Generally, when people think of visiting the beach towns of New Jersey for dining, shopping or family fun, they don't consider the winter months as a great time of the year.   However, if you look a little deeper into all of the activities that towns like Manasquan, Belmar and Long Branch now offer, it's easy to see that the Jersey Shore is no longer just a summer escape.  Sure, with one mile of beautiful sandy beaches, great surfing, fishing and food, no one can resist regular visits to the Jersey Shore during the summer months, but in this new column, we'll give you reasons to visit when the crowds are elsewhere.

            Let's take a closer look into all that the quaint shore towns of NJ have to offer... First up, Manasquan, NJ.  Often referred to as, "The Jewel of the Jersey Shore", Manasquan offers a unique array of shops, restaurants and entertainment. 

Then and Now -  the History Behind the Town      

            The history of Manasquan can be traced back to the Unamis branch of the Lenni Lenape Indians who lived along the river known as Manasquan and upon the Island since called "Osborne's". They claimed the exclusive right to fish in and hunt along the tributaries of the river. Manasquan, Maniquan, Mannisquan, Manasquam, Squan, and Squan Village are mentioned in various old records, among them a deed dated 1685. The name is said to mean "an island with enclosure for squans."

            Because of its prime Central Jersey seashore location and good climate, Manasquan has been an ideal summer resort and year-round residence for centuries.  Another reason for the sustained success of the town was the fact that the river was an ideal shipping and commerce port.  All this changed though, in 1926 when a disaster struck the maritime communities of Point Pleasant Beach and vicinity. Water from the Manasquan River flowed through the newly opened Pt. Pleasant canal and into Barnegat Bay, rather than down river and through the inlet to the ocean. The Manasquan Inlet closed completely. Sand built up behind the beach for several hundred yards.

            This event prompted one of the most drastic developments in town history to date,    construction of the Manasquan Inlet.  Now a clear landmark for fishermen, boaters and surfers alike, the jetty and inlet helped rewrite a new chapter for the town after all the communities along the river were out of business as ports in 1928 and 1929.

Today, Manasquan has one mile of newly replenished, clean sandy beaches. The sparkling clear surf assures sunbathers and swimmers the ultimate in refreshing relaxation. With an abundance of fish, Manasquan is a veritable paradise for surf and deep sea fishing.

PLAN YOUR VISIT...

Manasquan, at exit 98 on the Garden State Parkway is easily accessible from both the New York and Philadelphia areas. Because of its prime, Central Jersey, seashore location and good climate, it has been an ideal summer resort and year-round residence for centuries.

Downtown area features a wide variety of shops, restaurants, salons and services. This variety of shopping is the reason many area residents and visitors "Shop Manasquan First". Stroll along Main Street and enjoy the friendly and relaxed feeling the shopping district gives you.

THE ARTS...

Since the founding of Algonquin Arts in 1991 and the reopening of The Algonquin Arts Theatre in 1994, over 500,000 Shore residents have experienced a broad spectrum of the performing, visual and media arts without paying high fees or enduring lengthy travel. Area residents have gained access to a list of renowned touring and professional theatre companies including: The Moscow Classical Ballet, The Actor's Studio of New York, Midori, The David Dorfman Dance Company, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Paul Taylor Dance Company, TheatreWorksUSA and Two River Theatre Company. Algonquin Arts has also hosted acclaimed local performance companies including the Dunbar Repertory Company and the Westfield Young Artists' Cooperative Theatre (WYACT).

In addition to offering unique cultural experiences for adults through its EVENINGS SERIES and its ORCHESTRA SERIES with The Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea, Algonquin Arts strives to enhance the educational experiences of area students. The diverse performances and artist-led workshops offered as part of the annual EDUCATION SERIES are designed to assist educators in meeting New Jersey's core curriculum standards. The expanding STAGEONE program, offered as a free or reduced-fee monthly music series, presents a forum for the finest musicians to present an arts-education performance for an audience uniquely combining school-age children and senior citizens.

Algonquin Arts is located at 173 Main Street in Manasquan.  Box office hours are Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm and Saturday from 10am - 4pm.  For information about programming, call (732) 528-9211 or visit online at www.algonquinarts.com.

2007 CALENDAR OF EVENTS...

British Classic                                     Sat. April 21   10:30am - 3:30pm

 Car Show                                           Miller Preston Way

                                                            Rain Date:  Sat., April 28

May Sidewalk Sale                             Fri. & Sat. May 18 & 19 9am-5pm

                                                            Main, South and Broad Streets

August Sidewalk Sale                         Fri. & Sat. Aug. 3 & 4  9am-5pm

                                                            Main, South and Broad Streets

Free Summer Outdoor Movies           Algonquin Arts Monday evenings (bring your own                                                              chair)

Free

Summer Band Concert Series             Main Beach Thursday evenings

Arts & Craft Festival                          Sat. Sept. 22   Rain date Sun. Sept. 23

                                                            9-5 Abe Voorhees Plaza

Scarecrow Contest                              Wed Oct 24 thru Thurs Nov 1

Christmas in Manasquan

Merchants Open House Weekend      Sat & Sun   Dec 8 & 9

Art Walks on Main Street                   Saturday (daytime)  June 23

                                                            Friday  (5pm- 8pm)  Aug 17

                                                            Saturday (daytime)  Oct 20

Music in Squan Plaza                          Thursday evening July 26

                                                            Thursday evening Aug 23

                                                            Friday evening Sept 14

For further information regarding these events and the Squan chamber members who support these community activities please visit www.manasquanchamber.com or call 732-223-8303

                             LOCAL COMMERCE...

Aqua-Land Pools, Inc.
2413 Highway 35
732-449-7778
www.aqualandpools.com

Central Jersey Bank of Manasquan
2445 Hwy 34
732-528-4850
www.cjbna.com

Crossroads Realty, Inc
2677 Highway 70 West
732-528-6800 X221
www.crossroadsrealtynj.com

Diane Turton, Realtors Wall Office
2383 Rt. 34 South
732-292-1400
www.dianeturton.com

Inn On Main
152 Main Street
732-528-0809

www.inonmainmanasquan.com

Manasquan Savings Bank
185 Main Street
732-223-2882
www.manasquanbank

Nature's Express
1407 W. Atlantic Ave., Circle Factory Outlets
732-223-0846
www.merchantcircle.com/business/Natures.Express

Ocean First Bank Manasquan
2443 Highway 34
732-292-9848

O'Neill's
390 East Main Street
732-528-5666
www.obgg.org

PNC Bank Manasquan
107 Main Street
732-223-8911
www.pnc.com

Sundaes- The Ice Cream Place
2211 Highway 35
732-223-9555
www.sundaesnj.com

The Atlantic Club
1904 Atlantic Avenue
732-292-4476
www.theatlanticclub.com

The UPS Store
2435 Hwy 34, Ste B
732-292-1919
www.ups.com

Washington Mutual Home Loans
2519 Highway 35, Bldg. A, Suite 101
732-528-7933x223
www.wamu.com

For More Information on businesses, activities and commerce in and around Manasquan, visit www.southernmonmouthchamber.com

Once you've visited Manasquan you'll realize why it is called "The Treasure of the Jersey Shore".