Callaloo

Hubby and I may need to make a run from Maryland to Mantoloking, New Jersey next month to take care of some personal business. I've never been there before, and wondered whether it would be worth our while to make a weekend of it, rather than driving up and back in one day.

Are there any good websites to get information on the area? How are the beaches? Any hotel and restaurant recommendations?

If it matters, we are Caribbean lovers, and our taste in US beaches runs towards the South Carolina lowcountry. However, we've also been known to enjoy the Delmarva beaches on occasion during the off-season.

Ryan

I'm not sure there is lodging in Mantoloking, in fact I'm not sure there is even a town of Mantoloking. The town sits on a thin strip of land that sits between the Atlantic and Barnegat Bay and is primarily very large houses that sit right on the beach or bay.

The good news is that numerous lodging options exist relatively close by in towns like Bay Head, Point Pleasant, Seaside Heights and Lavalette. From my perspective, September was one of the best times to go as the weather is still nice and the beaches aren't very crowded.

For a nice B&B, I might sugget either the Bay Head Gables or the Grenville. (Bay Head is the town immediately to the north. It does have a relatively small town center.) There are multiple motels nearby.

There are some other really nice beach towns, like Sea Girt and Spring Lake, that are an easy drive from Mantoloking.

In that general area, good places to eat are Rod's Tavern in Sea Girt, the Crabs Craw in Lavalette, Spikes in Point Pleasant and of course the sausage and cheesesteaks on the Boardwalk.

Cicerone

Ryan's restaurant recos made me think he knew something, but then his comment that there is no Mantaloking makes me realize he is just a day tripper?..There IS a Borough of Mantaloking, take a look at mantoloking.org

The beaches in that area are lovely and will be uncrowded and free in September, and September at the Jersey shore is one of the best times to go, IMO.

Nice B&B's in the area include, in my personal order of preference:

The Grenville
345 Main Ave.
Bay Head, NJ 08742
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (732) 892-0599
Fax: (732) 892-0599
http://www.thegrenville.com/

Has an excellent restaurant.

Bay Head Gables Inn
200 Main Avenue
Bay Head NJ
732-892-9844
http://www.bayheadgables.com/

The Breakers
1507 Ocean Avenue
Spring Lake
Phone: (732) 449-7700 ~ Fax: (732) 449-0161
breakershotel.com

For a list of other B&B's go to http://www.jerseyboardwalk.com/bed.htm. If you want motels/hotels, I can make some reccos as well.

Website for Bay Head is bayhead.org

Website for Spring Lake is springlake.org

For links to other town websites go to www.state.nj.us/localgov.htm

Ryan

Hey Cicero, in my best NJ accent "right here with your comment."

I've spent most of the last 12 years in Bay Head for either the full summer or about 1 month of the summer. Please tell me where on the map of Mantoloking you'd find a store? Ok sure, there might be a small town hall. Anywhere to eat and or sleep?

You have East Avenue which ends just a bit after the Bay Head line, you have Route 35 then Ocean Ave/Barnegat Ave.

BTW, even if I were a Bennie, let's not forget that the chant of "Bennies go home" on Labor Day is replaced by "Bring on the seasonal welfare" after.

Cicerone

To be pedantic, your comment was that you did not think there was a town of Mantaloking . . .we in NJ love our boroughs, as Mantaloking is one of them! I agree beyond wonderful real estate there is not much in the way of retail, but it IS a legal borough, with a mayor and town council and all that great local government stuff like planning boards. . .

Callaloo

Thanks Ryan and Cicerone for pointing me in the right direction. I think we'll definitely make a weekend of it -- the only problem will be finding a place that will take us for only one night, as most seem to have a 2-night minimum even in September. (I've overcome greater obstacles in my travels, so this one too shall be overcome.)