Most people don't think of New Jersey when planning a family vacation, but I'm here to let you in on a little secret. I grew up in this great place called Long Beach Island in New Jersey. Located roughly 65 miles south of Manhattan, 55 miles east of Philadelphia, 15 miles north of Atlantic City, Long Beach Island is an 18 mile barrier island off of the South Jersey Coast in Ocean County.

About 8000 people call this home year round, but many affluent families from suburban NJ, Connecticut, New York and Philadelphia have summer homes here. In the summertime the population grows to over 100,000!

If you ever have a chance to stop by, you really should. From the Garden State Parkway take Exit 63 east on Route 72 and you will run right into it.

This island was originally settled in the late 1600's and was used for hunting and fishing. The Barnegat Inlet at the north end of the island was an important route for freight shipments. Because of the high traffic and turbulent waters, the original lighthouse was built in 1835 to guide seamen.

Subjected to mother nature, and the winter northeastern storms, the lighthouse was destroyed by 1857. Then in 1859 Old Barney was built. Tourism, fishing, and real estate dominate the industry on Long Beach Island now. The developing tourism led to the need for and construction of a realroad built to connect the mainland to the island in 1886.

From north to south the communities of LBI include: Barnegat Light, home to The Barnegat Lighthouse (above); High Bar Harbor; Loveladies-part of Long Beach Township; Harvey Cedars, well know for it's surfing beaches; North Beach-also a part of Long Beach Township; Surf City, the first town you hit driving north from the bridge; Ship Bottom-home to the original RonJon Surf Shop; Long Beach Township; Beach Haven, home to Fantasy Island and the bulk of the commercial tourism; and Holgate-again a section of Long Beach Township.