Area Attractions
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Beach Areas
The Jersey Shore is the coastal region of the state of New Jersey. Geographically, the term encompasses about 141 miles of the Atlantic oceanfront from Perth Amboy in the north to Cape May Point in the south.
The Jersey Shore area includes Middlesex, Monmouth, Atlantic County, Cape May, and Ocean counties.
To many New Jersey residents, it is simply referred to as “The Shore.” Famous for its many boardwalks with arcades, water parks, and amusement parks boasting hundreds of rides and attractions, the Jersey Shore is a popular vacation spot.
The Jersey Shore is lined with over 40 communities, each with a different character and flavor. Some cater to summer tourists and visitors, others are completely full-year residential communities, and others still are a mix of both. Below are some of the most notable shore points.
The Point Pleasant boardwalk is approximately one mile long, spanning the coastline from the Manasquan Inlet at the north to New Jersey Avenue in the south. Point Pleasant Beach is also the northern terminus of the East Coast’s Intracoastal Waterway.
Seaside Heights is famous for its amusement-oriented boardwalk, situated on piers extending approximately 300 feet into the Atlantic Ocean.
Long Beach Island is a barrier island and collection of several shore communities. Long Beach Island is approximately 18 miles in length, which includes three miles of nature reserve located on the southern tip. The island includes the communities of Surf City, Harvey Cedars, Barnegat Township, Long Beach and Beach Haven. The Barnegat Lighthouse was regarded as one of the most crucial “change of course” points for coastal vessels. The park is included as a maritime site on the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail.
Brigantine is an island community, the northernmost in Atlantic County. The Brigantine Lighthouse is a central identifying symbol of the city. Brigantine is home to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center. Part of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is located on the northern end of Brigantine Island.
Atlantic City is a nationally renowned resort city and served as the inspiration for the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is considered the “Gambling Capital of the East Coast” and is second to Las Vegas in number of casinos, yearly gaming revenue, and number of rooms. The Atlantic City Boardwalk was one of the first boardwalks of its type in the United States, having opened on June 26, 1870. The Boardwalk starts at Absecon Inlet and runs along the beach for four miles to the city limit. An additional one and one half miles of the Boardwalk extend into Ventnor City.
Ocean City is home to a boardwalk with several shops and amusement areas. Known as a family-oriented seaside resort, Ocean City has prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages within its limits since its founding in 1879. Ocean City has miles of guarded beaches, a 2.5-mile boardwalk, and a downtown shopping and dining district.
The Wildwoods is used as a collective term for the four communities that have “Wildwood” as part of the municipality name — the Borough of Wildwood Crest, City of Wildwood, Borough of West Wildwood and the City of North Wildwood — together with Diamond Beach, a portion of Lower Township situated on the island. Its most notable features are its beach and 1.8 miles boardwalk.
Cape May is at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the country’s oldest vacation resort destinations. With a rich history, award-winning beaches, designation as a top birding location, and many Victorian structures, Cape May is a seaside resort drawing visitors from around the world. Cape May is home to the third documented lighthouse at the southern tip of New Jersey. It has always been an attention-getting landmark as well as an aid-to-navigation for mariners. It was built in 1859.
