Life in Spring Lake
Spring Lake, NJ – Front Porch Memories, Bike Rides and Sunrise Walks on the Beach
I was born and raised in Spring Lake and enjoyed a youth filled with amazing and fond memories.
Photo Credit: MJScottophotographyThere was nothing more fun than biking around town with my friends, going to the beach, watching sunrises, walking the boardwalk, running the Spring Lake Five or simply hanging with my friends and family on our front porch. Spring Lake is famous for its beautiful porches! Spring Lake has a wonderful history and is filled with many multi-generational families happy to share the entertaining stories of our beachside community.
Visitors come to Spring Lake for vacation and they often return year after year, and frequently purchase a home of their own here.
When families purchase a home in Spring Lake they are not just buying to use it for summer weekends. They are buying future memories; to have their children's weddings and grandchildren grow up enjoying life at the beach. It is that kind of family town that makes Spring Lake so special.
I purchased my first Spring Lake home in 2003 for a weekend/summer home. Once I had my first child and he was getting old enough for Pre-K, I decided to make Spring Lake our year-round home and commuted to NYC.
Fast forward and I now have three children now who all attend HW Mountz School which is a National Blue Ribbon award school and a supportive community for our children. The PTA hosts The Spring Lake Kitchen Tour each fall which is a big fundraiser for the school. People come from all over to see the beautiful kitchens that homeowners graciously allow us to put on the tour.
My children are growing up as I did, blessed with wonderful friendships with other families from Spring Lake. Afternoons they jump on their bikes to get a slice of pizza at Spring Lake Pizza or eat at Tom Baileys or AM Kitchen and then get an ice cream at Hoffman’s Ice Cream or homemade candy from Jean Louise. A town favorite is the Scone Pony known for their infamous scones and crumb cake which will have a line outside every Saturday and Sunday morning. Spring Lake also boasts boutiques and wonderful home furnishing stores like Kate and Company located in a historic building in downtown Spring Lake which opened its doors in 1995 and remains a local Spring Lake favorite.
Surfers love Bare Wires Surf Shop, pet owners visit Dandy Canine and for everything you might need for the beach or your home we have Bains Hardware.
Culturally, there are Art Galleries and Artisan Spirit which features gifts and accessories from all local artists. The historic Spring Lake Community Theater and Dance Company produces Broadway level productions all year round. There are family friendly concerts on the lake, Shakespeare in the park and movies on the beach.
One of the things that Spring Lake is known for is The Spring Lake 5 Mile Run. My Grandfather, Clarence Reed ran the first race in 1977 and my family has been running it ever since. The race started as a small local fun run in 1977 and has grown into NJ's largest road race and a nationally recognized event.
Families have so many traditions around race day whether it be running together as a family, wearing tee shirts to honor a loved one that has passed away or just being proud when you run over the finish line and get your medal.
The Annual Spring Lake Five
I have been a Real Estate investor for the last 20 or so years and recently left my career on Wall Street to pursue my passion for Real Estate. I have been designing, building and selling homes in Spring Lake as well as surrounding towns. I joined The Gallery Residential Brokerage on Morris Ave in Spring Lake. It’s terrific that I can ride my bike to work!
Life in Spring Lake, raising 3 children, working in Real Estate, spending time on my front porch with family and friends. I can't think of a better way to live.
Spring Lake, NJ ~ A beautiful place to call home.
Marie Reed