Spring Lake Heights Spring Lake, NJ

When Spring Lake Heights was incorporated in 1927, it merged the small farming village of Lake Como and the summer resort community of Villa Park. Early transportation options included walking, boating or driving horse-drawn carriages along State Highway 71. Evergreen Inn Bed and Breakfast, formerly known as Reid's Villa Park, once operated as a stagecoach stop, general store and brothel in the late 19th century and early 20th.

Spring Lake Heights houses historical buildings but lacks museums. Residents can visit neighboring Spring Lake for the Spring Lake Historical Society's Museum or take a short drive south to the National Guard Militia Museum in Sea Girt. Nearby artsy venues include Kid's Arts Studio and OPI Gallery in Sea Girt, as well as Firefly Music Together and Arteffects gallery in Spring Lake. Nearby festivals include the Spring Lake Heritage Festival and an Italian Festival hosted in Spring Lake.

You can't live this close to the beach without being able to order some fresh, tasty seafood. the Mill at Spring Lake Heights features excellent service and delectable menu items such as Blue Point oysters with a mignonette sorbet, chilled lobster, shrimp and grits, spice seared day boat scallops, lobster pot pie and herb crusted rack of lamb. The Mill also serves lunch and brunch in addition to providing space for banquets, weddings and special occasions.

Take a break from seafood to spice things up at Jose's Mexican Restaurant, located on Highway 71. This family-owned restaurant specializes in authentic cuisine, including tacos, fajitas, cold soup with cocktail de camarones, homemade guacamole, empanadas and crispy deep-fried chorizo tacos.

Although Spring Lake Heights lacks a hopping nightclub scene, residents can enjoy live music at local spots such as St. Stephen’s Green Publick House on State Route 71. This Irish pub serves Spring Lake Heights with good food, good service and a cozy spot for a fun night out. The pub hosts live Irish music several nights a week. The menu includes Irish pub fare such as Guinness beef stew, fish and chips, Cork calves' liver with colcannon potatoes and bangers and mash.

Visit Spring Lake Tap House on State Route 71 for one of the area's best happy hours, which includes $4 sliders, $2 Miller Lite and Coors Light drafts, and $5 wood-fired pizzas nearly every weeknight from noon until 7 p.m. On the weekends, this sports bar comes alive with music spun by a DJ on Saturdays and Sunday specials such as special game day menus and drink prices.

State Route 71, also known as Seventh Avenue, runs through Spring Lake Heights, connecting with Wall Township to the north and Sea Girt to the South. County Route 524 runs east to west, while local roads such as Ocean Road and Warren Avenue connect Spring Lake Heights with the neighboring seaside town of Spring Lake.

Although residents can walk in the neighborhood and even walk to the ocean, most people drive in private vehicles to commute to work or travel in the region. Most residents average a commute of around 30 minutes.

Some bike paths reside in the area. Otherwise, cyclists share the road with motor vehicles. The town lacks a parking garage, but abundant on-street and off-street parking make up for the lack of a central public parking facility. New Jersey Transit provides bus service from Spring Lake Heights to Philadelphia in addition to local bus service and train service with its North Jersey Coast Line, which stops at the nearby station in Little Silver or Spring Lake.

Who needs tons of green space when you can have expansive stretches of soft sand along the pounding surf? The luxury of relaxing on the pristine, quiet beach makes the price of a beach badge, which ranges from around $105 for the year or $10 per day, well worth the money. This clean, family-friendly beach has a quiet, laid-back atmosphere. Spring Lake beaches allow leashed dogs during the off-season of October through mid-May.

Spring Lake also houses two small parks along the lake. Divine Park's wooden bridges stretch across the lake while Potter's Park hosts summer concerts in its gazebo. Naturally, it hosts a number of events, including Shakespeare in the Park during the summer.

Living so close to the ocean comes with a hefty price tag. The cost of living in Spring Lake Heights runs around 37 percent higher than the rest of the state. Rental rates average $1,246 for a one-bedroom apartment, and residents can expect to pay an average of $4 for a bottle of beer or $6 to $7 for a specialty draft beer at local bars such as Spring Lake Tap House.

One-way bus fare aboard New Jersey Transit costs $1.50 for travel within the state, and $1.80 for travel to and from Philadelphia. Gas prices typically fall approximately 2 percent below the national average.

Although Spring Lake Heights lacks a significant shopping scene, residents have everything they need within a short drive from home, including the Jersey Shore Premium Outlets in Tinton Falls and chain stores such as Williams-Sonoma and Banana Republic at the Brook 35 shopping mall in Sea Girt. When you need something special, forget the big name stores and head over to 3rd Avenue in Spring Lake to browse boutiques such as the Spot, which specializes in designer clothing and accessories. Choose from special occasion apparel, evening wear casual dresses and pants, handbags and more. Bare Wires Surf Shop carries all the gear you need to ride the waves, in addition to clothing for men, women and children. The store carries stock surfboards but it can make custom boards. Accessories include everything from sunglasses and hats to earplugs and rash guards. For a special gift or a unique item for your home, check out the selection of accents, jewelry, glass and tableware, wall decor, gifts and spa products at Urban Details. This specialty store carries a diverse selection of inventory crafted by American artists such as Simon Pearce, Zents and Alex Godek. A&P Food Store, located in Wall Township, serves the Spring Lake Heights community as its closest grocery store. Other nearby options include Nature's Corner Natural Market at the northern end of Spring Lake and Shoprite in Wall Township. Residents can stock up on fresh fruits, vegetables and plants at Matt's Farm Market and Garden Center in Belmar, or go pumpkin picking at Atlantic Farms in Manasquan.