Ever heard of the town dubbed the “Jewel of the Jersey Shore?” No, it’s not the lively city of Asbury Park or the quaint enclave of Cape May. It’s a town with no more than 2,800 residents. A town brimming with stunning multimillion dollar Victorian mansions, a quaint-as-can-be main street, and a serene stretch of sandy shore. I happen to live right next to it and have been visiting since I was a kid.
Nestled in Monmouth County and established in the late 1800s, the borough of Spring Lake is as charming as they come. There’s a reason (or several) this spot made it onto Travel + Leisure’s “10 Best New Jersey Beach Towns” list and has been likened to Newport, Rhode Island. The busy season in Spring Lake runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, like in most Jersey Shore towns. However, September (colloquially known as “locals summer”) brings warm, sunny days, with average temps around 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spend the day meandering main street
The core stretch of Spring Lake’s main street, otherwise known as Third Avenue, runs from Madison to Passaic. While it’s less than a quarter of a mile long, Third Avenue is bursting with dozens of shops, restaurants, and cafés. For clothing, you’ll want to pop into the likes of Faherty, Bare Wires Surf Shop, and Dune + Salt. Grab a quick coffee at Noon or Driftwood. For trendy gifts and housewares, try Artisan Spirit and Terra Earth + Surf.
Lunch or dinner at Spring Lake Seafood is non-negotiable. The chef here works directly with local fisheries to procure the freshest seafood around. Fluke Milanese and the spicy lobster crunch roll are standout plates. At the north end of Third Avenue, the owners of Faherty – who grew up in Spring Lake — recently opened the coastal chic all-day café and market, Sun & Waves…