Holiday Gifts From The Belmar Area Are "Shore" To Please

You'll find something for everyone on your list when you shop local in the Belmar region of the Jersey Shore. Here are 13 great gift ideas for kids, women and men:

1. Custom-Printed Belmar Apparel

Share your Belmar pride with a custom-printed t-shirt, hat, or hoodie from Beckman's on the Beach or Big Frog Custom T-Shirts and More.

Beckman's on the Beach, located at 1605A Ocean Avenue, specializes in custom screen printing, embroidery, and direct-to-garment printing. In addition to t-shirts, polos and tank tops, your selected design can be imprinted on hats, hoodies, and other apparel. Same-day printing services are available, and Beckman's also serves corporate clients and school sales, in addition to retail customers. Call 732-245-5020 or visit www.belmarshirts.com for more information. Free shipping on online orders $50 and over.

Big Frog Custom T-Shirts and More in downtown Belmar also specializes in custom-printed apparel, embroidery, and direct-to-garment printing in sizes for women, men, youth, and infants/toddlers. Big Frog's in-house graphic designers can help you create a custom design for your t-shirt, bag, or apparel gift. Visit their retail location at 801 Main Street, Unit H (enter from Belmar Plaza), or check out www.bigfrog.com/belmar or call 732-749-7700 to learn more.

2. Locally Made Candles

Light someone's fire with a USA-made candle from Surf's Up Candles or Midnight Candle Company in Belmar.

From its flagship location at 1703 Main Street, Surf's Up Candles is a popular local brand of all-natural soy wax candles poured by hand at the Jersey Shore. In addition to mason jar candles in three sizes, the Surf's Up product line includes air fresheners and paint can candles in three sizes. Take your pick of beach scents, seasonal scents, and fruity/floral scents. Also check out Surf's Up bath and body line, which includes all-natural sugar scrubs, bath bombs, lip balms, and whipped body creams. Free shipping on online orders over $50.

At Midnight Candle Company, which opened at 1108 Main Street in November 2018, you'll find a rainbow of richly scented hand-poured scented jar candles, votives, and wax melts. You can even bring in your own heat-safe candle container for a custom-poured creation — pick your own candle scent and color. Midnight Candle Company also supports local charitable organizations with candle fund-raiser sales and Fundraise Fridays. Shop in store or online at www.midnightcandle.com.

3. Handcrafted Bath Soap and Charcoal Soap

We adore the handcrafted soap and stoneware soap dishes for sale at BareHands Artisans, a collective fine arts studio located at 710 10th Avenue in Belmar. The soaps and soap dishes are produced in small batches by Mud Hen Soap and Pottery using the cold process method with a blend of coconut, olive, soybean, and canola oils. The charcoal soap line also uses activated charcoal, which is believed to detox and cleanse the skin by drawing out impurities and oils.

areHands Artisans is also selling gift certificates in values of $25, $50, and $100, which are redeemable for any adult or children's class, event, or workshop of the recipient's choice. Give the gift of a hands-on experience making wheel-thrown pottery, mosaic and macrame creations, clay beading, weaving, stained-glass jewelry making, and more. Visit www.barehandsartisans.com to learn more.

4. Tickets to the 2019 Belmar Restaurant Tour

Surprise your favorite foodie with tickets to the 11th Annual Belmar Restaurant Tour. The 2019 tour takes place Sunday, March 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Advance tickets to this family-friendly tasting event are on sale for $30 per person until December 31. Tickets may be purchased on the Belmar Tourism website.

Read highlights of the 2018 Belmar Restaurant Tour on the Belmar Beachcomber Blog.

5. Belmar Restaurant Gift Cards

In addition to Belmar Restaurant Tour tickets, gift cards to Belmar restaurants are a great gift not only for locals in the Monmouth County area, but also for far-away family or friends who like to vacation in Belmar or visit for a day trip. Belmar restaurants with gift cards for sale include the following:

• 10th Ave. Burrito Co., 732-820-1515
• Beach Haus Brewery, 732-202-7782
• Brandl Restaurant, 732-280-7501
• Comfi of Belmar, 732-749-3583
• Don's Pizza King, 732-681-6373
• Federici's Restaurant, 732-681-3337
• Flames Brazilian Steakhouse, 732-681-7680
• Hoagitos, 732-556-6617
• Hooked Café, 732-280-0333
• Jake's Downtown, 848-404-9834
• Kaya's Kitchen, 732-280-1141 or buy online
• Klein's Seafood Market and Waterside Café, 732-681-1177
• La Dolce Vita, 732-749-3177
• La Terrazza Cucina Rustica and Bar, 732-894-3855
• Mr. Shrimp Seafood Restaurant and Market, 732-681-7755
• Playa Bowls, 732-556-6897
• Rajin' Cajun, 732-280-6828
• Relish Hot Dog & Sausage Co., buy online
• Simply Southern, 732-243-9259
• Stay Gold Café, 732-894-9270
• Surf Taco, 732-681-3001
• Sweet! 732-280-8889
• Sweet Tease Tea Room & Café, 732-722-8030
• Turnstile Coffee Roasters, 732-894-9012
• Twisted Tapas, 732-681-8272

6. Belmar Beach Tags

Stuff their stockings with Belmar beach tags. For the first time in the history of beach badge sales in Belmar, you may purchase your badges online and pick them up at Belmar Borough Hall, 601 Main Street. Beach badges for the 2019 season are currently selling for $55 through December 31, 2018. Senior badges (age 62 and over) are $15.

To buy online, create an account on the CommunityPass online registration system. Badges can be picked up 24 hours after purchase (shipping is not available at this time). Hours for pick up are weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information or assistance with CommunityPass, please call 732-681-3700.

To buy online, create an account on the CommunityPass online registration system. Badges can be picked up 24 hours after purchase (shipping is not available at this time). Hours for pick up are weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information or assistance with CommunityPass, please call 732-681-3700.

7. Family Fishing Trip

Surprise someone special with tickets for an ocean fishing trip. Buy tickets in advance for one of head boats or private fishing charters based at the Belmar Marina. For a list of vessels and contact information to reserve your spots in advance, please visit "Fishing Charters and Party Boats at the Belmar Marina" on the Belmar Beachcomber Blog.

8. Locally Roasted Gourmet Coffee

One of our favorite independent coffee shops in Belmar, Turnstile Coffee Roasters, sells sampler boxes (some with Taza Stone Ground Organic Chocolate), ranging in price from $39.50 to $79.50, as well as custom gift boxes ordered by phone. Turnstile's 12-ounce bags of whole-bean coffee will please any coffee lover on your list.

Pick up your order at their location on Route 71 across from Mr. Shrimp, or order online and have it shipped anywhere in the United States (shipping charges apply). Turnstile's coffee bean grinders, presses, and brewing devices also make great gifts.

9. A Sweet Surprise

Who could resist a freshly baked treat from Main Street Donuts in Belmar? Just in time for holiday festivities, Main Street Donuts is offering its docake creations specially decorated like Christmas trees, wreaths, and candy canes. Call 732-681-2100 to order.

Main Street Donuts, which opened at 705 Main Street this past spring, was named the "Best of Monmouth 2018" in the category of Food and Restaurants - Donuts. Read more about their grand opening here. Visit www.mainstreetdonuts.com for more information.

10. Basket of Cheer

The craft beer lover on your list will appreciate a gift basket of IPAs, pilsners, spiced ales, and lagers from Beach Haus Brewery, 801 Main Street in Belmar. The retail store and website also sell Beach Haus gift cards, as well as logo hoodies, hats, t-shirts, koozies and more. Call 732-202-7782 or visit www.beachhausbeer.com.

11. Surfing, Sailing, and Paddle Board Lessons
For stand-up paddle board (SUP) enthusiasts, give a gift certificate from the Endless SUP Company at 809 Main Street in Belmar. Gift certificates may be used for SUP lesson packages, paddle yoga classes, and on women's and men's SUP clothing, boards, accessories, and other merchandise for sale in the retail store. To learn more, visit www.endlesssupcompany.com.

Friends of Belmar Harbor is offering a limited-time discount on gift certificates for select sessions of its children's junior sailing programs and discovery camps. Visit www.fobhnj.org to learn more.

At Summertime Surf School in Belmar, you'll find gift certificates for youth and adult surfing camps and private lesson packages — perfect for anyone who has always wanted to learn how to surf. Save $100 through December 21 on a kids surfing camp gift certificate when you checkout with the code "holiday2018" on www.summertimesurf.com.

For more information, read "Summertime Surf School" and "Friends of Belmar Harbor" on the Belmar Beachcomber Blog.

12. Handcrafted Sea Glass Creations
Nothing says "Jersey Shore" like sea glass, shells and driftwood. We love these adorable framed creations by Joyce at Simply Sea Glass Art, handmade using found sea glass collected by the artist. See more of Joyce's work at www.simplyseaglassart.com.

13. Ugly Christmas Sweater
You'll be the hit of the office party or white-elephant exchange with an ugly Christmas sweater from Nostalgic Nonsense Vintage Clothing. Nostalgic Nonsense has one of the area's largest selection of new and vintage ugly Christmas sweaters for sale. Shop in store at 903 Main Street in Belmar or call 732-681-8810 for more information.

Story and photos by Patch Mayor Christine Cardellino. This story originally appeared on the Belmar Beachcomber Blog.