Somers Point New Jersey gets its name from one of New Jersey’s original settlers, John Somers who set up his Somerset Plantation along the edge of Great Egg Bay back in 1693. Today Somers Point is a popular vacation destination along the New Jersey shore, offering visitors everything you need for a sea-side holiday. The fishing and crabbing are rumored to be exceptional and other outdoor pursuits include hiking and biking, beach water sports and great golfing and indoor fitness activities at the Greate Bay Country Club. For live entertainment you can head to the Gateway Playhouse or the historic Ocean City Music Pier.
Great Egg Harbor Bay
Great Egg Harbor Bay was named for the plentiful nesting birds which once made their home in this bay. The bay lies between Atlantic and Cape May counties along the south coast of New Jersey. Today the bay is best known for its Ocean City Boardwalk and Ocean City Beach, both of which are popular meeting places for locals and visitors. You can also have a look at the Ocean City Music Pier which is home to an historic entertainment venue which still hosts live music concerts and events. The John F. Kennedy Park is a great outdoor family destination which has a kiddies’ playground, picnic facilities and a boat ramp.
Great Egg Harbor Bay, Somers Point, NJ 08244
Gateway Playhouse
Built in 1910, the original Gateway Playhouse has had many incarnations over the last 100 years, hosting silent movies, “talkies” and many other nostalgic offerings of the movie industry. The playhouse staged its first live performance in 1976, but the building was showing signs of deterioration. The theatre you see now has been virtually rebuilt from the foundations and reopened for business in 2017. The playhouse operates a Gateway to the Arts program for children to encourage talented performers to get ready for the big stage. Gateway Playhouse produces a regular calendar of musicals and live-theatre each year and deserves a place on your Somers Point itinerary.
Gateway Playhouse, 738 Bay Ave, Somers Point, NJ 08244, Phone: 609-653-0553
Greate Bay Country Club
Established in 1923, the Greate Bay Country Club is a popular Somers Point recreational facility offering a championship golf course, a state-of-the-art fitness club, a spa and great dining. The golf course has a team of PGA instructors who offer lessons to any golfer, regardless of your golfing prowess. The comfortable clubhouse offers casual dining in the cozy pub or white-linen service in the Park Room, which also caters for weddings and special events. The adjacent Greate Bay Racquet and Fitness Club offers two indoor tennis courts, squash courts and an excellent range of fitness programs including indoor cycling, boxing, personal training and more.
Greate Bay Country Club, 901 Somers Point – Mays Landing Rd, Somers Point, NJ 08244, Phone: 609-927-5071
Fish Tale Charters
If you fancy a bit of deep sea or bay fishing while in New Jersey, Fish Tale Charters is waiting to give you a great day out on the water. Your captain Craig Peters knows the New Jersey coastline like the back of his hand and has been fishing these waters for over 40 years. All that experience means that he knows just where to take you to give you the best chance of catching a big one. Your charter boat is the 25ft Fish Tale, which offers all you need for a wonderful safe day on the water, including a toilet. After a fun day of fishing your captain will clean and bag your catch for you to take home.
Fish Tale Charters, 162 Pleasant Ave, Somers Point, NJ 08244, Phone: 609-391-8230
The Crab Trap
You cannot leave Somers Point without enjoying a fresh seafood meal and you cannot go wrong by choosing the Crab Trap, which has been pleasing New Jersey palates for over 50 years. The Crap Trap first opened its doors as the Maenner’s Club in 1967, boasting a wooden horse-shoe shaped bar and dirt floors. Today you can look forward to enjoying a selection of freshly caught fish and seafood in a comfortable 400-seater waterfront restaurant overlooking Great Egg Bay. The eatery still serves several of the original dishes which made them famous, complimented by new seasonal fare to ensure there is something on the menu to please all palates.
The Crab Trap, 2 Broadway, Somers Point, NJ 08244, Phone: 609-927-7377
Fitzpatrick’s Deli and Steakhouse, Somers Point, NJ
For over 30 years Fitzpatrick’s Deli has been a Somers Point favorite. The deli is family owned and run and in 2011 it became a full-service restaurant called Fitzpatrick’s Deli and Steakhouse. The restaurant is locally famous for their excellent value New-York Deli-style buffet breakfasts and lunches, which include daily specials like their legendary corned beef special or pastrami Reuben. In the evenings the mood shifts to more formal dining and the dinner menu features mouth-watering Black Angus steaks, wild-caught seafood and New Jersey favorites like crab cakes. For the lighter appetite there is a selection of sandwiches, burgers and wraps.
Fitzpatrick’s Deli and Steakhouse, 650 New Rd, Somers Point, NJ 08244, Phone: 609-653-8155
Windjammer Diner, Bar and Grill, Somers Point, New Jersey
Steve Tiniakos, owner of the Windjammer Diner, Bar and Restaurant has been learning all there is to know about the restaurant business since 1972 when he arrived in the US from Greece. Today he and his family are proud of their latest restaurant venture and you will always find a member of the family in the Windjammer to make sure everything is top-notch. The Windjammer is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner 6 days a week, serving up delicious freshly-prepared American classics. The lunchtime menu includes favorites like soups, salads and sandwiches while the dinner menu takes things up a notch, serving delicious fish, beef and salmon grills.
Windjammer Diner Bar and Grill, 18 MacArthur Blvd, Somers Point, NJ 08244, Phone: 609-365-8056
Things to Do in Somers Point, New Jersey: Somers Point Historical Museum
History lovers, whether visiting or local, are sure to enjoy a trip to the Somers Point Historical Museum. At the museum, which is housed in a building circa 1886, guests can explore various exhibits and browse through vintage photos that encapsulate the interesting history of Somers Point. The photo collection of the Somers Point Historical Museum is its greatest draw with over 4,000 pieces of both vintage and current photos available for viewing. There are also a number of memorabilia at the museum for viewing such as maps, items from past businesses, as well as exhibits on the town’s early history, sports teams, and the like. Be sure to pick up a brochure from the museum to help you explore the rest of Somers Point’s historical sites like the Somers Family Cemetery, and a walking tour of the Life of Richard Somers.
745 Shore Road, Somers Point, New Jersey 082444; Phone: 609-927-2900
