Long Beach Island—better known as LBI—is a beloved stretch of the Jersey Shore, offering 18 miles of fun and coastal charm. Located between Atlantic City and Seaside Heights, LBI is home to six popular beach towns: Beach Haven, Harvey Cedars, Barnegat Light, Ship Bottom, Long Beach Township, and Surf City. Each one has its own personality, but they all deliver when it comes to beautiful beaches, stunning sunsets, and family-friendly things to do.
Whether you’re planning a day trip or a weekend getaway, here are some of our favorite spots to explore on LBI.
Start your morning at Uncle Will’s Pancake House for Beach Benedicts, Eggs-clusive Omelets or the shareable Blinkhouse Breakfast. If you’re on the go, head to The Bagel Shack, which has bagels, acai bowls, salads, tacos and Nitro brew. Both spots are open during the off-season.
Birdy’s Cafe & Artisan Market serves brunch on the north end of town in Harvey Cedars. There are locally made, artisan breads and seafood; craft coffee; fresh Jersey seafood; and items sourced from nearby farms and markets. It’s a popular family-owned business that supports LBI’s makers and artists.
Crêperie de la Mer & French Café is a hidden gem located in the heart of the historic district of Beach Haven. Order a sweet or savory crepe made with fresh ingredients that have French flair and flavor.
Then it’s beach time! LBI’s beaches are clean and offer a relaxing vibe for your crew.
A trip to Fantasy Island Amusement Park and Arcade is a full day all on its own. The park and arcade are newly renovated, so you can chill out on the carousel or Giant Wheel, or get your adrenaline pumping on the Lighthouse Launch or Sea Dragon’s Revenge. The Ferris wheel lights up at night. Save room for a slice from Park Pizza or a waffle cone taco from Shark Bites Grille.
A day at Thundering Surf Waterpark in Beach Haven is another fun way to keep the kids cool. This waterpark has water slides, the lazy river, and the Flow Rider, which simulates waves you can surf. There are cabanas for rent, so while the kids are having fun, you can relax in the shade.
Next to the waterpark you’ll see Settlers Mill Adventure Golf, which brings out the competition in your crew via two different courses with 18 holes each. The course has views of Fantasy Island Amusement Park, Bay Village, the waterpark, and the bay.
Bay Village is home to 21 shops so you won’t have any trouble finding a souvenir. An institution on the island is the historic Country Kettle Fudge Shop, which has been making hand-whipped fudge in copper kettles since 1961. Crust and Crumb Bakery is another fave, since they make fresh elephant ear pastries and donuts daily. There are also several clothing shops, so you can buy a fun LBI-themed tee to take home.
Another must-visit spot is Ron Jon Surf Shop in Ship Bottom, which is the company’s very first location dating back to 1961. It recently moved to a new spot, and has 12,000 square feet of surf boards and surfing accessories, swimwear, beach bags, sandals – and all the T-shirts you see everyone wearing at the beach.
Make sure to visit Barnegat Lighthouse State Park. The lighthouse is the second tallest in the state, so after you climb Old Barney, learn more history inside the Interpretive Center, walk along the Maritime Forest Trail, have a picnic, or go fishing.
More stories of the island can be found inside the Long Beach Island Historical Museum, which has its own host of treasures. The displays here focus on the Tuckerton and Long Beach Railroad, gunning and yacht clubs like Captain Bond’s Long Beach House, the small fishing village called Barnegat City, and shipwrecks that occurred right off the coast.
The lineup of shows at Surf Light Theatre includes musicals, concerts, comedy and children’s theater. Some shows for the kids this summer are Peter Pan, Snow White, The Wizard of Oz, The Little Mermaid, The SpongeBob Musical and Cinderella.
If you’re traveling with your fur babies, Wally’s in Surf City is pet-friendly in the outside dining area – and if your dog is well behaved, they’ll get a free treat. Human guests go there for their crumb cake, but they also have special vegan and gluten-free menus.
At night, catch a sunset with your furry friend at the Beach Haven Doggy Bay located on Taylor Avenue. While the regular beaches are closed to dogs from May through September, you can still bring your pet with you to enjoy the beachy vibes during the on-season.
There’s no better way to end your stay in LBI than with an awesome dessert. The infamous The Chicken or The Egg has a yummy food menu, but they’re better known for their cinnamon roll sandwich and cookie ice cream sandwich.
Of course, no trip down the Shore is complete without an ice cream cone. The Showplace Ice Cream Parlor is next to Surflight Theatre.This is no ordinary ice cream parlor though: while you savor your cone, the wait staff treats you to a theatrical performance.
Pro Tip: While many of the touristy areas are walkable, you can use the LBI Shuttle service to reach your favorite places. This shuttle goes along all 18 miles of the island and is only $5 per ride. Kids 12 and under are free with an adult.
If you want to make it a vacation, Hotel LBI in Ship Bottom has the best of everything: a great location, roomy suites with a kitchenette, a rooftop where you can watch the sun set, four bars, and a mix of casual and fine dining.
Windward at the Beach in Beach Haven is a boutique hotel that’s only 200 steps from the Victorian house to the ocean (its owners have counted)! Engleside Inn, also in Beach Haven, is a beachfront motel at the southern part of the island that is just seven blocks from amusement parks, restaurants, museums and other family attractions.
See some of our favorite spots on our Instagram page.
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