Ocean House, Spring Lake

I grew up playing on the beaches of Spring Lake (where my parents still live), so I still spend lots of time there even though I now reside in South Jersey. Last summer my father rented a bunch of rooms at the Ocean House for a family reunion and it was perfect. The rooms are clean & quaint (you won't spend much time in them anyway) and the wrap-around porch is HUGE!! It's full of couches, rockers, & comfy chairs and the awnings flap in the salty sea breeze, church bells ring in the distance, the beach is ONE block away, you COULD NOT BE ANY HAPPIER !! Make sure you grab a free bike out back and peddle a couple blocks over to the actual "Spring Lake". I'ts gorgeous (swans swimming,remote-control saiboats gliding thru the water, rustic bridges to cross) and tranquil. The staff was friendly, polite, & informative when you needed them and thoughtfully invisible when you didn't. And they put out a really nice breakfast in the mornings in this huge dining area that is open to the porch I already spoke of. The breeze wafting thru this room while you're eating is the best. And if I could figure out a way to sneak a cot out on that porch, I'd still be there!! Peaceful, quiet little town - you'll love it - so absolutely divine to hear NO RACKET ! Sleep with your windows open (if not too hot) and enjoy the sounds of the seashore as you drift off. Our boardwalks don't have just about anything on them - Spring Lake's is all about the endless unobstructed view of beach, water, sky, sun, & clouds. When you stay at the Ocean House, you will remember this review and realize I could have gone on and on for hours with things to see, places to eat, etc., but I'm not sure how much of this review they will print. Just go! The neighboring towns have nightlife and a little more rowdiness if you feel up to SOME racket while on vacation, but at least at the Ocen House/Spring Lake it is a CHOICE, not something that comes with the room. P.S. - don't miss breakfast (really!) - we got up at the LAST minute before its over, ran down in our t-shirts/shorts, made up a plate (it's serve yourself), grabbed coffe and O.J., went outside on the porch and picked a comfy place to eat while deciding what to do afterwards. It's a nice breakfast, not just two or three things to choose from. So convenient to just appear all sleepy-eyed, and be sitting outside a second later wherever you choose having the best start to the best day. ENJOY !!