Perth Amboy, N.J., known as "The City by the Bay," is a charming town with a historic waterfront, two museums, an art gallery, colonial and Victorian homes, a marina, and a park with a band shell. Although the city is located on Raritan Bay, the prime Atlantic Ocean beaches are less than 40 minutes away along the Jersey Shore.
Sandy Hook offers seven miles of wide, white-sand beaches that overlook the skyline of Manhattan. Less than 30 miles from Perth Amboy, Sandy Hook is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, which is managed by the United States Park Service, and cars are charged a fee to enter. Along with excellent swimming, surfing and surf-casting, beach goers can visit Sandy Hook's holly forest; the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, which is the oldest operating lighthouse in America; and Fort Hanover and Sandy Hook Proving Ground, a military defense. There are plenty of parking lots for the popular beach, but they fill up early in the summer.
Gateway National Recreation Area
Sandy Hook, NJ 07732
732-872-5970
nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit/sandy-hook-hours.htm
Just south of Sandy Hook, Sea Bright is located on a narrow stretch of barrier island, with the Shrewsbury River on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. The main thoroughfare separates the white-sand beaches from the residential and commercial areas, so beaches are within easy walking distance of motels, restaurants and shops. The guarded public beach does require beach tags, but that includes free parking. The surfing beach area, known as the Anchorage, is unguarded but free and open to the public. Additionally, there are several other unguarded beaches used for fishing and kite flying.
Sea Bright Beach
732-842-0215
seabrightnj.org/beach.asp
There's plenty to do on the guarded beaches of Point Pleasant Beach. Located about 35 miles away from Perth Amboy, the beach is known not only for volleyball tournaments, surfing, body boarding and kayaking, but offers some of the best scuba diving in New Jersey. The Point Pleasant Beach Boardwalk runs along the length of the beach and is broken up into what locals call "neighborhoods." Jenkinson's Aquarium and Nightclub, Martell's Tiki Bar, arcades, psychics, gift shops and amusement games are located in the south end, a residential neighborhood is situated in the middle of the boardwalk, along with a section of eateries, and a fishing and recreational boat dock is found in the north neighborhood.
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
732-892-0600
pointpleasantbeach.com/
