The Jersey Shore
By: Kristina Malmstrom
On a trip to the Jersey Shore, you should definitely plan time for traditional beach activities, like strolling the boardwalk, biking, and mini-golf, but what do you do after that? For those looking to have even more fun on their vacation or holiday, we’ve compiled this great list of fun activities for everyone!
Whether you have a half hour or an entire day of free time, you’re bound to find something on this list that you enjoy. From Perth Amboy to Cape May, here’s the best list of all of the fun things to do around the Jersey Shore!
1. Play an Escape Room
Red Bank, NJ
Everest takes place on, you guessed it, Mount Everest. After a previous climate research team went missing, your mission is to follow their footsteps and figure out what happened. In 2021, hardly a year after opening, Everest boasts a bronze win for the Player’s Choice Award for Best In-Person Escape Room.
Puzzle and Corks
This casual drinking game has you solving puzzles to work your way through a story, with wine tastings for certain boxes you unlock. Plus, alcohol and puzzles sounds like a brilliant way to relax after work. The best part is, Puzzles and Corks changes the games offered throughout the year, so each time you play, it’s a new experience!
2. Take a Trip to an Aquarium
Make friends with aquatic creatures and visit one of the many aquariums the Jersey Shore offers! This timeless activity is fun for all ages, whether you’re trying to learn more about the species or just watching their vibrant colors, it’s easy to spend hours here!
Seahorses or penguins, urchins or corals, clown fish or blue tangs, whatever your preference, with their wide variety of species you’re bound to fall in love with one of them! While there’s many aquariums along the shore, we particularly recommend Jenkinson’s Aquarium and Atlantic City Aquariums.
Jenkinson's Aquarium
Jenkinson’s Aquarium, Point Pleasant: This aquarium has abundant educational programs, as well as many special daily activities, like feedings, that you can watch.
Atlantic City Aquarium
Atlantic City Aquarium, Atlantic City: This is conveniently located on the Atlantic City boardwalk, and even features a live animal show, where you get to meet and learn about a variety of animals.
3. Light up Your Trip with a Lighthouse
A staple of the Jersey Shore is lighthouses, so you definitely have to see one while you’re in the area! While many know lighthouses as a popular piece of decor (especially in beach houses), they actually have an important past.
Lighthouses are used to help ships navigate dark waters, and you can even see the oldest working one in New Jersey at Sandy Hook (built 1764).
Where You Can Find Them
Luckily, no matter what part you’re in, there are many historical, beautiful lighthouses along the Jersey Shore. In particular, we’d recommend you to visit Absecon Lighthouse in Atlantic City, the Cape May Lighthouse, and the Barnegat Lighthouse. These offer just a glimpse into the diverse array of lighthouses across our sandy coast!
If you’re looking for an unusual activity, visit Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Located on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, there two main features are the Odditorium and the Laser Maze Challenge. The Odditorium is the standard Ripley’s exhibit, filled with bizarre exhibits beyond your imagination. The Laser Maze Challenge is a fun but difficult activity where you have to navigate through an area without crossing any lasers.
Who Is "Ripley's Believe It Or Not"
The Odditorium has over four hundred oddities, so there’s plenty to see. They even have fourteen themed galleries, for those who may have an interest in particular eccentricities. From authentic shrunken heads, to a spider made of blades to the smallest production car in the world, there’s always plenty of unique exhibits.
They’ve been open since 1996, and guarantee visitors an oddly good time (pun intended, we assume). Even if you’ve been to a Ripley’s before, the vast difference between exhibits to see at each location ensures you always get to see new, strange items at the Jersey Shore.
5. Watch a Movie Outdoors
Relax on the beach with your kids or that special someone and enjoy a movie! Many beaches along the Jersey Shore offer free (or nearly free) movie nights to give you a nice alternative to the living room couch. Bring a blanket and some popcorn, and they’ll supply the movie!
Everyone knows the beach is a great place to relax, especially with the soft rumble of the ocean in the background. Plus, those who are particularly fearless can even look for special nights where you can float in the waves while watching Jaws!
Locations
Most of the listings for these aren’t up for this season yet, but as we draw closer to summer you’ll be able to find schedules of what movie plays which night. Popular beaches for this around the Jersey Shore include Gardner’s Basin in Atlantic City, Wildwood Beach, Shore Flicks at Asbury Park Beach, Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Point Pleasant, Seaside Heights Beach.
There are even drive-in movies, such as Windward Beach Park in Brick, NJ, that have a full list of the schedules at all locations, but this isn’t available for this summer yet. Still, why watch a movie at home when you could go to the beach?
6. Take a Trip on the River
For a memorable trip on the water, book a cruise with the River Lady in Toms River. This boat is a reproduction of a paddle wheel riverboat, making you feel as if you’ve been sent back in time to the 19th century.
Beautiful Scenery
While you enjoy a nice trip down the river, you’ll be able to take in the beautiful views that you pass along the Jersey Shore. Your captain will even narrate the sites as you pass them and talk about their historical significance and fun facts.
Food Available
You can choose to go for either a lunch or dinner cruise, which will last over two hours. During this time, you can explore the various decks of The River Lady and check out their indoor and outdoor viewing and dining areas. This is quite the traditional way to experience the water with an authentic historical ambiance.
7. Visit the Largest Mammal on the Jersey Shore
Visit one of the more fun historical landmarks around the Jersey Shore- Lucy the Elephant! Locals typically refer to her as The World’s Greatest Elephant, and we can’t say they’re wrong! At six stories tall, she’s quite an impressive sight. Tours run every half hour, so you can explore inside of her and climb all the way to the howdah (saddle-type structure) on her back, while learning about her history and design.
Family Friendly
This is a popular place to bring your kids. She was built in 1881 and designed by William Free for James V. Lafferty, Jr., who simply wanted to build an animal with multiple rooms and floors on the inside. Lucy was a hit when she was first discovered by newspapers, and continues to be a huge presence in Margate today.
8. Make a Splash at a Waterpark
Cool off from the summer heat and splash around at a water park! Whether you’re traveling with children or adults, water parks are great fun for all ages! Slide, raft, and swim your way over! There’s lots of water parks around the Jersey Shore, but here’s some we recommend:
Ocean Oasis
Ocean Oasis Water Park, Wildwood: While this park is on the smaller side, it’s conveniently located on the boardwalk and packed with fun! With rapids, Wipeout, and a 5 story slide, there’s plenty of rides to choose from!
Splash Zone
Splash Zone Water Park, Wildwood: This water park is great for older kids and adults looking for bigger rides with more thrills! With a range of rides for children to adults, there’s lots to choose from. With a giant water-filled playground, a river to float down, and a high-speed body flume, what’s not to love?
Thundering Surf
Thundering Surf Water Park, Beach Haven: This park is over 50 years old (though luckily the rides aren’t)! They have a variety of rides, though it may be better suited for younger kids opposed to teenagers. On top of all the standard water park rides, they even have a wave simulator so you can try surfing and mini golf!
Runaway Rapids
Runaway Rapids Water Park, Keansburg: For those looking farther north, this is a great place for families. They have a range of slides and water rides, though you should definitely try the Nestea Plunge, a rope swing into a pool, and The Water Mushroom. Plus, there’s even a hot springs lagoon for adults to relax in.
9. Silverball Arcade
Silverball Arcade is a popular place for playing all of your favorite pinball machines and retro video games at the Jersey Shore! Conveniently located on the Asbury Park boardwalk, it features over 600 games that rotate through its doors. It’s a great activity for competitive gamers and casual players alike. Its games are constantly changing, so you can keep going back to see what’s new. They even have games themed on popular media, such as Doctor Who, Indiana Jones, Star Trek, and (most recently) Pirates of the Caribbean.
Cost
Perhaps the best selling point is that you pay for how much time you spend there (and not per game), and 6 hours of gameplay only costs $15. Plus, when you need a break, they have a dining and seating area in their building. Or, you’re welcome to leave and return, as long as you keep your wristband on.
10. Watch Others Make a Splash
Another popular Jersey Shore activity is to go on a whale and dolphin watch! If you haven’t been on one before, you should especially check this out! A large ship takes you out in the ocean, deep enough to where these creatures spend their time. Then, you simply watch for them! It’s a beautiful sight when they swim right alongside the boat, and it’s a feeling you just can’t experience from the shore.
Our Suggestions
There are many options of companies for this, and they tend to have varied packages in terms of length on the water and meals offered. However, some of the towns that have the best options (and highest likelihood of seeing these ocean dwellers) are Cape May, Wildwood, and Ocean City.
11. Do an Adventure Course
For those looking for a more adventurous, extreme activity, try climbing an adventure course! These rope courses are typically made up on zip lines, nets, swings, and other rope obstacles! In this aerial adventure, you’re strapped in while playing around high up in the trees.
Mental and Physical Challenge
This will challenge you both physically and mentally as you try to navigate your way through its puzzling set ups. These courses even typically have separate courses for adults and children, so everyone can have fun without being too little or too large.
Our Suggestions
On the Jersey Shore, we recommend both Jenkinson’s Adventure Lookout and Tree to Tree Adventure Park in Cape May.
Jenkinson's Adventure Lookout
Jenkinson’s Adventure Lookout, Point Pleasant: This course is composed of 25 elements that reach 36 feet tall. The most difficult part of this course is to not get distracted by the beautiful view of the ocean you see!
Tree to Tree Adventure Park
Tree to Tree Adventure Park, Cape May: This larger course has over 100 obstacles, that progressively get more difficult as you journey on. Each course has unique obstacles, so you never get bored as you move forward!
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Mentioned Experiences
Journey to the Top of the World as a Search and Rescue team on a mission to find a Missing Research Team.
$39.99 Per Player
You have 60 minutes to escape this theme at $39.99 per person, plus tax. At a minimum of 1,000 square feet of playing space, this theme is sure to provide a thrilling adventure. Everest is three times larger than the average escape room experience. All bookings are private.
Trap Door Escape Company
Trap Door Escape Room has 4 locations: 3180 Route 611 in Bartonsville, PA in the Poconos; 60 White St. in Red Bank, NJ; 34A Speedwell Ave. in Morristown, NJ: and 77 Wind Creek Blvd in Bethlehem, PA. The Red Bank location was the first of the 4 locations, opening in the fall of 2015. Morristown followed in the summer of 2017, and Bartonsville opened during the holiday season of 2018. Wind Creek is currently undergoing construction and will be opening in September 2022.
History
The idea came to Tone Purzycki back in 2011 after he wrote a screenplay that developed into a live-streaming game. The game revolved around an actor trapped in a situation and the audience had to solve puzzles to figure out where he was trapped. The “Find Me Event” had more than 1,000 people playing over the course of several hours. After the success of several other streaming events, the idea of an escape room was born.
Location
Each location has different rooms from which to choose. Our Morristown location is home to Day of the Dead, Witch Hunt, and The Greatest Freakshow. In Bartonsville, you’ll find Cure Z, F5 Tornado Escape, Fear the Bogeyman, Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, We’re All Mad Here, and Prisoner Z. In Red Bank we currently have Everest – our first 2 story escape room. Ripper of London is also available at this location. Our pirate themed games will soon be open at Wind Creek.
Trap Door Escape Room also offers team building, streaming events, and birthday parties. For more information on any of our games, prices, and locations, explore our website or call 570-234-3366