At the very end of the Island, be sure to visit Barnegat Lighthouse State Park. View Bamegat Inlet, the dunes, and the short, but informative, nature trail. Climb all 217 steps to the top of the 175 ft. Lighthouse, "Old Barney", built in 1858 by future Civil War General George Gordon Meade. It's open some evenings, too. Wander the shops on Broadway (Andy's-at-the-Light is a tradition) and don't miss the Gardens and Museum at 5th & Central with the original lighthouse lens in our former one-room schoolhouse. You can enjoy a meal or ice cream at one of the eateries on Broadway from Kelly's to Moustache Bill's. The liquor store is on Broadway also, and in NJ. you go there for your beer and wine too. Note also Kubel's Bar & Restaurant hidden away at 7th & Bayview.

Watch out for the Sun! Use plenty of waterproof sunscreen with a high S.P.F. Start out with a good coating and keep it topped up. Every Summer we see the results of carelessness on this subject - don't let your vacation be spoiled by the pain of sunburn.

For serious fishing a variety of charter and head boats is available at the four docks on Bayview Avenue from 18th Street to 6 Street. Many people take a stroll to the docks in the afternoon to see the boats come in. For more informal fishing and crabbing or just noodling around the Bay, rent a small boat from Eric's (beginning sunset cruises this year), Kelly's, or Bobbie's, all at about 9th & Bayview (they all sell bait & tackle and know what's biting). Nearby is the public boat ramp with pump out station and restroom facilities.

By the Post Office and Boro Hall on West 10th are the tennis courts, playground, and ball and skateboard fields; there's another small playground at the Bay Bathing Beach at 25th & Bayview.

For a natural walk take 20th Street West from Central, cross Bayview, take the first two rights onto Arnold and Sunset, park just short of the cul-de-sac, apply bug spray and sunscreen, and walk through the gate and bear right - hike the mile long beach to the far end of The Dike, that low, vegetated strip of sand you see off to the left when you are at the inlet looking across at Island Beach. It was manmade during the WW II, and a now-removed Coast Guard facility guarded the Inlet. It's a great walk, bring a bottle of water and your binoculars and keep an eye out for wildlife, but please, pack out your trash, and maybe a little extra of someone else's. The dense shrubbery conceals poison ivy and ticks, so it's best to stick to the open beach on the right side - the few shallow marsh creeks can be easily waded even at high tide. At the end, there are plenty of secluded spots for a delightful picnic lunch.

As you passed Bayview on 20th off to your right lay Viking Village and the commercial fishing dock. The view at night of the lit-up commercial boats is often quite spectacular. Viking Village is a collection of small shops in old wooden sheds dating back to when the Norwegians built the early docks in Barnegat Light. Besides the shops, two fish markets, and seafood take-out, they have craft and art shows at various times during the season.

Continuing down the Island, at about the middle of Loveladies, on the Bay side, lies the Loveladies Foundation for the Arts and Sciences. They offer a wide variety of programs, courses, shows, films, and other events - drop in to see their schedule. Another mile or so South, try Harvey Cedars Shellfish for an informal and funky eating experience (best done during the week - they have a waiting line because they're so good).

A long way down the Island, visit the Surflight Theater at Beach & Engelside in Beach Haven which does summer stock and also matinees aimed at the kids. There's an associated ice cream parlor with live interactive performances. Speaking of kids, you'll need at some point to get them down to Fantasy Island Amusement Center and the Schooner's Wharf area at 7th to 9th in Beach Haven.

In your travels, enjoy sampling the antique-cum-junk shops (like the "Wizard of Odds" in Beach Haven Crest) that sporadically dot the boulevard.

For more adult entertainment, a leisurely boat ride from Beach Haven to Atlantic City and back byway of Black Whale Cruises sure beats driving if gambling is your game or if there are good shows at the casinos. On a more serious side, Barnegat Light's LBI Secretarial Service offers fax, e-mail, typing, editing, etc.

For nature lovers, the salt marsh canoe and kayak tours at Island Beach State Park are simultaneously a lot of fun and most interesting and educational for both adults and kids. It's a long drive back to the Parkway, up to Toms River, across to Seaside and down Island Beach, but absolutely well worth it to paddle by the numerous occupied osprey nesting platforms, the peregrine falcon tower, and see, handle, and learn about the marsh flora and fauna with an accompanying park naturalist. This is a "double-extra-sunscreen trip ". Call 732-793-0506 well ahead for information and reservations.

If you're looking for something South Jersey but "off-Island" ask us about the following which are about a ½ to 1 ½ hour drive: Batsto Village - a restored colonial bog-iron forge town on Rt. 542 in the Wharton State Forest - it's difficult even to imagine how much industry there was in the Pine Barrens a century or two back; Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge, although it's at best in the Fall; Sweetwater Casino (off County 643 near Batsto); Allen's Clam Bar, Rt. 9 in New Gretna; and the Renault Winery (fantastic dinners!) on Bremen in Little Egg Harbor. In Tuckerton, visit the Baymen's & Decoy Museum at the new Tuckerton Seaport and drive to the end of Great Bay Blvd. to see the old Coast Guard Station (now part of Rutgers), the ruins of the Fish Factory, and at night the lights of Atlantic City. Canoeing the Pine Barrens rivers, the Oswego, Batsto, and Wading, can easily be done via the canoe rentals on Rt. 542. For solitude, this is best done in Spring or Fall. For a bit more noise, you can watch the A-l0 Warthogs strafe and drop practice bombs at the Warren Grove Bombing Range on Rt. 539 behind Tuckerton.

Most people come to the North End of L.B.I. for the peace and quiet. We hope you like it and enjoy your stay.