Away from the buzzing excitement of Atlantic City you’ll find a quaint shore town called Stone Harbor. This is a great town for a family vacation!
Stone Harbor is nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Inter-coastal Waterway. The island features long stretches of beach and shopping and dining in walking distance. Lifeguards are on duty daily in Stone Harbor, which was named a Blue Wave Beach in 2004. The Blue Wave Campaign is the first environmental certification program for beaches in the United States. Find out more at www.cleanbeaches.org!
The quiet beaches of Stone Harbor may well be the town’s best kept secret. Stone Harbor lets the other towns have the non-beach attractions like boardwalks and arcades. If you’re looking for a peaceful, family-oriented shore vacation, Stone Harbor is the place to find it.
But Stone Harbor isn’t just a quiet beach!
The Wetlands Institute
www.wetlandsinstitute.org
Learn about conserving and preserving the coastal ecosystems at the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor. Walk through Marion’s Gardens on your way to the Institute — an award-winning garden designed to attract local birds and butterflies. The Institute is home to a small aquarium, and interactive exhibits to help you learn more about the Jersey shore environment. Be sure to take a guided tour of the Salt Marsh Trail so you can see the island’s finest flora and fauna up close and personal.
The Bird Sanctuary
For more natural wonders, visit the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary! Thousands of herons nest in this twenty-one acre preserve. Founded in 1947, it is the only municipally owned sanctuary in the country.
Stone Harbor Golf Club
The Stone Harbor Golf Club is actually just outside of town on Route Nine in Cape May Courthouse. The course is walker-friendly, if you need to stretch your legs after lazing around the beach. Each hole on the course is unique, with sloping banks along the fairways, eleven lakes, and a majestic pinelands setting.
Stone Harbor Beach Walk
From the parking lot at the southern end of town, you can walk a one and a half mile loop along the beach at Stone Harbor Point. This is a no bathing beach, but you will be treated to hundreds of sea birds ducking in and out of the water. Aside from the birds, it’s going to pretty much be just you, the sand, and the sea. When you reach the Point, you’ll be able to see North Wildwood across the inlet.
Despite the quiet beaches, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the large amount of shopping you can do in Stone Harbor! From surf gear to high fashion, there’s something for everyone at the Jersey shore!
Frog and Toad
www.frogandtoadshop.com
From creative art, cottage chic, and one of a kind furnishings to tongue-in-cheek gifts, Frog and Toad is a must-see! Handmade folk art from around the country is gathered here to add a little whimsy into your life!
Just Bead It!
www.justbeadit.net
Need an afternoon off the beach? Gather the girls and hit Just Bead It, a fun little bead and jewelry shop with locations in Stone Harbor, Surf City, and North Beach Haven. Take a workshop or get your craft kits to go and you’ll not only have a fun and artsy experience, you’ll have a great souvenir of your Jersey shore vacation.