Ready for sandy beaches and sunny boardwalks? Yes, please! With 130 miles of Atlantic coastline and over 60 designated beaches, New Jersey offers plenty of options for beach getaways. Now that spring flowers are finally in bloom, start planning (or put the finishing touches on) the quintessential Jersey Shore vacation. Read on for news from four popular Shore destinations.

Ride the Famous TramCar (and the new tramcar-themed roller coaster)!
With 5 miles of wide beaches, nonstop amusement park fun and quirky architectural style, The Wildwoods (the seaside towns of Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood) have always been popular Jersey Shore destinations. Along with plenty of exciting sights, visitors can enjoy Wildwood’s incredible beaches for free—no beach tags or fees required. While you’re here, take in the views on the famous Sightseers TramCar, which has been riding along the boardwalk since 1949. The boardwalk is also home to Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Water Parks, which is unveiling a new TramCar-themed ride for the 2019 season. This family-friendly ride, called the Runaway Tram, will climb 40 feet before coasting, twisting and turning riders along its track.

Voted one of the Top 10 Best East Coast Beaches? Absolutely!
It should come as no surprise that Cape May, with its fine dining, wineries, shopping and Victorian B&Bs, was named one of the 10 Best East Coast Beaches by Travel Channel in 2018, which dubbed it “the crown jewel and southernmost point of the Jersey Shore.” Build sandcastles and visit an old lighthouse during the day, then stroll down Washington Street and play a round of mini-golf at night. Families also won’t want to miss the Cape May County Park & Zoo, where you can see lions, tigers, giraffes and more, all for free. 

New Rides and Attractions in Seaside Heights
New for the 2019 season, feel the centrifugal force at the newly built Centrifuge ride at Casino Pieramusement park in Seaside Heights. For younger ones looking for a thrill, the amusement park is also adding three kiddie rides: the Elephant Express, Mermaid Parade and Crazy Cabs. After doing some spins on the rides, try out the new Halo: Fireteam Raven 4K video game added to the Casino Pier arcade. 

Arcades, live music and dog-friendly spots? Yup, it’s the NJ Shore.
Looking for a different kind of Jersey Shore experience? Laidback beach town meets hipster vibe in Asbury Park. Sure, the mile-long stretch of beach is great—but you may have a hard time leaving AP’s wide boardwalk, which features an eclectic mix of restaurants, bars and shops. Try international cuisine; check out “Yappy Hour” at the Wonder Bar, where AP dogs hang out with their human BFFs; catch live music at the venerable Stone Pony, or test your pinball wizard skills at the Silverball Museum Arcade. 

Get the entire picture of summer down the Shore when you download a free NJ travel guide or sign up for e-news from New Jersey Travel and Tourism. 

Atlantic City Beaches
There are so many things to do in Atlantic City, and enjoying the free beaches is certainly one of them. Surfers can ride the perfect wave on Downtown Beach at Raleigh Avenue, Crystal Beach at New Hampshire Avenue or the Delaware Avenue Beach. Kayakers, wind surfers and boogie boarders are allowed at the Jackson Avenue Beach.

Barnegat Beach
Barnegat Township was one of the leading sea ports in the region, located right on the Barnegat Bay. It now offers a public dock for boat launching, crabbing and fishing, along with a boardwalk and the beach. Also at your leisure, you may go on the historic walking tour throughout downtown.

Bay Front 
In Lower Township, enjoy the wide-open spaces and the natural environment along the waterfront stretch from West Miami Avenue to Lincoln Boulevard. 

Beesley’s Point
Tucked along Great Egg Harbor Bay, this sandy shoreline is an ideal spot for launcing a kayak to explore the bay. After enjoying a quiet afternoon in the sunshine, stop by the nearby Tuckahoe Inn Restaurant & Tavern, a family-owned restaurant serving up fresh seafood dishes. 

Highlands Beach
Discover small pockets of beaches nestled between bustling marinas, where you can watch sailboats, fishing boats and other seafaring vessels as they venture into the sparkling waters. These beaches are conveniently located near a number of seafood restaurants, shops and fishing rental spots.

Ideal Beach, Middletown Township
For sunbathers looking for a quiet beachfront retreat, Ideal Beach is … well, ideal. It offers less congestion without a boardwalk, great fishing, bird watching and plenty of peace and quiet.

Jennifer Lane Bay Beach
Take in some sunshine along the Manahawkin Bay at the Jennifer Lane Bay Beach. During the summer months lifeguards are on duty and there are several parks nearby for activities such as volleyball, paths for walking and biking, fishing pier and a roller hockey pit. 

Keansburg Beach
This kid-friendly beach is perfect for family fun in the sun. Spend the day on the beautiful shoreline, and then take a stroll on the Keansburg Pier to take in the breathtaking sunset. Also on the boardwalk is Keansburg Amusement Park & Rapids Water Park.

Leonardo Beach, Middletown Township
This 1.3-acre beach can be accessed through the parking area for Leonardo State Marina, located four blocks off Route 36 in Leonardo. On this free beach, you can enjoy swimming and fishing.

Strathmere, Upper Township
Between Ocean City and Sea Isle City, you’ll find Strathmere, offering a low-key, off-the-beaten path beach experience – for free! While there’s no boardwalk, visitors can enjoy the natural splendor of this oceanfront escape.

Union Beach
Head to the northeastern point of Union Beach, where you’ll find a quiet beach running along the edge of extensive salt marshes—a great vantage point for birding. Just park in the lot at the end of Front Street, and choose your sundrenched spot along the shoreline.

The Wildwoods
For fun in the sun, look no further than the free beaches at The Wildwoods. The 5-mile stretch of powdery sand welcomes beach goers of all ages, who come to enjoy boogie-boarding, body surfing, playing Frisbee, sand castle building and just relaxing. These beaches also host a number of events throughout the summer. Learn more about City of Wildwood, North Wildwood and Wildwood Crestbeaches.

William Morrow Beach, Somers Point
This small Somers Point Beach features plenty of sandy shoreline to spread out your blanket, but it’s biggest draw is the free concert lineup on Friday nights during the summer. Bring a beach chair, pack your cooler, and enjoy a live music performance featuring everything from R&B to reggae.

Notice of Rule Proposal: 
Coastal Permit Program rules, N.J.A.C. 7:7, Coastal Zone Management rules, N.J.A.C. 7:7E

PUBLIC NOTICE
Take notice that the NJ Department of Environmental Protection is proposing to restructure when and how it requires public access to tidal waters and their shorelines under the Coastal Permit Program rules, N.J.A.C. 7:7, and the Coastal Zone Management (CZM) rules, N.J.A.C. 7:7E. The changes are proposed in response to the ruling of the Appellate Division limiting the Department’s authority to require additional parking and restrooms from municipalities receiving State shore protection funding (see Borough of Avalon v. NJ Department of Environmental Protection, 403 N.J. Super. 590 (App. Div. 2008)), due to Legislative action (see Public Access and Marina Safety Task Force Act, N.J.S.A. 13:19-38 et seq.), and because the Department believes that public access to tidal waters can be provided in a more effective and comprehensive manner.  The proposed amendments to the CZM rules establish public access requirements for new development based upon the type of development, for example, residential versus marina development.  In addition, the scenic resources and design rule is proposed to be modified to exempt governmental agencies from the setback requirement where the proposed structures are greater than 15 feet in height where certain criteria are satisfied.  The proposal also modifies the coastal general permit for beach and dune maintenance activities to only apply to municipalities that have a Department-approved municipal access plan.  Amendments to the coastal general permit for tourism structures located on beaches are also being proposed to allow certain structures to remain year-round, except when severe weather is predicted.

The proposal is scheduled to be published in the New Jersey Register dated April 4, 2011.  A copy of the proposal is available from: the Department’s website; at County libraries, or by contacting LexisNexis Customer Service at (800) 223-1944 orwww.lexisnexis.com/bookstore. Be advised that there may be a fee for obtaining a copy of the proposal from some sources.

Public hearings concerning the proposal are scheduled as follows:

Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 11:00 A.M.
Liberty State Park Central Railroad Terminal Building
Blue Comet Auditorium
1 Audrey Zapp Drive
Jersey City, NJ 07305

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 11:00 A.M.
Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
Townsend Residential Life Center Multi-Purpose Room
Jimmie Leeds Road
Pomona, NJ 08240

Written comments may be submitted by June 3, 2011 to:

NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Gary Brower, Esq.
ATTN: DEP Docket No. 05-11-03
Office of Legal Affairs
401 East State Street, 4th Floor
PO Box 402
Trenton, New Jersey 08625

So keep your eye out when walking the beaches for this shell.

    
Happy Hunting!