Toms River: Nature, Maritime History and Planetarium Shows

Toms River offers nature, maritime history and a domed planetarium as different ways to shape a vacation. Cattus Island County Park focuses on trails and nature; the Barnegat Bay Maritime Museum is dedicated to historic watercraft, while the Robert J. Novins Planetarium presents laser shows, star shows and full-dome films. You can tailor your stay to your interests and choose between time outdoors, historical topics and shows.

Nature and Wildlife at Cattus Island County Park

Cattus Island County Park covers 530 acres and has 7 miles of trails. The park is therefore a destination in its own right for guests who want to include nature trails in their stay. The park’s size and trail network give this part of Toms River a different character from the city’s exhibits and shows.

The park is also home to the Cooper Environmental Center. Its interactive educational displays include a live osprey-cam feed, a bird-watching area, and live reptiles and fish. Visitors interested in nature and wildlife can consider these offerings as a separate focus alongside the park’s trails.

Maritime and Local History

The house named after Elizabeth Sculthorp Force is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey Register of Historic Places, and is featured on the New Jersey Women’s Heritage Trail. It includes furnished rooms from the 19th century and a historical timeline exhibit in the Birdsall Room. The rooms and timeline offer different points of interest: the focus here is on the furnishings of historic living spaces and a chronological perspective. This makes the house a distinctive subject for travelers interested in history.

The Barnegat Bay Maritime Museum is located at the northeast corner of Water Street and Hooper Avenue in Toms River. It is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Its collection of historic watercraft includes the 1924 A-Cat Spy and the Barnegat Bay Sneakbox Sheldrake.

Planetarium and Visit Planning

The Robert J. Novins Planetarium presents laser shows, star shows and full-dome films in a 103-seat domed theater. In addition to public shows, the planetarium offers programs for school and summer camp groups, birthday parties and special themed events.

The dome is accessible only during scheduled showtimes. If you plan to visit the planetarium, take this schedule into account. The different types of shows and additional group and themed programs offer several ways to include the planetarium in your stay.

Choose your vacation rental in Toms River based on the experiences you want to include in your stay.

More places: Point Pleasant Beach, Bay Head, Brick, Barnegat Light, Lakehurst, Lakewood Township, Lavallette and Point Pleasant.

See the broader travel overview: Ocean.