50 Fun Things to do at the Jersey Shore

by | Jan 27, 2015 | Plan a Vacation, Shore Guide

  1. Go to the beach.  The Jersey shore has miles and miles of clean, guarded sands.  Keep in mind that some beaches require beach badges; some beaches (the Wildwoods and Atlantic City) are free!
  2. Spend the day at Morey’s Piers, on the famous Wildwood Boardwalk.  The three adventure piers and two water parks have more rides than Disneyland!
  3. Take a walking tour of Victorian Cape May — the entire town is a National Historic Landmark!
  4. Go on a whale and dolphin watching cruise.
  5. Hunt for Cape May Diamonds on Sunset Beach in Cape May.  Currents around the sunken Atlantus deposit these tumbled quartz crystals on the beach.
  6. Go shopping!  Try the Washington Street Mall in Cape May, or the Quarter at the Tropicana in Atlantic City.
  7. Try some salt water taffy at James and Fralinger’s Salt Water Taffy, with locations in Cape May, Atlantic City, and Wildwood.
  8. Enjoy a fresh seafood dinner at one of the area’s many waterfront restaurants.
  9. Visit the Cape May Zoo — admission is free!  More than 200 different species of animals make their homes here.
  10. See the sights from the Absecon Lighthouse in Atlantic City, the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse in North Wildwood, or the Cape May Lighthouse in Cape May Point.
  11. Step back in time at Historic Cold Spring Village — meet historical interpreters and learn what life was like in the 1800s.  You’ll be fascinated by crafts in action like blacksmithing, tinsmithing, and more!
  12. Watch for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in the water off Wildwood Crest.
  13. Try your luck at the slots in Atlantic City, or see if you can beat the house at your favorite table game.
  14. Watch the sunset at Sunset Lake in Wildwood Crest, where the sunsets are said to rival those seen in the Florida Keys!
  15. Catch a free summer concert in one of the many Jersey shore towns.  Whether you love oldies, swing, or jazz, you’ll find a concert to suit you!  All you have to bring is a blanket or chair and a smile.
  16. Watch for herons and thousands of other birds at the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary.
  17. Learn more about how stranded sea animals are rescued, rehabilitated, and returned to the wild at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine.
  18. Visit Lucy the Elephant in Margate.
  19. Catch a comedy show in Atlantic City or at the Casba Comedy Club in Wildwood.
  20. Grab a hot dog at the country’s best place for hot dogs — Maui’s Dog House in North Wildwood.
  21. Spend an afternoon at one of the many arcades on the boardwalks.  Try your hand at skee ball or the skill cranes, or your favorite video games.  Pick an arcade with the dancing games (like Dance Dance Revolution), and you’ll be treated to quite a show as the fleet-footed take turns dancing.
  22. Walk the boardwalk.  It’s good exercise and it’s great for people-watching.
  23. Rent a kayak and explore the back bay area.
  24. Rent a bicycle and cruise the streets of town.
  25. Soak up some sun, but don’t forget the sunscreen or you’ll go home looking like a lobster.
  26. Build sand castles!
  27. Shop for antiques.  South Jersey is home to some amazing antique collections.
  28. Ride the beach tram in North Wildwood.  The beaches are so wide, you may need a lift instead of walking the hot sands.
  29. Ride the trolley through Wildwood Crest, Wildwood, and North Wildwood.
  30. Take a tour of the Doo Wop architecture in the Wildwoods.
  31. Catch a movie at the IMAX at the Tropicana in Atlantic City.
  32. Watch the surfers at your favorite beach, or grab a board and give it a try yourself.
  33. Play mini-golf.
  34. Play a round of golf at one of the area’s many championship courses.
  35. Practice escaping from sand traps early in the day — before the lifeguards go on duty, or in the evening once the beach has cleared.
  36. Check out great live local bands in Sea Isle City or Wildwood.
  37. Spend an afternoon at one of the beach bars in Atlantic City.
  38. Take the ferry from Cape May to Lewes, Delaware for shopping and historical sites.
  39. Have afternoon tea on the porch of your favorite bed and breakfast in Cape May.
  40. Learn about the history of the town you’re staying in at the local historical society museum.
  41. Take a guided tour of the dunes and beaches in Avalon and Stone Harbor.
  42. Go surf fishing.
  43. Visit the site of the only battle of the American Revolution fought in Cape May County — the Turtle Gut Park and Memorial at Sunset Lake in Wildwood Crest.
  44. Spread out a blanket and watch the fireworks.  Every town has a great Fourth of July display, but many will also put on fireworks shows more than once each summer.
  45. Take a charter boat out for a day of fishing.
  46. Visit the Marbles Hall of Fame in North Wildwood
  47. Visit the Discovery Seashell Museum in Ocean City.
  48. Browse the gift shops on the boardwalk or promenade in town.
  49. Bring the family out for free activities on the boardwalk in Ocean City, North Wildwood, or Avalon.
  50. Enjoy a romantic, candlelit dinner in Cape May.