Avon-by-the-Sea is a coastal community on the Atlantic Ocean. Along with the beach, the noncommercial boardwalk, Shark River Inlet and Sylvan Lake help you find your way around. Local history offers another perspective. You can choose to focus on beach activities, walks, observing the water or local memorial sites.
Atlantic Beach and Boardwalk
The clean, white-sand beaches invite you to relax, swim and sunbathe in summer. Designated surfing areas are available along the coast. Designated surfing areas and beach rules may change; check local regulations before your visit. The noncommercial boardwalk features Victorian lamps, benches and gazebos. It is a place to stroll and relax, running along the Atlantic from Norwood Avenue to a point south of Washington Avenue. Bike racks, showers, drinking fountains and restrooms are also among the amenities; these facilities may change. If any of them are important to your plans, check their current status.
Inlet, Marina and Lake
At the southern edge, Shark River Inlet forms the boundary of Avon-by-the-Sea. It serves as a passage for excursion and private boats; from the water’s edge, you can watch the drawbridges and a stream of boats coming and going. The marina at the inlet has facilities for launching kayaks and paddleboards. Local rules may apply to the use of these facilities; check them before paddling. Sylvan Lake lies north of town and is considered the peaceful home of the town’s well-known swans. Comparing north and south reveals two perspectives on the water: at the lake, the focus is on scenery and swans; at the inlet, it is on bridges, boat traffic and the marina.
Bell and Local History
Local history can also be tied to a specific object. The bell from First Baptist Church was preserved in January 2016 and moved at the time to the lawn in front of the Municipal Building on Main Street as a memorial. On August 4, 2025, two bronze plaques were installed on the bell. They bear the inscriptions from the front and back of the bell, which are difficult to read because of its age. QR code information was added in 2025: visitors can scan the QR code on the bell to learn more about the bell and the former First Baptist Church. “Postcard Ponderings,” an oral history film about Avon, New Jersey, offers a different scale. The bell and plaques relate to a single object, the QR code also brings in the former church, while the film has a broader connection to the town. These historical perspectives range from a single memorial to the history of Avon.
A simple comparison can help you choose your focus: the beach and surfing are on the Atlantic, walks are along the boardwalk, and boat watching and paddleboard launches are at the inlet. If you are more interested in local history, the bell, bronze plaques, QR code information and oral history film offer another way to explore the area.
Discover more destinations: Eatontown, Tinton Falls, Upper Freehold, Manasquan, Highlands, Spring Lake, Keansburg, Monmouth Beach
For the broader travel overview: Monmouth.
