New Jersey's Atlantic shoreline, referred to as the Jersey Shore, provides tourist attractions and entertainment throughout the year. While many vacationers come to the Jersey Shore for its beaches and swimming, summertime also includes opportunities to attend amusement parks. Also, bird watchers can check out birds on Island Beach State Park, and casino resorts are available in Atlantic City.
Located in Wildwood, Morey's Piers is a beach-side amusement center in South Jersey. According to the Press of Atlantic City, this establishment was voted by "Amusement Today" magazine as the third best beach-side amusement park in the world. Morey's Piers amusement area covers five miles of beach and features four piers, a two-mile boardwalk with souvenir shops and two beachfront water parks. One of Morey's Piers' water parks, the Ocean Oasis, offers massages and body treatments at the water park's spa. Morey's Piers offers a variety of restaurants, including Jumbo's, which serves seafood and pizza, and Alosi's Bistro. This amusement center is home to the Sea Serpent, one of the oldest "boomerang-style" roller coasters in the world. In a boomerang-style roller coaster, the roller coaster train returns to its starting point by accelerating in reverse.
The famed Boardwalk in Atlantic City is a four-mile sidewalk that stretches from the Abescon Inlet, in the northern area of the city, to the Atlantic City city limits. This wooden plank sidewalk runs parallel to the ocean. The land side of the Boardwalk consists of shopping centers, luxurious casino resorts, including the Trump Taj Mahal and Resorts Atlantic City, and restaurants. A number of piers extend from the Boardwalk over the Atlantic Ocean. One of the piers, Garden Pier, features the Atlantic City Art Center and the Atlantic City Historical Museum. The Atlantic City Boardwalk gained notoriety from the board game, Monopoly, which featured the Boardwalk as a possible place to purchase.
Island Beach State Park, on the Atlantic Ocean in Central New Jersey, is on a barrier island, approximately three miles from the mainland. This state park offers more than 10 miles of beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay. At over 3,500 acres, Island Beach is one of the largest undeveloped barrier islands in the United States. The island offers opportunities for birding activities since it is home to aviary species such as osprey and horned grebes. The southern tip of Island Beach is home to the Barnegat Bay Lighthouse. This 172-foot structure is open to the public and provides scenic views of the Atlantic Ocean. Island Beach State Park is open throughout the year. Vehicle fees apply; however, visitors do not have to pay fees if they arrive on foot or bicycle.
