Join the Belmar Beachcomber on a biking adventure along the Edgar Felix Memorial Bikeway in Monmouth County, New Jersey. This 5.5-mile paved bike path is part of the New Jersey Capital to the Coast Trail, a mixed-use network of trails that spans 55 miles from the state capital in Trenton to the coastal community of Manasquan.
At the Manasquan entrance, the Edgar Felix Bicycle Path begins in a wooded residential area, attracting joggers and walkers in addition to bicyclists of all ages. The path is mostly flat with some very slight inclines at certain spots.
Along the way, you'll find memorial benches if you need a quick rest stop or want to take a few minutes to sit and reflect in the natural, wooded surroundings. The views get more rural as you pedal west past preserved historic farmland and open municipal space.
After you pass the Allenwood General Store, you'll bike across two wood pedestrian bridges that span the northbound and southbound lanes of the Garden State Parkway. You'll then pass by the Spring Meadow Golf Course, an 18-hole public golf course and driving range located at 4181 Atlantic Avenue in Farmingdale, New Jersey.
The Edgar Felix Memorial Bikeway ends at Allaire State Park in Farmingdale, New Jersey. With more than 20 miles of color-coded trails, Allaire State Park is a destination unto itself if you are looking for some outdoor adventure. Park your bike and hike through the woods, or walk over to the adjacent Historic Village at Allaire, a living history museum set in colonial times.
If you're an antique train buff, be sure to check out the New Jersey Museum of Transportation's Pine Creek Railroad while you are touring the grounds of Allaire Village. The Pine Creek Railroad is open to the public, with trains operating daily between July 3 and September 1, and weekends only in the spring and fall.
Tickets for regular daily rides cost $4 per person; children 2 and under ride for free. Ticket prices vary from $5 to $7.50 for train rides during special events, such as the Civil War Encampment in June, the Railroader's Weekend in September, the Haunted Express in October, and the Christmas Express in December.
Once we bike from Allaire Village back to the free municipal parking lot in Manasquan, we usually stop for lunch or appetizers in town (Squan Tavern is a good choice) or at one of the restaurants along Route 71 back to Belmar. The Beachcomber Blog highly recommends spending a sunny day enjoying the Edgar Felix Memorial Bikeway and all the scenery and sights along the way.
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.
Story and photos © copyright by Christine Cardellino, owner of www.VacationInBelmar.com and publisher of the award-winning Belmar Beachcomber Blog, a travel and tourism guide for the Belmar region of the Jersey Shore. Do not copy any content (including images) without our permission. All rights reserved.
