Point Pleasant is one of New Jersey’s favorite Shore destinations—with something for everyone. Point Pleasant boasts great shopping, a variety of restaurants, and a bustling boardwalk, highlighted by one of the Shore’s great attractions, Jenkinson’s Aquarium.
Piece by Piece: Shopping for home décor and antiques is a pleasure in Point Pleasant. For candles, rugs, and Jersey-girl accessories, visit Coastal Creations (405 Route 35, 732-714-0606, coastelle.com); or take a stroll through Point Beach Interiors (649 Arnold Avenue, 732-295-9243) for fine furniture and distinctive accessories. You can shop outdoors at Globetrotter (1809 Ocean Avenue, 732-892-2001) for an assortment of blue, teal, and aqua pots and vases; or search for nautical gifts and seashells at the Sand House (411 Ocean Avenue, 732-899-3373, thesandhouse.com). For antiques, check out Point Pavilion Antique Center (608 Arnold Avenue, 732-899-6300); Canvas House Antiques (614 Trenton Avenue, 732-701-0255); or Point Pleasant Antique Emporium (622 Trenton Avenue, 732-892-2222, pecksprimitives.com).
Shore Eats: There are many different cuisines to choose from in this shore town. Try Joe Leone’s (400 Route 35 South, 732-701-0001, joeleones.com) for homemade Italian specialties, including rice balls, fresh breads, and chicken dishes. Seafood lovers enjoy Spikes Fish Market and Restaurant (415 Broadway, 732-295-9400) for its delicious clam chowder, Dungeness crab legs, and every kind of fresh-caught fish; as well as the Offshore Restaurant and Pub Bar (225 Ocean Avenue, 732-892-2848, offshorerestaurant.com), which offers clams on the half shell, shrimp scampi, surf and turf, and pizza. For faster meals, there’s Stewarts’s Root Beer (63 Broadway, 732-295-2722), featuring burgers, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs and, obviously, root beer; or get a Mexican feel at the popular Jersey Shore chain Surf Taco (1300 Richmond Avenue, 732-701-9000, surftaco.com).
Creative Fix: Stop by the H. Hargrove Gallery (638 Arnold Avenue, 732-899-2338, hhargrove.com) to browse the collected works of this Italian-born painter of American scenes and icons.
More to Buy: Point Pleasant has boutiques and clothing shops for a variety of tastes. To find accessories, bags, and designer clothing stop by Necessities Boutique (503 Bay Avenue, 732-295-5673) or Lola’s Boutique (519 Bay Avenue, 732-899-7884); and for surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding apparel, don’t miss the large selection at Brave New World (506 New York Avenue, 732-899-7874, bravesurf.com).
A Jolt of Joe: To start your day trip off right, stop by Rockin’ Joe Coffee Lounge and Eats (1805 Ocean Avenue, 732-899-1002, rockinjoe.net) for a hot latte and a quick sandwich; or try Green Planet Coffee (700 Arnold Avenue, 732-899-2201, greenplanetcoffee.com), with live musicians and a mission to provide the finest organic coffee.
Don’t Forget the Beach: Spend the day building sand castles, collecting seashells, and taking a dip in the ocean. Lifeguards are on duty between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Too much sun? Check out the boardwalk for games, cotton candy, and fried oreos. Or enter the world of sea creatures at Jenkinson’s Aquarium (300 Boardwalk, 732-899-1659, jenkinsons.com/aquarium/), where children can hold a starfish, watch the seals being fed, and even adopt a penguin.
By Night: The boardwalk turns into a popular spot at night with Martell’s Tiki Bar (308 Boardwalk, 732-892-0131, tikibar.com), featuring tropical drinks, live music, and a dance floor overlooking the beach; while Jenkinson’s Night Club (300 Boardwalk, 732-899-0569, jenksclub.com) presents drink specials, VIP parties, and DJs.