Avalon's slogan "Cooler by a Mile" works on two levels: the town's position and massive dune system actually create natural air conditioning, and the atmosphere skews noticeably more upscale than neighboring beach towns. This is where Philadelphia's professional class has vacationed for generations—lawyers, doctors, executives who want pristine beaches without boardwalk chaos. The result is a sophisticated shore community with excellent dining, beautiful homes, and some of the best-preserved dunes on the New Jersey coast.
The beaches here are wide, clean, and backed by dunes that reach 30+ feet in places. Avalon invested heavily in dune restoration after past storms, and the effort paid off—the town survived Hurricane Sandy with remarkably little damage while neighbors were devastated. Badges cost $8/day, $17/week, or $40/season (under 11 free). The key advantage: badges are reciprocal with Stone Harbor, so you can beach-hop between both towns on a single purchase. Lifeguards patrol through Labor Day. Best spots: 30th Street for a quieter crowd, the area near Surfside Park for families wanting playground access.
Beyond the beach, Avalon keeps things low-key but upscale. No boardwalk, no amusement parks, no arcades. Dune Drive serves as the main commercial strip with boutiques, galleries, and restaurants that wouldn't be out of place in a Main Line suburb. Surfside Park hosts free concerts throughout summer—bring chairs and grab dinner from a nearby restaurant. Rainy days are the weakness here; options are limited to shopping, dining, or driving to Ocean City (20 minutes) or Wildwood (25 minutes) for indoor attractions.
Dining punches above its weight for a town this size. Circle Pizza has served classic shore slices since 1956—a must-stop even if you're staying elsewhere. Café Loren brings upscale French-American fare. Whitebrier offers farm-to-table seasonal menus. The Princeton brings rooftop cocktails and craft beer. BYOB is common at smaller spots—bring a nice bottle from the wine shop on Dune Drive. Expect $35-50/person at sit-down restaurants, $12-18 for casual lunch spots.
Avalon draws families with older kids, couples, and multigenerational groups who want a quiet beach experience with good dining. Young families with toddlers often prefer Ocean City's amusement parks. Twenty-somethings looking for nightlife should head to Sea Isle City or Wildwood. But for visitors who value quality over quantity—beautiful beaches, excellent restaurants, sophisticated atmosphere—Avalon delivers. Book summer rentals by March; the best properties go fast among returning families who've been coming for decades.