Wow. I LOVE IT HERE. I'm a gal who prefers a more quiet, peaceful beach experience. I spent the…read moreday at Avon By the Sea on a weekday in September and it was perfect. All parking is FREE. Can't complain about that! There's plenty of street parking right in front of the boardwalk as well as residential parking nearby. Since I visited after the summer season ended, I had no problem finding a spot at 12pm. If you're going during the season, I would suggest coming much earlier if you want to get a good spot closer to the beach. During the summer season (Memorial Day through Labor Day), beach badges are required from 9am-5pm on weekdays and 9am-5:30pm on weekends/holidays. It's $13 per person. Children ages 11 and under + active military and their dependents are free of charge. They don't accept credit/debit cards, so remember to bring CASH. The beach is beautiful - clear, blue water and clean, soft sand. The crowd is more mature and family-oriented. They do have a lot of rules (no alcohol/smoking/cannabis/canopies/tents/sound systems), but I don't mind. It's not rowdy here, so you'll have a peaceful experience. There are bathrooms, a playground area for children, and a boardwalk. The boardwalk is small, but charming. There are benches for you to sit, relax, and enjoy the ocean view. There aren't many restaurants, bars, games, or entertainment around. They have a snack/food pavilion, but I'd suggest driving a few miles away to Asbury Park or Long Branch for a better dining and night life scene. Seeeeee yaaaaaaaa at the shore!

Avon-by-the-Sea is perfect if you're looking for a quiet, peaceful beach day. It's way more low-key…read morethan Belmar -- not much going on, mostly retirees and families, which honestly makes it super relaxing. Don't come here expecting to walk to a bunch of restaurants or bars -- it's more of a bring your own vibes kind of place. But they do have a snack shack, bathrooms, and the beach itself is really clean with clear water. Daily entry is $13, and there's lots of street parking, which is rare and amazing for beach towns. If you just want to chill, read, and enjoy the ocean without the crowds, this is the spot

Love it!! family friendly, very clean, snack bar available, children will have lots of fun and I…read morewill definitely recommend it to spend your summer here.

Great place! Clean and wonderful warm pool! Water classes are great. Great for families!read more

Nice little place and very secluded . I love the fact that even tho you're basically in the middle…read moreof nowhere , they have WiFi , nice bathrooms with air conditioner , large tables with umbrellas and everything is very organized . Good vibes . The only downside for me is the amount of bugs ..arghhh , I understand we're outdoors but Jesus you better have tons of bug spray . I was bit and stung by every single bug on earth for the rest of my life hahaha and there are creatures in the water , needless to say I didn't even go in .

Highlands Natural Pool has definitely blown up on social media lately, which is what put it on my…read moreradar. While it's a nice enough spot and the setting is scenic, the pictures floating around don't quite tell the full story. Yes, it's spring-fed and chemical-free, which gives it more of a forest pond feel than a traditional pool. That might be a plus for some people, but there are downsides. The water feels heavier than a normal pool, and there's no true shallow end--so treading water for long stretches can get tiring. If you go, I'd honestly recommend bringing a float to hang out more comfortably in the water. The facilities are basic. There are very few pool chairs--mostly just park benches scattered around a small paved deck. Seating is limited, and it was hard to find a place to set up. I'd recommend bringing your own beach chair if you have one. There are plenty of picnic tables farther back from the pool, which I assume is their way of keeping food out of the swim area. We arrived around 3 PM and that timing was probably my biggest gripe. The parking lot was full, so we had to find a random lot down the road and then walk back and hunt for the entrance. Not the easiest arrival. The $20 day pass would be fine if the setup matched the price, but for what it is, it felt a little steep. Also worth noting--cell service is spotty, and while they say there's Wi-Fi, it didn't work well for us. Overall, it's not a bad experience, but it didn't quite live up to the online buzz. If you go in with the right expectations (and a float, a chair, and some patience), you'll probably enjoy it more than we did.

Absolutely amazing experience! The crew was friendly, professional, and made us feel safe from…read morestart to finish. The views were breathtaking, and the ride was peaceful and unforgettable. I would definitely do it again. Highly recommend!

From start to finish, our sailing experience was phenomenal! Both captains were professional and…read morecourteous. We had an incredible flight and cannot wait to return!