Embraced by Sylvan Lake on the north, Shark River on the south, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Avon-by-the-Sea has always been synonymous with sandy beaches, great surfing, swimming, fishing, and panoramic views of its waters. Founded in the late nineteenth century by a tobacco
industrialist, Avon-by-the-Sea became a resort by the early twentieth century. By restricting expansion early, the founders made sure that their "virtual utopia" would...