Barnegat Light, NJ

Quaint, small, but ever so popular.

This small borough may be less than a square mile in size, but it packs in a lot to see and do.  People can be seen fishing, crabbing, and swimming at the beach.  There’s plenty of rec spaces too that are filled with tennis and basketball courts, skate parks, and even dog parks.

For even more fishing fun, everyone recommends going out on a party boat for some deep-sea fishing.  The camaraderie will keep the crew laughing even if the fish aren’t biting.   Although, the fish in those waters bite every day of the year!

Old Barney is the highlight of this area, and no one can leave without climbing to the top of the ol’ Barnegat Lighthouse.  Afterwards, a picnic lunch and a stroll along the shore is the perfect way to end the day.

Those who want a more extensive history of the lighthouse can walk through the old one room schoolhouse that now houses the Barnegat Lighthouse Museum.  The main feature is the First Order Flashing Lens that was removed from the lighthouse in 1927.  People can spend hours perusing the photos, artifacts, and replicas inside the museum.

Despite the small size, there are quite a few unique boutiques to shop in.  A few favorites include Americana by the Seashore, Andy’s at the Light, The Spotted Whale, and Wildflowers by the Lighthouse.

When it comes to food, no one can miss a meal at Mustache Bill’s Diner, Viking Fresh Off the Hook, or Kubel’s.  And, when it comes to ice cream on a hot summer’s day, there is nothing better than Poppy’s Ice Cream Parlour over on Broadway.

Start your morning off right each day with a gourmet cup of coffee and a baked good from the How You Brewin Coffee Bar.

Explore nature while walking the trails in the Barnegat Division of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.  The trails may not always be open, but when they are, people can see bald eagles, owls, ospreys, turtles, butterflies, a variety of birds, and many other animals that show up each season.