Seaside Heights & Seaside Park, NJ — 15 sensational places to visit

Seaside Heights has been an oceanside resort destination from the beginning.

Developers hosted train trips for potential vacation homeowners, as the borough sprung to life between Seaside Park and Ortley Beach. By 1915 the first toll bridge had opened, allowing visitors more options to get to Seaside.

The first version of Casino Pier opened in 1932 — and America’s first Himalaya ride was installed at the pier in 1963.

Along the way, the Seaside Heights Boardwalk and Casino Pier have been struck with tragic disasters that included catastrophic fires before and after the devastation of Superstorm Sandy. Both communities have proven their resiliency through rebuilding and expansion.

Locals and longtime Seaside lovers were sad to see the closing of Chef Mike’s ABG (formerly Atlantic Bar & Grille) for good, over the winter. Executive Chef Mike Jurusz had announced the lease was up at the end of December 2025.

Luckily — there's some old favorites, some newly refurbished - and some new must-visit spots, too.

Things to do in Seaside, N.J.

Casino Pier and Breakwater Beach

800 Ocean Terrace, Seaside Heights
Lots of amusement rides for all ages, Smuggler’s Quay mini golf and water park fun make this an outing to remember!

The pier offers rides for kiddos, a Ferris Wheel (131 feet tall) and rides for thrill-seekers like the Hydrus roller coaster.

Breakwater Beach attractions include a wave pool, inner tube rides, and an aqua drop free fall (a 50 foot speed slide).

Seaside Heights Boardwalk

800 Ocean Terrace & Grant Avenue
Stroll the boards and bring your appetite. Lucky Leo’s is along the boardwalk with lots of arcade games, plus you can grab a (giant) slice or whole pie at Maruca’s Pizza or Three Brothers from Italy, maybe a margarita at Spicy’s. You’ll also want to save room for a cheesesteak at Midway, House of Fries and of course - ice cream.

Island Beach State Park

2401 Central Avenue, Seaside Park
Island Beach State Park has a total of eight trails, each under 1 mile. Trails lead to different parts of the island's beach or bay. Visitors may also choose to explore the ten miles of pure white sand beaches.

There’s a mile-long stretch of ocean beach for swimming, when there are lifeguards present mid-June through Labor Day. Nearby are parking areas and bathhouse pavilions with changing areas, first aid stations and concessions. There’s also opportunities for surfing , windsurfing and saltwater fishing.

Cattus Island County Park

1170 Cattus Island Boulevard, Toms River
Not in Seaside but nearby and free!
This park spans 530 acres and 7 miles of trails. Take a leisurely walk along the main trail to the beach, or walk a trail and enjoy many lovely vistas of Barnegat Bay. Cattus Island is home to the Cooper Environmental Center — with educational displays such as a live view osprey cam, habitat tree and tunnel, bird viewing area, children's activity corner and a spectacular collection of live reptiles and fish.

Pedals and Paddles

1200 Route 35 South, Seaside Heights
732-830-5757
Email: pedalsandpaddles@yahoo.com
For the 2021 summer season, single and double kayaks, stand up paddle boards, pedal boats, aqua trikes and Hobie steppers are available for rent by the half-hour or hour.

Bay-side location, open weekends from Memorial Day to June 23. Open 7 days a week from June 24 to Labor Day, 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Places to eat in Seaside, N.J.

Seaside Social House

116 Sumner Ave, Seaside Heights, NJ 08751
732-250-0011

Seaside Social House has quickly gained a loyal following, for offering "an elevated, creative hang out where you can enjoy quality food while still wearing your flip flops."

The Social House (and its sister restaurant, Drifters) has lots of delicious food and handcraft cocktails to sample, including mouth-watering artisan pizzas.

Bum Rogers Crabhouse

2207 Central Avenue, Seaside Park
732-830-2770

The Seaside Park seafood restaurant offers “hearty dishes, local brews and live music.”

While a landmark for more than 50 years, the favorite spot recently underwent a full refurbishment and is back, serving customers new and old.

Van Holten’s Sweet Shop

802 Ocean Terrace, Seaside Heights
732-830-2220
This landmark shop right at Casino Pier offers “60 flavors of Homemade Fudge, 82 flavors of Salt Water Taffy, 70 flavors of Gourmet Popcorn and 22 different Specialty Apples.” There’s plenty of other treats, based on availability, too. Van Holten’s also has a chocolate shop in Brick and another shop in Lanoka Harbor.

Surf Taco

212 SE Central Ave., Seaside Park
732-830-2111

The Jersey-born chain of “coastal cuisine” started in Ocean County in 2001. There are now a dozen locations, mainly across the Jersey Shore. This spot closes for the off-season, but reopens in May.

Heavy Reel Brewing Co.

1520 Ocean Boulevard, Seaside Heights

Each of its small batch beers are hand-crafted at the brewery, just a block from the Atlantic Ocean.

Places to stay in Seaside, N.J.

Lazy River Rentals

Locations in Seaside Park and Seaside Heights, offering bedroom suites, cottages and homes.

Lazy River by the Beach — 702 Bay Boulevard, Seaside Heights
Lazy River at the Pier — 36 Sherman Avenue, Seaside Heights
Lazy River in the Park — 52 "O" Street, Seaside Park
Lazy River by the Sea — 122 DuPont Avenue, Seaside Heights
C'est Blue Lavallette — Bayfront home at 27 6th Terrace, Ortley Beach

All one, two, three, four, five and six-bedroom vacation properties are owned, managed and rented exclusively through Lazy River Rentals — with amenities such as in-ground pools and fitness centers.

Lazy River has grown from a single property more than 25 years ago, to roughly 50 properties that see over a thousand rentals a year.

There are seven to 15 properties at each location.

Charlroy Motel

1601 N Ocean Ave, Seaside Park
A family owned and operated, beach front motel in the "heart of Seaside Park". The renovated rooms are steps from the ocean and the bustle of the boardwalk.

Beachfront condos for private rental via Airbnb, VRBO

There’s a number of newer condominium complexes that are a block or two from the beach and boardwalk.

Searching via Airbnb and VRBO will turn up a number of two- and three-bedroom units, with parking and washer dryers, among other amenities that families will appreciate — like this three-bedroom condo hosted on Airbnb and this two-bedroom unit on VRBO.

Starlight Motel & Luxury Suites

1963 NJ-35, Ortley Beach (section of Toms River)
732-793-4321
These rooms can accommodate two to five guests comfortably. All suites have separate bedrooms from the living and kitchen areas. Large suites at Starlight: two queen size beds & sofa bed (up to six guests), Small suites at Starlight: a queen size bed & sofa bed (up to four guests).