- Home Page
- Dining
- Shopping
- Calendar
- Outdoors
- Boating
- Points of Interest
- Lodging
- Residential Life
- History
- Professional Services
- Businesses in Barnegat
- Community
- Photo Gallery
- Map and Directions
- Contact
SELF-GUIDED TOURS (in progress)
Visitors to Barnegat can enjoy a diversity of interesting sightseeing destinations, all within minutes of the center of town! Here you'll find suggestions for self guided tours:
BAYSHORE REGION DRIVING TOUR
Of course, the Barnegat Bay is beautiful any time of year! Start your mini-tour on Bayshore Drive and Route 9 ("A" on map below). A WaWa convenience store is on the corner; if you're new to the area and enjoy good coffee, stop in for a cup of one of their blends! Proceed east on Bayshore Drive, passing the residential area. Look for Ridgeway Street on the right; a short distance after that is a small clearing with a sign designating the Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Refuge scenic overlook ("B"). It's just a very short walk to the overlook on the boardwalk over the wetlands, and worth the stop if you enjoy shorebirds. You can glimpse migratory water birds feeding and resting in the refuge's 600-acre Barnegat impoundment.
Continuing on Bayshore Drive, you'll eventually curve to the south. The Barnegat Bay will be on your left. After a series of bayfront homes, you'll see the municipal beach (C); a few short curves and bayfront condos after that, the Barnegat Municipal Dock is on the left (D). Pull in (mindful of the ruts, as off-season storms wreak havoc on the parking area) and park as available. If weather permits, take in the fresh salt air on one of the benches. If you're lucky, the local swan will show up to say hello! In season, this dock is a popular spot for crabbing, and the municipal boat ramp is a great place to put in your boat for an afternoon on the bay! For daily and seasonal fishing & crabbing permit fees, as well as boat launching fees, visit the Barnegat Recreation page.
From the Municipal Dock, you'll be able to see Barnegat Lighthouse, affectionately known as Ol' Barney, across the bay. No, the Barnegat Lighthouse is not in Barnegat, but in a town actually called "Barnegat Light", at the northernmost tip of Long Beach Island!
Once you've had your fill of fesh air, continue south along Bayshore Drive. It will turn into East Bay Avenue as it curves to the right and crosses over Double Creek (E), a natural wetlands area popular with kayakers. Boats and guided tours are available from local marinas and outfitters. Ahead on the right (F), you'll see Meadowedge Municipal Park, where many environmental programs are held by the Barnegat Recreation Department.
Continue west on East Bay Avenue. You are now entering the historic District.
HISTORIC DISTRICT DRIVING/WALKING TOUR
As you travel west, you will see a sign for Heritage Village (G - see photo, left). The village contains 4 main buildings and 3 smaller structures. The main buildings are home to many artifacts and records that detail the rich history of old Barnegat.Tours are offered Saturdays between 1PM and 4PM from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and private group tours (10 or more) can be arranged. Tours are free, but donations to the Barnegat Historical Society are much appreciated!
Just up the road on the right is the Friends Meeting House and adjoining cemetery (H). A walk through the cemetery will find gravestones dating back centuries, and of notable Barnegat residents of days gone by. The Meeting House is still used today for monthly meetings of the Religious Society of Friends - The Quakers. Continuing on through the historic district, you will see many Victorian homes, some with "widow's walks," reminicent of the whaling days of old.Once in the heart of the shopping district, be sure to stop at the Gold Duster (I), one of the oldest buildings in Barnegat, on the southeast corner of Bay Ave. and Route 9. You'll have a chance to admire the authentic extensive renovation performed by its owners.
Diagonally across the street is "The Cox House," constructed in the "Colonial Revival" style of the early 20th century and a landmark of Barnegat. This was the first house in Barnegat to have electricity and running water. Currently the historic Cox House is the meeting place for community organizations. It also hosts many special events throughout the year, including "Victorian Teas."
To visit an authentic cranberry farm, cross Route 9 and continue about 2.7 miles Immediately after the traffic signal at Mirage Boulevard, turn left onto Cloverdale Road (J). This is a dirt road and can sometimes be a bit bumpy, so take your time. In .7 mile, you will reach Cloverdale Farm County Park, a former working cranberry farm now owned by Ocean County for preservation (K). Cranberries still grow in the bogs and on weekends, Park Naturalists offer guided walks around the 80-acre property. In season, cranberry picking is offered during the walks.
Home | Dining | Shopping | Calendar | Outdoors | Boating | Touring | Lodging | History | Prof. Services | Businesses | Community | Directions | Contact
All content ©2010 VisitBarnegat.com unless
otherwise noted.
Nothing contained within this website may be reproduced without written
permission of the publisher.
For more information or to have your business listed on www.VisitBarnegat.com, please
email information@visitbarnegat.com.
PINEYPOWER ENTERPRISES
C. Antener, Owner/ Publisher
P.O. Box 307, Barnegat NJ 08005
609-698-2501