Tips and Info on a Great Bike Path

Check out a few of the pictures we got yesterday on this fantastic bike path, and my personal advice if you and your kids are riding/running/walking along it.

Although the before and after of getting to and from the bike path was a nightmare (CLICK HERE for that story) the bike path itself is amazing and that part of our day was awesome, even though I had to walk/run it rather than ride with the boys.

If you've never been on this path, it runs from North Main Street in Manasquan all the way to Allaire State Park. You can park in the public lot at the beginning in Manasquan, down a side street to another lot in Sea Girt, at a lot across from the Allenwood General Store on Atlantic Avenue, and at the parking lot near the entrance to Allaire State Park on Rt. 524 in Wall to pick up the path at different points if you can't do the whole thing at once. There may be other smaller lots that are close enough to the path along the way, too.

A couple of 'shoulds': You should wear a helmet. Not only are you and your kids crossing busy roads at some points along the path, but there are lots of overhanging trees and the helmets also serve to prevent bugs from dropping straight into your hair along the way.

If you're walking, then try to wear a hat for that same reason. After all, there are plenty of tics outside.

You should also bring sunscreen because, although there are lots of trees along the way, there are also long stretches with NO SHADE at all, and when that sun is shining straight down on you it can be brutal.

Stay to the right....and if you are planning to cross over to the left, look first. There are some fast bike riders and you don't want to get run down.

Bring your phones. If you have kids and don't all want to ride at the same pace, they could get way ahead of you -- by miles -- and if you want to make sure they are safe, or if they get tired or fall, you'd have no idea how far away they got.

Bring water bottles. Again...there is a lot of exercise happening here, and on a hot, sunny day, you don't want to get dehydrated. If you don't have a water bottle holder on your bike, try a light backpack for water, or maybe park your car in a lot towards the middle of your ride and then ride one way, stop for water in a cooler in your car, and then ride in the other direction so that you have a 'halfway' point for water.

This is a bike path in nature. That means there aren't many places to stop along the side of the road that are selling water or ice cream, but there is a DQ and a little restaurant in Manasquan near the entrance to the bike path, the Allenwood General Store for breakfast, lunch, or cold drinks near the middle of the trip, and, if you hit Allaire Park during busy hours, they sometimes have a food and drink truck open.

There is also a side path that the locals know about that leads to Rt. 35 where the Wendy's is, and a side path that takes you down near the Atlantic Club and, from what I hear, over to the Wall Municipal Complex, although I haven't taken it in that direction.

Round trip, if you do the whole thing, is a little over ten miles. A good workout!

For all of the details on the Edgar Felix Bicycle Path, CLICK HERE!