Manasquan Inlet

Picture this. You’re standing out in the Atlantic Ocean without a boat and there’s nothing in front of you but tons and tons of water, and maybe a few red and green lights from the boats ahead. You tilt your head back and see nothing but the shining stars and moon above you. You turn around and about a half mile back you can see the beach lit up by the glow of the moon. There’s a series of gigantic rocks with crevices and trenches leading back to towards the shore. Inside the cracks is nothing but ocean water and maybe a few crustaceans. Your skin is moist from the ocean spray coming from the creases and you can hear the crashing of the waves against the rocks. You can even smell that faint smell of salt that the tide has left behind.

How did you get there? Well the idea may sound crazy. Remember when I mentioned that huge series of rocks just leading to nowhere? Well you have to climb and jump over the rocks to get to what is called the Manasquan Inlet. Although the idea may sound dangerous and a little extreme, it’s actually very invigorating. I advize that you don’t sprint down the rocks... that is if its your first venture to the inlet. The rocks get pretty slippery and sometimes there’s even hooks and other fishing equipment left behind. And at night… Well its dark… And well… You get the point.

The Inlet is a port on the Jersey Shore that allows boats to come in from the Atlantic Ocean to the Manasquan river. Its actually more of an “out-rock” if you want to think of it that way. Directly across from the Manasquan Inlet is the Point Pleasant Inlet, which is almost identical to the Manasquan side. By day the inlet is home to the surfers of the surrounding towns and throughout the night many fishing boats use the inlet to take advantage of the tides. So really, you can take advantage of the inlet from dusk ’till dawn. If you’re really feeling ambitious, go down to the inlet around 430 am, give yourself ample time to climb the rocks, and sit and watch the sunrise. Also, Thursday nights in the summer, fireworks are launched from Point Pleasant; if you want a front row seat, you know where to go.

Waterworks

Believe it or not, there's more to Seaside than just the MTV Jersey Shore cast. Located directly off of the Seaside Boardwalk is Waterworks amusement park. At this park there are various attractions including water slides, tube slides, wave pools, hot tubs, water pistols, mat slides, a continuous lazy river, and basically whatever else you can think of that involves water. Waterworks amusement park never gets too crowded due to the ticket system provided. The park is always squeaky clean and surprisingly, the food isn't so bad. Who doesn't love a soggy french fry once in a while anyway?

Point Pleasant Boardwalk

Point Pleasant Boardwalk is a hot spot for people of all ages. By day, families roam the beaches and children ride the rides. By night, teens and young adults stroll along the boards, stopping to play games, eat cotton candy, and show off their miniature golf skills. Once the sun fully sets, everyone comes together to watch the fireworks show on Thursday nights at the Jersey Shore.

All along the southern stretch of the boards (where the action is,) you will find arcades, wheels of chance, games of skill, food, rides and gift shops. Jenkinson's Aquarium is located on the north end (of the attraction's area) and there is a fun house right near the middle. Additionally you will find Martell's Tiki Bar and Jenkinson's Nightclub here. Further North, you will pass many shore homes with boardwalk front property. Just further along, the boardwalk ends at the Manasquan Inlet where you will witness many commercial fishing vessels, Party boats, as well as recreational boaters cruising in or out from the Atlantic. This is also a prime fishing area!

In the winter, the action slows. On nice days, you will see many locals and a few day-trippers walking along the boardwalk. On cold, rainy, or just downright miserable days, the boards can get empty. Some days, you may just be lucky enough to have nice weather and the boardwalk all to yourself. Winter may in-fact be one of the best times to enjoy Point Pleasant Beach.