A Guide to Long Beach Island

There’s more to do in Long Beach Island than just melt in the sun all day. Long Beach Island, or “LBI” as locals have fondly nicknamed it, holds historic landmarks, iconic restaurants, and adorable amusement park rides along the Jersey Shore. Visit one of New Jersey’s oldest (and still working!) lighthouses, grab some chicken wings at 3 a.m., or sample a flight from a local brewery. Long Beach Island is the summer destination for locals who love going “down the shore.”

But this beach destination could be your everyday destination if the Long Beach Island lifestyle inspires you to put down roots. Here are some places to consider, if you want to become a local.

Long Beach Township

This township, located between Surf City and Beach Haven, is the largest chunk of land along Long Beach Island and spans 18 miles. Here, you’ll find a bunch of private beaches dotted with children’s playgrounds.

During the summer, Long Beach Township hosts free Monday Movie Nights and a concert series along B Street featuring prominent local musicians. To foster a stronger sense of community, Long Beach Township also hosts free summer activities in Bayview Park, including sunset yoga and an “art in the park” night.

According to Neighborhoods.com listings, single-family homes in this area lean more towards the higher end with many homes priced above $1 million and larger homes priced above $3 million. However, there are also a few condos and attached homes available between the low $400s and the mid $900s.

Beach Haven

One of the most quintessential shore cities, Beach Haven is where most of the iconic Long Beach Island shops, activities, and restaurants are located, including The Chicken or The Egg, which (not so surprisingly) serves different flavors and styles of chicken wings. During the summer season, it’s open 24 hours a day.

For some thrilling adventures, Fantasy Island Amusement Park (the only amusement park on Long Beach Island) has 19 different rides, an arcade, and dozens of carnival games. You can also head over to the neighboring Thundering Surf Waterpark for extra summer fun.

For some rainy day festivities, head to Bay Village, a shopping center with over 20 different stores and restaurants, including a pizzeria and brewery. Beach Haven also houses the Surflight Theatre, a live theatre company that hosts musicals, plays, and comedy shows as well as educational programs for children.

Homes here feature a wide array of styles and sizes, with prices ranging from $250,000 to over $5 million. The majority of single-family homes in Beach Haven are between $1 million and $5 million, but there are a few smaller options available between the low $600s and the high $900s. The few available condos and attached homes in this area usually run between the high $200s and the high $600s.

Barnegat Light

Barnegat Light is a shore community with newly redesigned houses and quaint older homes dating back to the 1950s. Here, residents take part in the history of the island while still enjoying a beach lifestyle.

One of LBI’s most prominent landmarks has been nestled along the Barnegat Inlet for over a century: the Barnegat Lighthouse. In addition to being on the National Register of Historic Places, the Barnegat Lighthouse, or “Old Barney” as the locals nicknamed it, is one of New Jersey’s 11 functioning lighthouses that are open to the public. A few steps from the lighthouse doors is the Barnegat Lighthouse State Park and the Barnegat Light Museum, where guests can learn more about the history of Long Beach Island and the significance of the lighthouse.

Historic landmarks aside, Barnegat Light is home to a shopping and fishing center, called Viking Village. Here, you’ll find small boutiques with fishing gear, candy, and vintage home decor. The market also has a fish market and seafood takeout restaurant, to complete the LBI experience.

Offering a bit of a reprieve from the pricier areas on Long Beach Island, Barnegat Light has charming, sea-side single-family homes available for under $1 million—a good thing too because condos will be hard to come by here.

Surf City

Another city full of small shops and restaurants, Surf City has plenty of activities for people who might not want to spend hours on the sand. If you live in New Jersey, you’ve definitely seen a few middle schoolers walking around with a Ron Jon Surf Shop hoodie. This surf shop, now with locations in South Carolina, Maryland, and Alabama, is recognized “worldwide as an icon of the surf and beach lifestyle,” according to their website.

For a classic Jersey Shore breakfast spot, Wally’s has been serving up brunch in Surf City for over 40 years. Or if you love guided painting and woodworking classes, go one step further at SwellColors Glass Studio & Gallery, where you can create and purchase your own stained glass creations. (Who doesn’t want to take home their own mosaic mirror?) They even do private parties and fundraisers for children.

This community has a mix of million-dollar properties and more moderately priced single-family homes. A two-bedroom home set back from the shore may be priced in the low $500s, while a five-bedroom home with ocean views could set you back a cool $1 million. But the community’s proximity to the beaches, Route 72, and iconic Long Beach Island stores makes it worth the price.

Harvey Cedars

If you’re looking for a more residential area of Long Beach Island, Harvey Cedars is your best bet. Located in the northern half of LBI, this city includes private beaches and a public park, known as “sunset park.”

For a semi-formal dining experience, pay Black Eyed Susan’s Cafe a visit, where you can dine on grilled octopus or LBI sourdough served with housemade butter.

Harvey Cedars follows the pricing trends of other Long Beach Island communities: larger, beach-side homes tend to earn a million-dollar price tag while midsize homes toward the center of the island can cost as little as $600,000.

Ship Bottom

For a faster pace, check Ship Bottom, where the hot dogs are hot, and the ocean is refreshingly cold. Here, homes range from the high $200s to over $2 million, but all properties boast gorgeous views and close proximity to shops and restaurants.

Ship Bottom has you set for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Walk over to Shore Good Donuts for warm donuts slathered in frosting and sprinkles. For lunch, visit Surf Taco for some of LBI’s most iconic fish tacos. For a vintage, sit-down dining experience, Woodies Drive-In specializes in burgers, hot dogs, and fresh french fries by the bucket.

Up for a challenge? There are plenty of mini golf locations along Long Beach Island, but The Sand Trap in Ship Bottom is one of the largest and the most challenging. There are also mini golf tournaments available for kids, and winners get trophies to take home.