New Jersey’s 130 miles of Atlantic coastline offers much more than beach relaxation and boardwalk strolls. It’s also a wet and wild playground for fans of watersports. From surfing to jet skiing to parasailing, you’ll discover many ways to cool off, get fit and feel a rush of adrenaline on a hot summer day down the Shore!
Catch the Next Big Wave
Did you know that New Jersey is home to some of the best surfing on the East Coast? Although fall is the state’s best surfing season, you can surf any time of year, and the water temperatures remain warm through October. Coastline Adventures in Brick offers lessons and camps starting now, so even beginners can give it a try. Summer is a great time to check out the scene in the beach towns of Manasquan, Ocean City, Seaside Heights and Stone Harbor.
Want to see great scenery, watch for marine life and tone those arms? Then sea kayaking could be your next big thing. New Jersey’s back bays and inlets are a great place to start. To explore scenic Cape May Harbor and the area’s unspoiled salt marshes via kayak, check out the offerings at the Nature Center of Cape May (a New Jersey Audubon Center), especially the family-friendly tidal marsh kayak tour.
If surfing and kayaking had a love child, it would be stand-up paddle boarding (known by its aficionados as SUP). If you haven’t tried this sport, you can try it out at the surf shops, marinas and outfitters down the Shore that offer lessons, equipment rentals and tips for enjoying this fast-growing and immensely popular sport. Island Surf & Sail in Brant Beach is a great place to try. Fitness fiends already know it offers a near full-body workout that increases balance and stamina—and also it’s fun!
Set Sail for Marine Adventures
Up and down the Shore, adventure seekers can find thrilling ways to enjoy the summer sun, the Atlantic surf and ocean breezes. Does a combination of parachuting, ballooning, sailing and gliding sound intriguing? You have to go parasailing! Defy gravity, get a REAL bird’s-eye view and float effortlessly over the beach and water. (And think how cool it would be to wave at your friends and family from 500 feet in the air.) Operators offering rentals and excursions are located in a variety of coastal communities—Beach Haven, Belmar and Point Pleasant to name a few. And if your “other car” is a motorcycle, you’ll have a blast renting a jet ski. It’s the ultimate “joy” ride.
Be sure to balance your active day on the water with some R&R on one of New Jersey’s white-sand beaches. Pack your shades, sunscreen and a good book as you unwind with your toes in the warm sand. Explore more wet and wild activities at visitnj.org, where you can download a free NJ travel guide or sign up for e-news from New Jersey Travel and Tourism.
