Forget Atlantic City, Jersey Shore's Less-Crowded Borough Has Pristine Beach Beauty And A Quaint Downtown

The 130-mile stretch of coastline known as the Jersey Shore has a reputation for its boisterous beach towns. Rowdier spots like Atlantic City typically conjure images of crowded casinos, massive crowds, and over-stimulating boardwalks. The massive gaming capital is great for a fun weekend, but travelers in the know skip out on the overwhelm of Atlantic City and head to a much smaller beach town that's just as lively, but without the same crush of crowds. 

Enter the Borough of Belmar, New Jersey, a 1.3-mile stretch of pristine beach with a beautiful boardwalk that offers something for all kinds of visitors. The town has an energy that rivals beach-town titans like Atlantic City, but on a much smaller scale. In Belmar, you'll find clean and serene water for swimming, a family-friendly atmosphere, and a Main Street replete with charming boutiques and lauded local eateries.

Once a Victorian-era ocean resort town, Belmar began as a premier vacation destination, with its beaches offering fashionable out-of-towners from New York City and beyond a reprieve from sweltering summer heat and the relentless pace of city life. Today, the town remains a quiet and soothing summer destination, though it's now much easier to get to than it was during the 19th century. Belmar is just a one-hour drive from Manhattan, or a 2.5-hour train ride from Penn Station on the New Jersey Coast Line.

Unsurprisingly, Belmar's stunning shoreline is the beach town's main attraction. The beach itself is nationally recognized: USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards ranked Belmar the second-best beach in New Jersey for the last three years for its clean swimming waters, family-friendly amenities, and bustling nightlife. To enter the beach, you'll need to purchase a beach badge, which typically costs $12 for adults for all-day access, while children under the age of 13 get in for free. It may seem pricey compared to beach access in larger towns with longer boardwalks, like Atlantic City, which offers free entry for all. But the beach badge fee at Belmar pays for the daily upkeep and maintenance of the shoreline to keep it pristine.

For travelers with children, Belmar has plenty of parks along and around the boardwalk to keep them entertained. Little ones can tire themselves out by playing at one of the four beachfront playgrounds, located where the boardwalk meets the intersection of 4th Avenue, 8th Avenue, 12th Avenue, and 17th Avenue.

Like other beach towns along the Jersey Shore, such as Avalon, Belmar is home to beautiful walking trails that share its history. The Belmar Treasure Trail, a self-guided walking tour, comes complete with a digital map and podcast from the local historical society featuring "50 environmental, art, and historical gems" across the borough. While on the trail, you'll find several notable landmarks, like the Butterfly Waystation, a breeding site for monarch butterflies, and the Bruce Springsteen mural on Main Street, which pays tribute to The Boss's time spent writing music and performing in town. The Treasure Trail is a lovely little way to get to know the town. While it would take about 3.5 hours to do the walk in its entirety, it is divided into two shorter sections.

It would be a mistake to visit the borough without spending time in its lovely downtown area. Belmar's picturesque Main Street is one of those charming, walkable downtowns that make for a great vacation, full of quaint boutiques and creative cuisine. Main Street has an excellent selection of second-hand shopping options, with several vintage and thrift stores. 

Shoppers looking for a new outfit should visit Center Square Thrift Shop or Daffodil Thrift & Co., two shops with well-curated selections to browse. And if you're looking for some last-minute surf sundries before catching the waves on the shore, head to Eastern Lines.

Downtown Belmar is also known for its eclectic local food scene, featuring a broad range of cuisines. For classic beach-day bites, WindMill Hot Dogs offers plenty to feast on, including chicken fingers, cheese fries, and, of course, jumbo hot dogs. Visitors seeking a taste of Belmar's coastal cuisine should head to Klein's Fish Market and Waterfront Cafe, a dockside favorite serving up fresh, local seafood. Sweet Tease Tea Room offers visitors an afternoon tea service that includes a starter course, savory sandwiches, and sweet desserts. And at Hoagitos, a local favorite with 4.7 stars on Google, you'll find inventive takes on fried chicken sandwiches, smashburgers, and sliders.