You'll "shorely" delight those special someones on your list with these 16 Belmar-inspired holiday gift ideas. 🎄 And when you shop local in our community, you're making a difference for the independent, family-owned small businesses and the people they employ. Our local businesses need your support more than ever this holiday shopping season.
1. Belmar Historical Society Ornament
The Belmar Historical Society (BHS) has an important mission to document and preserve the treasured memories of Belmar as the beloved seashore community has grown since the days of grand oceanfront mansions. Show your support with the purchase of Belmar Historical Society Christmas tree ornament.
The ornament sells for $15.00 and may be ordered online and picked up at the BHS museum and history room, 900 E Street in the annex of the Union Firehouse. Shipping is also available for an additional $5.00 per order. Other memorabilia for gift-giving includes vintage postcards and wall art, 19th-century maps, etchings, and reproductions of flyers advertising the town's very first property lots for sale — nostalgic ephemera that showcases a bygone era in the history of our town. Two new holiday gift items for 2024 are a packet of seven vintage Belmar postcards and a colorful "Greetings from Belmar" beach towel.
View items for sale and contact information for the Belmar Historical Society on their website, or stop by one of the holiday pop-up shops at the BHS museum. The pop-up shops will take place from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on December 7 and December 14, 2024. The museum is located at 900 E Street. Cash or check only will be accepted for purchases.
2. Belmar Honey
Belmar beekeeper Ed Lippincott is locally known for his delicious raw honey, which he sells from his home at 305 4th Avenue in 8-ounce and 16-ounce bottles. Or pick up some Belmar Honey at Eastern Lines Surf Shop, 1605 Ocean Avenue, or at Nourished by Nature juice bar, 801 Main Street (next to Beach Haus Brewery).
RELATED: Belmar Honey - How Sweet It Is
3. Belmar Beach Tags
Stuff their stockings with Belmar beach tags, which are now on sale for the summer 2024 season and may be purchased online. Beach badge prices for summer 2025 are $80.00 for seasonal beach tags and $32.00 for seniors (age 65 and older; proof of age required).
Shipping is $10.00, and please note that a "processing fee" is added to all online purchases, as well as to in-person cash or check purchases made at Belmar Borough Hall, 601 Main Street. Pick-ups and in-person purchases may be made weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
For more information, call Belmar tourism officials at 732-681-3700, ext. 214.
4. Fishing, Tiki Boat, Or Whale Watching Tickets
Tickets for a fishing trip off the Jersey Shore coast are an excellent gift idea if you want to share an experience with loved ones. Buy tickets in advance for one of the numerous party head boats or private fishing charters that set sail from the Belmar Marina.
Morning excursions depart the marina generally around 7:00 or 7:30 a.m. and return in the mid-afternoon, between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Some ships also go out for afternoon fishing charters and special excursions, such as sunset cruises and July 4th fireworks. Jersey Shore Whale Watching tickets are another great holiday gift idea. Tours are offered aboard the Miss Belmar Princess or the Royal Miss Belmar. The tour is guided by a marine life specialist from Rutgers University, who shares her extensive knowledge of humpback whales and other creatures that inhabit the sea.
Tickets for the new Belmar Tiki Boat are also a great gift idea. Book now for summer 2024.
RELATED: All Aboard The Belmar Tiki Boat
5. Hand-Poured Candles
Light someone's fire with a USA-made candle from Surf's Up Candles or Midnight Candle Company in Belmar.
From its flagship location at 1703 Main Street, Surf's Up Candles is a popular local brand of all-natural soy wax candles poured by hand at the Jersey Shore. In addition to mason jar candles in three sizes, the Surf's Up product line includes air fresheners and paint can candles in three sizes. Take your pick of beach scents, seasonal scents, and fruity/floral scents.
Also check out Surf's Up bath and body line, which includes all-natural sugar scrubs (a personal favorite), scented soaps, and body wash. Surf's Up subscription boxes are the gift that keeps giving. Recipients will receive will four seasons of great candles, bath and body products, and other goodies.
At Midnight Candle Company, 1108 Main Street, you'll find a rainbow of richly scented hand-poured scented jar candles, votives, and wax melts. You can even bring in your own heat-safe candle container for a custom-poured creation — pick your own candle scent and color.
Candle-making kits are also for sale at Midnight Candle Company. Each kit includes materials and detailed instructions to create two 50-hour scented candles at home.
Midnight Candle Company offers private candle-making classes at their shop. Call 732-947-7861 to reserve or visit www.midnightcandle.com.
6. Something For Their Sweet Tooth
Who could resist a tray of gourmet doughnuts or a box of decadent chocolates? Just in time for holiday festivities, Main Street Donuts, 705 Main Street, is offering its crowd-pleasing pull-apart cakes specially decorated like Christmas trees, ornaments, wreaths, and candy canes, as well as trays of mini holiday-themed doughnuts.
Main Street Donuts was named the "Best of Monmouth" in the category of Food and Restaurants - Donuts. Call 732-681-2100 to order your holiday treats.
Also a "Best of Monmouth" winner, Sweet! candy shop in Belmar is a great place to buy shore-themed goodies such as salt water taffy and boardwalk fudge. Sweet, located at 702 10th Avenue, also offers gourmet gift baskets, cupcake jars, boxed chocolates, and more.
7. Locally Roasted Gourmet Coffee
One of our favorite independent coffee shops in Belmar, Turnstile Coffee Roasters, sells sampler boxes (some with Taza Stone Ground Organic Chocolate), as well as custom gift boxes. Turnstile's online store also sells whole-bean coffee in 12-ounce or five-pound bags. Choose from four different grinding options, whether you prefer to brew by drip, pour-over, espresso, or French press. Pick up your gifts at their contact-less pick-up window (located on Route 71 across from Mr. Shrimp), or order online and have it shipped anywhere in the United States (free shipping when you order two or more bags).
Turnstile's coffee bean grinders, presses, and brewing devices also make great gifts.
8. Craft Beer Cheer
The craft beer lover on your list will appreciate a gift basket brimming with IPAs, pilsners, spiced ales, and lagers from Beach Haus Brewery, 801 Main Street in Belmar.
The retail store and website also sell Beach Haus gift cards, as well as logo hoodies, hats, t-shirts, koozies and more. Call 732-202-7782 or visit www.beachhausbeer.com.
9. Belmar Restaurant Gift Cards
Gift cards to Belmar restaurants are a great gift not only for locals in the Monmouth County area, but also for far-away family or friends who like to vacation in Belmar or visit for a day trip. Belmar restaurants with gift cards for sale include the following:
10th Ave. Burrito Co., 732-820-1515
Beach Haus Brewery, 732-202-7782
Berg's Smoked Meat & Poutine, 732-749-3266
Brandl Restaurant, 732-280-7501
Comfi of Belmar, 732-749-3583
El Rey Mexican Restaurant, 848-404-9331
F Street Craft Pizza, 732-934-2378
Federici's Restaurant, 732-681-3337
Federico's Pizza & Restaurant, 732-681-6936
Flames Brazilian Steakhouse, 732-681-7680
Hoagitos, 732-556-6617
Kaya's Kitchen vegan and vegetarian cuisine, 732-280-1141 or buy online
Klein's Seafood Market and Waterside Café, 732-681-1177
La Dolce Vita, 732-749-3177
Marina Grille, 732-894-3211
Mr. Greek Mediterranean Cuisine, 848-404-9633
Mr. Shrimp Seafood Restaurant and Market, 732-681-7755
Nourished By Nature, 908-907-5893
Pizza Heaven, 732-556-6062
Playa Bowls, 732-556-6897
Rajin' Cajun, 732-280-6828
Sweet! 732-280-8889
Sweet Tease Tea Room & Café, 732-722-8030
Turnstile Coffee Roasters, 732-894-9012
To inquire about ordering a gift card, call each establishment directly or visit the restaurant's website or Facebook page. Most places should be able to take a credit card payment over the phone and mail the gift card directly to you or to the lucky recipient. RELATED: Dining In Belmar
10. Belmar "Dine & Discover" Tickets
Surprise the foodies on your list with tickets to the 16th annual Belmar Dine & Discover food tour and tasting (formerly known as the Belmar Restaurant Tour). The event is scheduled for Sunday, March 9, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Early-bird tickets are now on sale for $30.00 through December 31, 2024.
11. Belmar Swag
Wear your Belmar pride with a custom-printed t-shirt, hat, or hoodie. Beckman's on the Beach, 1605A Ocean Avenue, specializes in custom screen printing, embroidery, and direct-to-garment printing. In addition to t-shirts, polos and tank tops, your selected design can be imprinted on hats, hoodies, and other apparel.
Same-day printing services are available, and Beckman's also serves corporate clients and school sales, in addition to retail customers. Call 732-245-5020 or visit www.belmarshirts.com for more information. Taylor Hardware, 914 Main Street, also has a selection of Belmar sweatshirts and swag for sale.
12. Alpaca Apparel
This past fall, we had the pleasure of visiting Arrow Acres Alpaca Farm in Wall Township, New Jersey. The farm has a cute gift shop, where you'll find scarves, gloves, hats, socks, wraps and other wearables made from silky soft alpaca fleece. They also sell handspun alpaca yarn and local honey from their family-owned farm.
13. Surfing, Sailing, and SUP Lessons
For stand-up paddle board (SUP) enthusiasts, give a gift card from the Endless SUP Company, which maintains a seasonal presence at Belmar's L Street bathing beach on the banks of the Shark River. Gift certificates may be used for SUP lesson packages, paddle yoga classes, and SUP boards and accessories.
Endless SUP's on-water activities will resume in spring 2022. To learn more, visit https://endlessbelmar.com.
Summertime Surf School in Belmar sells gift certificates for its youth and adult surfing camps and private lesson packages — perfect for anyone who has always wanted to learn how to surf. Visit www.summertimesurf.com to purchase.
RELATED: 7 Ways To Enjoy The Water In Belmar
14. Handcrafted Sea Glass Creations
Nothing says "Jersey Shore" like sea glass, shells and driftwood. We love these adorable Christmas tree ornaments that are handcrafted by Joyce at Simply Sea Glass Art. See more of Joyce's amazing work at www.simplyseaglassart.com.
Email the artist with questions or to place a custom order.
15. Beach Cruiser
Who wouldn't be delighted with a shiny new bicycle under the tree? Belmar Bike Shop, 1318 Main Street, sells a full line of Electra beach cruisers for women, men, and kids. Customize your new ride with Belmar Bike Shop's wide selection of baskets, bells, night lights, helmets, and other accessories. RELATED: Edgar Felix Memorial Bike Trail In Manasquan, New Jersey
16. Jersey Shore Cookbook
New Jersey food blogger Deborah Smith ("Jersey Bites") has published a compendium of recipes from 50 of the Jersey Shore's most popular restaurants, diners, cafés, and bakeries.
Contributors from the area include Brandl in Belmar; the Buttered Biscuit in Bradley Beach; Fratello's Restaurant in Sea Girt; Waypoint 622 in Brielle; and Porta, Talula's Pizza, and Brick Wall Tavern in Asbury Park. From cover to cover, you'll find recipes for every course, from starters, salads and soups, to main dishes, sides, breakfast, and desserts. Colorful custom photography showcases the restaurants and their culinary creations. Each recipe is also accompanied by a brief profile of the contributor.
The Jersey Shore Cookbook is available for purchase at www.jerseyshorecookbook.com.
© Christine Cardellino, Belmar Beachcomber Blog, and www.VacationInBelmar.com, 2017 to present. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material, including photography, without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. If you wish to use a photograph from this site, full and clear credit must be given to Belmar Beachcomber Blog and www.VacationInBelmar.com/belmar-beachcomber-blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Live Like A Local: Rent A Belmar Beach House
Day trips down the shore are fun, but it's even better to rent a beach house for the week to experience everything wonderful about the Belmar area. For couples, single adults and small families, the two-bedroom Blue Hydrangea Cottage rental in Belmar, New Jersey, is the perfect getaway place. The home sleeps up to four people and is consistently rated five stars for cleanliness, amenities and location. Learn more at www.vacationinbelmar.com.
RELATED: Visit Belmar, New Jersey
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