With spring approaching, we’re counting down the days till we get to spend them at the Jersey Shore. And one of our favorite Shore towns has landed on a national list of the 150 best small towns in the country.
Seaside is the first NJ town in the ranking, coming in at No. 43. Two other New Jersey towns also made the list: Lambertville placed 65th and Haddonfield is ranked at No. 142 on the list by Family Destinations Guide, which polled 3,000 families across the U.S. for their favorite small towns to visit.
Seaside Heights screams summer, with its beachfront, boardwalk and attractions. Kids love Casino Pier and Breakwater Beach Waterpark. You and your crew can rent a scooter, play mini golf, go clubbing, take a sail or have a drink at a beachside bar. Shop arts and crafts vendors at markets, celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks and a kite festival, sign up for a 5K along the beach, or help clean up the shoreline. Water activities like surfing, fishing and parasailing also make this a popular spot. Off the boardwalk, there are plenty of restaurants and sweet shops, too.
Haddonfield has more than 200 shops, restaurants and historic sites. Popular events during the year include the Crafts & Fine Art Festival, the Love Haddonfield Valentine’s Day event, and candlelight shopping closer to the holidays. But the most interesting fact may be that in 1858, the bones of a complete dinosaur were found; the Hadrosaurus Foulkii skeleton is on display at the Academy of Natural Sciences, and the discovery site on Maple Avenue in Haddonfield is a national historic landmark. Crow’s Woods Hiking Trail in Crow’s Woods Nature Preserve is 1.5 miles of trails that are dog- and stroller-friendly. You can also take the kids to the Children’s Sculpture Zoo on Kings Highway.
Lambertville was recently named one of the country’s most charming towns by HGTV. It’s known as the Antiques Capital of New Jersey, and there’s no shortage of shopping at its quaint shops and antique galleries. There’s great architecture and beautiful views of the Delaware River, which is also a perfect spot for tubing and kayaking. And, it’s easy to walk across the bridge to New Hope, PA.
The top 10 best small towns in America on the list are:
1. Holualoa, Hawaii
2. Ely, Nevada
3. Anna Maria Island, Florida
4. Old Koloa Town, Hawaii
5. West Yellowstone, Montana
6. Gatlinburg, Tennessee
7. Chincoteague, Virginia
8. Sitka, Alaska
9. Sedona, Arizona
10. Ketchikan, Alaska
Read More:
8 Cute NJ Towns That Are Great Getaways From NYC
6 Day Trips to Go On This Spring
