Things to Do
Spring Lake has a wealth of gorgeous, turn-of-the-century (that's the 20th century!) homes on immaculately groomed grounds, more than two miles of pristine beaches, and a lovely shopping village. Take a walking tour (or use one of our bikes). Divine Park surrounds Spring Lake (the lake is actually spring-fed) and the path around it affords lovely lake views and bird and fish sightings. Shady trees and benches abound. The wooden bridges are frequent sites for wedding pictures. See more about Divine Park. Bring your golf clubs to play on one of our local public courses. The nearby Bel Aire course is 9-hole, par 3 and would be perfect after breakfast some morning. Click here for more courses. Allaire State Park is a 20-minute drive from Spring Lake. It has a restored 19th-century ironmaking town, Allaire Village, and antique steam trains on the Pine Creek Railroad. The park also has hiking trails and canoeing on the Manasquan River. See more at Allaire State Park. The Manaquan Reservoir, part of Monmouth County Parks, is also a terrific place. You can rent canoes and paddle boats here, too. How about a romantic cruise on the calm inland waters of our local rivers and Barnegat Bay? The Mississippi River boat replicas - River Belle and River Queen - offer sightseeing, dining, and dancing in style. It is always a good idea to make advance reservations. Surf's up! Always wanted to try surfing? Or, maybe you surfed a long time ago and you are just a little rusty. We would be happy to rent a surfboard for you. We will even come down to the beach and record your attempts with our new digital camera! With or without photography, call us to reserve a board. Guests of the Spring Lake Inn are welcome to use our passes to the fabulous Atlantic Club Premier Fitness Center during their stay. Now with 2 locations (newly opened in Red Bank, NJ.) the center offers racquetball, tennis, an indoor pool, spa facilities, and much more. The fitness room is rated the best in the country!

Restaurant Listings
Meritage, Route 34, Wall, 974-5566. A new favorite, Nouveau American. Beautiful surroundings, service and food. Sushi bar, chef's table, live music W-F, wine room. Bar scene. Dressy/smart but casual. $$$ Mill at Spring Lake, Old Mill Road, Spring Lake Heights, 449-1800. The view from the Mill reminds one of a chalet in Europe. It's absolutely gorgeous. From your table you look at the Old Mill pond with its swans, ducks and tree-lined shores. Sit on the deck in summer or be entertained with top acts indoors during winter. The food here is fabulous and well presented. Dressy or not. $$$ Brandl, 703 Belmar Plaza, Belmar, 280-7501. Chris Brandl, former head chef of the Mahogany Grill in Manasquan has taken over Bella Luna and changed its name to Brandl. The menu is fantastic. This is the type of food that Epicureans favor. Seashore cool and casual. BYOB. $$$ Scarborough Fair, off route 35, Sea Girt 223-6658. Very English. The food is described as eclectic. Twin spiral staircases conceal vest pocket tables for two and four. This is a romantic getaway with delightful food. Casual. $$$ Whispers, 200 Monmouth Avenue, Spring Lake 974- 9755. Located in the Hewitt Wellington. This five-star Zagat-rated restaurant is tops in food preparation. Chef Dan may even visit your table. Try the pepper dusted salmon. Suburban casual. BYOB. $$$ Matisse, Ocean Ave, Belmar, 681-7680. Right on the beach in Belmar this restaurant offers beautiful ocean views and, sometimes, surfers. The New York Times recently rated it as one of the best restaurants on the Jersey Shore for favorites like its three-tiered appetizers and its five Asian-spiced seared duck breast. BYOB. Seaside casual. $$$ Shipwreck Grill, 720 Ashley Avenue, Brielle. 292-9380. Fresh seafood entrees are their specialty with seasonal menu changes. The tempura tuna roll is worth the drive from NYC! And, good news, they have a well-stocked bar! The location is great - you park right at a marina. Casual. $$$ Klein's Waterside Café, 708 River Road, Belmar. 681-1177. Begun as an old- fashioned fish market a few generations back, it now has a sushi bar and a wide selection of seafood. It also has views of the river and boating. BYOB. Very Casual. $$ Sisters Café, Third Avenue, Spring Lake 449-1909. This is a real café. Here, presentation counts. Seven delicious items on the menu change weekly. The cafe concentrates on giving you the very best - and they do, according to the Asbury Park Press and The New York Times. Lunches are special, too. Smart casual. BYOB. $$ Bayou Café, First Avenue, Manasquan. 732-223-6678. This New Orleans bistro offers French Creole food and the familiar jambalaya, alligator bites, crayfish, jumbo shrimp. Close your eyes and you're sitting in a café on Basin Street. BYOB. Casual. $$ Porta Romana, 1604 Main Street South Belmar. 732-681-4785. Ala Carte with a liquor license. They have it all here from Varie Ostriche to Filetto al Ferri. Smart/Dressy. $$ Sunsets, 302 South Concourse Neptune, NJ 732-775-9911. Sunsets overlooks the Shark River. The service is good; the food even better. Start with the Sampler Platter if there are four or more in your party. Conch Chowder in a warm bread bowl is next. Follow this with Key West Grouper encrusted with macadamia nuts and topped with a fabulous spiced rum fruit salsa. Listen! Can you hear the steel drums? Casual. $$ Sonny's Southern Cuisine, 574 Cookman Avenue Asbury Park. 732-774 6262. The secret is out. If you want the finest fried chicken north of South Carolina, Sonny's is your place. Family owned and operated this is real down-home cooking. The ribs here fall off the bone. Sonny's catfish, shrimp and fried pork chops can't be beat. Zagat rates the food a 20 (very good to excellent). The attached jazz nightclub adds more flavor on weekends. Casual. $$ J.L. Sullivan's Steakhouse, 8th Avenue and Main Street Belmar. Ala-Carte aged steaks and chops with a fine wine list. Smart casual. $$ Brennen's Steakhouse, Hwy 35 Neptune City. Here you pick out your steak. Brennen's also has some wonderful combinations of seafood and sirloin. Here your dinner comes with a nice salad and a choice of potato. Weekend entertainment. Smart casual. $$ Fratellos, Corner Washington Blvd and Railroad Plaza, Sea Girt, 974-8833. The hot antipasto appetizer here could be your dinner. It's that good. Try the Rigatoni Baresi. Close your eyes and you're eating in Italy. Reservations are only for parties of 6 or more, but we can get you in. Dress casual. $$ Harry's Roadhouse, 662 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park. When it opened to rave reviews, Harry's turned away hundreds. The restaurant is now helping to put Asbury Park back on the map. If you like your music red hot and cool, your food cooked to perfection, and service that is impeccable, Harry's is your kind of place. It can be loud and noisy but it's the place to be seen. And, best of all, they will take our reservation. Smart casual. $$ Oyama, 815 Belmar Plaza, Belmar 280-5983. Japanese cuisine. One of the only places around where you can get sushi! For those who are less brave, their Hibachi steak is fabulous. $$ Avon Pavilion, Boardwalk, Avon-by-the-Sea, 775-1043. By day, this is a beachy fun lunch and breakfast spot; by night, the tablecloths and candles come out for a more grown-up atmosphere. The menu here is creative with lots of pasta and seafood. The 'bay & booze' shrimp appetizer is terrific. Boardwalk entertainment and ocean breezes are included at no extra charge! BYOB $$ Rod's Olde Irish Tavern, Washington Avenue, Sea Girt. This is our most popular restaurant. They have it all - from burger platters to blackened sirloin steak, to the biggest cocktails at the Jersey Shore. The huge portions are consistently good. $$ Cucina Cafe, 219B Morris Ave Spring Lake. This is the place to go for decadent snacks and cappuccino. Lunch here is a culinary experience. Try the wraps and the pumpkin soup! Casual. $$

Shops at Spring Lake
Teddy Bears by the Seashore, 1113 Third Ave., Spring Lake. The selection of children's wear and brand-name bargains here are GREAT. Open seven days a week whenever you want to shop, this shop is too good to pass up. Don't miss it. Evergreen Gallery, 310 Morris Ave., Spring Lake. The BEST local artists are here and we can't seem to leave without some new treasure. Camel's Eye, 1223 Third Ave., Spring Lake. Ladies' clothes and accessories with that casual, Spring Lake style, this shop also has lots of natural fabrics. They cover every occasion, too. Third Avenue Chocolate Shoppe, 1118 Third Ave., Spring Lake. Hand-made right in front of you, Matt Magyar, the crazy Hungarian, makes the BEST chocolates anywhere. Try the chocolate chicken legs. Yum! Karen's Boutique, 1212 Third Ave., Spring Lake. When you need something for that special occasion, head straight for Karen's. When you take along your credit card, you're in big trouble (just joking). Karen has Fifth Avenue quality at small town prices. Spring Lake Therapeutic Massage, 214 Jersey Ave., Spring Lake. Diane Turton Realtors, 1216 Third Ave., Spring Lake. 732-449-4441. Is Spring Lake your kind of town? Kate & Company, 1100 Third Ave., Spring Lake. This is the place for English and Irish country pine furniture. Weekend Outfitters, 219 Morris Avenue, Spring Lake, 732-449-0062. Fun things to rent and buy, this little shop is filled with a cheerful jumble of young and old. Here you can rent canoes, kayaks, tandem bicycles, rowboats, and surfboards. You can even order a picnic lunch, too. Oceans of Potions, 1111 Third Ave, Spring Lake, 732-449-4440. Maryellen has a "potion" for every need - skincare, cosmetics, haircare, massage lotions, makeup - things you don't know you need until you stop in there. This is a great place for small gifts to take home (for the babysitter, perhaps?) The shop now offers facials. Spring Lake Bottle Shop, corner of Third & Washington, Spring Lake. Marie Murray travels the world from southern France to northern California to bring you some of the BEST wines available in the East. Whimsicality, Third Avenue, Spring Lake, 732-449-9337. Elke has gathered the most beautiful collection of home furnishings and bath items you could imagine - from luxurious linens to gorgeous beds. She does terrific gift baskets, too. It's fun to just walk around and be inspired! Dreamkeeper, 304 Morris Ave, Spring Lake, 732-974-0184. Dreamkeeper owner, Terry, has gathered a unique selection of clothing, hand-made jewelry, shoes, gifts and accessories. Here you will find such wonderful products as Citron, Gerties and By Taylor clothing (among many other labels), Dansko and Icon shoes, and wonderful hand-made jewelry by Tabra and Echo of the Dreamer. Heidi Daus (another Jersey Girl) jewelry, Italian leather bags and fabulous scarves are also featured in this wonderful treasure-filled shop. Egan's Liquors, 516 Warren Ave, Spring Lake, (across from train station) 732-449-7090. If Joe doesn't have what you want, he will get it! His wine selection is top-notch. Hop off the train from NYC, walk to Egan's to make your order, and he will deliver it to the Spring Lake Inn ASAP. Thistledown Framing and Gallery, 1405-1 Third Avenue. Kelly has a great selection of famous and local artists. Don't miss her special shows.

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