Isn't it nice knowing that some of the most beautiful stateside beaches are just a hop, skip, and a jump away?
For many, vacations down the shore were an essential part of the summer or family tradition while growing up.
Others may just need a break from city life now and again where they can rest their feet in the sand, bask in sunshine and breezes, and listen to the enchanting sounds of the waves rolling and crashing against the shore.
With summer around the corner, a lot of us are looking to get back to that happy place.
Sure, New York has some great beaches up in the Bronx and out on Long Island, but let's take a trip south to our neighbors in New Jersey.
The Jersey Shore has many beautiful beaches and towns that offer lots of fun activities to be done both day and night.
Check out these 9 spots at the Jersey Shore for a day trip, a long weekend, or a nice beach vacation this summer.
1. Long Beach Island
New Jerseyians (or New Jersey-ites?) are very loyal to their favorite beaches, and as a loud and proud New Jerseyan, I must say I am loyal to mine: Long Beach Island.
This barrier island just off the coast of New Jersey is eighteen miles long. Yes, that's right: eighteen miles of glorious beachy bliss.
Long Beach Island's northern and southern ends differ greatly in their breadth of activities. In Barnegat Light at the island's northern most point, you can brave the climb up the two hundred and seventeen steps to the top of the lighthouse or explore the scenic state park that surrounds it.
You can also stroll through historic Viking Village and check out the many wares to be found there. Keep your eyes tuned for the Loveladies Arts Festival and Fair throughout the summer, where you can find many talented artists and designers peddling their handcrafted jewelry, photographs, paintings, and more.
On the southern end of the island, you can find the hip, young town of Beach Haven which is loaded with options for family fun, dining, and nightlife. There are great dinners to be had at local restaurants like the Harvey Cedars Clam Bar, a no-frills wooden bar that serves delicious seafood anyway you like it.
Family friendly activities range from mini golf to a water park to an amusement park--these places can help you relive your inner child if you're not at the family stage quite yet. Nighttime, you can hit up popular bars like Hudson House in North Beach Haven or Joe Pop's, which has a cool outdoor tiki bar and a DJ playing tunes all night.
All fun and games, these beaches are unbeatable. LBI's beaches are much more private and residential although they are open to the public, but there are no boardwalks like other Jersey Shore hotspots have.
With wide beaches and white sands, plopping down at the beach for the day here is relaxing and blissful.
2. Point Pleasant
![[via Christopher K./Yelp]](/2015/05/2pointpleasantchristopherkyelp.jpg)
Talk about one stop beachin'! Point Pleasant is home to the notorious Jenkinson's Boardwalk, which has something for everyone.
Jenkinson's has restaurants, bars and clubs, an aquarium, tons of thrill rides, and other fun attractions like carnival games and mini golf. The boardwalk stretches along the beach so you can have all the fun in the world in between beach sessions.
Martell's Tiki Bar on the boardwalk offers you all the tropical drinks you could ask of a beach paradise, as well as live music and events periodically to keep you happily drunk and entertained. And keep in mind that all of this is at a beautiful beach. What could be better than that?
If you're really looking to invoke your inner child at the shore, you can hop aboard roller coasters, a swinging pendulum, and a crazy ride called the Moby Dick that believe it or not actually has some sick views of the beach. It's totally kitschy and touristy, but hey, you are a tourist to the area after all.
The beaches are wide and gorgeous as well, and after all that boardwalk fun you just had, you'll enjoy vistas of palm trees and spacious spots in the sand to get your tan on this summer.
3. Belmar
![[via Alex H./Yelp]](/2015/05/3belmaralexhyelp.jpg)
The quaint, beachy town of Belmar has adorable, preppy beach houses, green grass, and blocks upon blocks of boardwalk with shopping, food, and other beach vacation fun.
The boardwalk is a mile long and offers great views of the Atlantic, and with the beach and boardwalk open year round, you can enjoy these amazing vistas other times than just the summer. The beaches are ideal for sporty summer activities like swimming, boogie boarding, and surfing when the water is warm and the waves are willing.
The Belmar Marina is amongst the best the shore has to offer.
The 9th Avenue Pier has a restaurant with a delicious raw bar, a tiki bar, and a mini golf course, making it a gorgeous location with a lot to offer in terms of beach fun. This marina also has some dope party boats for a fun night on the water and also some charter boats for fishing day trips.
You shore will want to take a day trip there!
4. Island Beach State Park
Located just miles from Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park offers ten miles of beach, a nice array of wildlife, and so much room for all those good ole shore pastimes.
Its proximity to Seaside Heights is great if you're looking for all the typical boardwalk fun, but with all the tourists around and the hype, Island Beach State Park offers nice repose from the hectic crowds of summer visitors.
The beaches are lined with native plants that you can't find anywhere else, and you may even see a fox or two running around Island Beach State Park. Since it's so removed from the usual boardwalk type of environment, it's the perfect place to bring a picnic to and just chill out on the beach all day long with your crew.
Swimming, surfing, kayaking, etc. are a must here, as the ocean is perfect for this type of fun. If you're looking for a more low-key shore experience, this is definitely your go-to place.
5. Wildwood
![[via Amber M./Yelp]](/2015/05/5wildwoodambermyelp.jpg)
Wildwood is a hub of fun located just a bit north of Cape May, and its boardwalk is legendary, one of the most extensively developed down the shore. The Wildwood boardwalk is fun for all by day and a great place to party adults only at night.
The architecture is full of neon lights that are reminiscent of the 1950s, giving Wildwood a very nostalgic, doo-wop feel. The boardwalk is full of rides, attractions, and hosts three waterfront waterparks.
Wildwood's beaches are free to the public, whereas most of the other beaches in the state require purchasing passes for the day, week, or season for entry. The beaches are huge. Like, really huge, so there's lots of room for activity.
Throughout the summer, you'll be able to find concerts and sporting events on the beach, which is just the best way to do 'em, you know?
,6. Cape May
Head all the way down to exit 0 on the Garden State Parkway and you'll find the charming little town of Cape May. Famed for its gorgeous and colorful Victorian beach mansions, Cape May is a sight for sore eyes from its properties to its beaches.
There is tons to be said and done in Cape May. Start at the beaches, which are amongst the best in the state.
By day, you will glow in the sunshine and chill in the sand, and by night, you can stop by the beach for movie showings throughout the summer. Renting waverunners and jet skis is a great way to get your beach thrills on.
'During the night time, Wildwood has lots of clubs, pubs, and other bars where you can get your groove on.
Off the beach, you can dive into Cape May's historic heritage on a ghost tour of Cape May or visit one of Cape May's breweries or wineries for a tasting of the local brews and wines.
There's boating, a lighthouse, kayaking, and a beautiful promenade that's just as perfect for a night out as it is for an early morning bike ride.
7. Long Branch
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Long Branch is quite a ways away from the rest of the shore, but that doesn't mean that you should skip out on it!
Long Branch is home to glamorous Pier Village, an oceanfront complex chock full of shopping, eating, and events just steps from the gorgeous Long Branch beach.
Stop by July 4th, when Long Branch hosts Oceanfest, an annual tradition celebrated by Long Branch locals and beachgoers from all around.
Located on the boardwalk, Oceanfest is a capstone of all of the best locally made goods, food vendors, and fun the Mid-Atlantic has to offer.
Topping it all off is an incredible fireworks display, of course, so keep this one on your calendar when July 4th rolls around.
8. Spring Lake
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Quaint and quiet, Spring Lake is a great shore destination if you're looking to distance yourself from the loudness of the typical boardwalk thrills of the other Jersey beaches.
Spring Lake's mile-long boardwalk has no commercial attractions on it, so it's a perfect place for a run or casual stroll along the beach.
Spiring Lake has tons of seasonal cultural, artistic, and community events where you can sample tasty dishes and appreciate heritages other than your own and admire the artwork of the local artistic talent.
It's a great way to get involved and introduce yourself to something new while you're away from NYC.
Spring Lake has charming beaches with sugary beige sand dusted by deep blue waves. Stop by the gorgeous Spring Lake Manor for beautiful beach vistas and a drink at this beautiful and historic property where you can end a lovely day of bumming it at the beach.
9. Ocean City
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Ocean City prides itself on being "America's Greatest Family Resort" with unbeatable beaches and a boardwalk that rank amongst the top of New Jersey's shore offerings.
If good old fashioned fun is what you're looking for in a beach trip, Ocean City is your place. Hop aboard the ferris wheel and get your view of Ocean City and you'll see what we mean.
Beach fun here includes strolling the boardwalk and checking out all the bells and whistles it has to offer. Scoop up all the saltwater taffy your heart desires at Shriver's and hang out with friends having the best beach adventure you can imagine.
The beach itself is spacious, full of soft sand to relax on. It has hotels on the beach with enviable views and accommodations. It's the perfect beach for a walk day or night, and that ocean alongside you will always call you in for that irresistible mid-day dip.
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