Printfresh Travel Guide: Jersey Shore - Brigantine, NJ

Soul Berri: smoothies and açaí bowls served from a renovated shipping container, surrounded by gorgeous flower planters (warning: expect a loooong line.) 

Ernest & Son Meat Market: A really great deli serving sandwiches and deli sides to go, as well as a great place to pick up grilling supplies. It was also featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives… if that’s your thing.

Aversa’s Bakery: A beloved Italian bakery with a beautiful history. A great place to stock up on all sorts of Italian specialties (sweet & savory).

Yanni’s Cafe: Delicious cafe serving breakfast and lunch with both indoor and covered outdoor seating options. Favorites include anything Greek (the owners are Greek), smoothies and their house-made bagels and cream cheese (available by the dozen to go as well!) 

Richman’s: A classic ice cream stand that’s been around since 1894. Go for the burgers and ice cream and enjoy at small tables with umbrellas in their parking lot. 

The Crab Shack: A seafood shack that specializes in fresh, wild-caught seafood that’s not farm raised and never frozen. While their menu items can be hit or miss, it’s a great place for picking up seafood to cook at home (especially their poached shrimp cocktail!) If you eat in, they have an adorable outdoor seating area with picnic tables & umbrellas (tip: order as locally as you can! Flounder, striped bass and shellfish are generally locally caught).

Brigantine Bistro: while it’s not anything particularly special, the food is always solid. Tip - order off their Mexican menu! They have a Mexican family cooking in the kitchen that makes surprisingly delicious enchiladas, fish tacos, empanadas and more. 

Atlantic City Dining: If you’re looking for something a bit fancier, Atlantic City is a good option (it’s a 5-10 minute drive). A few stand-outs include Docks, Amada, Olon, Knife & Fork Inn (a former brothel!), Chef Vola’s and Pancho’s Tacos (very authentic street tacos). 

The Beaches! There are different beaches with different vibes. The Jetty Beach is a great place to watch surfers, The Cove is a drive-on beach filled with rowdy day-drinkers, the main drag of Brigantine Beach is quiet, vast and very family-friendly, and the North End Beach is a tranquil area with a vast wildlife refuge, plenty of bird life & serene tidal pools (TIP: if you’re going to the North End between June-August, beware of the Greenhead biting flies. They are plentiful during the hot season!)

The Brigantine Farmers Market: this is what we look forward to every single Saturday morning from Memorial Day-Labor Day. It’s a large market to wander through, but be sure not to miss Seatox Lemonade, the hot mini donuts truck, Goji Juice and Clam Daddys for fresh, local clams. 

Surfing Lessons at Primal Surf: Brigantine is actually listed in the Genius Book of World Records as the windiest place in the US! Which you can imagine, breeds quite a surf culture. 

Laguna Bar & Grill: You come here for the amazing atmosphere and the live music (not the food and drink!) Every summer, the owner plants tons of full-size palm trees, throws a bunch of colorful adirondack chairs in the sand and hosts live music every weekend. It’s (surprisingly) the only place on the island that is beachside and the view is amazing. Keep it VERY simple with what you order though - stick to the pizza, chicken sandwich and a beer or glass of white wine.

Shark Park: a large playground great for taking the kids somewhere to get out their energy if they’re bored with the beach.

Brigantine Mini Golf: a VERY small mini golf course, without many frills. (265 42nd Street)

Fishing: visit Riptide Bait & Tackle for fishing supplies. 

Steel Pier: take a drive over to the Atlantic City boardwalk for rides, carnival games and plenty of funnel cake. During the summer season, there is usually a small bar at the end of the pier. 

Rainy Day Activities: Brigantine Library, Marine Mammal Stranding Center, Atlantic City Aquarium, or simply drive onto the beach and watch the wild waves (make sure you have four-wheel drive!!) 

The Wine Shop at Cellar 32: a wide selection of high quality wine bottles inside a (mediocre) restaurant.  

Casale Al Mare: a cute little Italian speciality shop that sells imported pastas, antipasto, cheese and more. Enjoy an espresso drink at one of their patio tables. 

The Sand Dollar: classic knick-knacky beach shop (if it’s the end of the season look for deep discounts on beach chairs, sandals and more.)