Now that the weather has finally turned, spring is here, and summer is right around the corner, we start eying up things to do at the Jersey Shore in Ocean County and in the immediate area.

Thankfully, as anyone who lives or spends time in Seaside Park, Ortley Beach or Lavallette knows, there is no shortage of things to do here.

We like to get out and enjoy the area just as much as you do – we can’t be good representatives without a deep knowledge and love for the area, after all – so we combed local event calendars to pick out some of the best events happening this June. Take a look:

Jersey Shore Wine Festival – June 1

This isn’t taking place on the barrier island, but it’s just down the road at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, home of the Lakewood BlueClaws, our local minor league baseball team.  Being held June 1 at noon, this is the ninth year of the event, which brings the best wines in New Jersey together in one spot for you to sample. The proceeds benefit charity, too! Get tickets here.

Taste of Seaside Restaurant Tour – June 4

Seaside is more than just beach and boardwalk. There are some great restaurants here, too. On June 4, you can tour a bunch of them with one easy ticket, tasting your way through town from 4:40 to 6:30pm. There are ten restaurants participating, a free shuttle bus to move you around, and proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County. It’s a great event! Get tickets here.

Jersey Gems Motor Home Rally – June 6 – 9

Want to see some of the sleekest, most luxurious and most interesting motorhomes in the state? Or maybe you just want to socialize with fellow enthusiasts? The Jersey Gems Motor Home Rally on June 6 in Seaside Heights is where you want to go. The event will be held on the bay side – you won’t be able to miss it! – and runs all day long from June 6 to June 9. Feel free to bring your own!

Arts & Crafts on the Boardwalk – June 8

Hop onto the boardwalk on June 8 from 11am to 7pm to enjoy arts and crafts. The event is suitable for the whole family and will be packed with great distractions and things to do – plus, you’re on the boardwalk! There is LOADS to do there! Most attractions will be between Dupont and Carteret avenues in Seaside Heights.

Campout On The Beach – June 21

Ever wished you could camp out on the beach? You can, on June 21 in Seaside Heights! The town does this every year and it’s a great opportunity to do something you’re usually not allowed to do. Fun night for the family or with a group of friends! For information on how to reserve a spot and more, visit this site.

The wonderful thing is that this list barely scratches the surface. We are blessed to live and work in such a great area. There are countless things to do, whether you live here full-time, are a summer resident, or rent a summer home for your vacation.

Hopefully this inspires you to get out, solicit local merchants, and enjoy the Jersey Shore in Ocean County!

Whether you are renting or you own a beach home, you already know that life by the shore is pretty nice. With gorgeous beaches, the famous boardwalk in Seaside Park and Heights within walking distance from Ortley Beach and Lavallette, and all the great summer stuff you expect – boating, ice cream shops, fishing, jet skis, water parks, rides, and more – it’s possible to just park your car for the summer and live in your flip-flops.

If you want to take a break from the barrier island, however, there are plenty of attractions within a short drive of here. This list only scratches the surface, but these should be some of the first big things you and the family consider when taking an extended Jersey Shore vacation or during your first years here.

Six Flags Great Adventure

Take a fairly short drive inland and you’ll find Six Flags Great Adventure, a sprawling theme park that has been a mainstay of the area for decades. It’s one of the largest theme parks in the entire world, due in no small park to having a gigantic drive-through safari and a huge water park in addition to the jam-packed traditional theme park. Loads of coasters for roller coaster enthusiasts. Plenty of family-friendly shows, a large kids park with rides suitable for younger adventures, and loads more make this a regular summer destination for thousands. If you’ll be at the shore all summer, consider getting season tickets to Six Flags.

Downtown Point Pleasant

Just minutes up the road from Lavallette and Ortley Beach are Point Pleasant and Point Pleasant Beach, a pair of beautiful seaside communities with a lot to offer. Yes, they have a boardwalk with all you expect from a boardwalk, but you already have that in Seaside Heights and Seaside Park. Instead, head downtown to Arnold Avenue. This quaint strip is pure Americana, with shops, great places to eat, fantastic taverns and clubs, tons of shopping, museums and galleries, and more. You can park the car and spend an entire day here!

Island Beach State Park

We love our local beaches, but that doesn’t mean a quick escape to Island Beach State Park isn’t welcome sometimes, too. Located adjacent to Seaside Park, this huge nature preserve shows you what Jersey Shore beaches are like in their natural state. Here you have miles and miles of pristine beaches and dunes, with no houses, boardwalks, or litter within sight. It’s beautiful. Just be forewarned, on especially nice days the park can be packed pretty early in the day. And if you are here during the off season? It’s a delight to have the beaches all to yourself!

Atlantic City

Atlantic City has lost a lot of its luster, but it still gets some fantastic music and entertainment, has a great historic boardwalk, some of the best restaurants in the state, and yes, there are still casinos. It’s a short drive down the Parkway, too, making it a better choice than a trip into New York City or Philadelphia if you want to see some stand-up comedy or live music. Oh, and the Atlantic City Airport is a hidden gem that gets you in and our MUCH faster than big airports like Newark!

Popcorn Park Zoo

Located in Lacey Township, aka Forked River – our area has quite a few towns with double-names – Popcorn Park Zoo is an animal rescue and refuge that takes things a step further by letting you and your family interact directly with the animals. Sick, injured, and abandoned animals of all types end up here, from dogs and cats to deer, ducks, and more. When you visit, you are free to wander among them, feeding them popcorn (hence the name) and getting up close and person with nature. The proceeds go towards helping even more animals, so it’s a win/win for everyone.

Life at the shore is wonderful, as anyone who has worked with Birchler to buy or sell in Seaside Park, Ortley Beach or Lavallette knows, and with many nearby attractions it’s even better than you realize.

Spring is upon us, and for those of us who live and work at the Jersey Shore, that means we will once again have the outdoors to look forward to.

The spring season of 2019 on the barrier island will get off to a great start with some community events worth attending. Here are just a few of them happening in Lavallette, Seaside Heights and Ortley Beach over the next month or so:

Shore Sprint For Sam (March 30, Seaside Heights)

Set to run from 11am to 1:30pm, the Shore Sprint for Sam is held in honor of Samantha “Sam” Pesaresi, whose donated lungs allowed local resident Mike Mania to live. Sam had passed away at 23 from a brain aneurysm, but as an organ donor, she was able to save another life as her final act. She was a beach lover, so it’s fitting that this event to promote organ donor awareness is taking place in Seaside. Registration begins at 10am. Visit www.samsspirit.com or email cmania@comcast.net for more information.

Runapalooza (April 6, Seaside Heights)

Benefitting the Special Olympics of New Jersey and the Jersey Shore Dream Center, this Jersey Shore Relay event invites distance runners to make the journey from the Beachcomber in Seaside to Point Pleasant, Manasquan, and up to Belmar, a run of 22 miles if you complete the entire course, though runners are welcome to run shorter distances and stop at one of three transition areas.

Breakfast With The Easter Bunny (April 7, Seaside Heights)

At the Casino Pier and Pier Grill, families will be able to enjoy a visit with the Easter Bunny from 9:30 am to noon. The event features a breakfast buffet, crafts for the kids, balloons and face painting, and of course, a visit by the Easter Bunny. If you want to attend, pre-register at casinopiernj.com.

Roast Pork Dinner, Ladies Fire Auxiliary (April 13, Lavallette)

Drop by the Lavallette Firehouse at 125 Washington Avenue between 4pm and 8pm and enjoy a delicious dinner that will not only fill your belly, it will also help benefit the Lavallette Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 and the Ladies Fire Auxiliary.

Egg Hunt (April 14, Seaside Heights)

This free family event begins at 1pm and will feature a load for the family to see and do. There will be a free Easter Egg hunt on the beach with over 15,000 eggs hidden, with prizes that can be redeemed at many of the merchants on the boardwalk. This is a big event that draws lots of people from all over Ocean County, so come early.

Seaside Corvette Show (April 27)

Classic car lovers should not skip this. All day in Seaside, classic Corvettes will be on display from a wide variety of years. Your favorite will be here!

Walk to Defeat ALS (May 4)

May the 4^th is unofficially Star Wars Day, but it’s also the day of this year’s Walk to Defeat ALS.  Check in is at 9am and the walk begins at 10am at Hiering Avenue and the boardwalk. The goal is to raise funds and awareness on behalf of the ALS Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter, and help them promote research and treatment to fight ALS, aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease. It’s also to have fun, as this event is always filled with good times, music, and great people.

These are just a few of many reasons to visit the shore region this spring, which is a great time to enjoy the beaches of Seaside Heights, Lavallette, and Ortley Beach in Ocean County before the summer season begins.

Working in real estate at the Jersey Shore means we’ve become intimately familiar with the community over the years, and not just because it’s our job. We live here too, after all, and are as invested in the area being the best it can be as you are.

Part of that means recognizing and supporting the amazing charitable work that happens throughout Ocean County, from Ortley Beach, Toms River, and beyond.

There are a lot of great organizations out there, too. Here are four we believe are worth your attention:

Ocean of Love

Based out of Toms River, Ocean of Love is dedicated to helping families of children with cancer. It’s hard to overestimate the importance of the work they do. When a child is stricken with cancer, the emotional toll it takes can be tremendous. So is the financial toll it takes.

Through donations, volunteers, and more, Ocean of Love provides support to these families to address both their emotional and financial needs. They have done this work since 1988, helping some 500 families to date. Their efforts have been priceless! To learn more about them and find out how you can help, visit the Ocean of Love website.

Save Barnegat Bay

Save Barnegat Bay has been around since 1985 (or since 1971, if you include their early history), and the nature of their mission is right in their name: they aim to help keep our beautiful bay as pristine as it can be.

That’s a good thing. Working in real estate, and especially real estate in barrier island towns like Lavallette and Seaside Park, we understand better than most the delicate balance between the homes and businesses that are the lifeblood of the area and the ecosystem that gives us a reason to be here in the first place. That’s why organizations like Save Barnegat Bay are important to our region. Learn more about them at the Save Barnegat Bay website.

JBJ Soul Kitchen

When helping out a worthwhile charity is as easy as going out to eat, you know you’ve got a winning idea. New Jersey music legend Jon Bon Jovi created the Soul Kitchen, a charitable eatery that serves great meals with no questions asked. You may pay the suggested donation. You can volunteer as payment for your meal. Or you can eat for free. There is no obligation.

When you pay or volunteer, your time or money goes towards a great cause: helping feed those in need. And the people being served are quietly your friends, your neighbors, and your family. They are the people who make Ocean County what it is. And that is worth supporting! Learn more about the JBJ Soul Kitchen’s Toms River and Red Bank locations on their website.

Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity

You probably know the Habitat for Humanity name. This is a well known charitable organization best known for renovating or building affordable houses for families in need. The Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity is our local chapter, and they do fantastic work, building 18 affordable homes and rehabbing over 60 Sandy-damaged homes.

Habitat for Humanity doesn’t just gives these homes away, either. All recipients must pass a rigorous vetting process to ensure they are ready for the responsibility of home ownership. The goal is long-term success for the recipients, after all. And they can always use volunteers! If you think you can help, find out more on the Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity website.

There are countless more great charitable organizations in the Ocean County area, far more than we could name in just one article. We’ll take a look at some others in the future. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to contact us and let us know about any we overlooked. Maybe we’ll include them next time!

Winter may be chilling our bones, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still a lot to do at the shore. Our area may be best known for its beaches – they are a big part of what brings summer renters to Lavallette, Seaside Park and Ortley Beach every year – but there is still plenty to see and do for those of us who are here year ‘round.

With that in mind, we picked out some worthwhile events and things to do this February, all happening in and around Ocean County.

February 7 – WWE Presents NXT Live

This one won’t be for everyone, but fans of extreme “sports entertainment” will probably like this showcase of rising stars in the world of professional wrestling. Held at the RWJBarnabas Health Arena in Toms River, it’s sure to be a night of cheering, screaming, and intense wrestling action.

February 9 – Ocean County Mall Business Expo

Whether you’re a business owner yourself or just an interested resident, loads of businesses from throughout the region will be at the Ocean County Mall on February 9 for a business expo. Meet local contractors face-to-face, learn about local businesses you may not be familiar with, and just plain get closer to your community!

February 9, 16, 23 – Conservation Trail Hike at Island Beach State Park

Seasonal renters and year ‘round residents alike know what a gem Island Beach State Park is. Getting in is always in high demand during the summer, thanks to the beautiful, natural dunes and the feeling that you’re getting away from it all. It’s just as enjoyable in the winter! These weekly conservation talks include guest speakers, food, and weather permitting, a hike through some beautiful natural lands during a time of year you usually don’t see them. It’s a great experience learning about what makes our area special!

February 10 – 48^th Annual Ocean County Bluegrass Show

For nearly 50 years, this event has been a tradition at Albert Music Hall in Waretown. You don’t have to be a bluegrass fan to enjoy this event, either. With food, nice people, and a gorgeous historic music hall hidden a little off Route 9, it’s a great excuse to get out of the house during the cold winter months.

February 16-17 – A Tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens & The Big Bopper

This one is a little bit of a drive, but it’s at the shore in Ocean County, so we’re including it! The famous Surflight Theater in Beach Haven is hosting a tribute to three classics of the early rock and roll era, as performed by some great tribute acts. They just don’t make music like this anymore, so get this one on your calendar!

February 22 – An Intimate Evening With Rickie Lee Jones

The Grunin Center for the Arts on College Drive in Toms River will be hosting two-time Grammy winner Rickie Lee Jones for a night of music in a cozy venue. The singer and songwriter has been garnering praise for her blues, soul, jazz, and pop work since the 1970s. It’s worth a look!

As you can see, even during the frigid days of winter there is a lot going on near Seaside Park, Ortley Beach and Lavallette, and that’s not even getting into the fantastic restaurants, nightclubs, and other attractions in our area.

Go enjoy living at the Jersey Shore!