Sea Girt: Boardwalk, Lighthouse, and History

Sea Girt offers three distinct focuses for planning your trip: strolls along the boardwalk, which is open year-round; summer beach activities; and historical perspectives. If you’re looking for a hotel in Sea Girt, it helps to first decide on the pace you want for your stay. A stroll isn’t tied to the swimming season; swimming and sunbathing are: they’re only possible at designated beaches in summer. Tours of the lighthouse also follow a set seasonal and weekly schedule.

Boardwalk and Beach Days

The boardwalk is open year-round for walks and offers panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. It starts at the Historic Sea Girt Lighthouse and runs along the boardwalk to the southern end of town. This makes a coastal walk a standalone activity, whether or not you’re planning a summer beach outing. The distinction is practical for planning your day: the boardwalk is open year-round for walks, while public swimming and sunbathing are limited to the summer months and designated beach areas.

A beach badge is also required for swimming and sunbathing. Plan to get a badge if either activity at a designated beach is on your itinerary. The beach options therefore differ not only in what they involve, but also in the time of year required: no summer season is specified for a walk, but one is for a beach day.

Lighthouse Tours and History

The Sea Girt Lighthouse offers tours on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m., from mid-April through the Sunday before Thanksgiving. No tours are held on holiday weekends. If you’re planning a tour, take into account that it must be on a Sunday, within the season, and not on a holiday weekend. Check the specific date against this schedule in advance if the tour is to be a fixed part of your plans.

The lighthouse stands out historically for two distinct reasons. It was the last inhabited lighthouse built on the Atlantic Coast. In addition, in mid-1921, Sea Girt became the first land-based light station with a radiobeacon navigation system. The first statement concerns the history of inhabited lighthouses on the Atlantic Coast; the second describes Sea Girt’s status in navigation. Together, they offer insight into the history of construction and technology that goes beyond the tour schedule.

Another Historical Perspective

The National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey tells the story of the state’s militia and National Guard. Its historical scope ranges from Dutch, Swedish, and British colonization through the Revolutionary War and the Civil War to World War I, World War II, and the present day. This distinguishes its focus from that of the lighthouse: the lighthouse is about construction history and radiobeacon navigation, while the museum covers the history of the militia and National Guard across different eras. The two historical subjects therefore have different emphases—maritime navigation on the one hand, and the development of these organizations in New Jersey on the other.

Discover more destinations: West Long Branch, Colts Neck, Marlboro Township, Manasquan, Asbury Park, Middletown, Eatontown, Long Branch.

For the broader travel overview: Monmouth.