Discover Point Pleasant

Point Pleasant combines maritime history with nature experiences in tidal marshes. The canal, a museum dedicated to boating history, walking trails, and an area for fishing and crabbing offer different ways to shape your travel plans. If you’re looking for a vacation rental, consider whether boating culture, nature watching, or activities on the water will define your stay.

The Canal and Getting Around

The Point Pleasant Canal is the northernmost section of the Inland Waterway, which runs along the Atlantic Coast all the way to Florida. This gives the area a direct connection to a waterway that extends across much of the Atlantic Coast.

Drivers cross the canal via the Route 88 Bridge or the Lovelandtown Bridge. Both are named crossings that play a role in getting around Point Pleasant.

Boating History and Activities for Children

The New Jersey Museum of Boating was added to the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail in 2002 as its newest destination. The National Park Service recognized the museum for the historical value of its collection and location. Its nautical library contains hundreds of volumes available to read—another point of interest for anyone keen to learn about boats and maritime history.

Each spring, with support from the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the museum holds boating safety educational events for children; please check with the museum for the current schedule. The events are timed to coincide with the start of boating season. The museum also offers model boat building by request for children in grades two through nine.

Boy Scout and Cub Scout groups are invited to take part in museum projects and tours. These activities may count toward the relevant merit badges. If you’d like to plan for one of these programs, ask the museum about current dates and availability.

Walks Through Tidal Landscapes

At Beaver Dam Creek County Park, a boardwalk runs through tidal wetlands and invites visitors to take a stroll. Slade Dale Sanctuary has flat, easy-to-walk trails where visitors can observe the plants and animals of a tidal marsh. These two places offer different ways to experience the marsh landscape.

The sanctuary is also important for several endangered bird species, including ospreys, bald eagles, night herons, and least terns. Visitors who want to look out for birds and plants on a walk will find a direct connection to nature here; the species listed also illustrate the area’s importance to wildlife.

Fishing and Crabbing at the Beach Area

The beach area at Maxson Avenue Municipal Beach, next to Riverfront Park, can be used for fishing and crabbing. Swimming is not permitted there. If you’re planning these activities, check the current local rules and conditions before your visit.

When choosing a vacation rental in Point Pleasant, it may help to first decide what you’d like to focus on during your stay: museum offerings and boating history provide a different experience from walks through tidal marshes or a visit to the beach area for fishing and crabbing.

Discover more destinations: Point Pleasant Beach, Seaside Heights, Manchester Township, Lavallette, Long Beach, Beach Haven, Seaside Park, Brick.

See the broader travel overview: Ocean.