Guidebook for Highlands
Drinks & Nightlife
Chubby Pickle is next door to my house! No need for a car! Great live music, food, and drinks!
25 locals recommend
The Chubby Pickle
23 Bay AveChubby Pickle is next door to my house! No need for a car! Great live music, food, and drinks!
Lovely new restaurant on the water! Great live music! Outside on the deck and patio with drinks, good food and company- you can't beat it!
29 locals recommend
Proving Ground Waterfront Dining
56 Shrewsbury AveLovely new restaurant on the water! Great live music! Outside on the deck and patio with drinks, good food and company- you can't beat it!
Inlet Cafe
3 Cornwall StDine outside on the patio, steps away from the water! Great seafood!
World-famous Bahr's has amazing seafood, dine outside or indoors overlooking the water. Bahr's is across the street to the right of my house. It can get packed in the summer so no need to drive when you can walk there in one minute!
43 locals recommend
Bahrs Landing Famous Seafood Restaurant & Marina
2 Bay AveWorld-famous Bahr's has amazing seafood, dine outside or indoors overlooking the water. Bahr's is across the street to the right of my house. It can get packed in the summer so no need to drive when you can walk there in one minute!
I love this place! It's a sandbar with live music and entertainment (like a luau) . Dog friendly patio as well! Hang out on the sand or on the deck for amazing views and a great time!
21 locals recommend
The Seafarer
1 Atlantic StI love this place! It's a sandbar with live music and entertainment (like a luau) . Dog friendly patio as well! Hang out on the sand or on the deck for amazing views and a great time!
Food Scene
I love the owners of Girls Cafe! So sweet! BEST breakfast deals with large portions! Call in advance to reserve your seat (recommended). You will not be disappointed!
10 locals recommend
Girls Cafe
300 Bay AveI love the owners of Girls Cafe! So sweet! BEST breakfast deals with large portions! Call in advance to reserve your seat (recommended). You will not be disappointed!
Bay Ave Bakery & Cafe
111 Bay AveTake a walk to the bakery and get some sweets.
Grab a cup of coffee and head to the beach! They also have live music on some nights.
16 locals recommend
Water Witch Coffee
67 Waterwitch AveGrab a cup of coffee and head to the beach! They also have live music on some nights.
China Sea
214 Bay AveChinese food take-out or dine-in.
Great views of Sandy Hook while enjoying live music, good food, and drinks.
24 locals recommend
Off The Hook Restaurant and Bar
1 NJ-36Great views of Sandy Hook while enjoying live music, good food, and drinks.
Hinlickity’s Ice Cream Parlor Cash Only
120 Bay AveNew ice cream parlor with a retro look!
Getting Around
Rent e-bikes, beach bikes, or regular bikes. $20 for 4 hours or about 50 for the day. Explore Highlands and take a ride to Sandy Hook!
22 locals recommend
Kranky's Cycles
321 Bay AveRent e-bikes, beach bikes, or regular bikes. $20 for 4 hours or about 50 for the day. Explore Highlands and take a ride to Sandy Hook!
Essentials
Need some suntan lotion, sun glasses, or other essentials? Circle K has you covered! Walking distance from my house. There is also a Gulf gas station.
Circle K
102 Bay AveNeed some suntan lotion, sun glasses, or other essentials? Circle K has you covered! Walking distance from my house. There is also a Gulf gas station.
QuickChek
450 NJ-36Need coffee, gas, or other emails? QuickChek is the place!
Parks & Nature
This is a FREE beach (little known secret), and SCENIC bike/walking/running trail that leads to the Atlantic Highlands seastreak ferry. About a 1.5-2 mile trail, round trip 4 miles. Come here when you do not want the Sandy Hook crowds. BEST SUNSETS! Bring your camera!
20 locals recommend
Henry Hudson Trail / Popamora Point
Shore DriveThis is a FREE beach (little known secret), and SCENIC bike/walking/running trail that leads to the Atlantic Highlands seastreak ferry. About a 1.5-2 mile trail, round trip 4 miles. Come here when you do not want the Sandy Hook crowds. BEST SUNSETS! Bring your camera!
Beautiful panoramic views of the Shrewsbury river and Sandy Hook beach! Have a picnic, take a bike ride, hike, or a nice stroll. Check out the website for the history of this park. Former military base.
56 locals recommend
Hartshorne Woods Park
1402 Portland RdBeautiful panoramic views of the Shrewsbury river and Sandy Hook beach! Have a picnic, take a bike ride, hike, or a nice stroll. Check out the website for the history of this park. Former military base.
Sandy Hook is less than a 5 minute drive from my house, and a 15 minute walk. If you walk to the beach, it is free!
For most vehicles, beach parking is $15 per day or $75 per season. For oversized vehicles (more than 20 feet), charge is $30 per day or $150 per season. Hours of collection are 7 A.M. to 5 P.M. so if you drive there before 7am it is free!
IA Military Pass holders along with their families and IA EKIP Fourth Grade Pass holders along with their families will receive free beach parking.
56 locals recommend
Sandy Hook Beach
Hartshorne DriveSandy Hook is less than a 5 minute drive from my house, and a 15 minute walk. If you walk to the beach, it is free!
For most vehicles, beach parking is $15 per day or $75 per season. For oversized vehicles (more than 20 feet), charge is $30 per day or $150 per season. Hours of collection are 7 A.M. to 5 P.M. so if you drive there before 7am it is free!
IA Military Pass holders along with their families and IA EKIP Fourth Grade Pass holders along with their families will receive free beach parking.
Sea Bright beach is a 10 minute drive to my house. Enjoy the nice restaurants and bars after the beach.
16 locals recommend
Sea Bright Beach Pavilion
1097 N Ocean AveSea Bright beach is a 10 minute drive to my house. Enjoy the nice restaurants and bars after the beach.
This park is across the street from my house. There is a basketball court, playground, a 911 memorial, and a large deck to relax and watch the boats go by. It's really beautiful!
6 locals recommend
Veterans Memorial Park
150 W Bay DrThis park is across the street from my house. There is a basketball court, playground, a 911 memorial, and a large deck to relax and watch the boats go by. It's really beautiful!
Sightseeing
Want to go to NYC or on a sight-seeing tour? Take the ferry! There is also a free beach.
18 locals recommend
Seastreak Ferry Terminal at Highlands station
326 Shore DrWant to go to NYC or on a sight-seeing tour? Take the ferry! There is also a free beach.
Check out Classic Boat Rides online for awesome famous tours and fun themes! Sometimes drinks and food is included.
Classic Boat Rides
8 Simon Lake DrCheck out Classic Boat Rides online for awesome famous tours and fun themes! Sometimes drinks and food is included.
Check out the historic Twin Lights lighthouses and climb up one of the lighthouses to see an amazing panoramic view of Sandy Hook and NYC! Bring your camera! Free! Five minutes away from my house.
65 locals recommend
Twin Lights State Historic Site/museum
2 Light House RdCheck out the historic Twin Lights lighthouses and climb up one of the lighthouses to see an amazing panoramic view of Sandy Hook and NYC! Bring your camera! Free! Five minutes away from my house.
Check out the former military base at Sandy Hook, Fort Hancock. Have a picnic on the park bench and enjoy the views of Sandy Hook Bay!
Fort Hancock
Check out the former military base at Sandy Hook, Fort Hancock. Have a picnic on the park bench and enjoy the views of Sandy Hook Bay!