Located on the northern tip of the Jersey Shore, less than an hour from Manhattan, lies a place with renowned beaches, top-notch restaurants, quaint overnight accommodations and a lively nightlife scene. That place, Highlands and Sandy Hook, is the perfect weekend getaway for the beach lover who wants to spend more time on the beach and less time in traffic.

In fact, New Yorkers don't even have to get in a car for a Highlands getaway or a Sandy Hook day trip. SeaStreak Ferry, which leaves Manhattan several times daily from both Pier 11 (Wall St. at the East River, just below South Street Seaport) or East 34th Street (East 34th at the East River), can get you there in about 45 minutes.

And once you arrive, you won't be disappointed. Sandy Hook, an over 2,000-acre barrier beach peninsula, is a designated national recreation area. The park features beaches, hiking and biking trails and a maritime holly forest. It's also filled with history, boasting the Sandy Hook Lighthouse (left), the oldest surviving lighthouse in the United States. Active travelers can entertain themselves with the endless fishing, hiking, birding and windsurfing opportunities on the peninsula. Those who just want to kick back can enjoy the seven miles of beaches on Sandy Hook.

And Sandy Hook is perfectly complemented by the nearby fishing town of Highlands, where 5,500 people live year-round and thousands more come to visit. A picturesque seaside town with a quaint business district filled with an array of restaurants, coffee shops and boutiques, Highlands offers activities to keep the whole family happy!

Located on a hill just across the bay from Sandy Hook, Highlands is a magnet for foodies, fishermen and families, all of whom are attracted to the small-town atmosphere blended with the perfect amount of culture. The town is a pet-friendly getaway; travelers with dogs can find accommodations where their pooches are welcome, and even some of the outdoor restaurants will allow Fido to tag along (just make sure he's on a leash!).

Travelers often come for Highlands weekend getaways just to experience the restaurants, which serve more than fresh seafood. Mexican, Jamaican, Cuban and Italian restaurants dot the streets in downtown Highlands. The town offers up plenty of additional entertainment, from outdoor concerts to the annual Clamfest and Oktoberfest celebrations.

With opportunities to rent boats, visit historic sites, and eat world-famous seafood while taking in a priceless view, Highlands is a Jersey shore gem with an engaging past. In the early 1900s, Highlands flourished as a resort community. But its popularity as a vacation spot diminished in the second half of the 20th century, partly because of competition from other resorts like Atlantic City. A storm in the early 1990s that flooded the town motivated the community to undertake a neighborhood preservation program. Since then, thanks to the leadership of the Highlands Business Partnership, the town has blossomed into a popular tourism site!