The vibrant waterfront town of Toms River, New Jersey is home to a wide array of different things to do for both visitors and local residents alike, including outdoor recreation, shops, entertainment, arts, and kid-friendly activities. The Cattus Island County Park provides wooded trails for exploration and an environmental center, the Ocean County Mall offers plenty of shopping opportunities, and for people who like something out of the ordinary, Toms River also contains the Insectropolis. There are also a number of great restaurants in town as well.
Cattus Island County Park
Spanning across approximately 530 acres, the Cattus Island County Park is home to seven miles of hiking trails, including ones leading to the beautiful views of Barnegat Bay and the beach.
The park also includes the Cooper Environmental Center, which offers several hands-on displays and exhibits for visitors of any age, including collections of live fish and reptiles, a children’s activity corner, a bird viewing area, a habitat tunnel and tree, and the live view osprey camera.
The center highlights the Barnegat Bay and the park’s natural beauty as well. There is also a butterfly garden at the Cattus Island County Park.
1170 Cattus Island Blvd, Toms River, NJ 08753, Phone: 732-270-6960
Insectropolis, the Bugseum of New Jersey
Insectropolis, also known as the “Bugseum of New Jersey,” is a unique attraction in Toms River where visitors can view thousands of different bizarre, beautiful, and exotic insects from throughout the world. The “bugseum” also provides several other activities that are particularly fun for children, such as pretending to be a termite crawling through a mud tube and playing bug games on the facility’s touchscreen computers. Guests can watch numerous live insects, including safely getting up close to the Insectropolis observation bee hive, as well participate in one of the daily touch presentations, which include millipedes and tarantulas.
1761 Route 9, Toms River, NJ 08755, Phone: 732-349-7090
Toms River Brewing
The Irish are a large part of the population of New Jersey and the town of Toms River is possibly the home to the state’s largest Irish population. Toms River Brewing is rooted in the Rinn Duin Brewery, known for its Irish-style and UK ales.
Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts
The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts is situated on the campus of Toms Rivers’s Ocean County College and is dedicated to providing the Jersey Shore and Ocean County with entertainment and art. The performing arts center features premiere acts from all over the world, allowing guests to experience “once-in-a-lifetime performances” from unique entertainers, hometown musicians, and venerated artists within an intimate venue. The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts also includes an Art Gallery and fine arts and performing arts programs, educational organizations, and an Orchestra-in-Residence, which is the Garden State Philharmonic.
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754, Phone: 732-255-0500
Ocean County Historical Museum
The Ocean County Historical Museum is operated by The Ocean County Historical Society, which was formed during the centennial celebration of Ocean County in 1950 by Dr. Joshua Hilliard, as well as several other dedicated residents who had a strong desire to collect and preserve the local area’s history. The historical museum is housed inside of a Victorian home in the town of Toms River and offers guided tours led by docents on certain days.
26 Hadley Avenue, Toms River, NJ 08753, Phone: 732-341-1880
Ocean County Mall
The Ocean County Mall in Toms River, New Jersey is a “super-regional mall” that first opened in the community in July of 1976.
Exit 82 Theatre Company
The Exit 82 Theatre Company was established in 2009 as a non-profit performing arts organization in the town of Toms River, New Jersey.
Shogun Legacy
Shogun Legacy provides locals and visitors alike in Toms River with a unique dining experience, serving a menu of traditional sashimi and sushi, as well as contemporary Asian dishes within an upscale and elegant setting.
Solve the Room
Solve the Room provides an escape room experience for friends and team building in the quiet township of Toms River, New Jersey.
Playdrome Lanes
Playdrome Lanes is a place where family and friends can come to spend a few hours playing games, whether that’s arcade games, billiards, or bowling.
Bury The Hatchet
Bury The Hatchet brings the thrilling activity of axe throwing in a safe environment (a short training session is included) in Toms River, New Jersey.
East Coast Escape Room
East Coast Escape Room offers fun and challenging adventure gaming as guests take on hands-on tasks, codes, keys, and clues to try and escape from a “locked” room.
The Robert J. Novins Planetarium
The Robert J. Novins Planetarium is the spot in Toms River for anyone interested in exploring the universe through viewing the planets and stars as they most likely have never viewed them before through the planetarium’s variety of Full Dome Movies, Sky Shows, and Laser Shows. A wide array of educational and fun programs are presented at the Robert J. Novins Planetarium for guests of all ages in a dome theater that can accommodate a little over 100 people. Along with public shows, programs for camp and school groups are also offered, as well as special themed events and birthday parties.
1 College Dr, Toms River, NJ 08754, 732-255-0343
Tardi's Ristorante Italiano
Tardi's Ristorante Italiano serves authentic, fine Italian dishes made with fresh ingredients to locals and visitors alike of Toms River, New Jersey.
