Day Trip to Manasquan, New Jersey

If your idea of heaven on earth is a quintessential seaside town with a quaint downtown area, a diverse calendar of festive events and activities, and a sense of community spirit that is clearly “stronger than the storm,” I’ve found your spot. Tiny Manasquan, NJ, otherwise known as the “Treasure of the Jersey Shore,” covers an area of just two and a half square miles, making it a delightfully pedestrian-friendly destination, with everything you need for a perfect day trip just a stroll away.

First settled as part of Shrewsbury in the late 1600s and later established as a borough from portions of Wall Township in 1887, Manasquan’s name illustrates its history even further back, as a destination for the area’s Lenni Lenape Indians. These days, the town’s year-round population of a little over 6,000 residents swells significantly in the summer months, and it’s easy to see why. Between its beautiful beach – voted among the top ten in the state – plus its array of eateries to satisfy every culinary taste, its cultural offerings at a popular and historic theater, its assorted lineup of festivals for every season, and even its nearby nightlife, Manasquan has something for everyone to enjoy.

In May 2013, nearly seven months after it was battered by Superstorm Sandy, Manasquan’s beachfront was officially reopened. A number of major renovations were completed, with facilities available that include restrooms, parking lots, benches, lockers, showers, and walkways to the beach all up and running for residents and visitors alike. There’s also a new mobile concessionaire at the north end of the beach, Sea Watch Surf and Turf Truck, that’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The Manasquan Inlet is popular with surfers, who consider it as one of the best surf spots on the East Coast due to the action of the waves caused by the jetty, and has been the site of many surfing competitions. This year marks the 21st Annual Manasquan Classic Longboard Contest, to be held on Sunday, September 22, with registration beginning at 7:00 a.m. Want to catch a wave of your own? Check out the details at https://www.facebook.com/ManasquanClassicLongboard.

Right in the heart of Main Street, the Algonquin Arts Theatre is a cultural gem, with performances and movies presented throughout the year. Built in 1938 as a movie house, it became a live performance venue in 1994. With a little more than 500 seats, it offers an intimate setting and comfortable surroundings for enthusiastic audiences who come to see musicals, dramas, comedy, family shows, films, musical entertainment of every genre, dance, and more. To find out about the full calendar of productions and events, visit www.algonquinarts.org.  

Also along Main Street, you’ll find yourself drawn to browsing the many delightful little shops and boutiques, offering shoppers everything from pet supplies, flowers, jewelry, books, and bicycles to baby clothes, lingerie, skin care products, furniture, artwork, gifts, and much more. Support your local small businesses! When you’ve worked up an appetite, there are plenty more choices to make. Those with a sweet tooth will crave a taste from the local chocolate shops and bakeries, perhaps accompanied by a drink from a café or juice bar. There is Irish pub fare, burritos and tacos, pizza and pasta, seafood and steaks, and everything in between. Go hungry…and come home satisfied!

By the time this article is published, the annual Fireman’s Fair, hosted for many years by the Manasquan Volunteer Engine Company #2, will be in full swing. Held in late July/early August, the 2013 edition is slated for July 30 through August 3 from 6:00 to 10:30 p.m. each night. The gala event is a full-time undertaking for the army of volunteers that make it happen and brings in more than 30,000 visitors, with proceeds going to support the volunteer fire company. For info on this and future events, visit www.manasquanfair.com.  

Festivities abound at any time of year in Manasquan! This month alone, there’s a seasonal Farmer’s Market that’s held each Thursday, a Summer Sidewalk Sale on August 2 and 3, an Ice Cream Festival on August 10, and a Summer Art Show on August 17. Next month, on September 14, is the Fall Arts & Crafts Fair, and autumn brings the annual Scarecrow Contest, that runs from October 15 through November 1. The holiday season means it’s time for the town Candy Cane Hunt on December 6 and Open House Weekend on December 14. For details on these and other events throughout the year, go to the Manasquan Chamber of Commerce website at www.manasquanchamber.org.   

Bicycling enthusiasts may want to spin their wheels along the Edgar Felix Bike Path, an approximately 5.3-mile long route which runs from downtown Manasquan, just off East Main Street, to scenic Allaire State Park in Farmingdale. Uncrowded, peaceful, safe, and relatively smooth, the bike path leads riders past playgrounds, woods, golf courses, and under highways. 

Dog lovers will want to bring their favorite canine companions to Fisherman’s Cove Conservation Area. Part of the Monmouth County Park System, the park welcomes dogs (leashed at all times), who may often be seeing playing on the sand or frolicking in the water with their owners. The 55-acre undeveloped tract on the Manasquan Inlet is a great place to fish, walk, or sunbathe. It opens at 7:00 a.m., 365 days a year; closing times vary. Find out more at www.monmouthcountyparks.com.  

And for history buffs, there is the Squan Village Historical Society Bailey-Reed House Museum, at 105 South Street. It is believed that the original section of the site was a one-room home built in the late 1700s on over 40 acres of land, with additions made over the next several decades. The museum now includes an 1850s parlor, a 1900s dining room, and the original section furnished in the 1700s period. The second floor includes an 1850s bedroom, a research room, Manasquan room, nautical room, and a theme room, with exhibits changed frequently for various interests. The Bailey-Reed House Museum is open on the second Sunday of each month from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. or by appointment during the month for tours. It’s also open for information and research each Monday and Thursday from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. Learn more at www.squanvillagehistoricalsociety.org.  

All this and more await your arrival for a day trip in Manasquan – an easy ride away, off Exit 98 of the Garden State Parkway or, if you even want to skip the car, a stop at the Manasquan Train Station on the NJ Transit North Jersey Coast Line. To make a virtual visit beforehand, see the borough website at www.manasquan-nj.com or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ManasquanBorough.