new jersey?

[itsmousetime]

Hi guys! We're going to be in New Brunswick, NJ for a little while and wondered if anyone could recomend a nice, clean, safe beach for a day trip. We're pretty picky about beaches and are going to have children with us.
Thanks!

 

[disneyfan55]

Hi guys! We're going to be in New Brunswick, NJ for a little while and wondered if anyone could recomend a nice, clean, safe beach for a day trip. We're pretty picky about beaches and are going to have children with us.
Thanks!

Manasquan is a family type beach. They have a small boardwalk and are just across the inlet from Point Pleasant for rides, wheels and other types of games. They are about 45 minutes from New Brunswick. You can take Rt 18 south most of the way and get off on Rt 34. There will be signs to take you to either. There is also a flea market near the junction of 18 and 34 called Collingswood.

 

[alliedogsmom]

Life long NJ resident here....try Sandy Hook (not far from New Brunswick, but no Boardwalk), Aberdeen, or Point Pleasant. If you want the Boardwalk, go to Long Beach Island, but stay away from Seaside Heights....it gets nuts there!

 

[TangaroaTiki]

Point Pleasant & LBI (Long Beach Island) are both very nice.

 

[ilisao]

I grew up in the town next to New Brunswick. We always went to Point Pleasant for the day.

 

[bmoncher]

Point Pleasant gets my vote if you want a boardwalk.. I am not a beach person, and tend to go to local small beaches without a boardwalk or any vendors. Most of the shore towns have them...
We also like Ocean Grove...
Sandy Hook is a national park - usually clean just avoid beach G

 

[itsmousetime]

Thanks! You guys rock!

 

[MinnieForMe]

Island Beach State Park is worth the trip. It's lovely. We also like Pt. Pleasant but it's much busier than Island Beach.

If you have kids, a day trip to BreakWater Beach water park is fun. I would NOT go to the boardwalk at SeaSide Heights especially at night. Too many bars and unsavory characters!

 

[sjms71]

Island Beach State Park is worth the trip. It's lovely. We also like Pt. Pleasant but it's much busier than Island Beach.

If you have kids, a day trip to BreakWater Beach water park is fun. I would NOT go to the boardwalk at SeaSide Heights especially at night. Too many bars and unsavory characters!

I'm so glad you suggested Island Beach State Park. I was posting to do the same. For a day trip IBSP is the best!! We miss it so much (live in NC now). DH and I loved it there. However, if I remember correctly you really have to get there early in the morning.

 

[MinnieForMe]

We've never had a problem getting into Island Beach State Park and we are not the crack of dawn type of people. Our normal day at the beach is usually arriving between 11am to 1 pm.

We have never tried it on a weekend so it might be much busier. My kids love the fact that they allow boggie boards (spelling ?) in one area.

 

[sjms71]

We always went on a Saturday and I remember getting there by about
8:30am we lived in Hunterdon Co. so it was a drive. I know that by 10 am on a Saturday it was pretty packed and once it hits a certain capacity they don't let anyone else in. Again, we have live in Nc for 7 years (do to DH's job)so it could be different now. Unfortunatly we don't get home much I'm afraid if we visited we would stay in Jersey , we miss it.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Closer than Island Beach state park (which is wonderful) is Avon-By-The-Sea, or Avon. It is a wonderful family beach, and at least 1/2 hour our closer than Island Beach to New Brunswick. (Avon is just north of Belmar, you can take Rt 18 to 195 east, and that goes right onto Belmar) It has a boardwalk, but no games, arcades, etc. Avon allows you to bring coolers on the beach, too, so you can pack lunch and snacks if you wish.


Manasquan is also really nice.

 

[Teacher510]

We've never had a problem getting into Island Beach State Park and we are not the crack of dawn type of people. Our normal day at the beach is usually arriving between 11am to 1 pm.

We have never tried it on a weekend so it might be much busier. My kids love the fact that they allow boggie boards (spelling ?) in one area.

It does often close pretty early on a nice weekend day.

 

[starwood]

Just so you are aware - you have to pay to get onto the beaches in NJ. They aren't free like the rest of the country.

 

[The Iron Giant]

I would skip going to the Island since you are only in the area for the day. Its a way long drive from New Brunswick and the traffic on the parkway can be killer in the summer going that far south.

You are much better off staying with some of the other beaches mentioned like Manasquan, Avon, or Pt. Pleasant. You can avoid the parkway and just take Route 18 as mentioned before. Much, much less traffic and its budget because its not a toll road!

 

[Crazy Hakim]

Just remember, if anybody asks your going "Down the Shore!"
Nobody in NJ will understand that your going to the beach. Just like here in Central Florida, nobody understands when we say were going Down the Shore......... LOL

 

[The Iron Giant]

Just remember, if anybody asks your going "Down the Shore!"
Nobody in NJ will understand that your going to the beach. Just like here in Central Florida, nobody understands when we say were going Down the Shore......... LOL

People that live near the shore don't actually say "down the shore". We say that we're going to the beach.

"Down the Shore" is a phrase reserved for bennies

 

[mom2boys77]

I've never lived anywhere except the Jersey Shore and have never used "Down the Shore".

People that live near the shore don't actually say "down the shore". We say that we're going to the beach.

"Down the Shore" is a phrase reserved for bennies

 

[mjkacmom]

I'm familiar with most of the beaches, and my all-time favorite it seven president's state park in Long Branch. Garden State parkway to exit 105, 5 miles later, pay at the guardhouse, and enter the parking lot. Large pavillion, great food, clean changing rooms/restrooms, and a mesh boardwalk onto the clean beach. Did I mention a parking lot (not easy to get parking at NJ beaches)?

 

[SeaSpray]

Just remember, if anybody asks your going "Down the Shore!"
Nobody in NJ will understand that your going to the beach. Just like here in Central Florida, nobody understands when we say were going Down the Shore......... LOL

People that live near the shore don't actually say "down the shore". We say that we're going to the beach.

"Down the Shore" is a phrase reserved for bennies

I've never lived anywhere except the Jersey Shore and have never used "Down the Shore".

You are all correct! LOL It wasn't until I moved FROM New Jersey that I started saying to the people here in Massachusetts "I'm going to the Jersey Shore for a week". When I lived there, we ALWAYS said "We're going to the beach today" or "Hey let's go to the boardwalk tonight".

Hmm...does this make me a bennie now??

No way...I'm still a Jersey Girl through and through, baby!!

Anyway, I'll be going "down the shore" next month and I can't wait!!

EDITED TO ADD: Ooops, almost forgot to respond to the OP! Anyway, I recommend Point Pleasant; nice beach, nice not-too-large boardwalk; classic Jersey Shore food stands, etc. Have a great time!!