The Jersey Shore isn’t just a collection of beaches. It’s a living, breathing chronicle of American vacation history. In fact, the Jersey Shore represents a masterclass in nostalgia, community identity, and high-energy entertainment for generations of travelers. But with so much to explore, you might need a guide to the Jersey Shore.
For new tourists, it can be hard to decide where to go, what to do, and what to eat. That’s why we decided to build a First Time Traveler’s Guide to the New Jersey Shore. This is your insider’s guide to legendary rock clubs that launched global icons; meticulously preserved 19th-century Victorian districts; and culinary institutions that have spent decades perfecting everything from copper-kettle caramel popcorn to Trenton-style tomato pies. Keep Scrolling to Find A First Time Traveler’s Guide to the New Jersey Shore.
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Must Visit Tourist Spots
at the Jersey Shore
The Beachcomber Bar & Grill
Where: Seaside Heights
Details: This high-energy spot is a favorite hangout for the young adult crowd of Seaside Heights. The Beachcomber boasts multiple bars and oceanfront decks, plus a massive calendar of live music and DJs. (So it’s no surprise they frequently find themselves on our list of New Jersey’s Best Outdoor Bars.) Outside of NJ, Beachcomber is famous for being the primary nightlife hub featured in MTV’s reality series, Jersey Shore. But since that show absolutely does not represent real Jersey culture, you’ll have to visit it for yourself.
Cape May Historic District
Where: Cape May
Details: Cape May’s Historic District features over 600 late 19th-century Victorian wood-frame buildings. Registered as a National Historic Landmark, it famously includes the Emlen Physick Estate. (A large mansion and museum that is open to the public and offers guided tours.) As a whole, the Historic District functions as a living museum. It’s one of only a few places throughout America where you can stroll gas-lit streets, patronize historic bed-and-breakfasts, and experience a uniquely-preserved era of American resort history.
Congress Hall
Where: Cape May
Details: Originally constructed in 1816 and dubbed “The Big House,” Congress Hall was the first seaside resort in American history. It is home to one of the Shore’s Most Romantic Restaurants (The Ebbitt Room); as well as one New Jersey’s Best Spas (the Sea Spa at Congress Hall). It’s historical significance is undeniable, as Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, and Benjamin Harrison all established official summer offices at Congress Hall. Today, it seamlessly blends Federal-era grandeur with world-class modern hospitality.
D’Jais Bar & Grill
Where: Belmar
Details: Open since 1959, D’Jais is an absolute landmark of Jersey Shore nightlife. Situated directly across from the Belmar beach and boardwalk, it is the Shore’s premier high-energy electronic dance music club. D’Jais is known for wild theme nights, world-renowned house DJs, and open-air beachfront restaurant seating. It thrives as a testament to American youth, high-intensity party culture. The venue also supports the local community by serving as the primary sponsor for Belmar’s annual Sandcastle Contest.
Hoffman’s Ice Cream
Where: Point Pleasant Beach | Long Branch | Spring Lake
Details: A tale stranger than fiction, Hoffman’s began as a Carvel franchisee back in 1955 in Point Pleasant Beach. (It was actually one of the original New Jersey Carvel locations.) But when the franchise license expired in 1976, the owners decided to transition to an independent business and develop their own ice cream formula. Reborn as Hoffman’s Ice Cream, the business found immediate success for its rich, high-butterfat frozen treats made on site. The menu features over 30 unique flavors like Banana Pudding and Jersey Monkey.
Jenkinson’s Aquarium
Where: Point Pleasant Beach
Details: The Jenkinson’s name is synonymous with entertainment along the Jersey Shore. While the boardwalk and pavilion are equally recognizable in name, a stop at the aquarium is a must for travelers. Jenkinson’s Aquarium famously features a large penguin exhibit (and live 24/7 penguin cam) along with many seasonal featured experiences. From yoga with seals to a pajama party with penguins, Jenkinson’s offers fun for the whole family. For a real lifelong memory, sign up for an animal encounter (with a penguin, sloth, or seal).
Johnson’s Popcorn
Where: Ocean City
Details: Johnson’s Popcorn has been a landmark of the Ocean City Boardwalk since 1940. A sensory anchor of sorts, the famous red and white awning entices customers with its unmistakable aroma. This institution is famous for hand-mixed gourmet caramel popcorn, which they cook daily on-site in giant copper kettles. The sweet scent of bubbling hot caramel is enough to draw a massive crowd of boardwalk visitors all summer long. Each location is a physical monument that binds generations of families to Ocean City.
The Lobster House
Where: Cape May
Details: There’s no other way to say it, The Lobster House is a multi-generational culinary landmark. It has defined the Jersey Shore’s coastal dining for nearly a century. The seafood restaurant and fish market provides a range of dining experiences, from formal dining rooms serving classic lobster thermidor and baked stuffed shrimp to a casual, outdoor raw bar window with dockside seating. But the venue’s crown jewel is the Schooner American, a historic wooden vessel repurposed as an open-air cocktail deck.
Lucy the Elephant
Where: Margate
Details: Measuring six stories tall and weighing ~90 tons, Lucy is a big girl. And by girl, we mean the world’s oldest surviving zoomorphic structure constructed entirely of wood and tin. Originally built in 1881, Lucy is a National Historic Landmark offering sweeping panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and surrounding coastal skyline. Guided tours allow visitors to climb the staircase in her hind legs up to the carriage on her back. Through severe storms and proposed demolitions, Lucy has survived to become an iconic Shore destination.
Mack’s Pizza
Where: Wildwood
Details: When Traub Manufacturing Company coined the phrase “Often Imitated, Never Duplicated”, they were talking about Mack’s Pizza. (Okay, they were actually promoting wedding and engagement rings in a 1927 ad.) Anthony “Tony Mack” Maccaroni and his family first brought their famous Trenton-style tomato pies to Wildwood Avenue in 1953. This popular slice joint is famous for their world-class hospitality, treating customers (and employees) like family. From pepperoni pies to half and half options, Mack’s is the go-to slice joint in town.
Maruca’s Tomato Pies
Where: Seaside Heights | Asbury Park
Details: The Maruca family started selling their now-famous Tomato pies in Trenton back in 1950. Now, they are the Jersey Shore’s most famous pizzeria, serving their signature “Trenton-style” tomato pies. (Pizza with cheese on the bottom and a swirling thick sauce on top.) In fact, a trip to Maruca’s has become something of a rite of passage for millions of vacationers. After 75 years of perfecting their signature pie and its unmistakable look, they are a must-visit for tourists. They even ship their pies nationally through Goldbelly.
Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Water Parks
Where: Wildwood
Details: Morey’s is a huge part of the Wildwood experience. In fact, you could make an entire weekend out of Morey’s various eateries and entertainment without ever exploring anything else. Four hotels and motels are part of the Morey’s portfolio: Port Royal, Blue Palms, Starlux, and the Pan American. They also have over a dozen restaurants and food stands, from the Sugar Shack to the popular PigDog Beach Bar. As for entertainment, Morey’s features a mini golf course, two water parks, and a large amusement park.
Ocean City Music Pier
Where: Ocean City
Details: This seaside auditorium was constructed in the late 1920s as a grand civic gathering space. Known for its striking Spanish Revival design, the building features elegant arches, tiled roofs, and massive windows. The Ocean City Music Pier is the town’s cultural crown jewel, boasting a huge calendar of events. This includes theatrical productions, the annual Miss New Jersey pageant, and performances by the Ocean City Pops Orchestra. It’s a physical representation of the town’s commitment to wholesome, family-centric entertainment.
The Parker House
Where: Sea Girt
Details: The Parker House — a repurposed Victorian beach mansion — might be the most versatile restaurant on this list. A family-friendly seafood spot by day, and high-energy tavern by night, you get the best of both worlds. Locals swear by their Maryland-style crab cakes, lobster rolls, and signature house-branded Kane Parker Lager. Even the kids menu is stacked, with cheeseburger sliders, grilled shrimp, hot dogs, pasta, and more. Dating back to 1880, The Parker House has nearly 150 years of history to its name.
Sandy Hook Lighthouse
Where: Highlands
Details: The Sandy Hook Lighthouse is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the United States. First constructed in 1764 to guide merchant shipping vessels through the New York Harbor, it is now an American monument. Due to the geological process of longshore drift, the lighthouse is now actually 1.5 miles inland. (It originally stood only 500 feet from the shore line!) Luckily, the lighthouse is still able to serve its original purpose: It’s fixed while light is visible for nineteen miles on clear nights.
Silverball Retro Arcade
Where: Asbury Park
Details: The Asbury Park boardwalk is famous for many reasons. But one typically overlooked destination is just as iconic as the rest: Silverball Retro Arcade. This highly interactive, playable tribute to the golden age of arcade gaming features wall-to-wall pinball machines. In total, it houses over 150 classic video games and pinball machines. But rather than needing coins or tokens, visitors simply purchase hourly, half-day, or all-day admission for unlimited access. For gamers, it’s a paradise of nostalgia and gaming history.
Steel Pier
Where: Atlantic City
Details: Originally opening in 1898, Atlantic City’s Steel Pier was once hailed as the “Showplace of the Nation.” In fact, it was the epicenter of American mass entertainment for nearly a century. Hosting the world’s most famous big bands, legendary diving horses, and the Miss America pageant, the Steel Pier had everything. Today it remains a cultural landmark filled with carnival games, amusement rides, and nearby eateries, situated on a historic boardwalk. (The Atlantic City boardwalk was the first boardwalk in the world.)
The Stone Pony
Where: Asbury Park
Details: This legendary music venue is an Asbury Park staple owned by the Madison Marquette real estate group. (Though it’s worth noting that both are independently operated by local New Jersey management teams.) Open since 1974, The Stone Pony is globally recognized as one of the most legendary rock clubs of all time. It famously launched the careers of Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, and Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes. During the summer, their iconic Summer Stage sets the soundtrack for many Jersey Shore vacations.
White House Sub Shop
Where: Atlantic City
Details: White House Sub Shop is widely regarded as one of the most famous submarine sandwich institutions in America. The reason is simple: the shop has spent 80+ years serving subs piled high with premium deli meats, provolone, and locally-sourced hot peppers. It’s hard to doubt the shop’s popularity, considering the walls are adorned with hundreds of autographed photos. (Including world-famous entertainers like George Clooney and The Beatles, plus iconic athletes like Joe DiMaggio and Rocky Marciano.)
Windmill Hot Dogs
Where: Long Branch | Asbury Park | Belmar | Red Bank
Details: The Windmill is a culinary landmark, recognizable by its literal windmill jutting from the top of the restaurant. Since first opening, the mini franchise has grown to five different locations spread along the Jersey Shore. Locals love their charcoal-broiled gourmet hot dogs, massive double California cheeseburgers, and legendary cheese fries. (You have to try the chili cheese dog.) Most locations are open late (until 11pm or midnight), making the Windmill a late-night tradition for generations of shore visitors.
Guide to the New
Jersey Shore FAQs
Congress Hall (Cape May) stands as the first seaside resort in American history, having hosted multiple U.S. presidents since 1816. Meanwhile, the Sandy Hook Lighthouse in Highlands is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the United States.
The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) is famous for launching the careers of Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi. But if you’re looking for high-energy electronic dance music and a legendary party scene, D’Jais Bar & Grill (Belmar) is the spot.
The Wildwood Boardwalk features world-famous amusement piers, water parks, and their iconic “Sightseer” tram cars. Likewise, Ocean City features a historic Music Pier while Point Pleasant Beach offers the popular Jenkinson’s Aquarium.
You can experience “Trenton-style” tomato pies at Maruca’s Tomato Pies (Seaside Heights and Asbury Park) or Mack’s Pizza (Wildwood). Otherwise, the 80-year-old White House Sub Shop (Atlantic City) is a must-visit.
The Lobster House (Cape May) is a multi-generational landmark that has defined coastal dining for nearly a century. It offers a variety of dining options, including the Schooner American, an open-air cocktail and raw bar deck.
Top (Hero) Photo: © Morey’s Piers / Website
