EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

Spring Lake is accessible by US-34 from the New Jersey Turnpike, and served by New Jersey Transit from New York. The Chamber of Commerce (tel 732/449-0577) keeps erratic hours but the Spring Lake Hotel and Guest House Association (tel 732/449-0577) can help find lodging, especially on summer weekends. There are no cheap motels , and B&Bs can be expensive. The easygoing Sea Crest by the Sea , 19 Tuttle Ave (tel 732/449-9031; $160-200), is an 1885 inn with rooms furnished individually on quirky themes, and an excellent all-you-can-eat home-cooked breakfast. Ashling Cottage , 106 Sussex Ave (tel 732/449-3553; closed Feb; $130-160), overlooks the lake, while the Chateau Inn , 500 Warren Ave (tel 732/974-2000 or 1-877/974-LAKE; $75-100), is slightly less expensive. Adjacent to Asbury Park, in the much more attractive Victorian resort of OCEAN GROVE , friendly Lillagaard B&B , 5 Abbot Ave (tel 732/988-1216; $75-100), is right on the beach. Most of Spring Lake's restaurants are in the elegant Victorian hotels along the seafront, and can be pricey. The North Pavilion on the boardwalk sells cheap breakfasts and snacks, but there are no fast-food stands along the walk itself. Who's On Third , 1300 Third Ave (tel 732/449-4233), is a no-nonsense café serving breakfast and lunch. For a blowout, the Sandpiper , 7 Atlantic Ave (tel 732/449-6060), serves superb fresh fish and seafood in elegant, candlelit surroundings. Dinner costs around $20; bring your own bottle.