It’s salty nature preserves that are home to countless creatures. It’s a day at the races with family and friends. It’s sailing the seas in search of whales. It’s climbing a lighthouse at night to look at the stars.
From north to south, here’s a look at some of the best off-the-beach adventures awaiting visitors this summer along Jersey’s celebrated 127-mile coastline.
Start in Monmouth County where horse racing, whale watching and an amusement park beckon.
“While most people think of our remarkable beaches, there is plenty to do beyond the shore,’’ said Monmouth County Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. “You can visit Monmouth Park, known for its thoroughbred horse racing and festivals and events. Monmouth is also home to charter vessels, including the Miss Belmar, which take visitors out for a day of fishing or an afternoon of whale watching.’’
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/umJePzwem1686832151084/7887766663.jpg]
When you hop aboard the Miss Belmar and Royal Miss Belmar for a day of fishing, you’re sure to catch stripers, blues, fluke or bottom fish. These deep-sea fishing trips, launched out of the bustling Belmar Marina, are family-friendly and led by an experienced crew that knows the best spots to cast a reel.
In recent years, as whales have become more plentiful along the Jersey Shore, Miss Belmar, among other operators, has added whale watching tours. These cruises virtually guarantee a sighting of these majestic creatures and frequently spot dolphins, sea turtles, sharks and other marine wildlife. Visit missbelmar.com.
For a fun day out with family or friends, head to Monmouth Park, where betting on the ponies is only part of the appeal. Pack a lunch and snag a table in the shady picnic area, where BYOB (wine and beer only) is permitted. Get there early. The tables fill up fast.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/umJePzwem1686832151084/6336387866.jpg]
If you prefer to stake out a spot at one of the track’s bars or restaurants, there are plenty of options. Blu Grotto, sporting an all-glass conservatory dining room and three large decks, offers regional Italian favorites. Or stop at Lady’s Secret, an outdoor bar and patio with a huge screen for watching the races.
The track hosts festivals and special events throughout the season and Free Family Fun Day every Sunday, featuring clowns, face painters, a bounce house and pony rides from 1 to 5 p.m. in the picnic area. On June 24-25, the Wine and Pizza Festival returns. For $15, track-goers enjoy a day of wine sampling and a commemorative wine tasting glass. A variety of the Garden State’s best pizza makers also will be on hand, serving savory slices. Live music plays on both afternoons. Visit monmouthpark.com.
While Seaside Heights and Wildwood claim New Jersey’s best-known boardwalks, Keansburg Amusement Park and Runaway Rapid Water Park offer a great Northern Shore alternative.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/umJePzwem1686832151084/8681337778.jpg]
With a campy vibe, the amusement park sports dozens of rides, games and three large family arcade centers. The water park has a bunch of slides, a kiddie lagoon, lazy river and two spa pools. The Fast Trax Go Karts features two tracks, giving younger kids a chance to enjoy their own smaller cars on a separate kid-sized track. Visit keansburgamusementpark.com.
Ocean County is home to one of the Atlantic Flyway’s most active flight paths — Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. Spanning 50 miles along the back bays of the New Jersey coast, from Barnegat Bay to Reeds Bay, the refuge’s scenic trails wind through coastal wetlands, interspersed with shallow coves and bays, all exploding with natural life.
Start at the refuge’s Galloway Township headquarters, where visitors can embark on Wildlife Drive, an 8-mile auto tour through what is considered one of the best birding areas in the region. Here, you’ll find two wildlife observational towers, a boardwalk extending over the salt marsh and links to a network of trails.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/...
From north to south, here’s a look at some of the best off-the-beach adventures awaiting visitors this summer along Jersey’s celebrated 127-mile coastline.
Start in Monmouth County where horse racing, whale watching and an amusement park beckon.
“While most people think of our remarkable beaches, there is plenty to do beyond the shore,’’ said Monmouth County Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. “You can visit Monmouth Park, known for its thoroughbred horse racing and festivals and events. Monmouth is also home to charter vessels, including the Miss Belmar, which take visitors out for a day of fishing or an afternoon of whale watching.’’
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/umJePzwem1686832151084/7887766663.jpg]
When you hop aboard the Miss Belmar and Royal Miss Belmar for a day of fishing, you’re sure to catch stripers, blues, fluke or bottom fish. These deep-sea fishing trips, launched out of the bustling Belmar Marina, are family-friendly and led by an experienced crew that knows the best spots to cast a reel.
In recent years, as whales have become more plentiful along the Jersey Shore, Miss Belmar, among other operators, has added whale watching tours. These cruises virtually guarantee a sighting of these majestic creatures and frequently spot dolphins, sea turtles, sharks and other marine wildlife. Visit missbelmar.com.
For a fun day out with family or friends, head to Monmouth Park, where betting on the ponies is only part of the appeal. Pack a lunch and snag a table in the shady picnic area, where BYOB (wine and beer only) is permitted. Get there early. The tables fill up fast.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/umJePzwem1686832151084/6336387866.jpg]
If you prefer to stake out a spot at one of the track’s bars or restaurants, there are plenty of options. Blu Grotto, sporting an all-glass conservatory dining room and three large decks, offers regional Italian favorites. Or stop at Lady’s Secret, an outdoor bar and patio with a huge screen for watching the races.
The track hosts festivals and special events throughout the season and Free Family Fun Day every Sunday, featuring clowns, face painters, a bounce house and pony rides from 1 to 5 p.m. in the picnic area. On June 24-25, the Wine and Pizza Festival returns. For $15, track-goers enjoy a day of wine sampling and a commemorative wine tasting glass. A variety of the Garden State’s best pizza makers also will be on hand, serving savory slices. Live music plays on both afternoons. Visit monmouthpark.com.
While Seaside Heights and Wildwood claim New Jersey’s best-known boardwalks, Keansburg Amusement Park and Runaway Rapid Water Park offer a great Northern Shore alternative.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/1685990646/articles/umJePzwem1686832151084/8681337778.jpg]
With a campy vibe, the amusement park sports dozens of rides, games and three large family arcade centers. The water park has a bunch of slides, a kiddie lagoon, lazy river and two spa pools. The Fast Trax Go Karts features two tracks, giving younger kids a chance to enjoy their own smaller cars on a separate kid-sized track. Visit keansburgamusementpark.com.
Ocean County is home to one of the Atlantic Flyway’s most active flight paths — Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. Spanning 50 miles along the back bays of the New Jersey coast, from Barnegat Bay to Reeds Bay, the refuge’s scenic trails wind through coastal wetlands, interspersed with shallow coves and bays, all exploding with natural life.
Start at the refuge’s Galloway Township headquarters, where visitors can embark on Wildlife Drive, an 8-mile auto tour through what is considered one of the best birding areas in the region. Here, you’ll find two wildlife observational towers, a boardwalk extending over the salt marsh and links to a network of trails.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1390939488/...
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Jersey's Best (Digital) - 1 Issue, Summer 2023