Nearly every morning
practically half the island
is jogging, walking,
blading or biking on Beach
Ave, the 7.5 mile stretch
of asphalt that stretches
from Ship Bottom to
Beach Haven (south of the
bridge); it’s a great time
to exercise, enjoy the sun
and people watch. Tucked
down a residential street
is Hudson House (13th
St, Beach Haven), a nearly
locals-only dive bar about
as worn and comfortable
as an old pair of flip-flops.
Don’t be intimidated by
the fact that it looks like a
crumbling biker bar – it is.The Drive » The only way in
and out of Long Beach Island
is via the bridge between Ship
Bottom and Beach Haven West.
The Garden State Parkway
heads south past the marshy
pinelands area and AtlanticCity (see p142). Take exit 30 for
Somers Point; Laurel Dr turns
into Mac Arthur Blvd/Rte 52 and
then a long causeway crosses
Great Egg Harbor Bay. All up,
this is a 48-mile drive.7 Ocean City
An almost heavenly
amalgam of Ocean Grove
and Point Pleasant, Ocean
City is a dry town with a
roomy boardwalk packed
with genuine family fun
and facing an exceedingly
pretty beach. There’s a
small water park, and
Gillian’s Wonderland has
a heart-thumpingly tall
Ferris wheel, a beautifully
restored merry-go-round,
kiddie rides galore – and
no microphoned teens
hawking carnie games.
The mood is light and
friendly (a lack of alcohol
will do that).
Minigolf aficionados:
dingdingdingding! You
hit the jackpot. Pint-size
duffers can play through
on a three-mastedschooner, around great
white sharks and giant
octopus, under reggae
monkeys piloting a
helicopter and even in
black light. If you haven’t
yet, beat the heat with a
delicious Kohr’s soft-serve
frozen custard, plain or
dipped. While saltwater
taffy is offered in many
places, Shriver’s Taffy
(%877-668-2339, 609-399-
0100; http://www.shrivers.com; 9th &
Boardwalk; h9am-midnight,
shorter hours off-season; c)
is, in our humble opinion,
the best: watch machines
stretch and wrap it, and
then fill a bag with two
dozen or more flavors.4 p117
The Drive » If time isn’t
a factor, cruise down local
streets and several small
bridges over inlets and
channels ($1.50 toll on two
of the four in each direction;
no E-Z Pass) through the
beachfront communities of
Strathmere, Sea Isle City,
Avalon and Stone Harbor);
this is roughly a 26-mile drive.
Otherwise, head back to the
Garden State Parkway and get
off at one of two exits for the
Wildwoods on a 30-mile drive.8 Wildwoods
A party town
popular with teens,
20-somethings and
the young, primarily
Eastern Europeans who
staff the restaurants
and shops, Wildwood
is the main social focus
here (North Wildwood
and Wildwood Crest areTRIP HIGHLIGHTWE’RE HAVIN’ A PARTY
Yes, in summer, every day is a party at the Jersey
shore. But here are some events not to miss:
» Gay Pride Parade, Asbury Park, early June (www.
gayasburypark.com)
» Polka Spree by the Sea, Wildwood, late June
(www.northwild.com/events.asp)
» New Jersey Sandcastle Contest, Belmar, July
(www.njsandcastle.com)
» New Jersey State Barbecue Championship,
Wildwood, mid-July (www.njbbq.com)
» Ocean City Baby Parade, Ocean City, early August
(www.ocnj.us)NEW.JERSEY.&.PENNSYLVANIA.TRIPS.8
(^) THE JERSEY SHORE