Visiting the Jersey Shore

You know about Jersey cows. If you fly to New York with any frequency, you probably have flown into lovely Newark Airport. Maybe you’ve even seen “The Jersey Boys.” But don’t assume that all of the Peace Garden State is like the “poisonous chemical alley” you  see when you’re in transit between Newark and New York.

In particular, many of New York’s most exclusive bedroom communities lie within the borders of New Jersey. Much Revolutionary history also took place in the state. Part of the state is even home to high-end horse farms. What we’re interested in today, though, is the famous – or infamous – Jersey Shore.

Not Just for Jersey Boys

Comprised of Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May Counties, and made famous by the working class of New Jersey, the Jersey Shore has evolved to be much more than that, despite what snobbier New Yorkers say. With beautiful resorts and bed-and-breakfast places, and sites of natural beauty and historical significance, people up and down the East Coast now “summer” on the Shore. Visit www.virtualnjshore.com/tour for an interactive visitors map that gives a nice overview of the area.

The northernmost point of the Jersey Shore is Sandy Hook, less than 45 minutes via ferry from Wall Street. “Discovered*” in the 1600s by Captain Henry Hudson, Sandy Hook is not a town, but a national park, great for hiking in the holly forest, sitting on the beach, or swimming in the ocean. It has recovered well from the 1980s, when it was more famous for the detritus that washed up on shore than for its natural beauty.

Barnegat Light is about at the mid-point of the Jersey Shore and represents a bit of a slice of the “old” shore; it still relies primarily on commercial fishing for its livelihood, as it has done since the late 1600s. Travel on the Miss Barnegat Light, allegedly one of the fastest boats on the Eastern Seaboard, for some deep sea fishing. 

 Captain Hudson also “discovered*” Cape May, the southernmost point of the Jersey Shore. The Inn at 22 Jackson is a great location to investigate the area. It’s close to the historic district, with its numerous restored Victorian homes, shopping, and the beach. The Cottage is very nice, particularly for those who like a little privacy. If you’re hungry, Tony’s Pizza will give you that real East Coast pizza experience – rough around the edges, but some of the best pizza you will ever have.

If all of the sand, sun, food and fun doesn’t satisfy your needs, there’s always Atlantic City. Not my cup of tea, but it’s close, right in the heart of the Jersey Shore. Formally opened in 1880, Atlantic City has been many things over the years. Today, and since 1976, it’s a flashy gambling town – the Las Vegas of the East.

[NOTE: I put the word “discovered” in quotation marks because Hudson represents the first European to see the Jersey Shore. It already had been a popular place for Native Americans to fish and gather food from the ocean for centuries before Hudson appeared on the scene.]

Comments

[Bob Hanvik]

Thank you for reading!

[Bob Hanvik]

Thank you for reading it! I really got to know the Jersey Shore when I was traveling there pretty regularly for a client. I tried to plan as many meetings as possible for Fridays so I could stay the weekend!

[Elisabeth Grant]

I'm just back from the Jersey Shore! "What Exit???" Exit 63/LBI (Long Beach Island). I go back every summer. Thanks for your timely article :)

[Anne Simons]

I am originally from New Jersey, spent my summers vacationing at Barnegat Light, and go back to Monmouth County several times a year - including a week at the shore in the summer. I love to see a Minnesota publication extol the virtues of one of my favorite places in the world!