Maybe it’s because I was born under the sign of Aquarius that I’ve always loved the ocean, or perhaps it’s that when I was young my parents spent time jumping the waves with me at the Jersey Shore. We’d scream with delight each time we resurfaced while my father quickly rubbed his hands together and joyfully squealed in Yiddish, “Oh, what a machaya.”

The beauty of the beach at the end of another day

Whatever the reason, when summertime rolls around I feel restless being indoors because I’m dying to burst outside and head straight to the beach. I long for the feel of clean, white sand sifting through my toes and the smell of salt air rising above the tide.

My best friend El and I enjoying endless days of fun in Beach Haven. (1969)

I blame my parents for my restlessness. When I was young they’d rent a house in beautiful Long Beach Island where the uncrowded beaches provided a playground for my friend’s and me to spend endless hours in the sun. We were girls of leisure who took full advantage of the long hours of swimming and biking, fully slathered in the safety of Coppertone and wearing only our two-piece bathing suits.

Those were the days my friend.

I haven’t been to LBI in years, so I was thrilled when a new boutique hotel, Daddy O, offered me a chance to review their 22 room chic hotel that’s only a short stroll from the beach. I knew their hotel was an oasis on an island offering mostly motels as accommodations.

Photo: Daddy O

Heading “down the shore” (as we native New Jerseyans call it) midweek we avoided the typical nightmarish traffic and made record time to The Causeway that connects New Jersey to Long Beach Island.

The sight of being completely surrounded by water made my heart skip some beats.

As we headed toward Brant Beach I recognized some old sights from childhood, but after all this time of course the island has changed. As we pulled into Daddy O’s parking lot we were tired and hungry, ready to test out this hip, modern looking hotel.

The concierge, Paul, could not have been nicer and he made check-in a breeze as we looked around at the easy-living interior design with adorable floor to ceiling photographs of beach scenes.

We decided to freshen up in our room before heading to their rooftop bar.

As we made our way through the small check-in area we arrived at the indoor and outdoor sitting areas that were filled with comfortable couches and chairs. In the morning the adjoining area would offer fruit, muffins and Keurig coffee for a quick bite before heading to the beach.

A distinctive looking wine cellar separates the lobby from the Daddy O restaurant bar that boasts “modern interpretations of American classics” where both reservations and walk-ins are welcome. Although we were unable to eat there we noticed the enthusiastic, vibrant crowd having fun.

Photo: Daddy O

Upstairs we were greeted in our Boulevard Queen room by wallpaper of smiling young beachcombers, something appropriate for a shore hotel. The sleek minimalist décor of the room included free Wi-Fi, Keurig coffee and a flat screen TV that we swore we’d never turn on. But, alas, we were staying during the first GOP debate plus the finale of The Daily Show. Our best-laid plans went awry.

Photo: Daddy O

After taking a quick shower I decided my new favorite bathroom accessory was their rainfall showerhead. It felt so soothing and spa-like. Ahh. The adjoining sink and toilet area were a mixture of modern marble with natural wood.

We were now ready for Happy Hour and made our way to the rooftop deck for drinks and appetizers. Our timing was perfect since we were able to grab the best seats at the far end of deck with partial views of the ocean and the bay.

Daddy O Rooftop Bar
Photo: Daddy O

Named one of the best rooftop bars in America by The Daily Meal, Daddy O offers the only rooftop bar on the island. Beware that seats fill up quickly! We shared two delicious appetizers, and I splurged with a light ale that I never heard of (and can’t remember the name of.)

We were now full and ready to greet the ocean.

After a short stroll to the end of the street we grabbed a bench to sit, looking out at the vast expanse of the beach. We watched the beauty of nature winding down after another day and I was mindful of how blessed I was at that moment.

The next morning Gary slept in while I grabbed fruit and coffee in the lobby and found a comfortable chair on their outdoor deck. It gave me some early morning quiet time to catch up on social media and read the morning news. When Gary arrived we were ready to begin our day.

Quiet time in the early morning

Gary is always vigilant about researching good restaurants and he’s usually right. We found one on his list that served a delicious breakfast. My waffles with strawberries were exactly what I wanted.

Breakfast at Scojo's Restaurant in Surf City

The diet starts tomorrow.

Wanting to step back into time we took a drive through Beach Haven where my parents rental house was. Then onto Bay Village, the tiny shopping area where I remember my favorite bookstore (I bought “Harriet the Spy” there!), a store that made homemade fudge and a restaurant. Today? Bay Village has tons of shops selling jewelry, food, clothing, miniature golf, an arcade – well, it wasn’t what I remembered. That’s progress, I guess.

For the next two days we spent quality time on the beach, and Daddy O made that easier by providing residents with beach chairs, towels and badges. We also went sittin’ on the dock of the idyllic bay, something that conjured up memories of sailing with my parents.

Sitting by the bay while watching fishermen catch blue crabs

Now I was making new memories with my husband, and it was ideal. Having Daddy O as our base made it even better.

I suggest while visiting Long Beach Island making your way north of Surf City toward Harvey Cedars, Loveladies and Barnegat for its natural beauty and charm. You should also consider the south end, at the tip of island, in Holgate where there is the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge with over 400 acres of barrier beaches, dunes and tidal salt marsh.

I further suggest our favorite restaurant, Black-Eyed Susan’s in Harvey Cedars, a farm-to-table BYOB that offers fresh creations based on seasonally available ingredients.

My sushi appetizer of fluke with pistachios was exquisite. As an entrée Gary had seared tilefish cooked with orzo, corn, summer beans, garden herbs and an unusual tomato broth. I had crab cakes made with jumbo lump crab, fingerling potatoes and an herb remoulade.

The bread is homemade and amazing, as is the butter. What we didn’t finish we took home. We were not going to waste this incredible bread! (They do charge $5 for it, but it’s well worth it.)

We went to their breakfast truck the next day (think of the movie “Chef”) where I had a breakfast burrito (eggs, rice, black beans, avocado and salsa) and Gary had eggs and turkey sausage on a fresh brioche. YUM. We sat at a table in their cute alcove surrounded by fresh flowers. What a wonderful way to begin our day!

Our two day vacation went by too quickly and I miss the beach already. We'll be back for day trips as long as the good weather holds out. But that's not the same. Nothing is better than spending long summer days at the shore.

NOTE: Daddy O is accessible with a ramp leading into the front lobby. It has an ADA approved queen room on the first floor that is wheelchair accessible. All other queen rooms throughout the hotel are accessible but not for wheelchairs. The Daddy O Restaurant is accessible but the rooftop deck is not.

Black-Eyed Susans has a few entrance steps but is otherwise accessible.

Daddy O Restaurant & Boutique Hotel
4401 Long Beach Boulevard
Brant Beach, NJ 08008
(609) 494-1300
www.daddyohotel.com

Black-Eyed Susans
7801 Long Beach Boulevard
Harvey Cedars, New Jersey 08008

DISCLOSURE: I received two free nights at Daddy O. My opinions for this review are, as always, completely my own.