The Jersey Shore’s soft-sand beaches and bustling boardwalks attract millions of visitors in the summer months, but its coastal beach towns have much to offer in the off-season, too

Beach chairs are hosed down and stored away. Sunscreen has found its home in the hall closet until next spring. Doors on most boardwalk stores are secured and locked for the next several months. It is winter, and the 130 miles of New Jersey beaches are mostly empty.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t reasons to visit the shore towns of the Garden State. People may not be able to sunbathe on the sand or hop waves in the ocean (although you might see an intrepid surfer or two on the water), but much of the Jersey Shore is still open.

Working our way from the north to the south along New Jersey’s coastline, check out these Jersey Shore activities worthy of a day trip—or longer—this winter.

The Shops at Pier Village in Long Branch

Jump-start your holiday shopping in Long Branch at The Shops at Pier Village. Boutique and name-brand retailers dot the boardwalk, offering fashion, home goods, books, treats for your pup, and more. When you’re done shopping, grab cocktails and dinner at Avenue or traditional Italian fare or pizza at Pépe Kitchen, just two of the many dining options in this seaside community.

If you don’t feel like driving home after you shop till you drop and fill your belly, the art-centric Bungalow Hotel, where many of the rooms have a fireplace, is open year-round.

Art classes at Main Avenue Galleria in Ocean Grove

Anyone 12 or older can take art classes throughout the winter at Main Avenue Galleria.

“We have one-time workshops where we include all the materials in the cost of the class,” says Norma Tolliver, owner, artist, and instructor of the artist space. The Galleria also runs six-week courses—such as exploring acrylics or pencil, pastel, and charcoal workshops—that are usually themed, as well as offering open painting sessions.

There’s always an instructor who is happy to “meet the participant at whatever level they’re at,” according to Tolliver.

Winter Markets or a Show in Asbury Park

Asbury Park is bustling during the colder months. Most of the restaurants and shops on Cookman Street are still open, you may be able to catch a warm day to walk the boardwalk, and you can get some shopping in.

Convention Hall on the boardwalk hosts the Asbury Park Bazaar from November 28 through December 21 on Fridays from 3–8pm and Saturdays and Sundays from noon–5pm. Inspired by Germany’s traditional Weihnachtsmarkts holiday markets, the family-friendly Bazaar features a variety of local and regional makers, vintage collectors, artists, and musicians.

Walk a few blocks off the boardwalk to Porta on Kingsley Street to continue supporting local makers at the restaurant’s Holiday Market in conjunction with Asbury Fresh, held on November 30, December 7, and December 21 from noon–4pm. After shopping, stick around Asbury Park for live music at the Stone Pony, Asbury Lanes, or House of Independents.

A Day in Spring Lake

“I think one of the best things about the Shore in the off-season is that all the tourists are gone,” says Cyd Katz, who, as the creator of the independent tourism site New Jersey Isn’t Boring, always has her finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the state. “You have a better chance of getting into restaurants and coffee shops, and parking is better.”

She recommends heading to Spring Lake in the winter, an underrated seaside town that doesn’t get enough mention, in Katz’s opinion. Because the town has many permanent residents, most establishments are open all year.

Spend a day grabbing coffee at Driftwood Coffee House downtown, then taking a five-minute walk to the Scone Pony for “really good baked goods.” Browse downtown’s abundant stores, then end with dinner at Amelia’s by the Sea with its beautiful ocean views.

Holiday Style Done Right at Charlie’s of Bay Head

Located on Twilight Lake, Charlie’s of Bay Head treats guests to a classic dining experience with stunning views from inside this warm, cozy restaurant that knows how to do the holidays right. The magic starts in early November, and the restaurant opens itself up for Bay Head’s annual Christmas Walk, inviting guests to take a walk through the decorated ground floor and enjoy some hot cocoa. Reservations are a must during the holiday season. Ask to sit in the festive Great Room, complete with holiday trees hanging from the ceiling, or grab a seat at the bar and order a holiday-inspired cocktail.

A Cold Plunge in Seaside Heights

Each year, Seaside Heights hosts a Polar Bear Plunge that benefits New Jersey Special Olympics. In 2025, the event raised almost $2.5 million for the organization. Join thousands of New Jerseyans who brave the waters of the Atlantic Ocean during its coldest month at the 2026 Polar Plunge on February 28. Visit plungeseaside.org for more information.

A Clambake of Arctic Proportions in Manahawkin

Held at Mud City Crab House in Manahawkin, bayside of Long Beach Island, Arctic Outreach is a fundraiser and family-friendly community clambake that raises money for initiatives of the Jetty Rock Foundation, including the family of Mallory E. McBrien, whom the event honors. Arctic Outreach is held in a large, heated tent with live music, food, drinks, and activities for kids.

“We seek out specific community members in need,” says Jeremy DeFillipis, CEO of Jetty Rock Foundation, who says the 11^th annual Arctic Outreach will most likely be on Saturday, February 28 (visit jettyrockfoundation.org for date confirmation). “We’ve donated to assist with everything from medical bills to house fires to funeral expenses.” To date, the popular event has raised nearly $350,000 for the community.

A Cozy Dinner at the Historic Knife & Fork Inn in Atlantic City

Originally established in 1912, the Knife & Fork Inn began as an exclusive men’s drinking and dining club, becoming a restaurant during Prohibition. Today, with modern renovations, it’s a steak and seafood restaurant that visitors to Atlantic City must experience at least once, particularly since Wine Spectator’s 2025 Restaurant Awards honored Knife & Fork’s outstanding wine program. Busy during the summer and the holiday season, the winter months after the New Year are a less hectic time to dine at this New Jersey icon.

First Night and First Day in Ocean City

On New Year’s Eve, Ocean City’s family-friendly First Night activities include performances by live entertainers and musicians, and the evening ends with a fireworks display at midnight. On New Year’s Day, those who stick around can participate in the annual Boardwalk 5K run, the first dip of the year in the ocean, and the First Day Shopping Extravaganza in Downtown Ocean City on Asbury Avenue, between 6^th and 14^th Streets.

Take in the Holiday Décor at Congress Hall in Cape May

“Cape May during the Christmas season is one of the best things in the winter,” says Katz, of New Jersey Isn’t Boring. “There’s so much going on around the holiday season, and the decorations there are beautiful.”

Many of those decorations can be found at the Congress Hall, a 200-year-old hotel that serves as the anchor of the resort town.

“Congress Hall becomes a hub for the town in December,” says Billy Scott, general manager. “This season is such a part of family traditions now. Even Scrooge couldn’t step foot within Congress Hall in December and not have a smile on his face.”

The grand lawn of the resort becomes “an outdoor metropolis of Christmas” with food stands, several bars, and a vendor village. For the kids, Santa’s Train chugs around the property, an antique carousel operates nightly, and hot chocolate abounds.

“We have a huge tree that we light the first weekend in December,” says Scott. Congress Hall’s tree lighting occurs immediately after the town’s tree lighting, just a block away. Many people enjoy the tradition of attending both events, and then they stick around for the following day’s West Cape May Christmas Parade.

There’s much more inside Congress Hall, including a Breakfast with Santa pop-up in the ballroom and caroling with an accompanying piano player in the resort’s Brown Room bar.

“Congress Hall really kind of screams Christmas,” says Scott.

ARCTIC OUTREACH
1185 E Bay Ave., Manahawkin
jettyrockfoundation.org

AMELIA’S BY THE SEA
1505 Ocean Ave., Spring Lake
732.769.5700
ameliasbythesea.com

AVENUE
23 Ocean Ave. N, Long Branch
732.759.2900
avenuelongbranch.com

BUNGALOW HOTEL
50 Laird St., Long Branch
732.229.3700
bungalowhotel.net

CHARLIE’S OF BAY HEAD
72 Bridge Ave., Bay Head
732.295.1110
charliesofbayhead.com

CONGRESS HALL
200 Congress Pl., Cape May
888.944.1816
caperesorts.com/congress-hall

CONVENTION HALL
1300 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park
732.897.6500
apboardwalk.com/conventionhall

DRIFTWOOD COFFEE HOUSE
1102 Third Ave., Spring Lake
732.449.3806
driftwoodcoffeehouse.com

FIRST NIGHT OCEAN CITY
609.399.6111
firstnightocnj.com

KNIFE & FORK INN
3600 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City
609.344.1133
knifeandforkinn.com

MAIN AVENUE GALLERIA
57 Main Ave., Ocean Grove
732.988.1002
mainavegalleria.com

PÉPE KITCHEN
15 Morris Ave., unit 110, Long Branch
732.955.737 3
pepekosher.com

PORTA
911 Kingsley St., Asbury Park
732.776.7661
pizzaporta.com/asbury-park

THE SCONE PONY
305 Washington Ave., Spring Lake
732.280.8887
thesconepony.com

SEASIDE HEIGHTS POLAR BEAR PLUNGE
50 Blaine Ave., Seaside Heights
sonj.org/events

SHOPS AT PIER VILLAGE
50 Chelsea Ave., Long Branch
piervillage.com

SPRING LAKE
732.449.0037
visitspringlake.com