A Jersey Shore Summer Bucket List: 20 Things the Locals Actually Do

By Susan Heckman

I took this photo at Avon-by-the-Sea so many years ago! It's still one of my favorites.

Every summer, the guides come out. "Best Boardwalks!" "Top 10 Beaches!" You know the ones I’m talking about. They are designed to highlight whatever draws the biggest crowds and the most clicks.

This isn't that list.

This is the stuff we actually do. The spots where you'll run into other locals, not just a crowd of strangers. Print it, save it, and work your way down it as the dog days of summer settle in. I included several links, hope it's helpful! :)

On the Water

1. Watch the sunrise from the beach before the crowds show up. Before the lifeguards set up, before anyone's staked a claim with an umbrella, and most importantly, before badges and parking fees kick in, the shore is at its quietest and best.Grab a bagel and coffee on your way down. 

2. Sit by a fishing spot and watch the crew reel in whatever's running. You don't have to fish yourself to enjoy this one. Pull up a spot nearby and watch the regulars work.

3. Book a half-day fluke trip out of a local marina. Don’t own a boat? No problem! A few hours on a charter, and you'll come home with dinner (hopefully!) and a good story.

4. Crab off a dock at dusk. Chicken neck, a piece of string, a net, and that's it. Kids love this one, and so do the adults. Swimming River Park in Middletown is a great spot to try it.

5. Paddleboard or kayak the bays. Skip the ocean for a morning. The bays are calm, glassy, and full of herons if you're patient. Sandy Hook Kayaks and Oceanport Paddle Club both offer low-cost rentals and lessons if you need them.

In Nature

6. Take a hike. When it's time to get out of the sun, locals head for the shore's shady park trails, perfect for walking and biking. My two favorites are the Henry Hudson Trail, especially down by Popamora Point in Highlands, and the loop at Manasquan Reservoir. Both are part of the Monmouth County Park System. The dogs love it too!

7. Hang out with the local reptiles and amphibians. Stop by Huber Woods Park's Environmental Center & Reptile House, part of the Monmouth County Park System. The environmental center itself is gorgeous.

Local Food, Not Tourist Food

8. Hit a farm stand. Go for the Jersey corn and whatever local produce was picked that day. Red Bank's Farmers Market runs every Sunday, but plenty of shore towns have their own regular markets with everything from flowers and veggies to pickles, fish, and baked goods. Go early for the best picks.

9. Get a pork roll, egg, and cheese from a local deli. Everyone has a strong opinion about who makes it best. For me, it's Alice's Kitchen (@aliceskitchen_)  in Sea Bright — writing this just made me want to get one right now. Every town has its favorite spot; find yours.

10. Order a tomato pie, not a "pizza," at least once this summer. Again, there is plenty of debate over who does it best. A tomato pie is Trenton-style — cheese first, sauce on top. Try Joe Diano's Tomato Pies in Point Pleasant or Nino's Coal Fired Pizza in Brick Township.

11. Find the best ice cream stand and go back at least three times. Ice cream is never boring at the Jersey Shore. If you're a chocolate addict like me, try the Chocolate x3 at Ryan's Ice Cream in Tinton Falls, Oakhurst, or Hazlet. Trust me on this one.

12. Eat fried fish at a real seafood shack. A picnic table, paper plates, no fancy menu required. The Boondocks Fishery (@the_boondocks_fishery) in Red Bank’s Marine Park hits the spot. For takeout, Keyport Fishery has been feeding locals for decades, and you can also buy fresh fish there.

Boardwalk & Downtown

13. Walk the boardwalk after the sun goes down. Once the daytime crowds clear out, many boardwalks turn cooler, quieter, and much easier to enjoy. The Spring Lake boardwalk is a great option, and so is Ocean Grove.

14. Play mini golf under the lights after dinner. I used to take my girls to Jenkinson’s Castaway Cove on the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk. Bluegrass Minigolf at the Monmouth Racetrack is great too.

15. Support a mom-and-pop shop. The artist collective, the fudge place, the coffee shop, the local arcade — these are the businesses that make the shore the shore. Ocean Brew Coffee in Ocean Township, Boho House in Asbury Park, and Suzy's Sweet Shoppe in Middletown are all worth the visit.

Community & Events

16. Catch a summer concert in the park or a movie on the beach. Bring a chair, bring the kids, bring snacks and drinks. Check online for what's happening near you.

17. Show up to your town's summer festival. Every shore town has one — a seafood festival, a street fair, a craft fair. Go. Eat too much. Buy something from a local vendor. A few favorites: Bradley Beach's LobsterFest, Long Branch's Jazz and Blues Festival, and Red Bank's Sidewalk Sale. There's something for everyone.

18. Volunteer for a beach cleanup. Clean Ocean Action organizes two beach sweeps up and down the coast every year, but you can also just go as a group and run your own. Bring gloves, bags, and buckets — it's a nice way to give something back to the place that gives us our summers.

19. Watch the horses train at Monmouth Park Racetrack. You can catch morning workouts on Saturdays from 8:00-9:00 at the racetrack’s Dawn Patrol program. Be sure to call ahead as spots fill quickly!

Slow Down Moments

20. End a night on a porch, a dock, or a boardwalk bench. No plans — just the sound of the water and a blanket of stars overhead. This is the one people forget to put on their lists. It might be the most important one on it.

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I hope you enjoyed this list! Every town at the Jersey Shore is a little different. If you'd like to talk more about any town in Monmouth or Ocean County, let's chat!

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