Loveladies stands out on LBI, not only for its unusual name but also for its large, contemporary homes that showcase 21st century architecture and trends. Along the Jersey Shore, Loveladies has some of the most striking houses rather than typical new-home construction that relies on New England-inspired accents like turrets, gabled roofs and small windows.
Only Deal and Elberon -- click on their names to see my stories and photos -- rival Loveladies for outstanding contemporary design. While these towns have some amazing contemporary homes, only Loveladies seems to have truly embraced this architectural trend.
Loveladies and nearby North Beach are neighborhoods, part of Long Beach Township, separated by the Borough Harvey Cedars. Keep this in mind as you buy beach badges and consider where to park.
(From the vantage point of the beachfront or boardwalk, this is a breezy overview of what you see, where to park and beach access, plus a bit or history and the latest happenings. See map below.)
Large lots with landscaping
Along the main thoroughfare, Long Beach Boulevard, there are several large lots that extend all the way from the dunes to the ocean. Much care and time has been spent by their owners on landscaping rather than the typical LBI house with a limited footprint and only a few trees or bushes to accent properties.
Private streets means limited parking
Because most side streets are private without public parking, about the only way to truly enjoy these properties is taking a leisurely stroll along the ocean near the dunes or walking along busy Long Beach Boulevard.
Be aware of parking restrictions!
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Don't let anyone tell you LBI is18 miles long
The conventional wisdom is that LBI is 18 miles long. But apparently this notion was begun by the road crews who paved the first road from Old Barney to Holgate to the south. As measured by the concrete road from Old Barney parking lot to Holgate, LBI is 18 miles.
In Barnegat Light, using a simple online pedometer tool, you can see that walking the beach from the jetty to 30th Street along the beach is considerably longer than driving from the northern most point to 30th Street. It's already more than 18 miles long, and that's not accounting for the three miles of the coastline at the southern tip along the Edwin Forsythe Wildlife Refuge.
Let's set the record straight and let people know LBI is 21 miles!
Where Loveladies gets its name
Like Asbury Park, Bradley Beach, Lavallette and Ortley Beach, the community is named after a person. After the life saving station was established in 1871, locals wanted to give it a name. Adjacent to the station was a small island owned by Thomas Lovelady. The area became known as Lovelady's and eventually in 1952, the community was officially named Loveladies.
Tips for Visiting Loveladies and North Beach
What's New: Nothing major to report.
Access and Parking: To reach Long Beach Township's northern areas that include Loveladies and North Beach head north on Long Beach Boulevard. Don't try to make any sense of the numbered streets because there is no consistency from neighborhood to neighborhood. Parking is difficult in Loveladies, although there is free parking at beach access points at Dolphin Lane, Coast Avenue, Loveladies Lane and Seashell Lane. There is much more street parking in North Beach.
Amenities: None
Beaches: Beach badges are required daily from June 19 to Labor Day for people 12 years and older. Full season badges are $45 for this age range and $5 for people 65 years and older. Weekly badges are $20. Daily badges are $10. There is no cost for people 11 years of age and under.
This spring, summer and fall, follow Jersey Shore author and expert R.C. Staab as he walks the entire 139 miles of the Jersey Shore coastline from Sandy Hook to Island Beach State Park, the length of Long Beach Island from Old Barney to the Edwin Forsythe Wildlife Refuge, from Brigantine to Cape May.
Next stop: Harvey Cedars on Long Beach Island at Jersey Shore Walk Mile post 54. See profiles of Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, Island Beach State Park and every beach and town on the northern part of the Jersey Shore at www.jerseyshorewalk.com
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