But a mile of sandy beach, with a boardwalk reaching from First to Twentieth streets? Would Shakespeare recognize that? Probably not. But he would recognize the mute swans that gracefully glide upon Silver Lake and the other ponds in the area. The Belmar swans were brought over from England as Americans undertook the task of ensuring that every bird that appeared in a Shakespearean play found a home in the States. So while many things would seem foreign, William Shakespeare would not be completely lost in Belmar.

And neither will you.

Belmar, which means “beautiful sea,” is coastal America down to its core. The Oceanfront, as the beachside section of town is know, is the social center of the community, where throughout the summer one can hear band concerts as residents and visitors dance the night away at the Taylor Pavilion and Huisman Gazebo.

This seaside gem also features a main street shopping area that is sure to capture one's fancy. The specialty shops are so varied, in fact, husbands and wives may need to split up and meet back at the Oceanfront in order to truly indulge their tastes.

Belmar is home to some of the season's hottest sporting events. Mid-summer brings professional beach volleyball players to the local sands, as they dig, block and spike their way to stardom. In late summer, when the waves begin to increase in size, it's the professional surfers that gather from around the country.

A few years from now, Belmar will not look the same as it appears today. The borough is currently undergoing a review of its Seaport Redevelopment Plan and finding ways to further improve its beloved seashore area. Aside from providing all the fun ashore, the people of Belmar are willing to take you away from it all, too. The community is the fishing capital of the Jersey Shore.

So see it now, but don't forget to come back and see it again in a few years. A visit to Belmar? That's not a bad thing to look forward to. Not a bad thing at all.

<<back