Jersey Shore people - I need a beach!

[ckay87]

Sis in law and I are planning to take a daytrip to the shore. I'm partial to OCNJ, but she wants something quieter and without the boardwalk. Can anyone suggest a nice quiet public beach that maybe would include some facilities (showers, restrooms, maybe snack bar). Like a state park, for example? Something in the vicinity of Ocean or Atlantic City? TIA!

 

[java]

I am not certain but I believe the ONLY state beach in NJ is Island Beach State Park
http://www.islandbeachnj.org/

We like it there. They have NO BOARDWALK. But they do have 2 bathroom/shower/food facilities.

We go to parking lot 2- just seems everyone turns right into the first one so it's slightly less crowded for a while at least.

It's only like $7 per car to get in.


Then when you're done with the beach you can head over a couple towns to hit the boardwalk if you want(FRIES!!!)
Have fun. When are going? There hasn't been a great sunny day in a while for the beach for us.

 

[mjkacmom]

Seven Presidents state park - exit 105. Get off exit, go straight for 6 miles, I believe, pay at the guardshack, and park. Very nice pavillion, snack bar, changing room, restrooms, a handicap accessible boardwalk takes you right up to the ocean. Walk right to sister beach for more privacy, with restrooms there, too. There are outdoor showers, and a playgrouds behind the showers. I can't believe I'm sharing this gem on a message board!

 

[LuvOrlando]

Double post

 

[LuvOrlando]

I know lots of people who like Seven Presidents. From what I've heard they also have a playground and a skate park off the beach and inland... not on the beach. It is supposed to be one of the Northernmost beaches and a shorter travel time than others, at least from here.

 

[java]

QUICK TAKE THAT OFF!! Keep that a secret! (I've never heard of it and now am THRILLED to know of it. thank you! don't worry I only have 4 kids)

Shoot it's a County beach. And it looks like they charge PER PERSON PLUS a parking fee. Is that right? I mean it would still save me about an hour of driving to go there. How's parking?

 

[N&B'smom]

You can certainly go to the beach in OCNJ without the boardwalk, that only goes so far.

 

[tuckerkeys]

I live on Long Beach Island, in Ship Bottom. We love day trippers! ( well, most of us do! ) we are north of Ocean City and Atlantic City, and I'm not quite sure just how you'd get here from where you are, but, I can tell you that it's very clean and QUIET on my beach....the trick is NOT to sit on a beach where the guard is in front of you....find a jetty and sit by this b/c you need to swim by the guards so everyone piles on top of each other down by the guards..... you'll just need to walk down to swim

parking is free on side streets, although you'll need a badge IF asked ( the checkers have been SO slacker this summer they work from 10-3 and sit on their butt at sporadic entrances so many people arrive before 10 and do not get a badge, not saying to do this but just saying...)

there are no showers, and the bathroom is the ocean ( i know gross ) there is no boardwalk.....

the water here is crystal clear and @ 76 degrees! we have awesome sandbars and lately in the afternoons stingrays come up to the shore to feast on these little clamshells, on monday there had to be @ 100 rays by the jetty, so awesome! Water looked like I was in Florida.....

Whatever you decide get there early and enjoy the day!!!!

 

[ckay87]

You can certainly go to the beach in OCNJ without the boardwalk, that only goes so far.

Too tempting But that is a very good point. Of course now that I know about that Seven Presidents beach (as does the rest of the world ), that one is even closer and pretty much exactly what we had in mind. Thanks!

 

[PammyK]

I live on Long Beach Island, in Ship Bottom. We love day trippers! ( well, most of us do! ) we are north of Ocean City and Atlantic City, and I'm not quite sure just how you'd get here from where you are, but, I can tell you that it's very clean and QUIET on my beach....the trick is NOT to sit on a beach where the guard is in front of you....find a jetty and sit by this b/c you need to swim by the guards so everyone piles on top of each other down by the guards..... you'll just need to walk down to swim

parking is free on side streets, although you'll need a badge IF asked ( the checkers have been SO slacker this summer they work from 10-3 and sit on their butt at sporadic entrances so many people arrive before 10 and do not get a badge, not saying to do this but just saying...)

there are no showers, and the bathroom is the ocean ( i know gross ) there is no boardwalk.....

the water here is crystal clear and @ 76 degrees! we have awesome sandbars and lately in the afternoons stingrays come up to the shore to feast on these little clamshells, on monday there had to be @ 100 rays by the jetty, so awesome! Water looked like I was in Florida.....

Whatever you decide get there early and enjoy the day!!!!

You are making me sooooo homesick right now....
Don't suppose you want to send a care package of Elephant Ears and fudge from Bay Village down to Florida, do you? lol

 

[JVL1018]

You may be sorry you posted about Seven Presidents -we're going down for the day this weekend(coming form Bergen County) and I just read this to my husband and said why don't we go here, it's only exit 105. So we're going to check it out.

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

We love Seven Presidents but just as an FYI the playground has been torn down and is in the process of being rebuilt. So it's just beach, snack bar, and facilities (rest rooms, showers).

Who spilled the beans on Seven Presidents?? We live at Exit 105 and it's our little secret, thank you very much!!

Pier Village is an upscale shopping center/restaurants just 1/2 mile walk south of the beach along the water. "The Avenue" has the best burgers on the planet, there's an Italian restaurant on the water that has the best tiramisu on the planet and McLoone's has the best spinach/artichoke dip and rum runners on the planet. They're a bit pricey, but considering they're the best on the planet they're worth it.

There's also a Windmill restaurant (famous for hot dogs) right across the street from the park entrance and an italian ice or ice cream place (I don't remember which) right next to that.

 

[minniebeth]

You are making me sooooo homesick right now....
Don't suppose you want to send a care package of Elephant Ears and fudge from Bay Village down to Florida, do you? lol

Was in Bay Village exactly a week ago, and where is the salavating smilie??
The Elephant Ears were incredible!!!

 

[MM27]

We love Seven Presidents but just as an FYI the playground has been torn down and is in the process of being rebuilt. So it's just beach, snack bar, and facilities (rest rooms, showers).

Who spilled the beans on Seven Presidents?? We live at Exit 105 and it's our little secret, thank you very much!!

Pier Village is an upscale shopping center/restaurants just 1/2 mile walk south of the beach along the water. "The Avenue" has the best burgers on the planet, there's an Italian restaurant on the water that has the best tiramisu on the planet and McLoone's has the best spinach/artichoke dip and rum runners on the planet. They're a bit pricey, but considering they're the best on the planet they're worth it.

There's also a Windmill restaurant (famous for hot dogs) right across the street from the park entrance and an italian ice or ice cream place (I don't remember which) right next to that.

The Lighthouse is an Italian ice place and they are good
Seven Presidents is a very popular beach and it does get very crowded on nice day. I've lived in Long Branch my whole life and I never thought of it as a secret though

 

[Imzadi]

You can certainly go to the beach in OCNJ without the boardwalk, that only goes so far.

Yes, if you take Exit 25/Marmora, it's the area of beaches up around 35 St. There is no boardwalk there. Just park all the way up at the dead end, by the beach. You can set up your beach blankets anywhere around there, at the ends of those streets. When you're done beaching, then head over to the boardwalk & shower, eat some Mack & Manco's pizza, etc.

For other quieter beaches there's Sea Isle City, (no facilities though) a couple exits next to O.C., or Avalon. I don't remember what's in Avalon.

 

[LovintheLodge]

Yes 7 Presidents Park is a great place (shhhhhh!). I think entrance fees are $7 pp (under 12 free I believe) and there is a parking fee ($6 or $7 for the day). They have a website that has the info. On the other hand, Island Beach State Park (also can check on web) is great as another poster has said. They charge by the carload ($7, maybe higher on weekend) so it's a much better bargain than most beaches in NJ. However if you go on the weekend you either have to get there very early or arrive early afternoon when folks from the morning are starting to leave. They close the park when 'full'. I too go to the second beach entrance.

I don't find LBI to be a day-trippers beach. Beaches are very nice, but they just don't have the facilities.

Have fun!

 

[ckay87]

Thanks to those of you who suggested Seven Presidents. We just took a day trip yesterday and really enjoyed it. I still like to do the whole beach/boardwalk thing. But this beach was nice and clean and friendly for a really simple daytrip.

Most aggressive seagulls I've ever encountered though! We went for a walk and returned to find that our bags had been picked through and spread all over. I've seen gulls eat any food left out, but these guys unpacked our bags for crying out loud!!

Thanks again everyone and enjoy the remainder of your summers.