Toms River's main draws split between its historic downtown and the barrier island attractions just across the bay. The downtown riverfront is pleasant on foot — the handsome Ocean County Courthouse anchors the center of town, and the river itself makes for a fine backdrop. For deeper history, the Waterhouse Museum, housed in a pre-Revolutionary building on Main Street, tells the story of the town through local artifacts and period furnishings.
The barrier island across the Barnegat Bay is the real destination for most visitors. Route 37 east takes you over the Tunney-Mathis Bridge to a string of beach towns — Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, and at the far end, Island Beach State Park.