Page 16 - 2023 Southern NJ Vacationer

WHERE’S THE BEACH? Where is your beach? These questions are repeated time and again from Atlantic City to Cape May Point, and even along some of the bay beaches, where the ever-changing ocean, gentle surf and shifting sand provide a playground that’s tough to top.
Beaches offer distinct personalities, and most beach goers have a preference, not just for a particular resort but even a specific beach. What’s your preference? There are beaches that cater to sunbathing, swimming, surfing, fishing, kayaking or even a game of volleyball. Many resorts now have special accommodations for the handicapped or people
with disabilities, including reserved parking spaces, ramps and even surf chairs that can be rolled onto the beach. Facilities vary from town to town, so call ahead to see if a particular beach or town can meet any special needs.
Lifeguards protect most ocean beaches during the busy summer season and visitors are urged to swim only during the times when guards are on duty. A few beaches even have extended hours in mid-summer.
Atlantic City’s shores hug a backdrop of glass and neon lighting the sky with a glittering line of casinos that add energy and charisma to the beach strand. Just a few steps separate the roar of the surf from the sounds of the
slot machines. Atlantic City beaches include piers such as the historic Steel Pier.
Ventnor and the “Down Beach” communities, as they are often called, are quieter than their neighbor to the north, but offer just as much fun. Ventnor’s large beaches are almost always less crowded than their Atlantic City neighbors where surfing, kayaking and sail boating are enjoyed, while the tiny town of Longport, within an easy drive from Atlantic City, is one of the only beaches near the casino city that allows dogs.
Among the best-rated in the area, Ocean City offers eight miles of pristine white sand beaches, which are a magnet for families. Beaches in the center of Ocean City are popular in the heat of the summer while those to the northern and southern ends of America’s Greatest Family Resort offer a little quieter experience. For those beachgoers that believe “surfing is life; the rest is details,” catch waves at designated beaches in the resort at Waverly Boulevard, 7th, 16th Streets, and beaches south of 36th Street.
The slip of shore between Ocean City and the tiny community of Strathmere is home to Corson’s Inlet State Park. The park is a popular, fun place for kayaking, wind surfing, fishing and more.
Strathmere and neighboring Whale Beach take visitors back to the 50s, when you parked the car, walked a few feet to the
WHERE’S THE BEACH?
Where is your beach?
14 SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY VACATIONER