Beaches

A white ribbon of pristine beaches winds its way along the Atlantic Ocean from Ocean City to Cape May Point. The beaches of Cape May County, with its white sand and gentle surf, are considered the gem of the Jersey Shore and attract millions of visitors each year.

The resort beaches are staffed by a professional team of well trained lifeguards during the daytime hours to ensure the safety of bathers. Many beaches offer a variety of eating establishments, umbrella and chair rentals, volley ball and game areas, and specified surfing areas.

From the the wide beaches of the Wildwoods to the natural dune beaches of Avalon there is always a cool breeze drifting from the Ocean to make your 'day at the beach' a pleasant experience. Be sure to watch for the dolphin as they frolic beyond the white caps and perform to the delight of the beachgoers. Their show begin in the early morning and runs continuously until dusk. Early morning as the sun is rising above the horizon and the water reflects like little diamonds is a sight as spectacular as the sunsets on the back bays. If you want our opinion, there is never a bad day on the beach.

Water Quality is Very Important at the Jersey Cape

New Jersey is number one in the Country when it comes to beachgoer safety, according to the National Resource Defense Council.  Cape May County beaches, again in 1998, met the NRDC standards for ocean monitoring and public notification.   New Jersey is the only state that has a mandatory bacteria standard, a testing protocol and mandatory beach closings if the bacteria counts rise above the standards.

Clean ocean water is not only vital for our bathers but also to our environment.  The large populations of birds, fish and wildlife found throughout the county is testimony to our commitment to water quality.  We take that commitment very seriously, because not only do your children play in our ocean waters, but ours do too.

Ocean Water Quality Hotline (609)465-2422
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NJMSC Ushers In Upcoming Summer Season with Best Beach Survey

The New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium (NJMSC), New Jersey Sea Grant (NJSG), the Richard Stockton College Coastal Research Center and the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism have teamed up to give beachgoers the opportunity to vote for their favorite beach with the New Jersey’s Top Ten Beaches Survey via its official voting website njtoptenbeaches.org.

Conceived by Dr. Stewart Farrell, Professor of Marine Science at Richard Stockton College, and Kim Kosko, Director of Communications for NJMSC and NJSG, the Survey is designed to promote stewardship and pride of New Jersey's beaches among New Jerseyans and help generate pre-summer excitement about exploring the possibility of a Jersey Shore beach vacation among visitors and residents.

“Whether it’s Sandy Hook, Cape May or one of the diverse shore areas in between, New Jersey’s beaches offer a world of surprises along its 127 miles of coastline, beautiful barrier islands and breezy bays. You’ll find world-famous resorts, an abundance of historical sites, legacies and breathtaking scenery,” notes Nancy Byrne, Executive Director of the NJ Division of Travel & Tourism, Department of State. “With over 60 shore communities to choose from, we encourage you to submit your vote for your favorite New Jersey beach and make your voice heard!”

The “winner” of the survey will be determined by combining votes received through the njtoptenbeaches.org website as well as through votes cast at various Shore events through the end of April. Survey respondents will vote for the best beaches in four categories: Tourism, Family Vacation, Events and Ecotourism. Voters will rate those beaches on several characteristics including water quality, access and aesthetics. In addition, objective data collected by Dr. Farrell and his team of scientists at the Coastal Research Center will be factored into the formula used to select the winners.

Results of the Survey will be announced at the Annual New Jersey State of the Shore Media Event, on Thursday, May 22nd at The Seagull’s Nest on Sandy Hook. The Mayor of the winning town or municipality will be invited to attend the media event to receive the 1st Annual New Jersey’s Top Beach Award. All communities with winning beaches will receive signage announcing the honor as well as bragging rights on the Jersey Shore for the 2008 summer season.

The New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium is an affiliation of colleges, universities and public sector groups dedicated to advancing greater knowledge of New Jersey’s marine and coastal environment. NJMSC meets its mission through innovative research, education and outreach designed to address coastal sustainability and ecosystem health, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, marine technology, science-based management and science literacy. For more information about NJMSC and its activities, visit www.njmsc.org.

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