The town clerk's office describes Mantoloking as "There's a beach, there's some houses and access to the beach."
People may not realize they have crossed into the skinny, two-mile town that is Mantoloking, which sits nonchalantly between the ocean and Barnegat Bay and between Bay Head and the Brick Beaches. Other than the westerly turn at Herbert Street to cross the Mantoloking Bridge, the Borough has no real visual landmarks -- no business, no shopping district, no parking lots and no attractions. From the ocean, it's nearly impossible to know where Bay Head ends and Mantoloking begins.
There is much to-do about the dunes in Mantoloking, which have been substantially reinforced since Superstorm Sandy. The Borough even publishes a Dunes Do's and Don'ts on its website. The dunes have had the effect of blocking some of the homeowners views from their ground floor. As a result, there are several platforms built on the dunes, but those are strictly regulated by the Borough.
Construction of even larger and newer homes can be seen as one drives through town.
At The Little Point Bookshop
Give the Jersey Shore
for Father's Day.
Get the scoop on whale watching, minor league baseball, fishing adventures and more with the #1 NJ Travel Guide:100 Things to Do at the Jersey Shore Before You Die. The Little Point Bookshop is located at 629 1/2 Arnold Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach.
(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.)
Stunning view of Barnegat Bay
It's well worth the effort to turn one's back on the ocean and walk two blocks west for a view of Barnegat Bay, even if it means hunting down one of the only three public access points. The walkway (pictured below) at the 1100 block of Ocean Avenue offers a 180 degree view of the bay with the nearby Mantoloking Bridge arching over the water on its way to West Mantoloking.
Captain John Arnold and Mantoloking
When he wasn't developing Pt. Pleasant Beach, that town's founding father Captain John Arnold found time to be part of the group that developed Mantoloking. Using his political and economic clout in 1883, Arnold convinced the Ocean County Freeholders to allow him to build a bridge across Barnegat Bay for $4,000. This swing draw bridge was completed to Old Bridge Street in 1884. The current bridge was completed in 2006 for $22 million.
Mantoloking's Name
Like Manasquan which derives its name from the Native Lenape People, Mantoloking roughly translates into “frog ground,” with a secondary meaning of “sand place.”
Tips for Visiting Mantoloking
What's New: Nothing new to report.
Access and Parking: Most people enter Mantoloking along busy Route 35 (aka Ocean Avenue) from Bay Head to the north of the Brick Beaches to the south or across Route 528, the Mantoloking Bridge from West Mantoloking. There are parking lots either private or public. While street parking is free, there are few spaces and some limit the amount of time cars can park.
Amenities: None
Beaches: There isn't a boardwalk or a promenade. There are 13 beach access points along Ocean Avenue. Badges are required daily from June 19 through September 6. Full season badges are $95. Daily badges are $12 and are available at Lyman Street and Downer Avenue kiosks. Badges are not required for people under the age of 12.
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 from Sandy Hook to Island Beach State Park, from Old Barney to Beach Haven, from Brigantine to Cape May.
Next stop: Brick Beaches at Jersey Shore Walk Mile post 31. See profiles of Bay Head, Pt. Pleasant Beach, Manasquan and other Jersey Shore Walk beach towns at www.jerseyshorewalk.com
