Long Beach Island

Family Fun for 18 miles

A popular Southern Jersey beach destination, Long Beach Island (aka LBI) attracts those seeking family-friendly fun to its 18-by-one-half-mile strip of land. At the northern end of the island, you can climb “Old Barney” — the Barnegat Lighthouse — for a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean. At the southern end is the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, a 48,000-acre park known for birdwatching. And in between, you’ll find miles of pristine sandy beaches and plenty of summer fun.

The Beaches

Most beaches have lifeguards every day during the season from 10 to 5 and are largely uncrowded, kept in check by a system of paid badges. Typically, a badge costs $10/day, about $20/week or $50/season, with discounts for youngsters, seniors and the military. Check online for details.

LBI beaches are beautiful. Wide, sandy, clean and generally uncrowded. Several, such as Harvey Cedars, Brighton Beach and Beach Haven Park, are especially tranquil. LBI’s bayside also has beaches, ideal for swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding. Beach Haven Beach and Loveladies Beach, by the way, are public, so no badges required.

The Towns

Ship Bottom, at the foot of the only bridge onto the island, is known as the “Gateway to Long Beach Island.” The boat ramp hosts evening concerts throughout the summer.

To the southern end of the island is Beach Haven, a more bustling area, home to two museums including a maritime museum. The town is known for its many shopping, dining, amusement parks and nightlife options.

Centrally located Surf City boasts many shopping and restaurant destinations. It also hosts a less active bayside beach, excellent for younger kids, plus a designated surfing area on the ocean side.

Towards the north is Harvey Cedars, offering a quieter scene. Its Sunset Park has weekly concerts, and its downtown walking area features excellent eateries. At the northern tip is Barnegat Light, known for its peaceful, natural environment and wide beaches. It’s also the home of an active fishing community.

The largest part of LBI is Long Beach Township, including several more communities, such as Loveladies, North Beach, Brighton Beach and The Dunes.

Getting Around

There are several options for touring. The LBI Shuttle operates seasonally on the whole island from 3 to 11 p.m. (midnight on weekends) for $5. It stops in designated areas, but you can flag one down, too.

One of the best ways to get around is by bicycle. If you didn’t bring yours, there are several rental places offering basic bikes, road bikes, kids’ bikes or bikes with electric power.

If you want to see LBI from the water, you’ve got choices. Several companies offer scheduled outings, many at sunset. Or try Black Pearl Pirate Tours out of Beach Haven — the square-rigged craft is large and the crew feisty.

Interested in some seaside aerobic exercise? Consider pedal boating. Queen City Cycle Boating offers a 35-foot pedal-
powered pontoon boat that can handle up to 24 passengers.

Island Outings

At Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, it’s well worth the 217-foot climb to the top, though you can preview the view in the Interpretive Center. Birders will enjoy the Maritime Forest Trail for a chance to spot an osprey, egret or one of the 200+ species inhabiting the area.

The New Jersey Maritime Museum in Beach Haven has an extensive collection of maritime history and artifacts, many from shipwrecks. And the Long Beach Island Historical Museum has more historical artifacts, including a fisherman’s cottage.

Interested in fishing? Fishermen can join a party boat, rent or charter a boat. Or they can catch many species of fish in the surf or at the Barnegat Inlet bulkhead.

If you visit Barnegat Lighthouse, you’re close to Viking Village, a good place to shop for fishing gear, antiques, clothing and souvenirs. While you’re there, grab a coffee, stock up on fresh produce and seafood — scallops, monkfish, tuna, mahi-mahi, swordfish — it’s literally fresh off the boat. The Viking Dock is home port for about 40 boats, some 110 feet in length. On Fridays, you can tour the docks.

Entertainment and Amusement

Try one of LBI’s several public parks. Bayview Park, for instance, offers a playground plus basketball and volleyball courts. Beach Arlington Park, Sunset Park, Sunset Point and Taylor Avenue Park also have playgrounds. Other parks feature more mature amusements: tennis courts, bocce ball, shuffleboard, horseshoes and, of course, pickleball.

Try the Fantasy Island Amusement Park, with rides, boardwalk games, arcade and eateries, to pry your kids from their screens. Or there’s Beach Haven’s Thundering Surf Waterpark & Adventure Golf with plenty of exhilarating water slides and rides, plus simulated waves for flowboarding. Book a cabana and watch. Or test your skill at an 18-hole mini-golf course.

Also in Beach Haven, the Surflight Theatre presents live plays through August, including “9 to 5,” “42nd Street,” “West Side Story” and “The Buddy Holly Story.” In the afternoons, the Children’s Theatre is alive with shows featuring Peter Pan, Snow White, The Little Mermaid, SpongeBob, Cinderella and other characters.

Dining options range from The Gables, a romantic spot in a Victorian inn, to the Chicken or the Egg (the Chegg), known for its wings and open 24 hours on summer weekends. Oh, and there’s plenty of seafood to enjoy in every kind of setting.

More at WelcomeToLBI.com.

Wildwood

A retro vibe at a boardwalk town

Wide, clean, safe and free beaches. No beach tags. A two-and-half-mile boardwalk, voted the best in the U.S., with 100 rides. Waterparks, amusement parks, a family atmosphere.

Plus fireworks, concerts, dance competitions, craft festivals, sand sculpting festivals, BBQ competitions, lifeguard championships, art displays, fitness and yoga, athletic competitions (running, surfing, flag football, wrestling, Frisbee, martial arts, rugby, beach hockey, baseball, Skee-Ball) and more. That’s what fills Wildwood’s summer calendar. Oh, and the Harlem Globetrotters play at the end of July.

Basically, it’s tough to beat Wildwood for a family beach vacation. Especially if you like a boardwalk.

Geography and Getting Around

Wildwood — really, the Wildwoods — is a five-mile-long island, divided into the cities of Wildwood and North Wildwood and the borough of Wildwood Crest (a dry town) to the south. It’s basically an hour’s drive to Atlantic City to the north, about 15 minutes to Cape May to the south. The Cape May National Wildlife Refuge is on the southern tip, and the Hereford Inlet and Lighthouse are on the northern tip.

Cycling is a great way to get around, especially in the morning. Bicycles are allowed on the Boardwalk only from 5 a.m. until 1 p.m. A bike route runs nearly the entire length of the island, beginning at the Wildlife Refuge, continuing north on the Boardwalk, then on a path parallel to the beach along JFK Boulevard. You can also ride on designated bike paths along the beachfront in North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest.

Choose from several bike rental companies — Casino, Crest, D.R. Bradley, Magnolia, Sportland and Surf Bikes — offering a variety of styles, including beach cruisers, road bikes, trikes, two-person, surreys and more. You can also rent electric-assisted bikes, though motorbikes are barred from the Boardwalk. Some rental spots offer golf carts, another fun option, but again not for cruising the Boardwalk.

Running from about noon until the piers close, the trackless tram is a traditional and popular way to see the length of the Boardwalk. There are several well-marked stops along the 30-minute route from Cresse Avenue at the south end to 16th Street at the north.

The Boardwalk

A highlight of a Wildwood visit, the Boardwalk begins north of Wildwood Crest, at Cresse Avenue at its southern point, up to 15th Avenue in the north. A key attraction is Morey’s Piers, an amusement park dating from 1969 that spans 18 acres, three piers and 100 rides, ranging from mild to high-intensity. Add in six roller coasters, a huge Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, bumper cars, spinning teacups and so much more fun. Neon lights and music are everywhere, making this one of the top seaside amusement parks.

But the Boardwalk doesn’t end with Morey’s rides. The Splash Zone includes a host of water slides, flumes and a 40-foot continuous wave FlowRider. Raging Waters and Ocean Oasis also have water slides, pools and cabanas. And there’s more to discover — salt water taffy, pizza, frozen custard and souvenir shops galore!

The Beach

For most, the beach and ocean with its gentle surf will dominate sunny days. The width of the beach is amazing: nearly a quarter mile from boardwalk to shoreline, in contrast with narrow LBI. In designated areas, fishermen will cast for stripers and other fish. Offshore, you may see whales or dolphins. Shark sightings are rare, but do occur. (There haven’t been any recent attacks.)

There are several ways to enjoy the beach. Be lazy, get a tan, read a book, listen to music. Or get up and hunt for seashells, toss a Frisbee, build a sandcastle or fly a kite. With some planning, you can organize a volleyball or soccer game. In fact, there are tournaments planned for flag football, rugby, Frisbee and other sports.

Others may merely want to get their feet wet. For them, vendors can help with fun around the water. Surfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, waterskiing, parasailing, pontoon boats, speedboats and WaveRunners: all require equipment that can be rented from local businesses. Often you can also get lessons.

When It Rains

Rain, clouds, chilly weather or glowing sunburns will have you looking for fun off the beach.

Luckily, the Boardwalk is home to several arcades: Bobby Dee’s, Mariner’s and Ed’s Funcade Gateway 26 have Skee-Ball, claw machines, arcade games, casino games, some with a chance for prizes. Cape Square has movies, bowling and a golf simulator. Island Bowl has … bowling.

The classic beach pastime of mini-golf is extremely popular in Wildwood, which hosts at least nine courses, three at Morey’s. Dragon’s Lair has a unique blacklight experience, while others are combined with irresistible ice cream parlors.

You may be surprised that Wildwood museums are worth visiting even on a sunny afternoon. Try the Doo Wop Experience and Neon Sign Garden, celebrations of architecture, design, music, pop culture and everything else that made Wildwood famous in its heyday of the 1950s and ’60s. At the George F. Boyer Museum, you’ll find exhibits that focus on the area’s entertainment, amusements and boardwalk along with local history, including artifacts, photos and other memorabilia related to the Wildwoods’ distinctive past.

Remember to check the schedule at the Convention Center for special events there.

For more about this summer getaway, visit WildwoodsNJ.com.