When planning your trip, look for fun activities and events in the area. Many towns host holiday celebrations and other festivals in the winter. The Jersey Shore also has plenty of acclaimed restaurants, so you can enjoy a decadent dinner with your family, friends, or significant other. Finally, you should look for a house to rent or a bed and breakfast to stay in. One of the major appeals of the Jersey Shore is it’s variety of comfortable and unique accommodations for vacationers. You can find almost anything, from a cute suite for a romantic getaway, to a large house for a family reunion.
One of the oldest towns on the Jersey Shore is Tom’s River. Tom’s River is the seat of Ocean County, and is known for being very pleasant and safe. In the summer, popular activities include nature walks and river cruises, but in the winter, many people enjoy museums, such as the Robert J. Novins Planetarium, the Insectropolis Bug Museum, and the Ocean County Historical Museum. Tom’s River is also known for it’s holiday events - they have one of the largest Halloween parades in the world, and they host a large Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony as well. For food and drink, popular destinations include the Rinn Duin Brewing Company, Tardi’s Ristorante Italiano, and Pisces Restaurant, just to name a few. Even in the winter, the Jersey Shore has access to some of the country’s best seafood.
Directly north of Tom’s River is the town of Brick. Brick is mostly a mainland township, but has three beaches that extend out from the mainland on the Barnegat Peninsula. Like Tom’s River, Brick has a reputation for being an extremely safe city, and attracts many people because of it’s shopping. There are several major malls and shopping centers in the area, including the large Ocean County Mall, which has over one hundred stores, so you can enjoy some retail therapy when it is cold and snowy outside. There are also plenty of high quality restaurants in Brick, especially on the waterfront. Some favorites include Tuscany Restaurant and Bar, Houlihan’s, Windward Tavern, and Denino’s Pizzeria.
If you want to get as close to the beach as possible, you can venture over to the little neighborhood of Seaside Heights. Seaside Heights is located directly east of Tom’s River on the Barnegat Peninsula. Seaside Heights is a popular tourist destination due to it’s boardwalk as well as the presence of several popular clubs and bars, many of which were featured on the MTV show Jersey Shore. There are two amusement parks in Seaside Heights, Funtown Pier and Casino Pier, both of which feature arcade games and traditional amusement park fare in addition to rides. Even in the winter, it can be fun to head to the pier for a stroll, since it is calm and you can just enjoy the beach town atmosphere without the crowds.
Seaside Heights also hosts tons of events throughout the year, including some celebrations in the wintertime, such as a Christmas Parade and Santacon meetup, New Year’s Eve fireworks on the boardwalk, and the Polar Bear Plunge at the end of February, which is when daring beachgoers head into the frigid waters of the Atlantic and raise money for the Special Olympics. There are plenty of restaurants and snack stands on the pier as well, and you can head to one of the many nearby bars afterwards for drinks and dancing. To shake off that hangover the next day, you can head to Bobber’s Family Restaurant for a classic brunch, or Klee’s Bar and Grill for some pub food.
Another popular beach location is Long Beach Island. The island is located south of Tom’s River and north of Atlantic City, and it is known for it’s beautiful, pristine beaches and walkable small town areas. Even in the winter, the town is a cute place to wander around, and you can visit the Barnegat Lighthouse in the north part of the island, or head south to Beach Haven for shopping and food. The town has many small specialty shops, including Sweet Haven Candy Shop, and Spice It Up, a gourmet foods shop. Another fun spot is Schooner’s Wharf, which is a restored ship with stores and food in the bottom. History buffs will also enjoy the Museum of New Jersey Maritime History. For food lovers, there are plenty of options that are conveniently located, from small snack stands to fine dining like the Gables Inn and Restaurant and La Spiaggia.
For those who want to stay more inland on their trip, the town of Jackson is conveniently located west of Tom’s River. The Jackson Township motto is even ‘A Place For All Seasons’, reflecting the town’s beauty throughout the year. Jackson is quieter than beach towns like Seaside Heights, but is also known for it’s major theme park, Six Flags Great Adventure. There are also plenty of attractions to check out in Jackson during the winter, including Jackson Premium Outlets for discount shopping, and Howling Woods Farm, where you can pet wolves. As far as food goes, there are several great pizza joints in Jackson, including Mona Lisa Pizza, Solo Bella, and Brooklyn Square Pizza. Jackson is a great place to stay during your trip if you will have access to a car, because it is centrally located on the Jersey Shore, and you can drive to several other nearby towns.
Even though the Jersey Shore is known for it’s summer activities and beaches, there is still plenty to enjoy during the winter months. If you are looking for a fun but relaxed East Coast getaway during the winter, the Jersey Shore is a great place to look.
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