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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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seeking advice spending a day at the shore
What do you think the best location is for going to the shore just for a day trip? My mom is going to be coming to visit this weekend and I thought it would be fun to spend Saturday at the beach. We'd drive there in the morning, pack a picnic lunch and probably hit up a restaurant for dinner before heading back (something casual since we will have been sitting in the hot sun all day and likely wont have anywhere to freshen up).
Re: seeking advice spending a day at the shore
Jonathan Dean 4.5.08
Anna Capri 5.4.11
I am terrible with the streets in OC, just not familliar with them so maybe someone else can chime in... I just know we usually just park in an all day lot that is near the rides pier.. OC does require beach tags, my MIL usually has them for us when we go but I am pretty sure you can purchase from the tag inspector when they come around to check if you don't have them. confirm this though. I suspect traffic on any Saturday so leave bright and early.
And here is the info on the place I mentioned earlier, about 5-10 minute drive from beach but worth it!
http://www.yelp.com/biz/smittys-clam-bar-somers-point
Jonathan Dean 4.5.08
Anna Capri 5.4.11
Go to the higher numbered streets for the beaches in OCNJ!!! We were there last week and the tides were terrible down around 5th Street. We ran into someone we knew who said it was not like that at all up the other end.
Also, you can't go down onto the beach without tags now. They have kids sitting at each beach entrance who you can buy them from.
I'm a big fan of OCNJ...just got back on Sunday.
If you don't want it to be overcrowded and have to pay ridiculous prices for parking, stay away from the popular beaches along the bulk of the boardwalk (pretty much 6th street to 13th street). On the north end of the island, you will find less crowded beaches from St. James Place to the Longport Bridge. At St. James and the Boardwalk (where the boardwalk starts), there is a OCBP station with public restrooms and there are two little lunch spots--Brown's and North End Grille. Also parking near here is not as scarce--you may have to do a few laps, but you'll find something and it's going to be free or metered parking.
On the south end of the island, I'd try to hit up beaches between 55th and 58th street. Again, you have a OCBP station with public restrooms, a cleaning station to get the sand from the feet and other amenities. Again, very quiet and parking is not a problem.
eta: one of these year's I'll get to Smitty's Clam Bar!!! We've always had a good dinner at Sandi Point Bar/Restaurant in Somers Point, which is about 2 blocks away from Smitty's. Their crab mac and cheese is awesome, as is their she-crab soup.
Can someone explain beach tags to me...other than I need to purchase them from kids at the end of the piers? (Which I would have thought was kids trying to pull a fast one on me.) At first I thought they'd be for your car but they're actually to sit on the beach? Do you have to buy one per person? How much are they? Once you buy one, is it good for the day, the week, the season?
Also, when you say parking is expensive, can you give a ball park figure at how much it might be?
Beach tag inspectors have a shirt indicating as such and are situated at all beach entrances. You can buy a daily tag for $5; weeklies are $10. Cash only.
Expensive parking is going to be in the lots near the boardwalk and are municipally owned. On a weekday, the going rate was $20. Yes. $20. On weekends, OC will change the price to $25 for all day parking.
For the most part, metered parking spots will be on the numbered streets that are closest to the beach or boardwalk. It begins at 6th Street and goes to 13th or 15th Streets. There is also metered parking in the commercial district of OC (Asbury Ave), but for the most part, parking is going to be free.
eta: the challenge is finding a spot. However, Saturdays are the rental turnover days, so most renters are out by 10 or 11am and check ins cannot begin until 2pm or later. So, shoot to arrive around 10 or 11.
Tags are to sit on the beach for each adult. I think kids 12 and under are free. You can buy for the day, days or season. I can't help you on the parking price because we don't use it.
Another nice option for the day is Longport; which is close to OC. You don't pay to park, and most streets don't even have tagger naggers (aka the kids checking your tags). Most beaches are extremely empty even on week ends, they do have lifeguards on some beach blocks, and overall it is like your own private beach. I am a big fan.
It also really depends on what you are looking for, and what you want to show your Mom. If I were going for a day, I would pick one of the closest to Philadelphia. No matter what.....have fun, and hope you have great weather!
I ditto the Longport suggestion (just got back from there) and also my most favorite shore spot ever is Sea Isle City
However for a day trip, I would probably just go to AC or Longport/Margate since they are closest.
I am not a fan of OCNJ. It is so big and I prefer the smaller beach communities. The only reason I ever set foot in OCNJ is because I have kids and they have a nice boardwalk
Have fun!
DS 3.12.08
DD 7.11.09
DD 8.01.13
If you go to 58th Street in OCNJ, there is a big metered parking lot, and possibly street parking with no meters (I really didn't take notice though). There is a lifegard on duty and it's not crowded.
Along the boardwalk in OC they have the beach tag people stationed at the steps, but further up they just have people walking up and down the beach checking your tags. For a daily tag, it's 5 bucks.