North Coast

Sunday, June 24, 2007

ATTRACTIONS AND DISTRACTIONS

LONG BRANCH: Pier Village ( http://www.piervillage.com) is an oceanside enclave of more than 30 restaurants and boutiques. Catch Jazz on the Beach Sundays through Aug. 26, and concerts each Thursday at Pier Village. Yuk it up at Uncle Vinnie's Comedy Club (1 Ocean Blvd., 877-862-5384, http://www.unclevinniescomedyclub.com; $15), or bet on the ponies at Monmouth Park Racetrack (732-222-5100, http://www.monmouthpark.com; $2 grandstand admission).

ASBURY PARK: Catch a show at any of the city's numerous clubs, including the Stone Pony (913 Ocean Ave., 732-502-0600, http://www.thestonepony.com), the rock venue made famous by the Boss.

OCEAN GROVE: Take a walking tour ($6 donation) Wednesdays and Fridays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m.; call 732-774-1869 for info. Music is a big part of the summer experience of the town, a historic spiritual retreat, with many performances in the Great Auditorium; check http://www.ogcma.org for schedules. The town's choir festival is July 8.

BELMAR: See an outdoor movie on the Eighth Avenue Beach; offerings include "Cars." Strettttttttch during a Yoga on the Beach class ($12) Saturdays and Sundays through Yoga Anjali (732-681-7660, http://www.yogaanjali.com). Rent a kayak or surfboard from the Shark River Kayak Co. (732-556-1555, http://www.sharkriverkayaks.com; rentals from $25). Catch a show at Brandl (703 Belmar Plaza, 732-280-7501, http://www.brandlrestaurant.com), which features innovative American cuisine.

SEA GIRT: The Sea Girt Lighthouse (Ocean Avenue and Beacon Boulevard, 732-974-0514) is open for free tours Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m.

MANASQUAN: Free outdoor movies include "Field of Dreams" and "Charade." See a live performance of "Carousel" ($28) at the Algonquin Arts Theater (173 Main St., 732-528-9211, http://www.algonquinarts.org), or check the Web site for other shows (including the Shirelles). For $20, the Manasquan Water Taxi (732-528-9248, http://www.manasquanwatertaxi.com) will take you on a pirate adventure to "Treasure Island."

POINT PLEASANT BEACH: The boardwalk is the big dog in town; that's where you'll find Jenkinson's Aquarium (732-899-1659, http://www.jenkinsons.com/aquarium; $9), featuring penguin, shark and seal feedings, and the pirate-themed Cast-Away Cove mini-golf (732-892-0600; $9 a round). The River Belle paddle-wheeler (732-892-3377, http://www.riverboattour.com) offers theme outings, including Pizza & Fireworks cruises ($29). Catch Father Alfonse and His Orchestra for free each Wednesday at Jenkinson's Inlet Beach.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS: Thrill-ride your way down the boardwalk, or plunge into Jenkinson's Breakwater Beach (732-793-6488, http://www.casinopiernj.com/breakwaterbeach; all-day admission $25.95), with a lazy river and family section. Catch the fireworks Wednesdays. Hike and drive on the sand at Island Beach State Park; see story, Page P7.

LODGING

LONG BRANCH: The Ocean Place Resort and Spa (1 Ocean Blvd., 800-411-6493, http://www.oceanplaceresort.com; rates from $299) is an all-in-one destination with two pools (one indoor) and a private beach. The 12-room Cedars & Beeches (247 Cedar Ave., 732-571-6777, http://www.cedarsandbeeches.com; from $150) is a B&B surrounded by a garden.

ASBURY PARK: The gay-friendly 101-room Empress Hotel (101 Asbury Ave., 732-774-0100, http://www.asburyempress.com; from $129) offers sleek boutique-y digs near the ocean. The on-site Paradise club includes a disco ball whirling outdoors over the hotel pool.

OCEAN GROVE: The luxurious nine-room Majestic Hotel (19 Main Ave., 732-775-6100, http://www.majesticoceangrove.com; from $190) has ocean views and kitchenettes. The 22 rooms at the Lillagaard B&B (5 Abbott Ave., 732-988-1216, http://www.lillagaard.com; from $115) may be a bit froufrou for some, but its Victorian tea room ($18 for afternoon tea) is a frilly hoot. A low-cost option is the Quaker Inn (39 Main Ave., 732-775-7525, http://www.quakerinn.com; from $50 single), with simple, clean rooms.

AVON-BY-THE-SEA: The putting green, outdoor fireplace and complimentary bikes make the 10-room Avon Manor Inn (109 Sylvania Ave., 732-776-7770, http://www.avonmanor.com; from $130) a standout.

BELMAR: It's old and tatty, but cheap beachniks may love the oceanfront Mayfair Hotel (Ocean and 10th avenues, 732-681-2620; from $80). Guests get dove-shaped cookies and lake views at the Morning Dove Inn B&B (204 Fifth Ave., 732-556-0777, http://www.morningdoveinn.com; from $175), whose eight rooms feature free WiFi.

SPRING LAKE: In this ritzy enclave, you can spend a fortune at such high-end hotels as the Breakers (1507 Ocean Ave., 732-449-7700, http://www.breakershotel.com; from $220) or the Chateau Inn & Suites (500 Warren Ave., 732-974-2000, http://www.chateauinn.com; from $199). Ditto the bevy of B&Bs, including the White Lilac Inn (414 Central Ave., 732-449-0211, http://www.whitelilac.com; from $179).

The Atlantic House (305 Second Ave., 732-449-8500, http://www.atlantic-house.com) is a creaky but charming 1912-era motel with rates from $45 a night single. And although Doolan's (700 State Hwy. 71, 732-449-3666, http://www.doolans.com; from $85) is a trek from the beach, its simple but spacious rooms represent a real bargain.

SEA GIRT: You'll be tempted to stay by the pool at the Beacon House (100 and 104 Beacon Blvd., 866-255-0005, http://www.beaconhouseinn.com; from $215). But don't forget about the B&B's 21 tastefully decorated rooms, manicured grounds and Kodi, the resident chow.

MANASQUAN: Help yourself to the stocked pantry at the Inn on Main (152 Main St., 732-528-0809, http://www.innonmainmanasquan.com; from $179), a boutique hotel whose 12 rooms feature pillow-top mattresses.

POINT PLEASANT BEACH: Good options include the beachfront Windswept Motel (1008 Ocean Ave., 732-899-1282, http://www.windsweptmotel.net; from $163), where many of the 46 rooms have an ocean view. The 40 rooms at Amethyst's Beach Motel (202 Arnold Ave., 732-899-3600, http://www.njbeach.com; from $159), near the boardwalk, include fridges and microwaves. Farther from the tumult is the Shore Point Motel (205 Broadway, 732-892-7075, http://www.theshorepointmotel.com; from $109), with standard rooms and efficiency apartments.

BAY HEAD: The 1890-era Grenville Hotel (345 Main Ave., 732-892-3100, http://www.thegrenville.com; from $159) features 29 plush rooms with private baths and coffee makers a block from the beach.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS/PARK: Picks include the Seaside Colony Motel (65 Hiering Ave., Seaside Heights, 732-830-2113, http://www.seasidecolonymotel.com; from $99), 20 basic rooms with microwaves and fridges a block from the northern end of the boardwalk; the Luna-Mar (Ocean Avenue and L Street, Seaside Park, 877-586-2627, http://www.lunamarmotel.com; from $148), a two-story beachfront property where you can pick from 24 hotel units, efficiencies and apartments; and the 72-room Island Beach Motor Lodge (24th and Central avenues, South Seaside Park, 732-793-5400; from $95), with a pool and in-room fridges.

PLACES TO EAT

ASBURY PARK: The area surrounding Cookman Avenue has numerous dining options, including Moonstruck (517 Lake Ave., 732-988-0123) and its Mediterranean-tinged menu.

AVON-BY-THE-SEA: Sit on the porch at The Columns (601 Ocean Ave., 732-988-3213) and dig into surf, turf and everything in between; specials include Lobster Night (Thursdays, from $14.95). Make the wurst of it at the German-infused Schneider's (801 Main St., 732-775-1265). The bratwurst platter includes sausages, red cabbage and potato salad ($10.50).

BELMAR: Klein's (Main Street and River Road, 732-681-1177) is perched on the Shark River; expect good service and decent food at a reasonable price. Seafood platters start at $12.95. Chef Anthony Wall's Matisse (13th and Ocean avenues, 732-681-7680) takes it up a notch: Dishes at the swanky oceanside restaurant include Angus rib-eye ($32.99).

SPRING LAKE: The line may be long at Hoffman's Ice Cream (569 Church St., 732-974-2253), but queue up. Choose from such flavors as cotton candy, or opt for a cone ($2.40) of its great frozen custard.

SEA GIRT: The Parker House (First Avenue and Beacon Boulevard, 732-449-0442) has it all: a restaurant with reasonably priced grub including salads and a $19.95 Friday special (a 24-ounce porterhouse with all the fixin's), a porch bar and a nightclub.

MANASQUAN: The Squan Tavern (15 Broad St., 732-223-3324) is a landmark serving up Italian just the way Grandma used to make it, including veal cacciatore ($19) and tortellini in red pepper sauce ($15).

POINT PLEASANT BEACH: The raucous Frankie's Bar and Grill (414 Richmond Ave., 732-892-6000) makes the town's boardwalk seem sedate. Try the killer onion rings ($3.95) and the South Jersey burger ($7.25), a beef patty topped with pork roll. Peppy service and big portions distinguish the harborfront Shrimp Box (75 Inlet Dr., 732-899-1637), offering standards as shrimp scampi ($19). For a great al fresco breakfast, check out the Beach Cafe (300 Broadway, 732-899-8966), where omelets for two and coffee run less than $15.

LAVALETTE: You're part of the production at the Music Man Singing Ice Cream Shoppe (2305 Grand Central Ave., 732-854-2779), where waiters entertain while you down sugar. Sundaes from $5. There's less singin', more grillin' at the Bayside Cafe (607 Bay Blvd., 732-830-8804), where breakfast is served "all day until 5 p.m." and burgers start at $4.75.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS/PARK: Ebby's Cafe (2012 Central Ave., Seaside Park, 732-830-4775) has a deli for food-on-the-go and an outdoor cafe for sit-down fare such as mussels marinara ($9.95) and linguini and clams ($16.95). Breakfast is served at a counter or at booths under a rack of fishing rods at Betty and Nick's Luncheonette (807 W. Central Ave., Seaside Park, 732-830-9415); eggs and bacon for two with coffee is about $15. See the bay and ocean from the second-floor dining room of Berkeley Seafood (24th and Central avenues, South Seaside Park, 732-793-0400); try the homemade shrimp salad wrap ($8.99).