Anybody who has visited or lives near Long Beach Island knows just how great these South Jersey towns are. I have lived ten minutes from LBI my entire life, and going out of state for college has made me appreciate just how great living right near the beach is. Here are some of the best things about Long Beach Island.

1. In the off season when the street lights get turned off

There’s nothing better than when the street lights finally get turned off and it doesn’t take a ridiculous amount of time to get from one end of the island to the other. Locals can’t wait until the lights get turned off and the speed limits are less strict.

2. The Chegg

Basically anybody who has ever visited Long Beach Island has been to the Chicken or the Egg, more commonly known as the Chegg. The best thing about the Chegg -besides the food- is that it’s open 24 hours. Need somewhere to get chicken wings or French toast at 3 a.m.? The Chegg won’t question why you wanted a Fat Chegg in the middle of the night. The Chegg is here for you.

3. “Old Barney”

The Barnegat Lighthouse, also known as Old Barney, has become pretty much a staple of Long Beach Island. It’s such a beautiful place to just walk around or have a scenic photo shoot. For LBI newcomers and locals alike, the lighthouse is always a must see.

4. When the bennies finally leave

The summer is obviously always great on the island, but there’s nothing like when everyone leaves and it doesn’t take two whole hours to drive a 10 minute distance. The traffic can get pretty crazy during the summer so it’s always a relief when Labor Day hits and you don’t have to deal with the traffic again until Memorial Day.

5. The beach

This one may be a given just because it’s called Long Beach Island, but the beach is really just so amazing.

6. The sunrises and sunsets

The only time it is worth getting up at 5 a.m. in the summer is going to see an LBI sunrise. There’s nothing better than a trip to the beach to start the day and see the sun rise, and the best end to the day is always sitting bay side and watching the sun set.