hi guys! i'm really excited to have beth here today to share another side of the jersey shore with us. i've only been to cape may, new jersey, which is a pretty "fancy shmancy" type of place, and seen the show on tv - so my knowledge of the shore is a bit low. but luckily for us, beth is going to let us in on all the wonderful sides we don't know about! take it away, beth!
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Hi Everyone! I’m Beth
and I blog over at The Life of Bee.
That’s my little space on the interwebs where I write and talk about
anything and everything that pops into my little brunette head. I’m so excited to be a guest here for Tourist
Tuesday.
I am going to talk to you all about the Jersey Shore. And I don’t mean the MTV Jersey Shore. Despite what one may see on THAT show, NJ is
home to some really beautiful beaches.
Growing up here, it was very common to head “down the shore” each and
every summer. The spot my family and I
frequented was Long Beach Island, or LBI.
Even today, it is one of my favorite places to be. It’s only an hour away and an easy ride down
Route 72.
As you cross over the bridge onto the island, you’ll notice
“the shack”. The shack is what I
consider the welcome to LBI. Each year
it gets a little more weathered and worn and I’m sure there will come a day it
won’t be there and that makes me sad. However,
there is a campaign going to “Save the Shack”.
It’s a landmark!
Once you're off the bridge and on the island, you'll be greeted by Ron Jon's Surf Shop. There are Ron Jon's in Florida but this one is "The Original".
LBI is made up of 6 towns. I'm most familiar with Beach Haven but all the beaches along the whole island are beautiful and a great place to spend your summer days! As the sun sets and you pack up to head back to your hotel or shore house, there is plenty to do with your evenings. There are tons of surf shops and boutiques to check out, restaurants, and a few night clubs.
The most famous eatery (in my opinion) on the island would be located in Beach Haven. The Chicken or the Egg, or 'The Chegg" serves breakfast, sandwiches, and hot wings. They are known for their hot sauce and you can buy it online. If you're up for the challenge, try their ludacrious sauce but don't say I didn't warn you. The Chegg was also featured on the Travel Channel's Man vs. Food!
After you've shopped and your belly is full, you can head to Joe Pop's and Nardi's for drinks and dancing. Joe Pop's is a hot spot for LBI bachelor and bachelorette parties. They have live music and a huge space for dancing. Nardi's is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They also have live music and dancing in the evening. Don't feel like driving? No problem, Nardi's offers a party bus. And you won't miss it since it's hot pink.
And if you're looking for something to do with the kiddies, check out Fantasy Island, LBI's very own amusement park.
I was never a big ride person but they also have tons of carnival style games and a "casino". My brother and aunt once got stuck on the top of the ferris wheel (which is where you get a wonderful view of the entire island) in the midst of a thunderstorm. Needless to say, I've never been on!
You can also make your way down to the end of the island to check out Barnegat Lighthouse, or Old Barney. There is a nice park if climbing the 217 steps up to the top of the lighthouse isn't your thing. There are nature trails and a walkway as well as fishing and birdwatching.
So, the Jersey Shore we see on MTV...that's not the Jersey Shore I know. The Jersey Shore I know is beautiful, quiet, and family friendly. And I hope you all get to visit! But if you do, let me know...I want to join. I never turn down a ride "down the shore"!
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thanks so much for sharing beth!
have you ever been to the jersey shore??
share your favorite tourist spots in the comments!
