Summer Rental in Sandy Hook

There is so much to see and do in Highlands/Sandy Hook that you should plan on arriving early.

Beaches

• Sandy Hook (1 mile away) offers 7 miles of pristine beaches with top-notch facilities.  The clean ocean beaches are dune-swept and wide, boasting excellent swimming and surf fishing. Sunbathing and swimming at “North Beach” is quite spectacular with the skyline of NYC in the background. Sandy Hook Beach E hosts beach concerts every Wednesday at 6 pm throughout the summer.  Concert Schedule here.
• Gunnison Beach (6 miles away) in Sandy Hook  is the state’s only clothing-optional beach for those who shun tan lines.
• Highlands Beaches (walking distance). Two small lifeguarded beaches along Sandy Hook Bay are found at Miller Street and Snug Harbor.  Primarily used by local residents. No showers or changing rooms are available. Snug Harbor has basketball and tennis courts. Portable restrooms are available at both sites. Miller Street beach is 3 minutes walk from our house.
• Sea Bright Municipal Beach (3.5 miles away). The beach has restrooms, outdoor showers and a volleyball area.
• Long Branch Beaches (7 miles away). Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park is a beautiful and clean public beach popular with swimmers, surfers and sun-worshippers.
• Asbury Park Beaches (14 miles away). Asbury Park’s new mile-long million-dollar boardwalk is very popular. Go on: take a stroll, ride your bike, peruse the shops, play a round of mini golf, The beach is lovely and usually not too crowded – a wide stretch of gleaming white sand.
• Ocean Grove Beaches (15 miles away) Ocean Grove’s boardwalk is ideal for a leisurely early morning or evening walk. There are no commercial concession stands. It’s you, the boards, some benches, and the beach. The beaches offer good swimming and are very family-oriented, clean and not as crowded as beaches in neighboring towns.

Biking / Hiking – Three bikes are provided in the house

• Sandy Hook bike path (1 mile away) runs the 6 miles length of the Sandy Hook penninsula. The paved pathway passes dunes, maritime forests, salt marshes, ocean beaches, bayside waters and historic military sites. The path is for bicyclists, runners, skaters and other pedestrian uses.
• Bayshore Trail (1 mile away) is part of the Henry Hudson Trail that follows the right-of-way of an abandoned railroad line. The scenic trail runs right along the waterfront, with waters of the bay immediately on your right as you head west and the steep forested hillside on your left.
• Hartshorn Woods Park (0.7 mile away) is located along the banks of the Navesink River. The 17-mile trail system of this 787-acre park offers marvelous views of the Navesink and Shewsberry Rivers.

Boating / Sailing /  Kayak

• Schupp’s Landing rent boats for a day, within walking distance from the house
• Charter Sails offers sunset cruises, half and full day sailing cruises and charters.
• Reel Therapy offers kayak eco tours and kayak fishing.
• Tracey Sailing School offers sailing lessons for keelboats and catamarans from basic to advanced levels.

Fishing

• Sandy Hook Marina is the base for several companies offering fishing excursions.

Historic Sites

• Twin Lights of the Navesink was built in 1862 and in 1898, and it became America’s first electronically-powered lighthouse. It overlooks the Shrewsbury River, Sandy Hook, Raritan Bay, New York skyline and the Atlantic Ocean.
• Sandy Hook Lighthouse is the oldest working lighthouse in the United States.

Pampering

• Transcendence Spa is located in the heart of Highlands. Treat yourself to a massage or pedicure.

Amusement Parks

• Keansburg Amusement Park & Runaway Rapids Waterpark combines classic boardwalk memories with high speed water slides, offering two world-class go-cart tracks, more than 45 rides, a rock climbing wall, and batting cages.

Racetrack

• Monmouth Park Racetrack is a thoroughbred race track in Oceanport, New Jersey,  featuring the rich history of thoroughbred racing, including today’s best jockeys and Triple Crown contenders.

Golf