From Sandy Hook to Cape May, shore attractions

August 5, 2007

LONG BRANCH

Pier Village (piervillage.com) is an oceanside enclave of more than 30 restaurants and boutiques, where you can catch Jazz on the Beach Sundays through Aug. 26, and concerts each Thursday. Yuk it up at Uncle Vinnie's Comedy Club (1 Ocean Blvd., 877-862-5384, unclevinniescomedyclub.com; $15), or bet on the ponies at Monmouth Park Racetrack (732-222-5100, monmouthpark.com; $2 grandstand admission).

ASBURY PARK

Catch a show at any of the city's numerous clubs, including the Stone Pony (913 Ocean Ave., 732-502- 0600, thestonepony.com), the rock venue made famous by the Boss.

OCEAN GROVE

Take a walking tour ($6 donation) Wednesdays and Fridays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m.; call 732-774- 1869 for info. Music is a big part of the summer experience of the town, a historic spiritual retreat, with many performances in the Great Auditorium; check ogcma.org for schedules.

BELMAR

See an outdoor movie on the Eighth Avenue Beach; offerings include "Shrek 2." Strettttttttch during a Yoga on the Beach class ($12) Saturdays and Sundays through Yoga Anjali (732-681-7660, yogaanjali.com). Rent a kayak or surfboard from the Shark River Kayak Co. (732-556-1555, sharkriverkayaks.com; rentals from $25).

Catch a show at Brandl (703 Belmar Plaza, 732-280- 7501, brandlrestaurant.com), which features innovative American cuisine.

SEA GIRT

The Sea Girt Lighthouse (Ocean Avenue and Beacon Boulevard, 732-974-0514) is open for free tours Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m.

MANASQUAN

Free outdoor movies include "Annie" and "The Endless Summer." See a live performance of "Carousel" ($28) at the Algonquin Arts Theater (173 Main St., 732-528-9211, algonquinarts.org), or check the Web site for other shows. For $20, the Manasquan Water Taxi (732-528-9248, manasquanwatertaxi.com) will take you on a pirate adventure to "Treasure Island."

POINT PLEASANT BEACH

The boardwalk is the big dog in town; that's where you'll find Jenkinson's Aquarium (732-899-1659,

jenkinsons.com/aquarium; $9), featuring penguin, shark and seal feedings, and the pirate-themed Cast-Away Cove mini-golf (732-892-0600; $9 a round). The River Belle paddle-wheeler (732-892-3377, riverboattour .com) offers theme outings, including Pizza & Fireworks cruises ($29). Catch Father Alfonse and His Orchestra for free each Wednesday at Jenkinson's Inlet Beach.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS

Thrill-ride your way down the boardwalk, or plunge into Jenkinson's Breakwater Beach water park (732-793-6488, casinopiernj.com/breakwaterbeach; all-day admission $25.95), with a lazy river and family section. Catch the fireworks Wednesdays. Hike and drive on the sand at Island Beach State Park.

LONG BEACH ISLAND

Climb 217 steps up Barnegat Light (off Broadway in Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, 609-494-2016, barnlight .com; $1), or trek the short Maritime Forest Trail. The Gateway Restaurant and Lounge (227 W. Eighth St., Ship Bottom, 609-494-2816) hosts "Weird Al" Karaoke and bands. Watch commercial fishermen haul in their loads during a free summer tour of Viking Village (18th Street and Bayview Ave., Barnegat Light, vikingvillage.net; for tours, call 609-494-7211); the port also has boutiques, a coffee hut and seafood takeout. Artists display their creations at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences (120 Long Beach Blvd., Loveladies, 609-494-1241, lbifoundation.org; free).