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Community Corner

Jersey Shore Summer 2011: Your Guide to Southern Beaches

Your guide to getting on the southern Jersey shore beaches, from Cape May to Brigantine.

There's still a lot of great summer days left this season, so here's a rundown of Southern New Jersey shore towns, which enjoy reputations as being some of the top beaches in the country.

If you're probably headed to Brigantine, Wildwood or Cape May this summer and haven't bought your beach tags already, you can buy them when you arrive, for the day, a few days, a week or the entire season.

Heads up: some Jersey shore beaches have designated areas for rafting, bathing, surfing, kayaking, surf fishing and volleyball. Head to a guarded south Jersey beach and enjoy this summer of 2011!

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CAPE MAY COUNTY

Avalon

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Avalon is a tiny shore town known for its million-dollar mansions along high dunes. Avalon beach tags are required for everyone age 12 or older, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Sept. 5. Seasonal beach tags are $21 before May 31 and $26 afterward. Weekly tags, from Saturday to Saturday, are $12 and daily tags are $6.

You can purchase beach tags at the Beach Tag Booth at Community Hall, at Avalon Avenue and 30th Street, West, or from beach tag inspectors on the beaches. Also, visitors can use Avalon's beach tags on Stone Harbor's beaches and vice versa.

Stone Harbor

Stone Harbor has a main street with high-end shops, but the beach is the big draw to this upscale shore town.  All persons on the beach must display a beach tag from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Labor Day weekend, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Through May 31, seasonal tags were $21, and as of June 1 they became $26. Weekly tags are $12 and daily tags are $6. You can purchase tags from beach tag inspectors on the beaches or from the Stone Harbor Beach Patrol and Beach Tag office at 95th Street and the Beach, which is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

You can purchase seasonal tags ahead by mailing a check including your name and address, phone number and the number of tags you want to: Stone Harbor Beach Patrol Building, 95th Street and the Beach, Stone Harbor, NJ 08247. You can pick them up at the office when you arrive.

Cape May

At the southernmost tip of New Jersey, Cape May is a Victorian town with beautiful beaches, cobble-stoned alleyways, sycamore trees, a pedestrian mall and many top restaurants.

Beach tags must be worn by beachgoers age 12 and older from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. You can purchase your seasonal tags by mail order for $15.75 before March 31 and for $25.75 after. To order mail a check, made out to the City of Cape May, to the following address: Beach Tags Tax Office, 643 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ 08204.

You can also purchase beach tags in person. Prior to March 31, seasonal tags were $15, but they now run $25, weekly tags from  Saturday to Saturday are $15, three-day tags are $10 and daily tags are $5. Buy them at beach entrances of the city tax office. Cape May limits the number of seasonal tags one individual can purchase to five.

Cape May Point

Cape May Point is a small, self-contained residential community with only a few hundred residents, surrounding the Cape May Point State Park. Beach tags are $27 for the season, $17 for the week and $7 for the day.

Wildwoods

The Wildwoods, consist of North Wildwood, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and West Wildwood, do not require beach tags. This family-friendly town is known for its boardwalk, with plenty of stores and places to stop and have a treat. Morey's Piers and Beachfront Waterparks offers rides, water slides and pools. The Wildwood Convention Center showcases some big-name acts, conventions and the like.

Ocean City

Ocean City, a dry town, is known as America’s Greatest Family Resort and has amusement parks, a famous boardwalk and a vibrant downtown. Beach tags are required on Ocean City beaches for persons age 12 and up from June 11 through September 5. 

Seasonal tags are $25, weekly tags are $10 and daily tags cost $5.

You can purchase seasonal beach tags ahead of time online, through the Ocean City online store. You can also purchase beach tags in person at the Music Pier on the Boardwalk at Moorlyn Terrace and from beach inspectors at beach entrances.

There are several locations where beach tags may be purchased.

Sea Isle City

Sea Isle City has many family attractions and events along with a lively nightlife.  Beach tags are required for beachgoers age 12 and over from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.  Through May 14, seasonal beach tags were $15. After May 15, they cost $20. Weekend beach tags (Saturday 10 a.m. to Saturday at 5 p.m.) are $10 and daily tags are $5. Daily tags became available after Memorial Day. You can purchase your beach tags from beach tag inspectors on the beach or at the Beach Tag Office: 125 John F. Kennedy Blvd. The office is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Wednesdays in July and August. Wednesdays are free except on a July 4 holiday.

ATLANTIC COUNTY

Longport

The Southernmost town on Absecon Island, Longport is a small community that juts into the Great Egg Harbor Inlet and connects with Ocean City via the Longport Bridge. Sections of the beach began to open June 18 and guarded beaches are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Beach badges are required for all beachgoers over the age of 12. You can purchase beach tags at Longport Borough Hall, 2305 Atlantic Avenue, until Friday June 24. Beginning June 25, you can purchase them at the Beach Patrol Building at 33rd and Atlantic Avenue. As of June 20, all seasonal tags are $30. Weekly tags, from Friday to Friday, are $10. Longport does not have a daily beach tag.

Ventnor

Ventnor provides guarded beaches during the season at various locations but hours are erratic at the beginning and end of the summer. Beach badges are required from Memorial Day through Labor Day and can be purchased at Ventnor City Hall, 6201 Atlantic Avenue, at Beach Patrol Headquarters, Suffolk Avenue and the Beach, or on the beach from any beach tag inspector.

Beginning June 1, badges are $15 for the season and weekly badges are $10. Ventnor does not have daily tags.

Margate

Margate is well known for its iconic landmark, Lucy the Elephant. 

Lucy the Elephant, a National Historic building, is located at 9200 Atlantic Ave. Visitors can climb the spiral staircase for a view of the Atlantic ocean.

Beach badges are required for those 12 and over on Margate beaches from the third week in June through Labor Day. Beginning June 1, all badges cost $15. You can purchase beach badges at the Martin Bloom Community Pavilion at Huntington and the Beach from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day, and at City Hall, 1 South Washington Avenue, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Margate sells beach badge gift certificates all year. You can buy these at pre-season rates the day after Labor Day through May 31.

Atlantic City

Atlantic City is famous for its world-renowned casinos and its historic boardwalk, as well as its beaches.

Several beach bars make it easy to kick back with a favorite beverage from May through September. Beach tags are not required on Atlantic City beaches.

Atlantic City lifeguards are on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 50 locations from Caspian Avenue to Jackson Avenue, from July 1 to Labor Day. A limited number of beaches are protected from Memorial Day to July 1 and from Labor Day to September 30. Atlantic City has outdoor public showers at the Lifeguard District Stations and casino beach bars have showers available for public access.

Brigantine

Just north of Atlantic City, Brigantine has a striking view of the Borgata Casino and the rest of the Atlantic City skyline from across Absecon Inlet.  Brigantine beach tags are $8 daily and $14 weekly. As of June 1, seasonal tags are $18. Seniors aged 60-64 pay $18 beginning June 1. Seniors over 65 and children under 12 are free. Seasonal parking permits for municipal parking lots are available for $25. The beach fee office is open every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located at the corner of 15th Street and Brigantine Avenue.    

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