Summer Days at the Jersey Shore

By Jenn Diamond

It’s May and summer is just around the corner. In a few short weeks, the kids will be out of school and complaining that they’ve got nothing to do. Fear not, however,
there are dozens of activities waiting for you down at the shore.

There’s so much to do and only a short time to do it. So grab the kids, pack the cooler and the sunblock and hit the road. Fun is waiting – there’s no time to waste.

Wet ‘n Wild
This summer’s shaping up to be a hot one, so your first priority may be to stay cool. Fun-seekers in search of just such an activity have a number of choices at the Jersey Shore. First, and perhaps the most obvious, is the beach. Sun-worshippers, water lovers and sand castle builders alike love the Jersey shore in the summertime.

From Sandy Hook to Cape May, there are miles and miles of beaches waiting to be enjoyed. Monmouth and Ocean counties alone have more than 90 miles of white sand beaches and offer diverse activities and attractions, including five lighthouses, miles of boardwalks and amusement piers, deep sea fishing, parks, campgrounds, theaters, antique, outlet and boutique shopping and more.

From Sandy Hook to Long Beach Island and beyond, the beach is the place to be when the weather is hot. For more information about what to do and where to go at the shore, visit the Shore Region Tourism Council online at www.shoreregion.com.

For the young and active looking for excitement, the best in beachfront entertainment can be found in Belmar, Manasquan, Point Pleasant, Seaside Heights and as far south as Ocean City and Wildwood.

The boardwalks at Point Pleasant and Seaside offer hundreds of carnival-style games, rides for kids and adults, and the best in Jersey fare including waffles and ice cream, sausage and peppers, and funnel cakes galore. The nightlife is second to none as Jersey’s clubs rage into the night.

Belmar and Manasquan are virtual hubs of youth. Their beaches and nightlife promise nonstop activity for the young at heart. And don’t count out Asbury. The City of Hopes, Dreams and Renewed Promise is making a strong comeback this summer.“ Asbury Park is coming back and the ‘Jewel of the Jersey Shore’ is shining brighter
every day!” says Mayor Kevin G. Sanders.

Asbury Park has begun a revitalization, rebuilding and restoring buildings such as the downtown Steinbach building as well as Victorian homes on the broad avenues leading to the ocean, says Laura Jewell of Jewell Marketing in Asbury Park. “This is a very exciting time to be in Asbury Park and the level of high energy and
enthusiasm is infectious. Many people visit because they have fond memories of the beautiful beach and boardwalk,” she says. “Others come from all around the world for the music legends past and present. Beautiful Victorian homes have attracted those who love to preserve the past and restore these homes.”

Special events are planned all year long with First Saturday Asbury Park every first Saturday of the month from 1 to 6 p.m. Uptown and 6-10 p.m. in Downtown, where the stores stay open late and sidewalk musicians and themed events are planned. Asbury Park has more than a dozen events and festivals planned this summer. Check
out www.asburypark.com to get the details.

Another attraction that is sure to keep you cool this summer is Jenkinson’s Breakwater Beach Water Park in Seaside Heights. Featuring eight killer slides and tube rides, a lazy river and an interactive children’s area, Breakwater Beach offers water park fun in a family-sized dose. The immaculately-kept park also offers a snack bar and gift shop. Get there early if you want a lounge chair.

Bigger kids and coaster-lovers may want to head west to Jackson for water park thrills at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. On May 27, Hurricane Harbor will open the gates to the biggest, fastest slides and tube rides in the Garden State. Also featured are a wave pool, Discovery Bay interactive play area for the little ones, and a lazy river tube ride.

Monmouth Park Racetrack
Last month the horses returned to Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport in anticipation of the 2006 season. “Monmouth Park provides Shore visitors a unique, exciting and affordable entertainment experience,” says Bill Knauf, director of marketing at Monmouth Park Racetrack. “We have something for everyone: a free picnic area with a front-row view of the racetrack, top-rate Thoroughbred races with some of the country’s best jockeys and trainers, and private luxury boxes, the Parterres, where you can have a luxurious day with private dining and a panoramic aerial view of the racetrack.”

Home of the 1,000,000 Haskell Invitational, the richest invitational prize in the nation, the original racetrack has been an area fixture since 1870. “Monmouth Park is rich in history, and has always been a fixture on the Jersey Shore landscape,” Knauf says. “It was built as an entertainment outlet for the tourists visiting the bustling city of Long Branch in the late 1800’s.” The current Monmouth Park structure was built in 1946.

Each new season brings dozens of unique events, parties, and live music for families and single adults alike. A packed promotion schedule includes Sunday Family Fun Days with FREE pony rides, clowns, face painters, inflatables and live music; the Jersey Food Festival; a classic car show; the NJ Professional Sandsculpting Competition; the annual Riverfest; and the NJ Thoroughbred Festival.

(continued...)

1 | 2 | NEXT