Seaside Heights vacation rentals

This oceanfront town has one of the Jersey Shore’s busiest boardwalks, featuring a water park, two amusement piers, various arcades and sweet shops, and, in summer, outdoor concerts, firework displays, and movie nights on the beach. The compact strip is just four blocks deep and 16 blocks long. Most visitors never leave it. But for those inclined to step away from the boardwalk, Seaside Heights has even more to offer, like the hand-carved animals on the Floyd L. Moreland Historic Dentzel/Looff Carousel, or the tranquility of Island Beach State Park. Its ten miles of coastal dunes remain nearly undeveloped, and you’ll generally see more shorebirds than sunbathers on its white sandy beaches. Visitors also enjoy the downshifted vibe at Bay Beach, which has smaller waves, as well as two docks for crabbing and light tackle fishing.

June, July, and August bring the heat, but also the crowds. Try to book one of the vacation rentals here for September, the sweet spot when traffic thins but the weather remains warm and dry. The water temperature drops towards 67 degrees Fahrenheit but stays swimmable. Classic festivals here start with late February’s Polar Bear Plunge (a fundraiser for Special Olympics New Jersey), followed by a lively St Patrick’s Day parade in early March.

Cathedral of the Air

A 1932 Norman-Gothic-inspired chapel records the history of aviation — from Icarus and Pegasus to the Wright brothers — in stained glass 14 miles west of Seaside Heights. Fans of flight history should also visit the memorial crash site of the Hindenburg airship two miles away. The Navy Lakehurst Historical Society runs tours that feature both destinations.

Island Beach State Park

Red foxes and New Jersey’s largest osprey colony haunt one of the Northeast's last undeveloped barrier islands, 10 miles south. Stay alert for naturalist-led kayak tours of its salt marshes, the sort of ecosystem that ranks among the world’s most diverse.

Lucy the Elephant

Sixty miles to the south, visit the world’s largest pachyderm, a six-story tin and wood sculpture — the last of three who once loomed over the Northeast. Modeled after P.T. Barnum’s Jumbo, this national landmark dates back to 1882. Her mission? Attracting visitors to the Jersey Shore. But over the years, she’s also done double duty as housing offices, a restaurant, tavern, and even Airbnb guests briefly in 2020. Today visitors can tour the belly of the beast during summers and on off-season weekends. Pack a picnic and dine al fresco at her feet.