New Jersey
The Jersey Shore's southern stretch pairs Atlantic City's boardwalk energy with Cape May's Victorian calm, two very different beach towns less than an hour apart.
Atlantic City Boardwalk
| Name | Info | Details |
|---|
| Atlantic City Boardwalk | Free · oldest boardwalk in the country | A 4-mile stretch along the seafront lined with casinos, shops, and food stands. Good for an evening stroll after dinner. |
| Steel Pier | $ per ride · family fun | An old-school amusement pier with rides and games jutting out over the water. Classic, unpretentious AC. |
| Borgata | $$$ · casino resort dining | The most upscale of the AC casino resorts, with close to twenty restaurants including several from well-known chefs. Good pick for a nicer dinner without leaving the boardwalk area. |
| Boardwalk Hall | Concerts and events | A historic arena right on the boardwalk that hosts touring concerts and sporting events. |
Cape May
| Name | Info | Details |
|---|
| Cape May Historic District | Free walking · Victorian architecture | Nearly 600 restored Victorian buildings make this one of the best-preserved seaside towns on the East Coast. Explore on foot or hop on a trolley tour. |
| Washington Street Mall | Shopping and dining | A pedestrian-only strip of independent shops and restaurants right in the heart of town. |
| Cape May Point & Sunset Beach | Free · beachcombing | Look for 'Cape May diamonds,' small quartz pebbles polished by the surf, and catch sunset views near the old lighthouse. |
| Cape May Lighthouse | $ · climb for the view | A still-operating lighthouse with a climb to the top for wide coastal views. Worth the stairs on a clear day. |
| The Queen Victoria | $$$ · Victorian B&B | A well-regarded historic inn decorated with period antiques, with a full breakfast and an on-site innkeeper. A nice base for exploring the historic district on foot. |
| Cape May Bird Observatory | Free, optional guided walks · birding | A major East Coast migration stopover that draws birders from all over, especially in season. |
Golf (Central NJ)
| Name | Info | Details |
|---|
| Neshanic Valley Golf Course | Public · Neshanic Station | A 36-hole public facility on rolling Somerset County farmland, regularly ranked among the top public courses in the state. Ridge, Lake, and Meadow nines plus a shorter Academy course. |
| Rutgers University Golf Course | Public · Piscataway | A tree-lined par-71 on Rutgers' Busch Campus, open to the public March through mid-December. Narrow fairways and water on several holes. |