No cruel summer here: 5 spots Taylor Swift should have visited while on Long Beach Island

Sarah Griesemer and Gabriela L. Laracca, Asbury Park Press
·5 min read

Long Beach Island was abuzz this weekend with the news that Taylor Swift was in town.

And she wasn't alone. The pop star was in Beach Haven to attend the wedding of music producer Jack Antonoff, who grew up in North Jersey and summered on Long Beach Island, and actress Margaret Qualley. The festivities, which took place at Tide Table Group's Black Whale Bar & Fish House, Parker's Garage and Bird & Betty's, also were attended by Lana Del Rey, Channing Tatum, Zoë Kravitz and Qualley's mom, actress Andie MacDowell.

We know Swift's stay on the island was limited: This week, she's off to Mexico to continue her Eras Tour. But if she'd had more time, here are five places we think she should have visited, based on some of her hit songs.

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The beach, to 'Shake It Off' (ft. "Snow On The Beach")

A beachscape in Barnegat Light, NJ on Long Beach Island.
A beachscape in Barnegat Light, NJ on Long Beach Island.

Long Beach Island is a barrier island, a strip of sand guarding the mainland, with 18 miles of pristine beaches. On the eastern side, you have white beaches covered in sand dollars and happy families; to the west are Barnegat and Manahawkin bays, with swimming beaches and boat ramps for recreational activities like water skiing and kayaking.

No matter where you go, you’re bound to get a bit sandy. But who cares about getting a little messy, when you can just “Shake it Off”? While we can imagine Swift as being anything but a messy person, we do think she would’ve had some fun on LBI’s many beaches, whether she visited the private, quiet beaches of Harvey Cedars and Loveladies, or the exciting, family beaches of Beach Haven Crest. Or maybe she could have caught some waves off of Surf City.

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Snow on a Surf City beach during the winter of 2022. Two surfers walk towards the water to catch some cold waves.
Snow on a Surf City beach during the winter of 2022. Two surfers walk towards the water to catch some cold waves.

Swift may have skipped a beach day for worry of the crowd she'd draw while trying to relax (like the one seen outside Black Whale this weekend). But don’t fret, T-Swizzle — come back this winter when the island is empty to enjoy beautiful, breezy views when there is “Snow on the Beach" and not a tourist to be seen.

It's a 'Cruel Summer' when you climb Ol' Barney

The stairs leading up Barnegat Lighthouse in Barnegat Lighthouse State Park.
The stairs leading up Barnegat Lighthouse in Barnegat Lighthouse State Park.

There aren’t many things on Long Beach Island that are cruel, but Old Barney’s 217 steps on a hot summer day are certainly a challenge. To make for a truly “Cruel Summer,” or at least a grueling workout, Tay should have visited Barnegat Lighthouse State Park.

What’s not cruel? The beautiful view she would have seen when she reached the top: Barnegat Bay, Island Beach State Park across the inlet, and the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. This section of the ocean in particular is considered “the graveyard of the Atlantic,” due to its rough currents and waves.

She also could have strolled along the Maritime Trail through the nearby forest, or if she is a history buff, she'd enjoy learning about the Massacre at Long Beach Island. There's a memorial in the state park for the American troops who were slaughtered by the notorious Pine Robber and pirate John Bacon’s gang in 1782 on this very beach. We’d say that’s pretty cruel, too.

A sunset view of "Old Barney," at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park.
A sunset view of "Old Barney," at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park.

Go: Barnegat Lighthouse State Park is at 208 Broadway, Barnegat Light; 609-494-2016, nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/barnegatlighthousestatepark.

Take in the 'Daylight'

The Ship Bottom beach at sunrise on Long Beach Island.
The Ship Bottom beach at sunrise on Long Beach Island.

Swift sings "And now I see daylight, I only see daylight," and we hope she was able to catch a sunrise during her visit to the Shore.

There is no bad spot to watch the sun come up on Long Beach Island, thanks to its many miles of coastline. We suggest Ship Bottom — stop for coffee afterward at The Local Market & Kitchen — but the morning sky is sure to dazzle, no matter which ocean beach you choose.

Feel LBI's 'Afterglow' in Bay Village

The Giant Wheel at Fantasy Island lights up the night sky on July Fourth weekend in Beach Haven.
The Giant Wheel at Fantasy Island lights up the night sky on July Fourth weekend in Beach Haven.

This wonderland of fun wasn’t far from where Taylor Swift was visiting. Located in Beach Haven’s Bay Village, she could have played games in the Fantasy Island arcade (we can picture her on a Skee-Ball date), gone on rides like the brand-new Ferris Wheel, shopped in Bay Village's quaint stores, or stopped at one of the area's many restaurants — although she likely got her fill at Black Whale.

Bay Village is also home to Settler’s Mill Adventure Golf, and Thundering Surf Waterpark which has six “big kid slides,” a lazy river (perfect for relaxing after dodging the crowds), a children’s splash area, and a Flow Rider (better known as "that surfing simulation thing" we all belly-flop on). But whatever she was doing — watching a beautiful sunset on the bay beach behind the amusement park, or admiring the glow of the lights shining in the sky after everything else on the island had shut down — she certainly would have felt the “Afterglow” of a classic LBI day.

Go: Bay Village is at 830 North Bay Ave., Beach Haven; 609-492-2800, bayvillagelbi.com. Fantasy Island is at 750 North Bay Ave., Beach Haven; 609-492-4000, fantasyislandlbi.com/hours.

'Look What You Made Me Do' at the Chegg

Teriyaki and Buffalo wings at The Chicken or the Egg in Beach Haven.
Teriyaki and Buffalo wings at The Chicken or the Egg in Beach Haven.

The Chicken or the Egg in Beach Haven may not be as famous as Swift, but since the beloved LBI restaurant got some TV time thanks to a 2010 visit from "Man vs. Food," there's a chance it was on her radar.

If the singer's a fan of hot wings, she could have taken on the restaurant's wing challenge, which invites the bravest of the brave to eat 12 jumbo hot wings in 15 minutes. And we're not talking regular Buffalo wings: The restaurant's Ludicrous wings are coated in a fiery sauce that is said to measure around 3 million Scoville units.

Sergey Chegodayez, the restaurant's general manager, said that less than 1% of people who have attempted the challenge complete it.

That kind of hot sauce may not be great for the vocal chords, but it sure would be cool to see Swift's name on the plaque reserved for the challenge's winners.

Go: 207 North Bay Ave., Beach Haven; 609-492-3695, letschegg.com.

Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to glaracca@gannett.com.

Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Taylor Swift was on LBI: Here are 5 spots she should have visited