Five Budget Friendly Family Activities
Vacationing with the family can be a real budget buster. Between spending money on accommodations and meals to shelling out cash for your extracurricular activities the money seems to just fly out of your wallet. Fortunately, the Jersey Shore is jam packed with family friendly activities that won’t break the bank. From inexpensive to free, find out what activities you can do to help stretch your vacation dollar.
Seashell Museum
If you are visiting the family friendly resort town of Ocean City, New Jersey the Seashell Museum is the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon. Open from Memorial Day to Christmas, Monday through Saturday 10 am to 8 pm and Sunday 12 pm to 6 pm, admission to this museum is free. The museum is family owned and operated by a divers who have collected the seashells on display from waters the world over. Exhibits include some of the finest and rarest seashells in the world including the Glory of India and the only Siamese Twin Helmet in known existence. You can visit the Seashell Museum at 2721 Asbury Avenue in Ocean City New Jersey.
Marine Mammal Stranding Center
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center is located just outside Atlantic City in Brigantine, New Jersey. The center has worked to rescue and rehabilitate marine mammals and sea turtles from New Jersey’s waterways that are in distress. The staff and volunteers at the center have responded to roughly 3,800 dolphins, seals, whales and sea turtles since it opened in 1978. During a tour of the facility you will see a 1,000 gallon outdoor observation tank and a “please touch” display of marine mammal bones. From May 7th to June 12th the visiting hours are Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 2 pm. From June 18th to September 4 th the visiting hours are Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. After September 4th the visiting hours are from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday until April 30th. The center runs on donations.
Free Concerts
During the summer the seaside resort towns in New Jersey are buzzing with activity so it is not uncommon to see a free concert when you are walking the boards. Atlantic City, Ocean City, Wildwood and Sea Isle City are all known to do this. In Atlantic City these events are often set up at the entrance to the Steel Pier on the boardwalk. That said, the casinos often have things going outside their entrances as well. To find out when free concerts are available and where they are located check with the visitor information center for the place you are visiting.
Fireworks and Light Shows
What is more American than fireworks on a balmy summer night? Many of the New Jersey beaches have fireworks displays to celebrate the 4th of July and other summer holidays. Wildwood has a fireworks display on the beach every friday night during the summer. Visitors to Atlantic City can also catch a free light show that is set to music. The show begins at the top of every hour and it is located at the fountain that is at the end of The Pier
Shops at Caesars casino.
Scenic Walk
New Jersey is world famous for its beach resort communities, but plenty of unspoiled land remains. Several preserved areas remain for visitors who enjoy the outdoors. Corson’s Inlet State Park is an example of this. Located in Cape May County, the park isn’t to far from the resort town of Ocean City. Admission to the park is free and you can sunbathe, hike, fish, crab and boat there. if you enjoy wildlife you will be pleased to see a host of birds including the endangered Piping Plover along with sandpipers, gulls and herons.
The Beach
It may seem obvious, but one of most affordable activity options when you are vacationing at the New Jersey shore is beach going. If you are in Wildwood, or Atlantic City it is 100% free for your entire family to get on the beach. Other beaches charge a nominal fee for adults and even less for children and seniors. Pop into one of the dollar stores on the boardwalk to grab some buckets and shovels. Eat a picnic lunch from your cooler.