Hey everyone I'm here in Highlands, New Jersey, the northernmost point of the Jersey shore.
It lies just south of Sandy Hook. Takes about 45 minutes if you take a ferry directly here.
The Seastreak Ferry leaves from Kips Bay 35th Street or you can take it at the Battery
Maritime Building next to Staten Island Ferry. Really beautiful ride. I highly suggest you do
it that way. The only other way to get here by public transit would be by train and then a bus
and then you just stop off at Red Bank first and that takes two and a half hours.
So ferry, trust me is the way to do it. It has a long fishing history
and then in the 1920s it became a bootlegging port of entry and nowadays it's known for its beaches,
Highlands was first occupied by Native Americans who came here during the summer
months to fish and collect clams. Dutch settlers started to colonize the area in the mid 1600s,
but the British took it over in 1664 and bought up most of the remaining land from the local tribes.
During the Revolutionary War the area's location made it an important strategic target for both
British and American forces. The British were able to occupy nearby Sandy Hook and fortifications
were built along the waterfront. In 1796 the first hotel opened on the hills above the town and
highlands grew as it attracted seasonal tourists by boat. Famous visitors included James cooper who
wrote Last of the Mohicans and poet Walt Whitman. A ferry service carried passengers from the town
to the beaches in Sandy Hook until a bridge was finally constructed in the 1870s. By the 1880s
the town was thriving with new businesses, hotels, beach pavilions, and private clubs.
Highlands was finally incorporated in 1900 with fishing, clamming,
and boating providing steady work for many locals. When prohibition became law in 1919, the town took
advantage of its waterfront access and became the main port of illegal boost for the NYC area
by 1920. The great boat building facilities in highlands allowed smugglers to build boats
that could outrun the authorities. In fact, the Jersey Skiff, a type of boat designed to be
launched through the surf, was built in town and became the primary vessel for smuggling operations
in the country. Throughout the rest of the 1920s the town became known for its sports fishing.
Commercial and recreational fishing would soon become the leading industry in the town
for the next couple of decades. In 2012 Hurricane Sandy devastated the area with a
storm surge of nearly 10 feet. However, the town bounced back and rebuilt the damaged buildings
and repaired the sea wall. Today the town remains a popular summer retreat for many
people in New York and New Jersey who come here for the seafood, boating, fishing, and beaches.
As I mentioned earlier, the best way to visit highlands is by ferry.
The Seastreak Ferry leaves from east 35th street and that Battery Maritime Building
Slip 5 in Manhattan. It provides a scenic trip past Governor's Island,
Brooklyn's waterfront, and Staten Island. Several landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty,
Fort Wadsworth, the Verrazano Bridge, and Fort Hancock can be seen along the route.
There are plenty of amazing seafood restaurants and bars along the waterfront worth checking out.
Bahr's Landing Famous Seafood Restaurant & Marina is a no-frills spot that serves seafood dishes
in a nautical themed space. It's been family run since 1917 and famous celebrities like
Frank Sinatra and Joe Dimaggio used to come here. Their menu includes clam chowder, fish,
lobster, and a raw bar. The patio in the back offers seating with a bar along the water.
Next door is Moby's a casual seafood restaurant that's been around
since 1970 is known for its lobster specials. They also have a raw bar
and offer sandwiches and burgers. It has a large elevated outdoor space with benches.
The Seafarer is a barbecue restaurant in a tiki bar setting
that specializes in pulled pork, brisket sandwiches, ribs, and grilled clams.
They have a sandy outdoor area with a bar with nice views of the marina.
Inlet Cafe is a family-run seafood spot that's been around since 1966.
Their menu includes a raw bar, fish sandwiches, lobster rolls,
fish platters, and pasta. They have a nice outdoor dining area as well.
Proving Ground is located across the street from Inlet Cafe and has a hip/modern feel that offers
seafood, raw bar, fish tacos, and sandwiches. They have a two-story indoor dining area with
a large outdoor patio with a bar and fire pits. And finally The Sandbox is an outdoor beach bar
located near the Seastreak Ferry landing. They're known for their
fun cocktail list and if you're hungry a bunch of food trucks are parked outside.
They also have live music here Wednesday through Sunday during the summer season.
Behind me is the Twin Lights Lighthouse built in 1862. This massive castle-like
structure has two towers on either end and it sits on this bluff overlooking the water,
the beaches. It's beautiful! You can go inside. They do tours,
its a museum. Nowadays you can climb them to the very top of the tower for a small fee.
But if you don't go inside it's still worth it just to kind of hang out up here and
see this wonderful view of the entire area. The Twin Lights Lighthouse was the first dual
tower lighthouse ever built and was one of the first in the country to have first order fresno
lens. Its unusual design made easy for ships to identify it while traveling through the harbor.
A two-story residence for the keeper was centered in the middle of the building
while the living space for additional keepers and their workshops were located in the wings.
In 1898 an electric lens was installed in the south tower making it one of the first electric
powered lighthouses and the most powerful beacon in the country. It was so bright that residents
complained that they couldn't sleep and their chickens couldn't light eggs so a couple panels
facing the mainland were darkened in the lantern room. The building was discontinued in 1952 and in
1960s the site was turned over to the state of New Jersey. Today it houses a museum and
the original electric lens is on display in the powerhouse with several other exhibits.
Seastreak Beach is by the ferry stop and has plenty of tables and chairs.
Not too far away from there is Snug Harbor Beach, which is a lot quieter
and a great option for those of you who want to avoid the crowds.
The most popular beaches are located in nearby Sandy Hook and Sea Bright. They're a quick car
ride away or you can walk over by crossing the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge. It takes about
5 minutes by car or 15 minutes to walk it. Sandy hook is a national park located on a
sand bar that stretches for about six miles and contains some of the best beaches in the state.
The northern section can be reached by the same Seastreak Ferry that goes the Highlands. Near that
ferry landing is Fort Hancock, a 19th century military fort and the Sandy Hook Lighthouse
built in 1764, which makes it the oldest working lighthouse in America. Nearby is Gunnison Beach,
one of the largest clothing optional beaches on the east coast. There's also biking and walking
paths as well as boat rentals for fishing. Sea Bright is a town just south of the bridge
that offers some great beaches as well. A beautiful stone sea wall that protects the
narrow ship of land from storms runs along the road with stairs leading to the water.
Hope you guys enjoyed today's trip to Highlands, New Jersey.
This town is so quaint. There's a lot going for it. It's by the water,
great beaches, tons of seafood restaurants. A lot of them towards the end of the evening become bars
so there's a lot of nightlife here, which is great. It has an old school sort of quiet
laid-back atmosphere to it, which I love. Then you have these bluffs overlooking it.
Not that far from New York. Again 45 minutes from downtown Manhattan by the ferry
and you get all this. Come on! Oh yeah! Thanks for watching. Please like and subscribe. Take care.