There are so many ways to cool off at the Jersey Shore when the sun’s out in full force. Whether you’re up to try a new water sport or you’d prefer to kick back at a pool bar, here are 33 ways to enjoy the water this summer.
Wing foiling
Barnegat Bay
A boarder goes wing foiling. Photo: Courtesy of Kainetic Adventures/Eric Duran
For a water adventure beyond the expected, foiling—done on a board—allows riders to rise out of the water and glide above the surface, thanks to a hydrodynamic foil underneath. Kainetic Adventures takes things one step further with wing foiling, where the boarder is propelled by an inflatable wing sail. Kainetic can meet up at a variety of access points to Barnegat Bay for a personalized, two-hour experience. Instructors are very knowledgable, and all equipment is included. Family instruction is available, too, starting at age 12. —Jon Coen
Surfing in nature
Island Beach State Park
Island Beach State Park in Ocean County. Photo: Courtesy of NJ Division of Travel and Tourism/VisitNJ.org
While New Jersey has 130 miles of coastline that is all potentially surfable, the 3,000-acre Island Beach State Park in Ocean County offers the opportunity for a unique surf adventure. With 10 miles of uninterrupted sandbars and dunes, it’s the most nature-immersive surf experience in the state. Pack a cooler, drive south of the swimming beaches, and maybe surf with just the birds and dolphins. —JC
Stand-up paddleboard yoga
Sea Isle City
Who says yoga can only ground its practitioners on dry land? Harbor Outfitters takes yoga onto the water with classes that use stand-up paddleboards for poses instead of yoga mats. After some land instruction, yogis can reach the ultimate flow state on a stable, buoyant SUP in the calm waters of Sea Isle City. All skill levels are welcome to join classes. —Jessica Hammer
Gunnison Beach
Sandy Hook
While European sands are known for their clothing-optional beaches, here in the Garden State there is a single place for full-body sun. This free beach allows swimming, but does not have lifeguards (though some of Sandy Hook’s other beaches do). The discovery of Gunnison’s secluded spot in the free-loving ’70s led daring beachgoers to go au naturel. In the late ’90s, when the Jersey Legislature moved to prohibit nude beaches, a loophole left Gunnison to its own devices because its shore is owned and managed by the federal government. —Deborah P. Carter
One-mile ocean swim
Various locations
Test your swimming skills in one of more than a dozen one-mile ocean races. From Sea Bright in July, when the ocean temps are usually above 65 degrees, to Meters for Mike in Belmar in September, local beach towns offer early-morning weekend events monitored by lifeguard patrols. Like a running race, swimmers are required to register and wear a timing chip. —R.C. Staab
Aqua trikes
Seaside Heights
Sure, you’ve biked along the boardwalk down the Shore, but have you cycled into the ocean? Stable at sea and on land, an aqua trike—available to rent from Pedals and Paddles in Seaside Heights—is an oversized tricycle that can tread water, made possible because of its large, buoyant wheels. Up to three people can fit on each trike. Cost is $25 to rent for a half hour or $35 for an hour. —JH
Viking Rowing Club
Ventnor City
Whether you’re an experienced rower or a newcomer looking to give the sport a try, Viking Rowing Club is the place to begin. Welcoming all experience levels, Viking offers a variety of programs, including the Chicken Dippers summer program (for newbies aged 10-14) and the Masters program, which goes out in early mornings when the back bays are calm. The club offers a number of opportunities during its Masters season, which runs from Memorial Day through Thanksgiving, that allow novices to get their feet wet. —JH
The Original Belmar Tiki Boat
Belmar
Trade in beachside bars for a two- to six-hour tiki cruise across Belmar’s Shark River. Excursions have a festive, tropical feel, with each boat finished with bamboo lining, a palm-thatch awning, a sound system and plenty of bar seating. Vessels can accommodate up to 45 guests. Book a private experience for your crew, or mingle with new faces on a public cruise. BYO drinks and food. Public cruises are $55 per person; private cruises start at $1,450. —Emily Melvin
Island Girls Surf and Skate
Beach Haven
Island Girls Surf and Skate focuses on building confidence as well as athletic skills. Photo: Courtesy of Sandy Avocado Surf/Nolan Bradley
The goal of Sandy Avocado’s Island Girls Surf and Skate program isn’t just to introduce girls to board sports, but to empower them to delve into the lifestyle. Running Monday through Thursday each week of July and August, the program is designed for girls 8-15 years old. Over a five-hour day, instructors help build surf and skate confidence with yoga, art and journaling—in addition to hands-on sports time. The daily schedule is planned around ocean conditions. —JC
Sunset dolphin cruise
Cape May
Photo: Shutterstock/Nadiia Korol
Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center offers two-hour sunset cruises led by marine biologists aboard the American Star, a 100-foot passenger ship designed for sightseeing. With a crew that prioritizes responsible marine-mammal viewing techniques, you’ll not only see dolphins, but enjoy the view of Cape May, America’s oldest seaside resort. In the event that you don’t see marine mammals, they offer a free return trip that never expires. —JC
Barnegat Oyster Collective
Barnegat Township
At Barnegat Oyster Collective, patrons can learn about the harvesting process and dine on the fresh catches. Photo: Courtesy of Barnegat Oyster Collective/Alyssa Mancin
Barnegat Oyster Collective is a working oyster operation on Barnegat Bay, a marina from which the oystermen launch their boats to work the lease areas on the water and return with oysters to process. During the summer months, a full-service restaurant and raw bar provide a true farm-to-table experience. Open for lunch and dinner (with choices that extend beyond shellfish), diners can watch and learn about oyster farming and its benefits to local waterways while enjoying a fresh and delicious meal beside the water the food came from. —JC
Island Aqua Park
Margate
This enormous bouncy playground is situated in Margate’s protected back bay. Ages 6 and up can hop from one inflatable attraction to the other, jumping, climbing, sliding and, of course, swimming. Life jackets are provided; lifeguards assure a safe experience. Reservations are required; book your spot for an hour or more. Due to fluctuating tides, hours of operation vary. —Lauren Payne
Holgate Beach
Long Beach Township
Head out near Holgate’s bayfront and paddle along the western edge of Long Beach Island’s quiet southern back-bay shoreline. With no land access until after October 1, the western edge of the Edwin Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge offers views of abundant wildlife skimming along marshes. Kayaks can be rented locally, with life jackets and tips on the best routes for the day’s wind and tide. Post paddle, reward yourself with a sandwich from a nearby deli and a walk over the dunes to LBI’s famed Holgate surf break. —RCS
Sandy Hook Bay
Monmouth County
Rent kayaks, paddleboards or inflatable islands to head out into the calm, shallow bay waters at the Sandy Hook Unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area. Across from Parking Lot C, there’s a narrow bay beach that’s perfect for families or people wanting to test their water-sport skills in a sheltered environment. Rental fees are charged in addition to entrance fees to the park. —RCS
Fish Alley
Sea Isle City
Capping off a day at the beach in Sea Isle City, head over to the back bay for a fresh seafood dinner at Fish Alley on and near Park Road. There are about a half-dozen restaurants, several of which have been around for more than 100 years. Go inside for dinner or grab takeout and find a picnic table to watch the sunset as commercial fishing vessels return home with their catch. Mike’s Seafood, Marie’s Seafood and Carmen’s Seafood Restaurant have seating on the water. —RCS
Marine Mammal Stranding Center
Brigantine
Photo: Courtesy of Marine Mammal Stranding Center
With the resurgence of cleaner waters off New Jersey, more seals, dolphins and humpback whales are feeding close to the shores. With the help of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, these creatures can often be rescued (including this female harp seal, found in Virginia Beach on March 17; she was transported to New Jersey for recovery). In Brigantine, the stranding center’s compact visitor center explains rescue protocols, shows live video of animals in rehabilitation at the building, and sells merchandise that supports this important work. —RCS
Thundering Surf
Beach Haven
The Lazy Crazy River (with relaxation and wave modes) winds through Thundering Surf Waterpark. Photo: Courtesy of Thundering Surf/Ann Coen Studio
Celebrating its 50th summer at the Jersey Shore, this family-friendly water park delivers everything from high-speed mat racers and twisting slides to a FlowRider surf simulator and kid-friendly splash zones. For a slower pace, drift along the lazy river (just remember that the attraction shifts into “crazy mode,” complete with waves, every half hour)—then recharge in a private cabana, available to rent for three hours or the entire day for up to 8-10 people. When your crew has had enough of the water, Thundering Surf houses two miniature golf courses (18 or 36 holes) on the premises, complete with caves, waterfalls and a variety of natural obstacles. —Natalie Civadelic
North Wildwood Seawall
North Wildwood
At the northern end of the Wildwoods, there’s an incomparable 1.25-mile seawall that offers expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean and Hereford Inlet. Starting at Second Avenue and JFK Blvd in North Wildwood, walk for a few blocks and then head west along a sturdy concrete walkway, past the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, to North Wildwood’s Anglesea neighborhood. Especially at low tide, the islands and sandbars appear and disappear as wildlife flies overhead. —RCS
Dockside dining
Various locations
Marina Grille’s seafood tower. Photo: Courtesy of Marina Grille
If you have a boat and love the idea of dining dockside, there are plenty of options at the Shore. Marina Grille, located in Belmar, is positioned on the bay side of this happening beach town, so it’s one of the best places in the area to take in a beautiful sunset over the water while enjoying seafood and craft cocktails. The family-owned Lobster House in Cape May provides a lovely dockside view of the waterfront leading into Cape May Harbor. Much of the seafood comes from the restaurant’s own fleet of commercial boats. The Wharfside Seafood & Patio Bar in Point Pleasant Beach lies right off the Manasquan River, giving customers a view of both Gull Island and Fisherman’s Cove Conservation Area and, on Thursday nights, a special shrimp fest menu. —Jacqueline Mroz
Asbury Splash Park
Asbury Park
The Asbury Splash Park is a delightful oceanfront outdoor spray park for kids aged 18 months to 12 years. Located right on the boardwalk at Second Avenue in Asbury Park, it features a tipping tea cup and enormous watering cans. It’s a great alternative to the beach when the surf conditions are rough or when the kids just want to have some fun splashing around and getting sprayed (and when the parents could use a bit of a break from the beach, too). —JM
F Cove
Brick
Located just north of the Mantoloking Bridge and accessible only by boat, jet ski or kayak, F Cove is an unconventional summer hot spot. Shaped like an F, the lagoon attracts hundreds of people every weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The concept is simple: Pull your boat up onto the sand or drop anchor and park it there for the day as you relax under the sun and munch on a hoagie (or sub) the New Jersey way. After you’ve soaked up enough sun, grab your raft and cool off with a dip in the Barnegat Bay. —Madison Smith
North Brigantine Beach
Brigantine
North of 15th Street, North Brigantine’s undeveloped beach, technically part of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, is a half-mile stretch where leashed dogs and their owners can roam year-round. Four-wheel drive vehicles are allowed with a city permit. In the summer, dogs don’t need a beach tag, but people do. —RCS
Reel Therapy Bird-Watching Charter
Monmouth County
When charter fishing slows down in the summer for Captain Paul Eidman of Reel Therapy, he offers bird-watching excursions on his boat—particularly for raptors and other birds of prey. Meeting bird-watchers at various Monmouth County docks where he knows birds to be active, he helps passengers spy bald eagles, osprey and wading birds along the Shrewsbury and Raritan estuaries. A two-person, four-hour tour costs $600. —JC
Corson’s Inlet State Park
Cape May County
Corson’s Inlet State Park, which is located between Ocean City and Strathmere, is a rare pocket of undeveloped shoreline where short sand-and-gravel paths spill out to wild dunes and a quiet beach. Plus, it’s free! You can piece together a long walk along the ocean, then loop around to the bay and return to the ocean through the dunes. In Ocean City, there is a parking lot with meters, as well as metered parking along 59th Street. —RCS
Asbury Park Pedal Boats
Wesley Lake
Be the first to ride the new pink flamingo pedal boats on Wesley Lake and glide between the Victorian porches of Ocean Grove on one side and Asbury Park’s busy downtown on the other. Open every day throughout summer, Asbury Park Pedal Boats launch from a small dock on Lake Avenue and offer an easy, family-friendly activity. —RCS
H20 Pool at the Golden Nugget
Atlantic City
Golden Nugget’s H20 Pool is six stories above the AC Boardwalk. Photo: Courtesy of Golden Nugget/Nick Valinote
Trade in the craps tables of Atlantic City for a cabana at the Golden Nugget’s H20 Pool & Bar—a sixth-floor rooftop oasis for adult relaxation. Rent a cabana or a daybed, or claim one of more than 300 poolside lounge chairs. Order food, take a dip in a hot tub, cozy up by a firepit as sunset nears, or grab one of the seats at the bar. Hotel guests receive complimentary admission; non-guests can purchase $25 day passes. —Jacqueline Larcara
Island Beach Kayak Clamming Adventure
Ocean County
Learn about the role that clams play in the bay ecosystem and harvest a few for dinner. Launching from Parking Lot A21 in Island Beach State Park, you are provided with a kayak to follow your guide to the Sedge Islands Marine Conservation Zone clamming grounds, where you pull your own clams from Barnegat Bay. A recreational shellfish harvesting permit is required to bring home your clams. —JC
Island Waterpark at Showboat
Atlantic City
This 103,000-square-foot, tropical-themed water park features more than a dozen slides, a 1,000-square-foot surf simulator, and a 6,500-linear-foot lazy river. The attraction offers sunshine on most summer days, and the retractable roof allows park access during rainy ones (and during winter). After dark, a section of the venue becomes an adults-only zone with music and cocktails. —DPC
Bayside bars
Somers Point
Somers Point’s historic bayfront mixes marina views with an old-school tavern vibe at places like Anchorage Tavern. For those looking for an alternative to dry restaurants in Ocean City, there are more than a dozen restaurants and bars along Bay Avenue and Shore Road. Grab takeout and head to William Morrow Beach park for free Friday summer concerts. —RCS
Barnegat Lighthouse
Barnegat Light
After a splendid restoration in 2023, Barnegat Lighthouse (Old Barney) watches over Barnegat Inlet. For a small admission fee, climb its 217 narrow steps for sweeping views of Island Beach, LBI, and the shifting shoals offshore. It’s open daily in the summer, including night climbs on most Saturday evenings. Beyond the lighthouse, the state park has some of the best beaches on LBI for fishing, bathing and collecting seashells. —RCS
Pirate cruises
Various locations
Photo: Courtesy of Pirate Voyages
Each summer, from Ocean City to Wildwood Crest, Beach Haven to Brick, young pirates are being recruited, swearing oaths, and shooting water cannons at dastardly foes who have absconded with their treasures on a variety of pirate cruises that head out from the Shore. Options for a day of treasure hunting include Pirate Adventures Jersey Shore in Brick and Pirate Voyages in Ocean City, pictured above. —RCS
Spring Lake Paddle events
Spring Lake
Participants get into the holiday spirit at the 2025 Spring Lake Santa Paddle. Photo: Michael Paras
Along the shoreline of Spring Lake, a quirky and costumed paddling tradition has taken on a deeper purpose. “The Santa Paddle began as a secondary event stemming from our annual Witches Paddle, held each October,” says Dawn McDonough of the Spring Lake Business Development Corporation. “Both events were created to draw visitors downtown while raising awareness for outstanding Monmouth County organizations that do good in our community.” Last year’s charity recipient was the Live Like Maddie Foundation, a Spring Lake-based nonprofit that supports those affected by rare diseases. This year, the Santa Paddle is switching gears to become the Uncle Sam Patriotic Paddle on July 11 “in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary,” McDonough says. The event is set to benefit a Monmouth County nonprofit. —Natalie Civadelic
Best Day Foundation
Long Branch & Brick
Turn your love of a day at the beach into an opportunity to help others. Best Day Foundation is a nonprofit organization that periodically hosts special-needs individuals, aged 4–24, for a day of fun in the surf and on the sand. Activities can include tandem surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, or simply building sandcastles. Events take place throughout the summer on Great Lawn Beach in Long Branch and Brick Beach III in Brick. —LP
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