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New to NJ and trying to get to the beach. Living near Princeton Junction. Looking for a clean safe beach for the family.
Also wanted to know about sea side. Safe enough around that area? Kind of want to explore the boardwalk. Thanks in advance!
You're talking about day trips, right?
If you just want a beach experience, Seven Presidents Park is nice. Has lots of parking, snack bar, bathrooms, feels nice and open.
Island Beach State Park is lovely too.
Both of these are just beach, no boardwalk obviously.
We tend to stick to those during the busy season and go to the boardwalk in the off seasons. The weekends before Memorial Day and after Labor Day are lovely on the boardwalk but we find them too crazy during the busy season
195 towards the Shore Points(exit 7A) brings you into Belmar and from there you can got to Spring Lake and Sea Girt or up to Avon and Bradly Beach .Spring Lake and Sea Girt are all pedestrian boardwalks (no business's) Point Pleasant has Amusements and such along their boards with a decent beach.
I second Spring Lake. My family summered at the Warren Hotel. It was between the Essex and Sussex and another old waterfront hotel who's name escapes me.
Growing up in Freehold, we would just say "go to the shore."
Speaking of which, I'm bringing the family up there next week for a visit with the grandparents, and we thought we might take a visit to the shore for a day. It's been a long, long time since I've been to all my old shore haunts, and I know they've been through a lot of changes...
To hop on to the original poster's thread (thanks friend!) my kids are 7 and 9. We'd like a nice day with the sand and the sun and the water, and some Skee Ball and boardwalk action, maybe a cup of fries, some soft serve... (On a weekday, for sure, so maybe the crowds won't be too huge, and there will be fewer riots.)
What's our best bet these days for all those things in one place with the least amount of hassle?
(I might settle for a little hassle, like if I still have to go all the way to the WindMill for a good hot dog or something.)
Growing up in Freehold, we would just say "go to the shore."
Speaking of which, I'm bringing the family up there next week for a visit with the grandparents, and we thought we might take a visit to the shore for a day. It's been a long, long time since I've been to all my old shore haunts, and I know they've been through a lot of changes...
To hop on to the original poster's thread (thanks friend!) my kids are 7 and 9. We'd like a nice day with the sand and the sun and the water, and some Skee Ball and boardwalk action, maybe a cup of fries, some soft serve... (On a weekday, for sure, so maybe the crowds won't be too huge, and there will be fewer riots.)
What's our best bet these days for all those things in one place with the least amount of hassle?
(I might settle for a little hassle, like if I still have to go all the way to the WindMill for a good hot dog or something.)
Probably Point Pleasant Beach if you want it all in one place and want a more family friendly place. Seaside Heights has it, too, but IMO has more of the bar scene and an older boardwalk crowd because they have rides geared towards older kids, teens, and adults. Wildwood has it all, but it may be too far south depending on where your family lives. Same with Ocean City.
Island Beach State Park would be nice for the beach, if you want to go to the boardwalk after. You could go right to Seaside or up a little further to Point. IBSP and Seaside Park have among the nicest beaches in the area IMO.
Point Pleasant is probably the best for a family with kids. Nothing wrong with Seaside either, the boardwalk is huge and is fun to just walk around. It's safe, but has a younger crowd, nights bring out the teens and it can get "festive" but there are rarely problems. Yes, there was a riot there the other day, but it was because a few thousand people showed up for an event that didn't exist and people got pissed.
If you're up for a little more of a drive Ocean City is the best for a family (really nice boardwalk and beaches geared toward a family environment). If you do go south some other great beaches are Wildwood and Cape May are very nice.
I'd put Point Pleasant as second (due to distance) but am just not a fan of the congestion, parking, and expensive monopoly the Jenks family has on the boardwalk.
Seaside is made for the bar scene and in my opinion alot of trashy people are there. Island State Park has a great beach and is close to Sea Side but you might need a 4wd truck to get on the beach?
I like Belmar and Spring lake, however for families just visiting for a day trip there isnt much else to do besides the beach. For a family I'd take them to Spring Lake over Belmar, as Belmar does have a good crowd (with families) but has more 20/30's something party crowd.
LBI is another contender and has the best beaches in the state but I'd save that trip after you get more experienced with the shore (It's an 18 mile long island, about half mile width on average) I'd have to write a blog on all the things to do there.
Last edited by DannyHobkins; 06-21-2018 at 10:13 AM..
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