New Jersey Shore, The
from WorldWeb.com Travel Guide

	One of the Jersey Shore's many Boardwalks

The East coast of America's Garden State has become synonymous with leisure pursuits and fun vacations. Many travel to New Jersey for opportunities not found anywhere else, like the 130 miles (210 km) of virtually continuous sandy beach, unique shopping, and gambling along the longest boardwalk in the world. Although there are no major (or even profitable) trade ports along the coast, the Jersey Shore is an important asset to a state so dependant on tourism. It boasts a wealth of historic sites, Victorian accommodations and entertainment and leisure opportunities sure to make any vacation memorable.

HISTORY

Settlement life in the early days of the Jersey Shore was not as laid back as it is today. In addition to the difficult life of the frontier family, the coastal waters were often troubled by violence and crime. Pirates such as Blackbeard, Captain Morgan and Captain Kidd—who was who was executed in London, England in 1701—were common until the 1800s.

The rich and varied history of the Shore includes stories of fame, fortune and even a few legends of the supernatural. For example, the small, early 1700s settlement of Leeds Point lying just north of Atlantic City, is commonly said to have given birth to the legend of the Jersey Devil. Not the popular NHL team, but the half demon, half human child that is said to have haunted the region for more than two and a half centuries. The origins, much like the truth of the legend, are lost in history, but state officials count thousands of sightings (including some by government officials, military heroes and even one by Joseph Bonaparte, the brother of Napoleon I, Emperor of France) and disturbances attributed to the mischief maker, many around the beginnings of great wars like the American Revolution and World War I. Most of the sightings involve a flying creature seen from a distance, or strange hoof prints in snow and on rooftops. Though it has frightened residents and visitors for almost three centuries, it has never attacked them.

With pirates, military heroes, wild animals and creatures unknown, the New Jersey Shore is ripe with tales of all sorts. One of the most popular is the tale of America's own Robin Hood. Prior to the Revolution, the famous gentleman robber known as Joe Mulliner hid out along the Mullica River, fed by the Great Bay near Beach Haven. Mulliner countered the image of a common criminal and earned his favourable reputation through such acts as sending a single mother $300 after learning that men in his gang robbed her and burnt her house to the ground.

When the American Revolution began rattling the foundations of the British Empire, little was thought of New Jersey. The state was fairly low ranking among the colonies, and in spite of its coastal location offered little in the way of commercial manufacturing and trade with foreign countries. Thus the state was more dependant on the Crown for support than were its neighbours. In the years leading up to the revolt, loy alty to the British Empire was strong. The British reforms of the mid 1700s imposed severe restrictions on what trade the state could manage, and the taxes the Crown hoped would counter the escalating cost of the war over American soil only made matters worse.

That said, with all the turmoil surrounding the Revolution, it is perhaps surprising that no major battles were fought for the Jersey Shore. The state was not without conflict, and many lives were lost in the battle for independence, but the Jersey Shore offered little in the way of strategic locations or military prizes. It was largely untouched in the Revolutionary years. After the war, life along the Shore returned to its casual, laid back air, building strong roots as a family based territory.

Religous Life Played A Big Role In Early New Jersey

Long Branch, for example, built the famous St. James Episcopal Church. Over the years, seven presidents would worship here. The Church remains and is now a museum.

In the early 20th century, laws forbidding gambling created difficult times for the state. The wealthy and famous stopped visiting the ocean towns. The onset of organized crime didn't help either. The larger centers became increasingly associated with violence, and resort towns fell into disrepair.

In 1916, life along the Jersey Shore would once again take a drastic turn, and cast a long shadow over beach goers and film fanatics the world over. One hot day in July, a young college student tragically lost his life in a rare shark attack. Local authorities considered this an isolated incident, but a few days later a second life was lost near Spring Lake. Days later, a third victim was attacked 11 miles in from the ocean along the Matawan Creek. A fourth would lose his life attempting to rescue the third. A fifth victim would lose his leg less than an hour later as the shark headed back down stream toward the Atlantic Ocean.

Hundreds of sharks would be killed in an attempt to capture the "Matawan Man-Eater". Two weeks later an eight foot Great White was caught and dissected to reveal itself as the killer. The events of 1916 are said to have inspired the novel and blockbuster film Jaws.

Once the laws against gambling were revoked in 1978, tourists flooded the area and the Shore began to prosper like never before. As tourism began to grow, Atlantic City took on new life. This growth continued for most of the 20th century, and the attraction of east coast gambling began to spread to the rest of the state. With increased revenues from gaming (a billion dollar industry by the year 2000) flowing into government coffers, the Jersey Shore became a refuge for escaping the trials of the conflicts of the 1900s. While the Shore became known as a family vacation destination, Atlantic City is still a more adult oriented city.

Although the modern New Jersey is considered an important coastal state, the Jersey Shore sees little action in the way of trade. The largest port in the USA is found in Elizabeth, north west of the Shore itself.

CLIMATE

The New Jersey Shore is known for quickly changing weather patterns. In general, the shore enjoys relatively warm and humid summers, with temperatures around 90º Fahrenheit (32ºCelsius). The ocean air makes for a more comfortable environment, but keeps things cool in the evenings. August tends to be the hottest of the summer months, in spite of frequent rains. One benefit to this longer season is that the water stays warm through the early fall, for those looking to avoid the crowded summer months.

In winter, the heavy humidity leads to a penetrating cold. The flakes are bigger, and often fall quite heavily, making for ideal conditions for snowshoeing, snowmen and cross country skiing. Snow begins falling as early as mid October, and can continue through late April. Snowstorms are not uncommon during the winter months, and temperatures can range from 24 to 42º Fahrenheit (3 to 6º Celsius). Temperatures drop slightly in January, the coldest month of the year, and settle around 30º Fahrenheit (-1º Celsius).

The climate settles for the shoulder seasons, with spring being an excellent time for watching the coast wake from winter slumber. The fall and early winter along the shore is typically warmer than the rest of the state, due to the ocean air. The opposite is true in the spring, when the ocean breeze keeps the coast cool.

GETTING TO THE NEW JERSEY SHORE

Airports

The Atlantic City International Airport is by far the largest, and busiest airport along the Jersey Shore. Expanded for the 21st century to assist almost 1.5 million travellers yearly, Atlantic city International has brought new life, and new revenues to the region. The most noticeable change has been the growth in Atlantic City itself, but the airport also offers direct routes to many smaller cities in the Atlantic City area, proving to be a boon to both the population and the economy.

Alternatively, visitors may choose to avoid the hustle of the big city by booking direct flights to Cape May County Airport, found in Wildwood, on the southern tip of the Cape. Cape May County Airport is primarily tourist based, with most business travellers flying in to Atlantic City. The best choice for flights to the southern regions, the airport connects visitors to the rest of the Shore by way of Route 47, the Garden State Parkway and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal.

	Ferry Transportation Along the Coast

Toward the other end of the Shore is Monmouth Executive Airport, in Belmar, near the Belmar Marina. Monmouth Executive is ideal for points north, including Point Pleasant, Asbury Park and Eatontown.

Railway passage is also available from Philadelphia, via the Atlantic City Rail Line. Operated by the New Jersey Transit Authority, the rail line offers direct service to Atlantic City, with many stops along the way.

The highway running the length of the Shore is Route 9, which doesn't pass through Atlantic city, but is only a few miles from it. Many minor highways connect route 9 to the coast, as well as the rest of the Garden State.

The Cape May-Lewes Ferry in North Cape May offers ferry routes between New Jersey and Delaware. The ferry, which makes the trip in about 80 minutes one way, and 3 hours return, offers shoreside transportation seven days a week between June and September, with weekend shuttle service in May and October. Travelers often enjoy watching for dolphins along the way. Private rooms on the ferry are also available for special events by reservation.

Also on the waterfront is the Belmar Marina, overlooking Shark River. Belmar is a quiet, year round resort community south of Asbury Park, with a population of around 7,000 by the 21st century. The marina makes for an ideal port for leisurely cruises along the coast, and provides quick and easy access to the 195 and Garden State Highways for exploring the rest of the Garden State.

SIGHTS AND ATTRACTIONS

Whether seeking adventure or a quiet retreat to leave the modern world behind, there is always something to do in the state that made it illegal for a man to knit during the fishing season.

	Kayaking- A Favorite Past Time

The approximately 130 miles (210 km) of sandy beach along the New Jersey Shore are often crowded during the summer season. So much so that some even charge a small admission fee during the busiest months. Favourite past times for locals and visitors alike include sailing and kayaking, hitting the rolling waves on a surfboard, taking a leisurely cruise along the coast, fishing, golf, and nature adventures like bird watching and whale watching. Long Beach Island is known for its premier boating locals and a picturesque horizon that some say can only be appreciated from the ocean.

But the Jersey Shore is far more than water sports. Morey's Pier and Raging Waters Waterpark alone has seven roller coasters. Morey's is only one of many amusement parks along the coast. Wildwood, where Morey's is found, is a bit of a party hub, as is Jackson with its Six Flags Great Adventure Theme Park and Safari. For sightseeing, one of the more unique opportunities in the country can be found in The New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route, which runs the entire length of the Jersey Shore. Since 1988, the Heritage Trail has played a prominent role in maintaining the state's maritime heritage.

The Shore is no stranger to big city entertainment either. Asbury Park has always been a popular spot with vacationers. This relatively quiet town on the northern tip of the Jersey Shore is known for beautiful tree lined streets, locally made salt water taffy, and great shopping. Through the mid and late 1900s, Asbury Park was a popular scene for entertainment, and it was not uncommon for large shows to be held here. Live music lovers could enjoy such popular acts as The Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane,The Who, The Doors, and Bruce Springsteen, who was born here.

Asbury park also has many historic locations to visit, including the homes of celebrities such as William Alexander Abbott, better known as Bud Abbott of the famous comedic duo Abbott & Costello, who was born here in 1897.

There are many quieter spots along the shore, such as Ocean Grove, not to be confused with Ocean City, which was originally a Methodist meeting ground, and the ecological reserve known as Island Beach State Park, both ideal spots for romantic getaways and nature walks.

There are a few resorts that are ideal for any number of summer activities. Mansquan is fairly central, which makes for great touring of New Jersey, and offers great beaches for swimming, sunbathing, surfing and just about anything water related. The longest non-commercial boardwalk (2 miles, or almost 4 kilometres) in New Jersey can be found in Spring Lake, also known for excellent surfing, and scuba diving to sunken ships. Fresh and saltwater fishing can be enjoyed right off the beach. The quiet town also has beautiful homes with well kept gardens.

A Lighthouse On The Shore

Victorian Cape May, dating back to 1620, is America's original seaside resort. Found at the very southern most tip of the Shore, Cape May is home to Sunset Beach, said to be the only beach on the shore that actually sees the sunset. Having let the modernisation of America slip quietly by, the Cape is much quieter than many seaside towns, lending to its friendly and historic atmosphere. With so many historic buildings, the town is a great vacation spot for lovers of architecture, Victorian homes in particular, and antique shopping. The southern point of New Jersey is also an ideal spot for nature lovers, with Cape May National Wildlife Refuge and Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. Cape May is a big draw for historians and fortune hunters, as one of the rumoured sites of notorious pirate Captain Kidd's lost treasure, a bounty of almost 400, 000 British Pounds, circa 1700.

Picturesque Cape May also claims the title of the oldest ocean resort in the country.

No Jersey Shore experience would be complete without a stop in Atlantic City (be sure to read the WorldWeb Travel Guide Review of Atlantic City).This coastal hot spot is synonymous with gaming, casinos and nightlife. So much so that the street names for the popular board game Monopoly came from here, which should come as no surprise considering that Atlantic City has the very first, and longest boardwalk anywhere in the world. Since its beginning in 1921, the Miss America pageant has been held here every year. Atlantic City is a popular tourist destination, and almost 40 million travellers come here every year.

Near by, historians and wine enthusiasts will enjoy a stop at the historic town of Smithville, founded in 1787 and home to the Renault Winery, the country's oldest operational winery, opened almost 100 years later. The winery's New Jersey Champagne first bottled in 1870 became the benchmark for the region.

Also close to Atlantic City is the Pine Barrens forest, perhaps the best place near the Jersey Shore for nature hikes, camping, bird watching and all around wildlife observation.

NEW JERSEY SHORE DINING

There are many opportunities to experience a variety of restaurants around the New Jersey Shore. The commercialization of Atlantic City and the various resort towns along the coast has brought with it a prosperous fast food industry. Among the many pizza and hamburger stops along the boardwalks are cafes and bistros that offer fast and tasty snacks, as well as full meals the whole family can enjoy, from chilly dogs to raw oysters. Many of them serve fine breakfast options as well.

Golf- Another Favorite Past Time

Of course, the seafood is fantastic, as one might expect from any coastal local, and most restaurants along the Shore offer dinner freshly caught. Dock’s Oyster House, for example, has offered some of the finest seafood on the coast since 1897. The family owned and operated landmark is one of Atlantic City's oldest restaurants. The restaurant is also close to the boardwalk for a relaxing walk after dinner.

All of the casinos house a number of restaurants, as well as "all you can eat" buffets. Some of these offer discount rates for certain guests, so it is worth asking the host/ hostess about these.

Most stops along the hunger trail also offer a variety of award winning, locally made wines. Festivals are held throughout the summer, and enthusiasts can tour the vineyards and even stomp a few grapes of their own. Of particular interest is the oldest operational winery in the country, the award winning Renault Winery, in Egg Harbour City. Several festivals are held throughout the year, and Renault Winery welcomes wedding parties and caters many banquets. The winery also houses conference facilities, a gourmet restaurant and the Antique Glass Museum.