New Jersey - Fun in the sun
In my mind, the top spot to visit in New Jersey is the beach. New Jersey has miles and miles of white sandy beaches. One hundred twenty-seven miles, to be exact. Thousands of peoples come each year to the famous Jersey Shore to play in the surf, sand and sun. New Jersey’s shore towns have fabulous accommodations and plenty of activities to add to a day at the beach. Point Pleasant Beach is known for its family atmosphere. Wildwood, Ocean City and Seaside Heights have amusement piers. Every beach seems to have wind surfing, biking, boating and fishing.
Island Beach State Park is perfect for a day trip and should please every family member. For a small entrance fee you can spend the day on the sand with lifeguards, concessions and, most importantly, bathhouses. You don’t have to drive home with sand in your swimsuit! There are also historic buildings, hiking trails and bike paths. Add a bit of education to your vacation and visit an interpretive center. Attend a program like “seine the bay’ or ‘tour of the beach’. And there is surf fishing and scuba diving. On the bay side are bird observation blinds and canoeing and kayaking tours. The park also has marine conservation zone of marshes, creeks and ponds as well as a collection of approximately 400 plants. That’s 10 miles of beach and 3,000 acres of coastal dunes.
The State of New Jersey has many more parks and forests. The Delaware Water Gap contains nearly 70,000 acres with beautiful scenery, waterfalls and more outdoor activities. Be sure to search the official online web site http://www.njparksandforests.org/ for detailed information.
Many historic Revolutionary War sites are found in New Jersey. Near Trenton is Washington Crossing State Park, the area made famous by the historic crossing of the Delaware by General George Washington. Also nearby is the Old Barracks Museum, the only surviving British colonial barracks in the US built in 1758.
Wheaton Village makes the art and history of American glass and glassmaking come alive. Artisans are often demonstrating their crafts. And in the museum is one of the largest bottles in the world.
Don’t forget that fabulous inventor Thomas Edison. He lived and worked in West Orange for 45 years. Be sure to visit the Edison National Historic Site and check out the laboratories and the original inventions.
New Jersey has 11 accessible lighthouses. The New Jersey Lighthouse Society sponsors a two-day event in the autumn when all 11 are open to the public. For other times of the year please go to http://www.njlhs.org/Calendar.html for dates, times and cost.
At the far southern tip is the town of Cape May, one of the oldest seashore resorts on the Atlantic Coast. The town is filled with gingerbread Victorian architecture which can be viewed on carriage, trolley, or walking tours.