Lavallette, New Jersey

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The Back Story:

Lavallette, New Jersey is by far the best beach town at the Jersey Shore hands down. Throughout my entire life, I have been spending amazing summers down at the Jersey Shore. Lavallette is a small family-resort beach town where my family owns a house. It is located on the Barnegat Inlet in Ocean County, NJ. As someone from North Jersey, I think of Lavallette as South Jersey, but location-wise it is considered to be more Central Jersey.

Before I dive deep into this blog post, I want to give you all a backstory. My grandparents purchased a small bungalow in 1980 at a very affordable cost, it was right before my mom had her sweet 16 (pictured above). Even though I was a toddler and only enjoyed the original house for a few short years of my life, I could remember bits and pieces of it. There was a small galley kitchen with a booth where we all ate, a sunporch was located in the front of the house and that was pretty much what I remembered. It was tightly packed, but full of love. Just reaching the mid 1990s, my grandparents decided to renovate the house and add an addition onto it. At that point, I was in my early elementary school years (probably around 5 years old). From there on, I would spend my entire summers with my grandparents (especially in my teens).

Each day spent down the shore would be the same, but as Bruce Springsteen says in his song “Jersey Girl”, “down the shore everything’s alright”, because it really is! (In case you were unaware, us locals refer to going to the Jersey Shore as heading “down the shore” because for over a hundred years, Jersey beaches were the summer getaway spot for everyone living in Northern New Jersey.) There is something about the ocean breeze and small-town vibe (where everyone knows your name) that gets everyone in a good mood no matter what. Every summer, my nana would take me on shopping sprees, bake delicious cakes and give me the best life advice. She was my best friend and I cherish all of the summers I got to spend with her. That is another reason why the shore holds a special place in my heart. On New Year’s Eve 2010 (going into 2011), my nana sadly passed away to cancer and it left us all saddened.

Shortly after my nana passed away, my pop passed the home down to my family and my uncle’s family. Although being down the shore wasn’t the same without my nana being there, we still had all of her warm touches throughout the house. When Hurricane Sandy hit the Jersey Shore in fall 2012, we lost our house along with all of our belongings. Everything my nana bought or made was completely destroyed, leaving our family heartbroken. My family ended up rebuilding the house the following year. Even though I missed the old house and all of the memories we had there, building a new home was so exciting. It is more spacious and colorful, allowing us to host many friends and continue creating happy memories.

In this blog post, I am so excited to show you why Lavallette is the best Jersey Shore beach in the state of New Jersey.

**Please note that this blog post uses affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase via my affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only promote and talk about products and services that I have used and like.

Getting to the Jersey Shore:

There are numerous ways to get to the Jersey Shore. The biggest international airports are Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport. Other airports that you could fly into are Atlantic City and Trenton-Mercer Airports. You could find a plethora of cheap flights through Skyscanner.

Other ways to get to the Jersey Shore is through NJ Transit and also by car. Click here to find car rentals. If you are road tripping around the United States, the Jersey Shore is a great place to stop and enjoy the beach. Click here to check out RV rentals for road trips.

Where to Stay at the Jersey Shore:

Throughout Lavallette and the Barnegat Inlet, there are numerous motels that you could stay at. Personally, I think it is best to rent a home or apartment through Airbnb. There are also some lovely bed & breakfast spots you could stay at as well.

Top Reasons Why Lavallette is the Best Jersey Shore Beach:

It’s Extremely Safe:

One of the main reasons why Lavallette is the best Jersey Shore beach is because it is one of the safest towns in the state of New Jersey. It is perfect for families, couples and even solo travelers. No matter what, you should always travel with caution, but in Lavallette you could walk the boardwalk and streets late at night and not feel spooked out. Another reason why Lavallette is so safe is because of its small-town vibe. Everyone is looking out for you and has your back in the long run.

Lavallette is Conveniently Located:

The reason why Lavallette is a great location is because it is between two fun boardwalks – Point Pleasant Beach and Seaside Heights. Lavallette is definitely closer to Seaside Heights, so you can easily walk there on the beach within a half hour or drive there within 5 minutes to grab food, enjoy the attractions or just have a lovely stroll on the boardwalk.

It is Totally Acceptable to Spend a Total of 8 hours on the Beach:

Another reason why Lavallette is considered one of the best Jersey Shore beach towns is because it offers a beautiful and spacious beach. During late 2018/early 2019, Lavallette beaches underwent a facelift and created more space for beachgoers. Prior to this, the beaches used to be very small and Lavallette tends to attract a large crowd in the summer, so we were all on top of each other, which admittedly was quite annoying. Now, there is plenty of space for you to relax and enjoy quality beach time without hearing someone complain about having to go back to work on Monday.

Lavallette and many other Jersey Shore beaches also have powder white sand that is quite pleasant to walk over. In addition, our oceans are welcoming and there are always lifeguards during the summer months to ensure all swimmers are safe. It may sound crazy, but because we only spend weekends down the shore, we like to get as much beach time as we can. My family personally likes to spend close to six hours on the beach having fun or relaxing. It is the best! When we get off the beach, I love hopping into the outdoor shower house that we have outside.

Lavallette has a Peaceful Boardwalk:

One of my favorite aspects of Lavallette is that it has a beautiful boardwalk for taking a stroll or getting your exercise in. It is also great to ride a bike, but there are strict rules for when you could enjoy your ride. During the prime summer months, you can only ride your bike before 10am. You also cannot walk your dog on the boardwalk during the summer months. (Unfortunately, your fur baby needs to wait to see the beach in the off seasons.) You also cannot bring meals onto the beach unless it is an ice cream, Italian ice or a non alcoholic beverage from the ice cream truck that comes up every block during the summer. You usually could hear the truck’s music on the beach to know that it is there.

The great thing about the Lavallette boardwalk is that it is fairly quiet, since it is in a residential area and you can enjoy beautiful views of the ocean. If you are up early enough, you could even catch a gorgeous sunrise over the horizon. It is absolutely beautiful!

There is a Beautiful Bayside:

Another one of my favorite parts of Lavallette is the picturesque bayside that is both peaceful and fun. Whether you are catching a concert on the bay, shopping through a flea market, playing tennis or basketball, doing yoga, savoring breakfast with a view, going on a romantic bike ride, swimming, playing, fishing or sailing, the bay offers something for everyone.

I personally enjoy Lavallette’s bayside during sunset. The colors are absolutely stunning and it is one of the most peaceful places. I recommend grabbing a book, camera and a blanket and taking in all of the beauty around you.

There are Amazing Foodie Spots:

In Lavallette, there is definitely no shortage of good food options. Some foodie staples at the Jersey Shore are fresh donuts, seafood and Italian food. No matter what, you will never have a difficult time finding a pizzeria at the Jersey Shore due to the large population of Italian Americans who have been enjoying the shore for many years. Below are a list of my favorite restaurants on the Barnegat Inlet: (Ps. I also did a restaurant guide in North Jersey, click here to check it out.)

• Best Pizza: Lenny’s Pizza and Italian Grill (Lavallette, NJ)
• Best Pizza 2: Mia’s Pizza and Café (Ortley Beach, NJ)
• Best Italian Restaurant: Rockafellas by the Sea (Ortley Beach, NJ)
• Best Italian Restaurant 2: Enzo’s Caffé Italia (Toms River, NJ)
• Best Mexican Food: Spicy Cantina (Seaside Hieghts, NJ)
• Best Tacos: Gringo’s Taco Shack (Ocean Beach, NJ)
• Best Tacos 2: Surf Taco (Point Pleasant Beach and Seaside Park, NJ)
• Best Asian Fusion: Xina (Toms River, NJ)
• Best Sushi: Blu (Normandy Beach, NJ)
• Best Sushi 2: Hemingways Café (Seaside Heights, NJ)
• Best Seafood: Channel Marker Café (Ocean Beach, NJ)
• Best Seafood 2: Jack Baker’s Lobster Shanty (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ)
• Best Seafood 3: Chef Mike’s Atlantic Bar & Grill (Seaside Park, NJ)
• Best Seafood 4: Baker’s Water Street Bar & Grille (Toms River, NJ)
• Best Seafood 5: B2 Bistro & Bar (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ)
• Best Lobster Rolls: Red’s Lobster Pot (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ)
• Best Beach Bar: Martell’s Tiki Bar (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ)
• Best Bayside Bar: Jack Baker’s Wharfside Patio Bar (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ)
• Best Bar for Live Music: Beachcomber Bar & Grill (Seaside Heights, NJ)
• Best Bar for Live Music 2: Bum Roger’s Crabhouse (Seaside Park, NJ)
• Best Dive Bar: Jax Garage (Seaside Heights, NJ)
• Best Local Bar: Crab’s Claw Inn (Lavallette, NJ)
• Best Local Bar 2: Klee’s Bar & Grill (Seaside Heights, NJ)
• Best Local Bar 3: Used to Be’s (Montoloking, NJ)
• Best Craft Beer: Heavy Reel Brewing Co. (Seaside Heights, NJ)
• Best Iberian Restaurant: Europa South Restaurant (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ)
• Best Ice Cream: Kohr’s Frozen Custard (Lavallette, Ortley Beach, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park and Point Pleasant Beach, NJ)
• Best Ice Cream 2: The Parlor Café Bistro and Creamery (Lavallette, NJ)
• Best Ice Cream 3: Iceberg Ice Cream (Lavallette, NJ)
• Best Ice Cream 4: The Music Man Singing Ice Cream Shoppe (Lavallette, NJ)
• Best Ice Cream 5: Hoffman’s Ice Cream (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ)
• Best Donuts: Fumosa Brothers Bakery (Ortley Beach, NJ)
• Best Donuts 2: Donuts Plus (Ocean Beach, NJ)
• Best Donuts 3: Ob-Co’s Donuts (Toms River, NJ)
• Best Bakery: Colonial Bakery (Lavallette & Ocean Beach, NJ)
• Best Hawaiian Food: Ohana Grill (Lavallette, NJ)
• Best Farm to Table: Genevieve’s (Seaside Heights, NJ)
• Best Farm to Table 2: Free Range (Seaside Heights, NJ)
• Best Italian Specialty Store: Joe Leone’s Italian Speciality Store (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ)
• Best Smoothie Bowls: Kali-O’s Juice Box (Lavallette and Point Pleasant Beach, NJ)
• Best Smoothie Bowls 2: Playa Bowls (Lavallette, Seaside Park and Point Pleasant Beach, NJ)
• Best Coffee Shop: Lava Java (Lavallette, NJ)
• Best Breakfast: The Bay View Café (Lavallette, NJ)
• Best Breakfast 2: San Dollar Pancake House & Restaurant (Lavallette, NJ)
• Best Breakfast 3: Meg’s Grill (Lavallette, NJ)
• Best Breakfast 4: Sunny Hunny by the Sea Restaurant & Pancake House (Ortley Beach, NJ)
• Best Bagels: Bakin’ Bagels (Ortley Beach, NJ)

Lavallette has Endless Shopping Options:

One of the best things to do in the morning before the beach or in the evening after a day in the sun is to go shopping. In fact, shopping is also the number one thing to do even when it is raining at the beach. Below are my favorite shops in Lavallette:

• My Sister’s Jewelry Box and My Sister’s Favorite Things
• House of Lucky
• B&B Department Store
• Island Gypsy
• Salted Gems

There is Plenty of Family Fun Activities:

Like I mention throughout this blog post, Lavallette is the perfect family town resort. There are so many things to do for families, especially those with little ones. Whether it is flying a kite on the beach to playing mini golf or having a fun boardwalk night to crabbing on the bay, there is so much to do in Lavallette. Below are my recommendations:

• Have a fun boardwalk night: There are two major boardwalks on the Barnegat Inlet. I personally think the best boardwalk is Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach. It is a little out of the way from Lavallette, but there are more kiddy rides and overall I find it to be the safer option out of the two boardwalks. Casino Pier in Seaside Heights also is a great place to visit with kids, but I recommend it more for teenagers since the rides are more thrilling and there are also more boardwalk game options. Overall, both boardwalks have great arcade games, candy stores, ice cream shops, restaurants, bars and beach food. (A few brownie points for Jenkinson’s Boardwalk are that there is a fun aquarium and fun house there!)
• Stay Cool at the Waterpark: Located in Seaside Heights is Breakwater Beach, a small water park located right off of the boardwalk in Seaside Heights. This waterpark is absolutely perfect for families and it offers a nice little break from sitting on the beach. There are plenty of fun slides and pools to enjoy along with a lazy river. It is the best place to be on a hot summer day.
• Enjoy a Mini Golf Competition: No matter where you go at the Jersey Shore, there are a plethora of mini golf places to have fun. My personal childhood favorite is Barnacle Bill’s in Ortley Beach. To me, nothing could beat that place. It also has an arcade and food stand where you could get typical kid food such as chicken nuggets as well as ice cream! In addition to Barnacle Bill’s, there are also mini golf attractions near the boardwalks in Point Pleasant Beach and Seaside Heights. You could also find mini golf stands in Lavallette, Seaside Park, Ocean Beach, Normandy Beach and more.
• Savor a Sundae and Enjoy a Show: The Music Man Singing Ice Cream Shoppe in Lavallette, NJ and on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights is a vaudeville style Nightly Broadway Cabaret that is fun for all ages (but is mainly kid-friendly). It is at The Music Man where you could enjoy an iconic ice cream sundae and also sing and dance to Broadway favorites.
• Fly a Kite or Play a Game on the Beach or Bay: When I was younger, my brothers and I along with a few of my friends would head up to the beach and fly a kite, play tag, have a corn hole competition and enjoy each other’s company. It was such fun times and I always admired the colorful lights that came from the rides along the pier in Seaside Heights.
• Enjoy a Bonfire: My family’s shore house and many others at the Jersey Shore have fire pits to enjoy a relaxing bon fire. There really is nothing like sitting around a fire on a chilly summer evening and enjoy s’mores, listening to music and sipping a beer with the ocean breeze in your face.

There is Nature All Around:

From the beautiful blue ocean to the glistening bay, you are constantly surrounded by nature in Lavallette. You will always be hearing the seagulls chime on a beautiful day and you may even catch dolphins (or even a whale) from time to time. One of my favorite spots to enjoy nature and wildlife on the Barnegat Inlet is at Island Beach State Park.

Island Beach State Park is a preserved barrier island that offers 10 miles of sandy beach, dense maritime forests, rolling sand dunes and tidal marshes. It is also home to foxes, ospreys, a variety of different bird species and more than 400 plants. During a day at Island Beach State Park, you could relax and enjoy the beach, go on a hike, explore the nature and wildlife and even catch views of the Barnegat Lighthouse that you could see at the end of the inlet from Long Beach Island. It is absolutely beautiful and I recommend visiting if you are in Lavallette.

You Could Easily do a Day Trip:

The Jersey Shore offers way more than just the beach. Surrounding the Lavallette area are shopping malls, wineries, amusement parks and larger cities. Below is a list of places that you could see outside of the Barnegat Inlet.

• Jersey Shore Premium Outlets
• Laurita Winery
• Six Flags Great Adventure & Hurricane Harbor
• Atlantic City (If you are into the casino culture.)
• Asbury Park
• Monmouth Park Racetrack
• PNC Bank Arts Center (If you’re looking to see a concert.)
• Philadelphia

Despite the reputation the MTV show Jersey Shore casted upon New Jersey beaches, the shore is still my home and will forever hold a special place in my heart. I recommend everyone to make their way over to Lavallette, NJ at some point in their lives and experience the authentic Jersey Shore that makes it my happy place!

If you have any questions regarding the Jersey Shore or New Jersey in general, please email me at [email protected]. Ps. Cape May is another great Jersey Shore destination to check out. Click here to read my blog post on Cape May.

Every New Jerseyian has fond memories of the Jersey Shore. But for those of us who grew up there, the beach defines us. Your family day trips were our every days. The beach was our back yard. We wore bathing suits instead of underwear. Every day we laughed on the sand with large groups of friends. We considered body surfing a competitive sport. We road our bikes to the boardwalk if we were bored. We were life guards and badge checkers. We learned to drive our first car in the beach parking lot. Our first kissed was shared here. The beach was more to us than another fond childhood memory. It was our every memory. The beach was and will always be home. JERSEY STRONG

Basic Facts of the United States:

Currency: United States Dollar, Capital: Washington D.C., NJ State Capital: Trenton

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