Things to Do in Ocean Acres

With a fleet of two-wheeled cruisers, Shore Riders Bike Rentals equips beach-going guests to explore the boats, shops, and restaurants of Point Pleasant Beach. Its bikes idle, anxiously waiting to be ridden, in the parking lot of a local italian-ice shop and each cycle sports a delectable paint job that brings to mind scoops of strawberry, lime, and derailleur-flavored ice cream. Locks and helmets are included with each rental to ensure safety for both bike and rider.

More than 12,000 square feet of indoor rock-climbing surfaces greet climbers at Doylestown Rock Gym, where they can test their scaling acumen on a network of bulges, overhangs, chimneys, and cracks. As climbers scramble over the massive facility, an alert staffer remains ready to assist when needed and remind nervous beginners that there are no mountain lions around. The space presents suitable challenges for all skill levels and facilitates advancement in the sport through individual and group instruction by on-staff experts.

The cello-shaped Verizon Hall serenades eyes with mahogany accents under the 150-foot barrel-vaulted glass ceiling of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. With seats for 2,500 audience members, the hall immerses both spectators and musicians in the clarity generated by its premium acoustics, which absorb vibrations from the subway tunnel below with 225 rubber isolation pads and allow for precise tuning with retractable curtains and sound-reflecting panels. Seasoned jazz artist Branford Marsalis confirmed Verizon Hall's sound acumen when he told NPR it is "the best concert hall on the East Coast."

There are many times when hilarity hides and withdraws, but with today’s side deal, it ensues. For $15, you get a ticket to the preview showing of The Foreigner on Tuesday, January 26, or Wednesday, January 27, at the Bristol Riverside Theatre (a $29 value for a regularly priced ticket; student tickets are $10 with a valid ID). Called “a hilarious farce, full of loopy jokes” by the New York Times, The Foreigner has also received glowing critical acclaim from the Village Voice, among others.

What might look like walls dotted with large wads of bubblegum to beginners, soon transforms into a network of pathways after students complete indoor rock climbing courses at Elite Climbing. The experienced staff are always onsite to lend a hand, even outside of class time, and demonstrate a sport that requires both physical and mental agility. With bouldering and top roping walls, both amateur and expert climbers can find an adequate challenge as they master 120 climbing routes from 17 stations. Kids can also get in on the action, during classes and summer camps that keep them from getting grounded for rappelling off the neighbor's roof.

After joining the South Atlantic League in 2001, the LakeWood BlueClaws didn't hesitate to make their mark. In less than a decade, the team won three league championships, including a landmark 2010 season in which they became the first club in SAL history to win the division in both halves of the season and go on to claim the title. As the Philadelphia Phillies' Class-A affiliate, the team has sent 50 players to the majors, including an eventual National League MVP and the 2010 Phillies' star 8-foot mutant crab at shortstop.