Couples Guide to Long Beach Island

Exit 63: Couples Guide to LBI

Brought to you by guest bloggers, Guy and Girl Travels! You can visit their website, as well as follow them on Twitter!

Long Beach Island (also known as LBI, or “The Island” as locals like to call it) is a popular shore community in New Jersey. It’s located about an hour east of Philadelphia and about two hours south of NYC, depending on traffic of course. Many towns make up LBI, each with their own beaches, shops, restaurants, and bars. If you’re looking for some R & R with your loved one, along with a little fun in the sun, then LBI may be the perfect spot for you!
For a romantic weekend, we suggest staying at one of the many bed & breakfast’s on the Island for a more intimate and romantic atmosphere. One great B&B is The Sandcastle Inn in Barnegat Light. The Lighthouse Vista Suite is ultra romantic, with your own private Jacuzzi bath for two, located in a loft on the second floor. However, if you’re planning to stay for a week, we suggest renting one of LBI’s many shore houses rather than staying in a hotel.

For a fun day trip, check out Black Whale Cruises in Beach Haven. They offer boat excursions down to Trump Marina Casino in Atlantic City. Don’t forget to check out Harrah’s and The Borgata while you’re there and if you have time, take a short taxi ride over to the Boardwalk of Atlantic City where you can stroll along and admire the beach and casinos.
For a touristy hotspot on LBI, check out Beach Haven! Here you’ll find lots of shopping and plenty of food. Some fun activities for couples include playing arcade games at Fantasy Island, playing miniature golf at Settler’s Mill Adventure Golf, watching a show at Surflight Theatre, and having dessert at the popular Show Place Ice Cream Parlour, where the servers (and customers) put on a show!

While in Beach Haven, shop and eat your way through Schooner’s Warf and Bay Village. (This is where you will find plenty of free parking for your Beach Haven adventure.) Located in Bay Village is the multiple award-winning Chowderfest Champion, Country Kettle Chowda. Splurge on a bowl of New England Clam Chowder and if you’re feeling extra naughty order it in a bread bowl! Fulfill your caffeine craving next door at Cool Beans and get your sugar fix at Country Kettle Fudge, where not only can you eat delicious fudge, but if you catch it at the right moment, you can watch it being made!
To burn off the bread bowl, fudge, and ice cream, stop by Acme Surf and Sport in Brighton Beach or Beach Haven Gardens to rent a double kayak or a surrey, which is a four-wheeled bike. If you’re not afraid of heights, try climbing the 217 steps to the top of “Old Barney,” the Barnegat Lighthouse. Located at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, the top of Barnegat Lighthouse offers amazing views of the Barnegat Bay and the Atlantic Ocean at 172 feet above sea level. The entrance fee is only $1.00 per person between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and the rest of the year is free. Please note that this landmark closes early, so try to get there by 2:00pm to have enough time to enjoy the view. Also, bring your camera and have someone take your picture, because this is the perfect couple’s photo-op spot!
Now, if your couple style is all about the nightlife, then look no further than Nardi’s Grill & Tavern! Here you can enjoy dinner, dancing, karaoke, and live music depending on the night of the week! This tavern is home to the Nardi’s Party Bus, which is a free shuttle service that picks you up and brings you home, to help avoid drunk driving. If you’re planning on doing a lot of nightlife here, contact Nardi’s ahead of time to see if your hotel/rental accommodation is within their shuttle pick up/drop off area.

Lastly, before you go off to party at Nardi’s Grill & Tavern, watch a romantic sunset on the bay! A popular lookout point is located in front of Kelly’s Restaurant at the entrance of Barnegat Lighthouse State Park. Here, you can enjoy ice cream from Dairy Queen while watching the sunset. For a more secluded location, go down any bayside street along Long Beach Blvd. You will find benches at the end of most streets for your romantic convenience. Of course, if you are one of the lucky ones and happen to be on LBI during a full moon rising, go to the beach to watch this event unfold. It is ultra romantic and beautiful. You may even see a shooting star or two once the full moon has completely risen! Don’t forget to bring your favorite beach blanket to gaze up at the stars, reminisce about old times and imagine the times you’ll share together on your next visit to Long Beach Island.

Guy and Girl have been married for eight years and live at the Jersey Shore. Guy and Girl Travels provide the male and female perspectives on traveling with the hopes of motivating each other to think outside the box when planning seasonal or vacation activities. We also provide seasonal events, travel ideas, travel tips, and most importantly travel fun!