Schools are out, college kids are home and the traffic lights are in full effect – the 2024 summer season is officially upon us. Like a fleeting sunset, LBI summers seem to come and go before our eyes. Before you know it, the lights will be off and the “Locals Summer” will be underway. When time is of the essence, a checklist comes in handy.
Here is our bucket list of things to do this summer on the island.
Anywhere!
Pass on Wawa HoagieFest and support your LOCAL DELI (Lenny & John’s, Lighthouse deli, Bowker’s , Fratello’s, Inlet Deli)
CATCH A SUNRISE
LEARN TO SURF with the LBI Surf Guru
Grab your favorite childhood ice cream from an ICE CREAM TRUCK
Watch FIREWORKS with a loved one
Enjoy an LBI LAGER from Ship Bottom Brewery at your favorite BYOB
Barnegat Light Things to Do
Download the Barnegat Light Bucket List here
Buy A KITE at Kitty Hawk Kites and fly it on the beach!
Buy FRESH SEAFOOD from Cassidy’s Fish Market in Barnegat Light
Do a NIGHT CLIMB on Old Barney (7-9pm: June 29, July 20, August 17)
Eat a SCALLOP TACO at Viking Fresh Off The Hook
Cap your day with a SUNSET CRUISE on Miss Barnegat Light
Order a CHARACTER PANCAKE at Mustache Bill’s
Enjoy some fresh, off-the-boat SCALLOPS at Kubell’s outdoor deck
Start your morning right with a cup of ‘LBI Blend’ COFFEE at How You Brewin’
Treat yourself to a BANANA SPLIT from Kelly’s
Beach Haven Things To Do
Download the Beach Haven Bucket List here
Slurp down an OKLA-MOCHA at the Show Place Ice Cream Parlour
Indulge in a “Butter and Sugar” CREPE at Crêperie de la Mer (get there early!)
Morning
Dig into a bucket of clams BAYSIDE at Polly’s Dock
Try one of Guapo’s famous toasts (& enjoy it on their ROOFTOP)
Buy a book from Dune Market & read it at the PEARL STREET PAVILLION
Buy a new DRESS from Allie May Boutique
Fly down SLIDE #6 at Thundering Surf Water Park
Let your dog enjoy some off-leash time at the Beach Haven DOG BEACH
3 WORDS: Country. Kettle. Fudge.
Have a drink at the BUOY BAR during sunset
Take a cruise on the BLACK PEARL 🏴☠️
Grab a SLICE of pie from Bay Village Pizza
Get a slice of ‘NO NAME PIE’ at Holiday Snack Bar
Eat a MIDNIGHT SNACK at the Chegg (maybe for a heavy dose of nostalgia)
Enjoy a glass of SUMMER SANGRIA in the garden at Station 117
Taylor Ham PORK ROLL egg & cheese at Bagel Shack
Take a bite of an ELEPHANT EAR from Crust and Crumb
Buy a new TOP from Island Gypsy
Treat yourself to a LOBSTER ROLL from Pearl Street Market
Get a DOUBLE DOCK BURGER at Dock and Claw and see where it falls in your rankings
DANCE to ‘3am Tokyo’ at Bird’s and Betty’s
Get a seat at the bar for HAPPY HOUR at the Black Whale
Go tropical with a Montego Bay MAHI BOWL at Locohana
Bring your kids to see LITTLE MERMAID at the Surflight Theatre
Have a SEAFOOD FEAST at Parker’s Garage (don’t forget the Mac and Cheese!)
Guzzle down a (Spicy?) FROZEN MARGARITA at The Shell
Beat someone in a BAR GAME at The Hudson House
Order a BAR PIE at Buckalew’s Happy Hour
Enjoy an order of OYSTERS from Triton
Cruise around Beach Haven on a PARTY BIKE brought to you by Pedalcycle
Test your TRIVIA knowledge at Ship Bottom Brewery (Every Wed @ 6pm)
Harvey Cedars Things to Do
Download the Harvey Cedars Bucket List here
Enjoy a BUFFALO CHICKEN CHEESESTEAK at the Neptune Market
Treat yourself to a BURRATA PIE from Black Eyed Susan’s
Order the CALAMARI VERA CRUZ for take-out from Harvey Cedar’s Shellfish (it’s even better when it sits!)
Watch a SUNSET at Sunset Park
Ship Bottom Things to Do
Download the Ship Bottom Bucket List here
Get a HOLE-IN-ONE at Flamingo
Order the PARM TRIO from Raimondo’s
Indulge in a FRENCH TOAST DONUT from Shore Good
Try and BREAK 50 at the Sand Trap
Bite into a JELLY DONUT from Ferrara’s Bakery
Party on PARTY ISLAND (No boat? Paddleboard out!)
Feed the family with an OZONE PIZZA for takeout from Russo’s
Enjoy the iconic ROAST BEEF SANDWICH from the Port Hole (bring your cash)
Mix up your dessert routine and grab a MILKY BUN from Ship Bottom Ice Cream
Smashburger from BURGER 25 – enough said
Play a MINI GOLF TOURNAMENT at Hartland (Wednesday mornings 9 am.)
Play cornhole on the ROOF DECK at Hotel LBI
DOCK AND DINE at The Boatyard
See for yourself why La Bamba’s FISH TACOS are an island favorite
Pass on the big guys and support your LOCAL LIQUOR STORE (Lang’s!)
Polish off a ‘THE PHILLY’ SUB from The Local
Catch the NERDS at Joe Pop’s
Head over to WATERFRONT PARK for free live music during the Summer Concert Series
Surf City Things to Do
Download the Surf City Bucket List here
Grill up some FAMOUS BURGERS from Okies Butcher Shop
Buy a SUMMER SHIRT from Farias
Chomp down on a Super Hero SNOW CONE from Pelicans
Listen to SHORTY LONG at the Surf City Hotel (7/2 ,7/9, 7/13, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30)
Morning BEACH YOGA with Yoga Bohemia
Order a CHARCUTERIE BOARD for your next gathering from the Cheese Shoppe
Get a cup of ‘SURF CITY BLEND’ coffee at How You Brewin’
Play PICKLEBALL at the new courts on 1st Street
Have a pizza night with A GRANDMA PIE from BLVD PIZZA
Order a Johnny’s ICE CREAM CAKE from The Big Dipper
Explore the many VEGAN offerings at Wally’s
The Rest of the South End
Download the South End Bucket List here
Buy a new piece of LBI MERCH from Sink R Swim
Try to GET A RESERVATION at Stefano’s (it’s worth it!)
Enjoy a SUNSET DINNER at Dockside Diner
Wait in an “out-the-door” line at SKIPPER DIPPER
Order the CRAB FRIED RICE at the Oyster House (you won’t regret it!)
Enjoy a drink in the new “BACKYARD” at the Terrace Tavern
Pass on Wawa hoagiefest for a SUB at Fratello’s
Ride the Nardis PARTY BUS (always free – 609-492-9538)
Order a PEPPERONI PIZZA with hot honey at Queen City Crust
Check out FREE SUNSET YOGA at Bay View Park brought to you by Hot or Not Yoga Studio (Thursdays @ 6pm)
Enjoy a party shaker on Daddy O’s ROOFTOP DECK WITH FRIENDS
Try the newly acclaimed ISOLA and see if gets your 5 star review
Grab a sandwich from Bowkers Deli and eat at EDWARD FORSYTHE PARK
GET YOUR VEG ON with a veggie wrap from the Barrel Surfer Cafe
Listen to the duo of TED HAMMOCK & THE PICKLES (Terrace Tavern 7/5, 7/6, 8/30, 8/31)
