Beautiful park , they have summer concerts and fireworks which is so much fun …read more They also have food trucks , but it should be a bigger variety . Their portable bathrooms are actually very well stocked with toilet tissue and hand sanitizers. The only downer is that it definitely needs more shaded areas and some bug treatment , I know it's summer but Jesus the amount of mosquitos , flies and every other bug in the world needs to be addressed somehow , maybe spray the grass ?? All in all the park is big and beautiful .

I don't know how long SMP has been here but I'm guessing at least 10 years. It is primarily scores…read moreof acres of athletic fields. I counted at least 3 baseball fields, 2 soccer fields, and room for a dozen more. Tonight is Howell night. A yearly event with vendors, representation from police, fire, first aid, food, two bands, and more. Parking wasn't bad a nice venue for this kind of thing.

Ocean Acres Lake Park is one of those local gems that reminds you why simple outdoor spaces matter…read more It's peaceful, clean, and such a pretty spot to walk, relax, or let the kids burn off some energy. The lake view is beautiful year-round -- whether it's summer sunshine or fall colors, it always feels calm and inviting. The walking path is easy and kid-friendly, and there's plenty of room for families, fishing, stroller walks, or just taking a breather from the day. It's the kind of neighborhood park you end up appreciating more and more because it's reliable, safe, and genuinely enjoyable.

A wonderful night at Shelter Cove Celebrating the Fourth of…read moreJuly! Food trucks! Live music! Fire works! Band: Austin City Nights!

Played on the new pickleball courts last night. They are beautiful courts but the lights didn't go…read moreon so we had to cut our play short. Does anyone know if they are on a timer? We tried to turn them on by pushing the button that says "lights" but they never went on. Excited for a new place to play.

Great beach! Spend the day here with friends and family. Lifeguards on duty and it is $10.00 per…read moreperson. Beach is super clean, sand is soft waves are cool. I highly recommend!

This is a great family beach!!! Far enough away from the boardwalk that it's not overrun with…read morepedestrian traffic. The season pass prices are very reasonable. Everyone is very friendly, and the beach is also kept very clean. I love being able to see my toes in the water while standing in front the ocean. :) The beach is one of my favorite places.

This center was adorable. I went on a play date with my daughter and her 5 friends , ages 10 months…read moreto 4 years old and it was perfect for them. When you enter you add a donation & go on your way. All the rooms are themed. It was a small center we were in and out within 30 min but they had a blast. As we were leaving there was a field trip from a school coming in. The kids looked about 10 years old. They quickly visited the center then headed for the canoes. I will definitely visit again before summer ends.

Beautiful, relaxing, quiet get away spot…read more There is something to be said about Jersey and the beautiful parks, reservoirs, acres and acres of trees and paths you can enjoy anytime of the year. Manasquan Reservoir is definitely my go to place for my weekly exercise, walking my pup and in general getting "lost" in my thoughts while I sit on one of the many benches donated for visitors to sit and watch the ripples of the water. As you walk along the few paths you see people out for their daily jog, power walking, biking or just leisurely strolling with their dogs. (on a leash of course). Mom groups with baby strollers, kids on nature walks with their school, its seriously just a wonderful place you can visit for free. I especially like that it is about 7 miles around from beginning to end and has lots of spots to rest and catch your breath. Because the summer can be warm and muggy here in NJ I try to do my walks early AM like everyone else- no joke its can get muggy nasty here..... in the fall and winter even with the cold air or light snow is not a problem I'll walk anytime. Hubby joins me on my walks and afterwards it's off to Meemon's for breakfast There are "johnny on the spot" bathrooms and I have yet to use one- but I see the staff cleaning them now and again. I just use the rest room in the visitor center- which by the way- the visitor is somewhere you should bring the kids, really informative and fun.

PROS: This town is very nice. The beach is for residents only and is gated with a lock that only…read morethe homeowners have a key to. Nice homes, good restaurants CONS: Major flooding area. The homes here are in great danger of a major flood since there so close to the water OVERALL: Great to visit the place but I wouldn't move here due to the risk

MANTOLOKING: it's local summer and soon most beaches and boardwalks will allow dogs again!!…read more Look at this gorgeous view of the ocean from the top of a dune! Mantoloking beaches allow leashed dogs in-season from Sunrise-8am and 6pm-Sunset. In the off-season (10/1-5/14), leashed dogs are allowed anytime!

Took our puppy to the beach for his first time at Fisherman's Cove and he loved it. It was like…read moregoing to doggy beach heaven. Fisherman's Cove is one of the few dog friendly beaches in New Jersey. Dogs are permitted to be off-leashed before 10AM and after 4PM. All the dogs had a great time playing with each other. The beach was clean and there are two portapotties on site, which were also very clean. There aren't too many restaurants nearby like in Point Pleasant or Asbury Park, so you might want to eat beforehand or bring food with you to the beach.

First time for my family to hit this nook of the Jersey Shore and we dug it.  The beach/ocean is…read morejust a stone's throw away (there was a junior surfboarding competition we got to catch a bit of), the inlet had a slew of people fishing (nothing biting though) and the 'cove' with a small (unprotected) sand/beach-area (dog-friendly!) and some trails and whatnot (not dog-friendly!). Overlooking that almost no one was wearing a mask (in any of the surrounding areas that we ventured to and from) the cove itself was absolutely stunning and peaceful during the sunset.  For a few moments you could zen out and not have to worry about all the rotten things happening throughout the world. "Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn." - Emerson

Our new favorite campsite!…read more My husband and I just came back from our first "real" camping trip. When hotels in Seaside Heights were too expensive, we decided to take our camper out to Cedar Creek. Although it's usually a four night minimum, Cedar Creek kindly accommodated us for two nights. Upon arriving, I realized we were way out of our comfort zone. A lot of these people are "seasonal" campers and camp here for months at a time. I was blown away with some of the setups these people had - one even had a bar! Our neighbors welcomed us when we pulled up to our spot and helped us unload. It was a very warm welcome. We did a quick drive around the campsite and saw a pool, a fire pit for s'mores, playgrounds, kayaks and canoes. It totally took me back to "The Parent Trap". I appreciated the 24-hour security. Everyone took their job seriously and made us feel safe. It truly was a fun experience and I'm looking forward to camping her for many years to come!

For my birthday, I decided to gather a few friends and head down to NJ for a fun day of canoeing…read moreand kayaking! I've done this before and I knew exactly what to expect. But what I'm more impressed with is that their service and friendliness was consistent to my last experience. Moreover, it's an oasis away from the city as the scenery is certainly peaceful, tranquil and fun. If you're plan on going, I suggest to pick the 11am slot! This will give you ample time to hang out at the creek before the return time which is at 5:30pm. The company will drive you to the site and will leave you upstream so when you're rowing down, you won't be not fighting against the current. You have the option to go on the 4 hour, 3 hour or 1 hour slot. Best of all, the creek is not that deep, though I was told that there are certain spots that can be 8-10 feet deep but most of the time, it seems like it's only 3-4 feet deep. This was great because it gave me the option to jump in the water and play with my friends since I didn't' know how to swim! If you're renting a canoe, it will cost around $60 which you can split with the other person. But if you like to kayak then the cost is about $45 per person. All in in, I highly recommend this place to anyone who is looking for something fun to do and still close enough to the city to head back home. The people here are super duper friendly and the creek is beyond clean, the air is fresh and the experience is absolutely priceless!!!! _________________________ They are also a campsite so if you're planning to stay over night, this is also another great way to add more fun to the experience!