and it was the job of the host to show off their best crystal, china and silver to their guests.
For recreation, there were all sorts of board games, puzzles and other amusements that adults and teens would have played over the years. They also had an extensive toy section with dolls, dollhouses, clothing and objects to prepare children for their roles in life.
Children’s playthings changed during the Victorian age to about the 1930’s
The bedroom and manner of dress changed as well, and the Atlantic County Historical Society has an extensive collection of clothing both men’s and women’s that includes coats, hats, gloves and shoes. Even in the bedroom display, you can see how the roles started to change during the Industrial Revolution.
The Bedroom display had all sorts of items needed to make living more comfortable including quilts, chamber pots and basins. There was even a bedwarmer, but these items were no longer part of the household as fireplaces and then steam heat came into the home.
Even the local industries of Shipbuilding and Fishing came into play in the displays both in the lower level and the upper level with the advent of tourism and modern swimming, sunning and dining at the shore.
Shipbuilding and Fishing were big industries in Somers Point
An early rolling chair from the Boardwalk in Atlantic City with amusement advertisements to show the modern-day leisure with the five-day work week.
The upstairs even had a complete office to former Senator Frank “Hap” Farley who helped open up the State of New Jersey to tourism with the opening of the Garden State Parkway.
Senator Frank “Hap” Farley
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_S._Farley
The recreation of Senator Farley’s office on the third floor of the museum
After our tour, Sid gave us the history of the museum and how they were making changes with the museum displays and the programing they were planning in the future. There is a lot to see and do at the museum but take your time to wonder around the museum on your own.
Our last stop on the tour of historical sites was the Somers Mansion, the home of the Somers family from the 1700’s to the 1930’s.
The Somers Mansion at 1000 Shore Avenue
https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/historic/somersmansion.html
https://visitsomerspoint.com/businesses/richard-somers-mansion/
My review on TripAdvisor:
My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:
The family mansion was lived in by five generations of the Somers family and the house had been added onto over the years. The home was built between 1720 and 1726 and was lived until the last family members moved out in 1937. The home was deeded to the Atlantic County Historical Society in 1937 by the last two family members living in the house (Somers Mansion NJ Park.com).
The mansion from the highway
It became a NJ State Park site in 1941 and the home was stripped back down to its original look from the 1700’s (it had a more Victorian look with all the additions over the years). Inside the home, the mansion has been brought back to the late 1700’s to early 1800’s.
The historic plaque
Inside I hate to admit there was not much to look at nor could you take pictures inside the home. There was some period furniture both upstairs and downstairs and there was a china cabinet that held some of the family china that was donated to the house as well. In fact, all that was left from the family that the tour guide told us was the china, a bedwarmer, and a few pieces of furniture.
The mansion overlooking the bay
The “Keeping” or “Everything” room was on the first floor with a giant hearth for cooking and heat and where all the housework would have been done and the back part of the main room was for dining. You have to climb with a rope banister (not the safest thing) to the upstairs where there was a bedroom with a fireplace and a smaller room in the back with a spinning wheel and crib for a baby.
There was not much to see in the house. The tour guide did not seem too interested in telling us the history or any stories of the house, so we made our way outside to see the replanted gardens.
The local Garden Club of Somers Point planted a recreation of the old kitchen garden with fruits and vegetable that would have been used in the colonial kitchen.
The recreated ‘Kitchen Garden’ of the Somers Mansion
The Kitchen Garden was planted for the summer season and all the things that the family would have served on their table for the main meal were planted in the backyard. The garden club did a nice job keeping the grounds and the gardens looking nice. The inside of the house needed a lot of work along with a curator to design all the objects inside to look like a period home.
After the tour of the three sites, we took a driving tour of the historical part of the town, driving all the side streets between Bay and Shore Roads.
The Bay Front Historic District
The Bay Front Historic District
The Somers Avenue block
The historic beach homes
There were a lot of homes big and small that dotted the streets all in different conditions. You could see that a lot of the homes were built at the turn of the last century.
Historic Higbee Avenue
https://www.livingplaces.com/NJ/Atlantic_County/Somers_Point_City/Bay_Front_Historic_District.html
The Somers Point Shore Road Historic District:
(from the Somers Point website)
http://www.somerspointgov.org/mainpages/historic_comm.asp
This district was established in 1989 and is about a mile long stretching from 528 Shore Road to the Somers Mansion. The Atlantic and Suburban Line Trolley once traveled along Shore Road that reached the town of Absecon. The homes and businesses reflect Gothic Revival, Colonial, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Foursquare and bungalow styles (Somers Point Historical Society).
The next stop was the grave site of Robert Somers which was near the elementary school on New York Avenue.
The grave site of the family members is in a tiny park off the downtown
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2245232/somers-family-cemetery
The historic gravesite
This small cemetery was once part of the extensive Somers family estate and has the graves of the immediate Somers family until the early 1800’s (Somers Point Historical Society).
After touring the historic streets, parks and museums, we wanted to take a break.
The sign is still the same
Having some time before our late lunch at Smitty’s, I got nostalgic, and we stopped at the local Dairy Queen at 501 Shore Road for a snack. I had not been at a Dairy Queen in years, and I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted a Banana Split which is my favorite thing at Dairy Queen.
The Dairy Queen Banana Split
Still the best and has not changed since 1972
Yes, the price had gone up over the years and the little yellow plastic container that they used to serve it in is no longer part of it, it still tasted the same as it had in 1972 and that is what I loved about it. My aunt had the Chocolate Chip Mint ice cream and we just sat outside at the tables and talked about the visits.
The Dairy Queen at 501 Shore Drive
https://www.dairyqueen.com/en-us/locations/nj/somers-point/501-shore-rd/5581/
https://www.facebook.com/DQ17135/
My review on TripAdvisor:
The seating has not changed since the 1970’s
After our snack, we walked it off with a visit to see the man whose family the town was named after, Robert Somers. This small park is also on Shore Road between the mansion and the grave site.
Robert Somers Memorial Park
The statue of Master Commandant Robert Somers in the park
The irony was that when we got back in the car and still had what I thought was an hour and a half before dinner, I found out that Smitty’s had been open the whole time. The Internet was wrong about the times, and they opened at 11:30am during the summer months. I thought they opened at 4:30pm. So, I had no appetite for dinner.
The Smith Marina sign throws you
At first, we could not find the place because there is no sign that says “Smitty’s Clam Bar”. It is actually named “The Clam Bar at Smith Marina” at 910 Bay Avenue. “Smitty’s” is a nickname the locals have given it over the years. I had just read and the people at all the historical sites confirmed that they just lost their lease, and the marina has been sold so this will be their last season operating. So, I was glad we visited when we did.
‘Smitty’s Clam Bar” The Clam Bar at Smith Marina at 910 Bay Avenue
https://www.facebook.com/smittysclambar/
My review on TripAdvisor:
“Smitty’s” is one of those classic Jersey shore restaurants that has never changed since its opening except for the prices. You go there for deep-fried everything and I got a kick out of the waitress when my aunt asked her what she recommended and she said, “Oh, the Salmon with the Miso sauce and fresh vegetables is really good.”
I looked at her like she was nuts. When I said that we came down for the fried fish she gave us more time with the menu.
The lunch specials at “Smitty’s”. There was no Salmon with Miso Sauce here.
I ended up ordering the New England Clam Chowder ($3.95) which was thick and rich and loaded with clams and touched off with cream. The reviewers were right about it, and it lived up to its reputation. What didn’t live up to the restaurant was its prices.
The entrees were all $3.00-$5.00 more than the menu posted online and that really surprised me. Thank God I brought enough cash because they are still a ‘cash only’ restaurant.
This was the reason why I saw so many people on the outside counter sharing meals. Most of them probably did not have enough cash. In the era of COVID and people not even accepting cash as payment, I could not believe that the restaurant still had this archaic form of payment.
The counter on the outside of the The Clam Bar
The Smith Marina from the side
Since I had just downed a banana split a half hour before lunch, I just shared some of the fried shrimp and French fries that my aunt was having ($14.99 at the restaurant/$9.99 online) and then we shared a piece of the Key Lime Pie ($4.99). I have to say that their Key Lime Pie also lived up to its reputation. It was rich and sweet, and you could taste the tartness in each bite. It really was the best way to end the meal.
The Fried Shrimp with French Fries and Cole Slaw at Smitty’s
After lunch was finished, we walked around the Marina for a bit. It really looked like a place on Martha’s Vineyard or even some of the places I knew on Long Beach Island that I had seen in previous late summer days. I can imagine that it will be going upscale as soon as its sold and the classic look will be gone.
Smith Marina where The Clam Bar is located. How much will this change in the future?
(*Note to all readers: Smitty’s just signed a contract with the marina and will be open in the summer of 2023)
We drove down Bay Avenue after lunch and stopped by the small beach where the last of the swimmers were finishing up for the day. I have to say one thing. Somers Point, New Jersey is a really charming town.
The Marina Park
The beach on the bay
As we headed out of town on Shore Avenue passing all the sites we had visited in the morning, I wondered how many people in town appreciate all the little ‘gems’ located right at their doorsteps. For those of you who have not visited, it is a nice day out.
When I revisited the town again in the early October of 2025, the summer had not totally disappeared and it was in the mid 80’s in the afternoon. I explored the town again especially the interesting little park under the highway. What spectacular views of the bay.
The Bridge Park
Somers Point has so much to offer in just a small area and I look forward to my next trip here to experience Smitty’s again (they closed for the season a week after Labor Day). The sunsets are not to be missed.
This is why I love the Jersey shore!
Places to Eat:
Dairy Queen
501 Shore Drive
Somers Point, NJ 08244
(609) 927-4835
https://www.dairyqueen.com/en-us/locations/nj/somers-point/501-shore-rd/5581/
https://www.facebook.com/DQ17135/
Open Sunday-Thursday 12:00pm-10:00pm/Friday-Saturday 12:00pm-10:30pm
My review on TripAdvisor:
The Clam Bar at Smith Marina (Smitty’s Clam Bar)
910 Bay Avenue
Somers Point, NJ 08244
(609) 927-8783
https://www.facebook.com/smittysclambar/
Open: Sunday 11:30am-9:00pm/Monday-Friday 4:30am-9:00pm/Saturday 11:30am-9:00pm
My review on TripAdvisor:
Places to Visit:
Somers Point Historical Society
745 Shore Road
Somers Point, NJ 08244
(609) 927-2900
http://www.somerspointhistory.org/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/239626702903267/
Open: Sunday-Wednesday Closed/Thursday 7:00pm-9:00pm/Friday Closed/Saturday 10:00am-1:00pm
Admission: Free
My review on TripAdvisor:
My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:
https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/7815
Atlantic County Historical Society
907 Shore Road
Somers Point, NJ 08294
(609) 927-5218
https://www.atlanticcountyhistoricalsocietynj.org/
https://www.facebook.com/AtlanticCountyHistoricalSociety/
Open: Sunday-Tuesday Closed/Wednesday-Saturday 10:00am-3:30pm
Admission: Free
My review on TripAdvisor:
My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:
https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/7820
Somers Mansion
1000 Shore Road
Somers Point, NJ 08244
(609) 927-2212
https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/historic/somersmansion.html
Somers Mansion
Open: Sunday 9:30am-3:30pm/Monday-Friday Closed/Saturday 9:30am-3:30pm
Admission: Free
My review on TripAdvisor:
My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:
https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/7811
The historic signs for Dance clubs
And ship building
mywalkinmanhattan 