Sea Girt

If you're looking for a beach with soft white sand and a quieter residential area, Sea Girt is the place for you. The beaches are wide and expansive, so you won't be on top of other beachgoers. Overall, super gorgeous and serene.

Bay Head

Bay Head beaches are more secluded from the street but are super fun and lively. The beaches offer opportunities to look for seashells and offer space to play beach games. Downtown offers a variety of shops and dining and is full of cheerful colors. The town is gorgeous and has a great relaxed vibe.

The Wildwoods

The Wildwoods really have it all. Wildwood Crest with gorgeous houses and more upscale stops and North Wildwood is a great classic beach town. If you're looking for a boardwalk, Wildwood is the place to be: offering both classic rides and two water parks. Plus: free parking.

Avalon/Stone Harbor

I'm grouping these two together because they're right next to each other, and kind of blend together. The beaches and downtown areas are gorgeous, and there seems to be bike lanes everywhere, making it really easy to travel without needing to drive. Both have great dining options and are super scenic.

Cape May

I might be biased because this is my personal beach spot, but Cape May really has it all: a variety of incredible restaurants, gorgeous sunsets, and stretches of soft white sand to lay out on. There are strips of cute little shops and some pretty great mini golf courses if you get stuck with weather that's not ideally suited for the beach. Beach Plum Farm offers some great organic veggies and delicious make-it-yourself options, and the historic Cold Spring Village offers a glimpse into the past. Take a trip to Cape May and I promise you won't regret it.