With its wide, soft-sand beach, expansive boardwalk for walking and jogging and walkable downtown, Avon-by-the-Sea is one of the Jersey Shore’s best beach towns for a day trip. You can catch the sunrise, watch boats cruise through the Shark River Inlet, grab brunch by the water, shop indie boutiques and end the day with live music or a walk around Sylvan Lake.
Here are 6 ways to spend the day exploring Avon:
Avon is one of our favorite go-to spots along the coast because of its clean, wide, soft sand beaches. Anyone 11 and older needs a beach badge, and the cost for the 2026 season is $14 per day, or $65 to $110 for a season pass. Parking is free.
Our favorite time to visit is early in the morning for sunrise, when you’ll see fishers, surfers and boats welcoming the day as the sun creeps out over the horizon. If you leave the beach before 9 am you won’t have to pay for a badge. Sunsets are beautiful, too.
We also appreciate the clean, bright restrooms at Lincoln and Norwood avenues, which are close to the Promenade grill, the Beach House Boutique and the gazebo.
If the waves of the ocean are too rough for your littles, Avon also has a municipal pool at 609 Ocean Ave. You can come for open swim, family swim, lap swims, water aerobics and even swim lessons. If you don’t live in the borough, you’ll need a resident to sponsor your family to buy a pool badge.
2. Walk the boardwalk
There are no rides or games here, which make walking, jogging or pushing a stroller quiet and peaceful any time of day. Note that dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk during the summer. There are plenty of benches and a pretty white pavilion that offers shade closer to the Bradley Beach border. If you want to get your steps in, continue on to Ocean Grove and Asbury Park.
Walk in the opposite direction toward the Shark River Inlet and you’ll see boats come by in what we call a “boat parade;” and you’ll likely also see the drawbridge open and close.
3. Plan on waterfront dining
If you’re visiting in the morning, the Promenade Waterfront Grill serves a great weekend brunch, along with breakfast, lunch and dinner during the week. You can also order from the counter window at Leo’s Landing Grill and bring some snacks or sandwiches onto the beach; you can’t bring a cooler though.
The Columns dates back to 1883, serving lobster, mini burgers and other tavern foods. There’s a children’s menu with chicken, rigatoni and grilled cheese; plus a separate Grill Room Menu with apps available Fridays to Sundays. The restaurant and bar is also known for its full summer lineup of live music.
Cavé Bistro is a farm-to-table restaurant that’s 100-percent gluten-free, cooks with organic produce and grass-fed meats and seafood, and avoids using seed oils in its scratch kitchen. Popular menu items include the beef bone marrow burger, birria-style beef cheek tacos and red oak salad.
Little Gem is another chef-driven breakfast and lunch bistro – but it’s only open Wednesdays to Sundays from 8 am to 4 pm. Fans of Cookman Creamery in Asbury pop in here for an assortment of their ice creams and sorbets. The Macaroon Shop is a must to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings thanks to its mix-and-match bundles of cookies and cakes.
4. Stroll the downtown
Main Street is a few blocks off the beach, where you’ll find a collection of indie shops like Grace & Purl, where you can pick up yarn or sign up for a knitting or crocheting class; Bungalow Road for clothes and cute accessories; or Jewelry By the Sea. Peppy Collective, on Marine Place, is a go-to spot for vintage and handmade fits.
5. Check Avon’s schedule for concerts and other summer events
One of the biggest events in Avon is the Boardwalk Summer Concert Series. Music is played from the Woodland Avenue Boardwalk and Pavilion on Tuesdays, through August 11; on Thursdays, through August 6 (when Erich the DJ Guy hosts Tot Dances); on Fridays, through August 7; and on Saturdays, through August 8.
The library is a popular place for families to beat the heat. Some upcoming shows include The Eyes of the Wild animal show on August 11 at the pavilion, the Minecraft Unearth a Story dinosaur program on August 19 at the marina, and the library’s 110th anniversary celebration on September 23.
The Avon-by-the-Sea Historical Society installed a historic display about The Spirit of ’76 at the post office, through September 30; info on custodian Mulford Hagerman at the library, through September 15; and a tribute to students and staff at the Avon School, coming in September.
You can also take the kids on a scavenger hunt, since members of the historical society painted 250 patriotic shells in honor of America’s 250th birthday, and they’re hidden all throughout town.
6. Take a walk around Sylvan Lake
Sylvan Lake, aka Duck Creek, is a small lake near the northern end of town on the border of Bradley Beach. Kids like to look for ducks, geese, snapping turtles, swans and fish. It’s a calm, quiet spot for a walk away from the beachfront.
Get the latest on the best things to do with your family in and around New Jersey by and following us on and !