Summer in New Jersey centers on the miles of sandy coastline. Crowds flock to the beaches from Asbury Park to Cape May to escape the inland heat. In earlier decades, beachgoers wore heavy wool bathing suits that covered most of their bodies. They rented large wooden umbrellas to shield themselves from the midday sun. Over time, styles changed to lighter fabrics and colorful patterns, but the core activity remained the same. Children build intricate sandcastles near the water’s edge, using plastic buckets and shovels. Teenagers spread towels on the sand to tan, while lifeguards in tall wooden stands keep a watchful eye on the swimmers battling the Atlantic waves.
The Bustling Boardwalks
The boardwalk acts as the heartbeat of summer entertainment. Wooden planks stretch for miles, connecting amusement piers, arcades, and food stands. In Atlantic City, visitors ride in wicker rolling chairs pushed by attendants, allowing them to take in the sights without walking. Families stop at candy shops to watch machines stretch long ropes of salt water taffy. The air smells of roasted peanuts, popcorn, and sweet cotton candy. Amusement piers jut into the ocean, offering thrills on Ferris wheels and roller coasters that rattle overhead. At night, the lights from the rides reflect off the dark water, creating a bright spectacle visible from the beach.
Fishing and Crabbing Adventures
The waters of New Jersey provide endless opportunities for sport and dinner. Anglers line the rails of fishing piers in towns like Seaside Heights and Ventnor. They cast lines deep into the surf, waiting for flounder, striped bass, or bluefish to bite. In the calm back bays and estuaries, crabbing is a daily ritual. Families rent small rowboats or stand at the edge of docks with simple hand lines. They use chicken necks as bait to lure blue claw crabs closer. Once caught, the crabs go into bushel baskets, destined for evening feasts where diners crack shells with wooden mallets.
Camping and State Parks
Beyond the shore, the state’s forests and lakes offer a different kind of summer refuge. Campers head to the Pine Barrens to pitch canvas tents among the pitch pines. They cook meals over open fires and sleep on cots, listening to the sounds of the woods. High Point State Park draws picnickers who spread lunches on wooden tables beneath towering oak trees. Hikers climb the rocky trails of the Delaware Water Gap for panoramic views of the river valley. Cooler mountain temperatures in the northern part of the state provide relief for those engaging in archery, canoeing, and swimming in freshwater lakes.
