Why LBI?
It would be hard to find another Island within a 2 hour drive time from Washington, DC to New York City that offers a better ‘Beach Lifestyle’ ~ like the ones we all enjoyed as kids. Bare feet, sunrises on the ocean, sunsets on the bay, plenty of beach fun all day and late night ice cream.
Long Beach Island, known by most diehards as simply – LBI, is truly an Island 6 miles out at sea. No boardwalk, no high rises, just plenty of family fun on the beach, the bay or in ‘Town’. Kids are free to roam and be kids. Fine dining and boutique shops,, yet no trip is complete without an LBI T-shirt, souvenir or hermit crab. Broadway productions at Surflight Theater in Beach Haven or a trip to Atlantic City, only an hour drive for a fancy night out.
LBI offers you plenty to do or nothing to do, you choose
How can you not fall in love with The LBI ‘Beach Lifestyle’?
LBI Towns
Approximately 18 miles long. Each end of LBI offers a Wildlife area. North is Old Barney Lighthouse and State Park. South end is the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. In between are six different municipalities and many distinct communities within these municipalities.
Let’s explore a bit.
You enter LBI via the Rte. 72 Causeway and enter the town of Ship Bottom ‘The Gateway to LBI’. It is often the first stop of ‘day trippers’ as it the fastest way to the beach. Ship Bottom also offers more parking, shops and restaurants than some other areas on LBI.
Continuing south is a large section of Long Beach Township (LBT) starting with the community of Brant Beach and ending with North Beach Haven. This is a quieter area as there are fewer business establishments along the main route.
Beach Haven is the next municipality and a major town center with some great amusement parks for the kids such as; Fantasy Island and Thundering Surf. It is home to Surflight Theater, the shopping villages of Schooner’s Wharf and Bay Village. Stroll through town and you will find something that everyone will want to do.
South of Beach Haven and towards the tip is Holgate, another section of Long Beach Township and the Wildlife Refuge. Home to Piping Plovers in the summer and Snowy Owls in the winter. Much quieter and more residential in nature. The Wildlife Refuge area offers a beautiful view of the Atlantic City skyline, the night view is amazing.
Now we head up to the other end of LBI. North of Ship Bottom is Surf City Borough. Another town center with the moniker of ‘Main Street’. Wonderful shopping, notable art galleries, fine dining and of course mini golf courses and ice cream shoppes are interspersed.
Next up is North Beach (another part of LBT), the road widens, larger home sites and private lanes. A quiet area, yet a bike ride to the action of Surf City or Harvey Cedars.
Harvey Cedars is the next stop. A very quaint village with a spattering of stores, restaurants and picturesque coves.
Loveladies is the crown jewel, large private estates on the largest parcels on LBI. The beaches are perfect for a summer nap, as they are spacious and generally quieter. Loveladies is also home to the LBI Foundation of the Arts & Sciences.
At the northern tip is Barnegat Light. Home to our local commercial fishing fleet at Viking Village, take a trip to their docks for fresh fish right off the boats. A trip up Ole Barney Lighthouse is a must for the views are incredible.