Tell me about Northeast beaches

[Anonymous]

Growing up we only ever vacationed down south, think Hilton Head and the Florida panhandle. As an adult I've been out to Ocean City a few times. I hear a lot about some of the northern NJ beaches, or places like the Hamptons or along the NE shore including Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and on up into Maine.

I know that's hundreds of miles of shoreline but can anyone tell me about a vacation on one of these northern beaches versus what's in my mind as a typical beach vacation on the Outer Banks or Myrtle Beach. Are there differences in what there is to do, the vibe and so on. Are they more expensive or are they cheaper than southern U.S. beach vacations on average?

FWIW, we're well off by U.S. standards but not wealthy so we won't be staying at $10K/wk mansions in South Hampton.

[Anonymous]

Southern NJ beaches are fantastic -- my favorite place to go. Cape May is really well liked but that whole area. We love Margate. Ocean City NJ too. Take your pick.

[Anonymous]

We've traveled to beaches all over the world. And still go back to Stone Harbor, NJ every year. 40 years and counting.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. When I think of NJ I think of Snooki and company. Might need to check those areas out.

[Anonymous]

Cape cod has gorgeous beaches but water is cold. Also think more "natural beauty" , including some rocky beaches.

[Anonymous]

But nj and the Hamptons ate white sand beaches. Water not too cold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cape cod has gorgeous beaches but water is cold. Also think more "natural beauty" , including some rocky beaches.

Similar experience up the MA coastline (Marblehead, Gloucester, Newburyport) and into ME. My favorite spots would have to be Newport, Martha's Vineyard, Chatham and Marblehead but in any of those places it's as much about enjoying the coastal town as the beach. I'd spend some time at the beach in each of those places but it might not be the main focal point of the vacation (Martha's Vineyard is a possible exception)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. When I think of NJ I think of Snooki and company. Might need to check those areas out.

Ugh. I went to a small NJ beach town over the 4th of July weekend, where my family has had a beach house for years, and someone at work made comments about fist-pumping, etc. I guess I should be glad that people think all beaches in NJ are like the TV show so they stay away and leave it for the rest of us.

[Anonymous]

My best childhood summers were spent on Cape Cod and in Ocean City, NJ. Every summer for 18 years.

[Anonymous]

I think northeast beaches can be a lot colder, swim-able, but cold. I agree with the pp that northeast beaches can revolve around the towns - candy shops, lobster shacks, etc. I love both!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. When I think of NJ I think of Snooki and company. Might need to check those areas out.

Ugh. I went to a small NJ beach town over the 4th of July weekend, where my family has had a beach house for years, and someone at work made comments about fist-pumping, etc. I guess I should be glad that people think all beaches in NJ are like the TV show so they stay away and leave it for the rest of us.

We've been to Belmar a few times to stay at a friend's house and it is exactly like you would imagine. Skeeball, a short, steep beach that you have to pay to go on, Jersey shore boys with gold necklaces, girls with big hair in rhino clips and sequined sunglasses, serious last-call pickup action in the parking lot at Club Anticipation. D'Jais is also a trip. The (frat?) boys next door would entertain us with some form of loud drunken homo erotic wrestling on their porch. A couple of girls in animal print mini-dresses did the walk of shame from their house the next morning to a really nice sportcar parked outside - we couldn't help but wonder if they were call girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. When I think of NJ I think of Snooki and company. Might need to check those areas out.

Stone Harbor and Avalon are more like Bethesda on the beach. They are much nicer than either Bethany or Rehoboth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. When I think of NJ I think of Snooki and company. Might need to check those areas out.

Ugh. I went to a small NJ beach town over the 4th of July weekend, where my family has had a beach house for years, and someone at work made comments about fist-pumping, etc. I guess I should be glad that people think all beaches in NJ are like the TV show so they stay away and leave it for the rest of us.

We've been to Belmar a few times to stay at a friend's house and it is exactly like you would imagine. Skeeball, a short, steep beach that you have to pay to go on, Jersey shore boys with gold necklaces, girls with big hair in rhino clips and sequined sunglasses, serious last-call pickup action in the parking lot at Club Anticipation. D'Jais is also a trip. The (frat?) boys next door would entertain us with some form of loud drunken homo erotic wrestling on their porch. A couple of girls in animal print mini-dresses did the walk of shame from their house the next morning to a really nice sportcar parked outside - we couldn't help but wonder if they were call girls.

Yes, Belmar is similar to Seaside Heights. It does not describe every beach town in NJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. When I think of NJ I think of Snooki and company. Might need to check those areas out.

Stone Harbor and Avalon are more like Bethesda on the beach. They are much nicer than either Bethany or Rehoboth.

Good description.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. When I think of NJ I think of Snooki and company. Might need to check those areas out.

Ugh. I went to a small NJ beach town over the 4th of July weekend, where my family has had a beach house for years, and someone at work made comments about fist-pumping, etc. I guess I should be glad that people think all beaches in NJ are like the TV show so they stay away and leave it for the rest of us.

We've been to Belmar a few times to stay at a friend's house and it is exactly like you would imagine. Skeeball, a short, steep beach that you have to pay to go on, Jersey shore boys with gold necklaces, girls with big hair in rhino clips and sequined sunglasses, serious last-call pickup action in the parking lot at Club Anticipation. D'Jais is also a trip. The (frat?) boys next door would entertain us with some form of loud drunken homo erotic wrestling on their porch. A couple of girls in animal print mini-dresses did the walk of shame from their house the next morning to a really nice sportcar parked outside - we couldn't help but wonder if they were call girls.

That's not a bad assessment of Belmar, but Avon, which is right next to it, is lovely and totally different from that. Sea Girt and Spring Lake are very close by and even nicer.