Jersey Shore, NJ Weekend Vacation Getaway

Reserve Now!

Destination Overview

It is unfortunate that the image many have of New Jersey is represented by the oil refineries surrounding Newark (Liberty) Airport and the New Jersey Turnpike. In truth, the State’s nickname, “The Garden State” more accurately reflects its true nature. While the state is one of the most densely populated in the country, large areas are devoted to vegetable and fruit farming and horse breeding. The northwestern part of the state is mountainous and sparsely populated and the eastern part of the state enjoys some of the most beautiful beaches in the country.

Here are some things I bet you didn’t know about New Jersey:

New Jersey has the most diners in the world
There are more racehorses in New Jersey than in Kentucky
New Jersey is home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
New Jersey is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production
80% of what the US imports comes through the Elizabeth Seaport
The light bulb, phonograph and motion picture were invented by Thomas Edison in New Jersey
The first Indian Reservation was in the Watchung Mountains
The first baseball game was played in Hoboken
The first college football game was played in New Brunswick

The “Jersey Shore” is the area bordering the Atlantic Ocean and stretches from Sandy Hook (about 45 minutes from NYC) down past Atlantic City. Honky Tonk towns like Seaside Heights share the coastline with a revived Asbury Park, sleepy summer towns like Bay Head and Stone Harbor and beautiful year round communities like Spring Lake and Brielle and the gambling mecca of Atlantic City. My favorite section is the area from Red Bank, south to Bay Head and including Long Branch, Belmar, Spring Lake, Manasquan, Brielle and Point Pleasant among others.

I love this area, grew up here in a kind of Mayberry existence, lived away for 10 years and then moved back to bring up my family. My closest friends, many of whom still live here, are from my high school days. The area has magnificent beaches, wonderful restaurants, great places to stay and a host of things to keep you busy. It is a great weekend retreat.

Click picture to enlarge

Getting There

Our “Jersey Shore” is about a 1 1/2 hour drive from New York and Philadelphia, an hour from Princeton and an hour from Newark Liberty Airport and 1 1/2 hours from Philadelphia airport. Private planes can fly into Monmouth Airport in Wall and there are marina slips available for boaters coming up the Intercoastal.

Click picture to enlarge

When To Go

While the summer months offer the most to do, there is something awfully romantic about a walk on a deserted beach and lunch in a cozy pub beside a roaring fire during the winter.

Like most resort areas, the population at the Jersey Shore swells dramatically during the summer months, but it is not unbearable. There is certainly more traffic and more people, but the roadways are not clogged like the Hamptons and the streets are not jammed with people like in Newport.

Getting Around

The area is fairly spread out so you will need a car to get around.

Accommodations/Dining

Most people come to the Jersey Shore for a week at a time and rent homes, so there is not the selection or breadth of accommodations you might find in other resorts. That is not to say, however, that there are not charming and delightful places to stay, just not as many. Click here to see our Recommendations

Dining is another story with no shortage of wonderful pubs, waterfront restaurants, sidewalk cafes and fine dining. We’ve eaten at all the best ones. Click here to see our Favorites.

Things To Do

There are miles of clean, well maintained beaches supported by the sale of daily and seasonal beach badges. Daily badges cost between $4-$6 depending on the beach. Monmouth County boasts 6 public golf courses, two of which are consistently rated in the Top 100 by Golf Digest Magazine. There are miles of bike and nature walks through parks and reservoirs and Brielle is the deep sea fishing capital of the East with some of the best tuna and shark fishing anywhere. You can enjoy a day at the races at the magnificent Monmouth Park racetrack or take an hour’s drive and try your luck at the tables in Atlantic City. There are open air concerts with big name entertainment, art shows in the little beach towns and the largest hot air balloon festival in the country is just a short drive away. You can rent boats and kayaks, play tennis or just relax in a hammock. Click here to see our complete list of Things To Do.

Don't Miss

Morning coffee at the Manasquan Inlet
Back porch at the Parker House after the beach
Cocktails at the River House
A rainy day at Rod’s
Dinner at Nicholas
A day at Monmouth Park

See the Jersey Shore in pictures.

Jim Flyn's BestWeekends

Let Us Plan Your Trip