USA Today released its Top 10 beaches in New Jersey and the winner is one of our favorites, too.
No. 1 on the list, The Wildwoods is made up of North Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest along 5 miles of island. The beaches are free and clean, and you can rent a jet ski, go paddleboarding or go kayaking. The 2.5-mile boardwalk has Morey’s Piers with over 100 rides and attractions, plus arcades, carnival games, shops, and over 200 places to grab food. The boardwalk and convention center host major events and festivals all year, many of which are free. Coming up are the National Marbles Tournament, Barefoot Country Music Fest, PigDog Volleyball, drag races and car shows, and the Wildwoods Baby Parade. Friday Night Fireworks will start soon, along with free outdoor concerts four nights a week. It’s also home to the newest and largest Jersey Shore beach resort, Madison Resort, which took over and renovated the Oceanview Motel and the Royal Hawaiian properties.
Ocean City came in at No. 2. We love OC for its boardwalk, where no trip is complete without a stop at Manco & Manco Pizza, JiLLY’s French Fry Factory, Johnson’s Popcorn or Shriver’s for saltwater taffy. Gillian’s Wonderland Pier has indoor and outdoor rides, including the 130-foot Drop Tower for amazing aerial views of the shore before you drop at 47 miles per hour. On the bay side of Ocean City, opt for stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking. Don’t limit your visit to just the summer, because events take place year-round. Have you tried the Polar Plunge or First Night in January?
Coming in at 3, Sea Isle City is a family favorite. Townsend’s Inlet Waterfront Park, the Sea Isle City Historical Museum and the Shoppes at Spinnaker are all great places to explore with the kids. The city has a new handicapped accessible ramp that was just completed at the Promenade at 53rd Street, and a ramp at 51st Street should be open in a few weeks. And a new dog park opened at the north end of the city two weeks ago. There’s an ongoing beach replenishment project taking place, so the beaches will be even nicer than you remember.
Don’t count out fourth place Atlantic City as just a playground for adults. Over the years, AC has become more family-friendly, with its expansive beachfront, arcades on the pier, the conversion of Showboat Casino into Lucky Snake Arcade and the indoor Island Waterpark, and The Playground (formerly The Pier Shops) by Caesar’s. When you need a break from the sun, Dave & Buster’s opened up off the boardwalk, there is outlet shopping, you can catch an IMAX movie inside the Tropicana and take the kids to Sugar Factory at Hard Rock for a massive ice cream sundae.
Here are the Top 10 Beaches in New Jersey, according to the USA Today 10 Best Reader’s Choice Poll for 2024:
1. The Wildwoods
2. Ocean City
3. Sea Isle City
4. Atlantic City
5. Cape May
6. Long Beach Island
7. Avalon
8. Island Beach State Park in Seaside Heights
9. Brigantine Beach
10. Asbury Park
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Read More:
The Best Beaches for Families in NJ
50 Free Things to Do in NJ This Summer
These Are NJ’s Best Boardwalks
9 Free Beach Spots in NJ to Hit Up This Summer
