FAMILY ATTRACTIONS
Families in Southern New Jersey are never at a loss for quality attractions and activities to fill leisure hours. Wonderful beaches and boardwalks, botanical gardens, amusement centers, cultural activities, and fascinating science centers are just a few highlights in this stimulating region. Well-managed parks and recreation departments ensure a kaleidoscope of lush green open space and first-rate recreational facilities just around the corner from home. Premier regional attractions like the New Jersey State Aquarium With diversions as whimsical as the kids themselves, even adults will be looking forward to quality family time.
Fun Under the Sun
Ocean City
Residents of Southern New Jersey are only minutes away from "America's Great Family Resort," the ideal destination for old-fashioned family fun under the sun. Magnificent sunrises, breathtaking sunsets, sugar-sand beaches, and magical evenings on the boardwalk are just a few of the reasons that keep visitors coming back year after year. The Discover Seashell Museum, kid's amusement centers, the Ocean City Historical Museum, an interactive kid's bakery, and abundant opportunities to shop and dine are among the diverse attractions. Ocean City offers eight miles of beautiful beaches guarded by a beach patrol, a 12-hole golf course, tennis courts, and well-equipped playgrounds. Water-sport enthusiasts can enjoy every imaginable activity including surfing, parasailing, jet-skiing, and boating as well as world-class fishing from back bay to deep sea. For complete details on vacationing in Ocean City, contact:
Ocean City Chamber of Commerce
609-399-2629
www.oceancitychamber.com
Long Beach Island
Tiny towns and vacation havens graced by white, sandy beaches make up the picturesque expanse of Long Beach Island, an 18-mile long barrier island off the coast of New Jersey in nearby Ocean County. Most communities claim only a few hundred residents, yet each one features unique points of interest. Like many Jersey Shore communities, Long Beach Island has long attracted visitors and seasonal residents who appreciate the premier recreational amenities, waterfront beauty, and relaxed atmosphere. Important attractions include Forsythe Wildlife Refuge, Barnegat Light Historical Society Museum, Edith Duff Gwinn Gardens, the Long Beach Island Historical Museum, Fantasy Island and the Thundering Surf water slide, Black Whale cruises to Atlantic City, boardwalks, amusement centers, and miles of sugar-white beaches. For more information about all that Long Beach Island has to offer as a vacation destination, contact:
Long Beach Island Chamber of Commerce
609-494-7211
www.discoversouthernocean.org
SHOPPING
With no state tax on clothing or shoes, New Jersey is a shopper's paradise. Bargain hunters will find everything from antique districts and open-air markets to modern malls. Charming main-street districts are lined with quaint boutiques and cozy cafes, while the spectacular Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth touts itself as New Jersey's largest outlet mall. Several other premier destinations are within a reasonable commute from home, including the world-class boutiques in Manhattan and the retail hub of Paramus. Nearby Philadelphia adds another world of retail opportunities, and Wilmington just across the river in Delaware offers tax-free shopping 365 days out of the year.