New Jersey Shore Points of Interest
Beaches in Chadwick, New Jersey
What to Do on the Northern New Jersey Shore?
Joe Fletcher , Leaf Group
Sandy Hook (Photo: )
Beaches Near Newark, New Jersey
Popular Beaches in New Jersey
While there's no specific geographic designation between the northern and southern Jersey Shore, you could roughly call everything north of Island Beach State Park the northern shore. Some of the shore area's most vibrant beach communities, including Point Pleasant, Belmar and Seaside Heights, are located in this area, offering plenty to do on and off the beach.
Sandy Hook/Gateway National Recreation Area
Sandy Hook is the northernmost section of beach in New Jersey. Much more than just a beach, Sandy Hook is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, and offers hiking, biking, bird watching and boating, in addition to standard beach activities like swimming and sunbathing. There also is a 5-mile multi-use path open to bicycles, inline skates and walkers. Gateway is open all year from sunrise to sunset.
Of course, the northern shore is scattered with beaches. Next to Sandy Hook are beach towns like Sea Bright and Long Branch, but tther towns with beaches include Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach, Belmar and Lavallette. During summer, beaches in the area require paid beach badges. Lifeguard-patrolled beach season varies by town, but generally runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Boardwalks
Many of the beach communities along the northern shore have boardwalks that run adjacent to the beach. Point Pleasant and Seaside have some of the most popular boardwalks along the Jersey Shore, lined with stores, games and amusements. Seaside Park offers the Funtown Pier for amusements. For those that prefer a quieter boardwalk, townships north of Point Pleasant, like Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach, Belmar and Spring Lake, offer an interconnected boardwalk without the attractions and noise of Point Pleasant and Seaside Heights. Municipalities regulate hours for bicycling on the boardwalk, but they usually are limited to the early morning during summer.
During summer, the Jersey Shore is home to some of New Jersey's most raucous nightlife. Bars and clubs line many shore communities, and towns like Belmar, Seaside Heights and Sea Bright are popular places to head for live music, DJs and dancing. Some popular destinations include Donovan's Reef in Sea Bright, Bar A in Belmar, Bamboo in Seaside Heights and The Headliner in Neptune. The Stone Pony is a well-known destination for music in Asbury Park, made famous by the legends that have played it: Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Bruce Springsteen, and The Ramones. The venue continues to attract big-name national acts.
Those who want to combine a beach vacation with some culture and activities in New York City will find a ferry from Sandy Hook, Highlands and Atlantic Highlands. Highlands and Atlantic Highlands are just north of Sandy Hook. The Highlands and Sandy Hook ferries run every day, while the Atlantic Highlands ferry runs only on weekdays. There are departures throughout the morning and afternoon.
Some attractions on or near the northern New Jersey Shore include PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, a venue that hosts outdoor concerts by a variety of major artists throughout the summer; Keansburg Amusement Park in Keansburg; and Monmouth Racetrack in Long Branch. Six Flags Great Adventure also is near the Jersey Shore in Jackson, New Jersey.
NPS: Gateway National Recreation Area
Seastreak Ferry Information
New Jersey Shore Map
Joe Fletcher has been a writer since 2002, starting his career in politics and legislation. He has written travel and outdoor recreation articles for a variety of print and online publications, including "Rocky Mountain Magazine" and "Bomb Snow." He received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Rutgers College.
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