While an obvious recreational option, hitting the beaches of the south Jersey Shore is a must. To keep the average beach visit interesting, try crabbing to find one of the shore's famous blue crabs, or go beachcombing with metal detectors to find hidden treasures. Sunset Beach near Cape May will give you a glimpse of the concrete ship Atlantus, along with ample space to search for Cape May Diamonds, which are actually quartz crystals available for the taking. While you're in Cape May, take a 70-minute mini-cruise on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. The ferries run year-round. Don't forget to stop by the Cape May Lighthouse.
At night, enjoy the salty air while walking along any number of boardwalks, most notably in Wildwood, N.J., where Morey's Piers & Beachfront Waterparks provide an endless array of amusement park rides and water parks. Grab some cotton candy or a slice of authentic pizza and sit on a boardwalk bench to watch the passersby. Play some skee ball and turn in your point tickets to take home cheesy but cute souvenirs.
For the art aficionado, a visit to the Noyes Museum of Art in Oceanville, N.J., is a must. The south Jersey Shore art museum specializes in fine art, crafts and folk art from the Mid-Atlantic region. Past exhibitions have included a variety of media, including wood carvings, paintings, photography and sculpture.
A quick drive to the Salem County Historical Society from the south Jersey Shore will satisfy history lovers. The society is housed in four interconnected houses, and showcases signature exhibits such as Salem in the Revolutionary War and Wistarburg Glass. The collection of furniture, paintings, textiles, glass, china, documents and other items from colonial times has been donated mostly by area families.
If you're the gambling type, Atlantic City in the south Jersey Shore area provides several casinos with standard table and video machines. However, if gambling isn't for you, a trip to Atlantic City will land you smack-dab in the middle of the world-famous Monopoly board game. The streets of Atlantic City provided the names for most of the streets in the game and are still found in Atlantic City today. If you'd like to visit the properties in person, pick up a city map at the Atlantic City Visitor Welcome Center or the Boardwalk Information Center.
