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OCNJ beaches are very nice clean beaches on the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. I have been to many other beaches around the world and still rate OCNJ very high. Why you ask? The town is a dry town so it eliminates the clientele you meet in Ocean City, Maryland and even Lake Tahoe. Don't let dry town discourage you. All those red cups you see on the beach have alcohol in them. Everyone stops at Circle liquors and loads up for the week. LOL. I personally find happy hour at 5:30 and on to be magnificent by the water. Next, the beach is great for families and I always enjoy people watching and admiring how much fun everyone is having. The beaches are crowded in the key high traffic areas, 1st Street down to 24th Street, But there is the 59th street beach where you have huge beaches and everyone is spread out. So you can find beaches that are not crowded. Next, you have the boardwalk with food service and bathrooms. You can pick up lunch and bring it back to your beach spot after you make a stop at the restrooms. Not necessarily in that order. There are of course those who act like they are wadding into the water to cool off, but we know what they are really doing. I prefer a genuine clean restroom. Last, the beach is safe as long as you follow the guidance of the life guards. Wednesday I got to witness 3 Life Guards go after 4 people caught in a riptide. These guys showed no fear and the ending was a happy one. The beach patrol in OCNJ is awesome. The overall beach experience is very positive in OCNJ.
Another great trip to OC this year in June and another year without paying a nickel for tags. We were down for a week and we were at the beach during business hours on different parts of four days and never once saw a tag patrol whether it was 10am or 4pm. Some of the dissenting Yelp reviews for Ocean City Beaches are quite honestly idiotic once you start reading them because the "complaints" except for one have nothing to do with the beaches themselves. 1. Paying for beaches tags is annoying but, duh, how do you think the OC beaches/boardwalk stay so pristine year after year? If you don't like it stay somewhere else or come early in the day or after four/five or away from the boardwalk where your chances of seeing tag patrols are about the same as finding Hoffa's body. 2. There should be smoking areas on/near the boardwalk and beach? Are you stupid? That's one of things which I hate about VA Beach. It seems like smoking on the beach down there is a competitive sport with everyone trying to outdo each other. There is no way a dry beach town founded as a religious community is ever going there. Again, this is the way it's always been and the way it will always be. Don't like it? Go somewhere else. 3. Yes there are a lot of crappy restaurants in town. But there are a lot of crappy/overpriced restaurants in any beach town. It's the nature of the beast when you combine a largely captive audience with an environment where most businesses need to make their money within a very short window. This isn't the only beach town or even the only Jersey beach town or even the only South Jersey beach town where this type of gouging is going on. Don't like it? Go somewhere else of just stay in and cook every meal at your rental. 4. But the biggie is of course from all of the hipsters/twenty somethings/drunks/self-important types who feel that beer/wine/liquor is mandatory with every meal and that you should be able to buy it whenever/wherever/however. To you I say bullshit. There is no need for it and over multiple referendums the residents who have to live there year round and put up with shoobies like us summer after summer have said a resounding "NO" towards allowing alcohol to be sold on the island. Look, Circle Liquors isn't that far and neither is the Super Liquors on Roosevelt. You can make it, you can last the short drive. It'll be OK to live those extra few minutes without booze. Don't like it? Go stay somewhere else because clearly you're in the minority and it'll just make that one more rental be available for me next year. The beaches themselves are well maintained and beautiful. The town does a great job keeping them clean and they along with the state of NJ plus the federal government do a good job with the never ending task of beach replenishment. While OC is not perfect, if there's a better overall place to go in season especially from a family orientated standpoint in NJ....it flat out doesn't exist.
Ocean City is home to some of my least favorite beaches. I grew up vacationing in Wildwood and Cape May each summer, so OC has never been the first town I'd think of to visit. On the other hand, my extended family loves this town. If I ask one of them to join me at the shore, I know I'll be stuck on the road to OC. There is no compromising. I dislike OC for a number of reasons, and I'm sure they're the very reasons why others like the town. 1. Beach tags. Usually I just bum one off my family since they're season tag-holders. But the idea of paying to sit on a tiny plot of sand has always seemed absurd to me. 2. Tiny beaches. Maybe it depends on the street, but if you want to be anywhere near the boardwalk, expect to feel cramped. I don't find it relaxing to listen to someone else's radio while babies cry two feet in front of me. 3. Dry town. Sure, it's family friendly so that's cool for most, but there's no bars here. Not only are you stuck listening to someone else's crappy top 40 music, but ya gotta do it 100% sober. There are, of course, some positives. 1. It's clean. From the restrooms to the boardwalk to the actual sand, it's unlikely you'll find too much trash. Compared to other towns, this place is sparkling. 2. You can relax. If you find some sand away from loud people (re: away from the boardwalk), this is a good beach to just pass out on for a few hours. 3. Shorter drive. Compared to Wildwood/Cape May, you won't spend quite as much time in your car. More time for the beach!
Miles of clean, beautiful New Jersey beach. Thinking about Ocean City's Beach in February while flicking through picture albums from summer's past. Popping colors remind the world is not always as muted as it was today. Bright skies and smiles. Glinting eyes. Swimsuits drenched from taking dips. Flying kites, digging in the sand. Frequent snack breaks. Crowds of the like minded, but there is always room somewhere not too far from the waves. $5 beach tags required and life guards on duty until 5 pm during summer season. No alcohol allowed.
What I like: Ocean city offers about 8 miles of clean and family friendly beach. OC beach is ideal for building sand castles with the family, lounging on a chair soaking up the sun or taking a stroll along the boardwalk for games and other entertainment. What I don't like: The $8.00 beach tag/shower fee. I understand this fee is cover the costs of lifeguards, cleaning and etc. but it can be a tough pill to swallow when traveling with a large group. Street parking can be difficult to find and lot spaces will run you about $25.00. If you spend a little time searching you may luck out and find a good spot. Overall I really like it here. Like any beach it has a couple of drawbacks but the good definitely outweighs the bad. Sometimes it's worth paying a few extra bucks for a safer & cleaner environment.
As a born and raised "south Jerseyan" 59th st beach has been my go-to beach since high school. As a child, my family were die-hard Avalonians. But once I reached my beach "coming of age" independence, 59th st in OC is where it's been at since 1998. The dunes, Corsons Inlet State Park, the public bathrooms, you can't beat it!!! Park in the yes-pay to park- lot (IF there are no free street spots available) and walk down the beach to the last lifeguard flag...then, you're officially on state property and the beach is free (yet you can still use the bathhouse, foot wash spigot, and other basic amenities). OR pay for a daily or season pass and support the local community and OC Govmt so that they can continue to maintain the fabulous beach that makes you feel "away from it all"...no boardwalk, no rides, just pure ocean, sand, surf, and natures beautiful park (Corsons Inlet). By the way, you can walk from 59th st beach along the water and around the peninsula that leads you into Corsons. It's a solidly decent walk, absolutely beautiful, and the further towards the peninsula you get the more isolated (and peaceful) it becomes. I've been going to Avalon, Strathmere, and Ocean City since my toddler days...and hands down, 59th st at OC wins!!! Ps: after a solid day of sun, cross the Corsons inlet bridge Into Strathmere (no toll that way) and grab a drink a 1- Twisties (a local, favorite spot) or 2-The Beach House next to the Deauville if it's open (it's seasonal). Just avoid the Deauville itself at all costs.
A little FYI, beach tags are $5 a day, $10 a week. ($25 a season!) if you're complaining about that in the same breath you're complimenting the beach condition, you need a knock upside the head. Figger out what kind of tag you need and open your wallet, Jughead! Whadda ya think PAYS for those nice beaches? Great sand, clean water, good lifeguards, few Guidos in Speedos. You can't do better.
THE GOOD ---------------- + Oddly, there was no beach badge fee on the Thursday leading up to Labor Day weekend, but it's advertised online as $10 daily. THE NOT SO GOOD ---------------------------- - Beaches are scattered along the boardwalk and kind of broken up into sections. - Wasn't as clean as we expected. - Sand had lots of shells and remnants from the ocean. - The north side of the beach wasn't huge. RANDOM OBSERVATIONS -------------------------------------- = For you shell collectors out there, along the coastline where the beach and ocean currents meet, there was a craaaazy amount of shells of all shapes and sizes! read more
11 months ago
Loved going to the beach in September when it was less crowded but overall this beach is great. Really enjoyed time with my family and I'm so blessed I live so close to such an amazing shore town! read more
This place is beautiful! There are so many things to do from Just walking the boardwalk, going to the beach, playing mini golf, haunted walk through, arcades, amusement parks, waterparks. Food, shops, coffee shops. This is a dry city though so do not expect any alcohols here. There are only a couple sit down restaurants the rest are walk up and order stations. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
4 years ago
OCNJ beaches are very nice clean beaches on the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. I have been to many other beaches around the world and still rate OCNJ very high. Why you ask? The town is a dry town so it eliminates the clientele you meet in Ocean City, Maryland and even Lake Tahoe. Don't let dry town discourage you. All those red cups you see on the beach have alcohol in them. Everyone stops at Circle liquors and loads up for the week. LOL. I personally find happy hour at 5:30 and on to be magnificent by the water. Next, the beach is great for families and I always enjoy people watching and admiring how much fun everyone is having. The beaches are crowded in the key high traffic areas, 1st Street down to 24th Street, But there is the 59th street beach where you have huge beaches and everyone is spread out. So you can find beaches that are not crowded. Next, you have the boardwalk with food service and bathrooms. You can pick up lunch and bring it back to your beach spot after you make a stop at the restrooms. Not necessarily in that order. There are of course those who act like they are wadding into the water to cool off, but we know what they are really doing. I prefer a genuine clean restroom. Last, the beach is safe as long as you follow the guidance of the life guards. Wednesday I got to witness 3 Life Guards go after 4 people caught in a riptide. These guys showed no fear and the ending was a happy one. The beach patrol in OCNJ is awesome. The overall beach experience is very positive in OCNJ. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
8 years ago
10 years ago
Another great trip to OC this year in June and another year without paying a nickel for tags. We were down for a week and we were at the beach during business hours on different parts of four days and never once saw a tag patrol whether it was 10am or 4pm. Some of the dissenting Yelp reviews for Ocean City Beaches are quite honestly idiotic once you start reading them because the "complaints" except for one have nothing to do with the beaches themselves. 1. Paying for beaches tags is annoying but, duh, how do you think the OC beaches/boardwalk stay so pristine year after year? If you don't like it stay somewhere else or come early in the day or after four/five or away from the boardwalk where your chances of seeing tag patrols are about the same as finding Hoffa's body. 2. There should be smoking areas on/near the boardwalk and beach? Are you stupid? That's one of things which I hate about VA Beach. It seems like smoking on the beach down there is a competitive sport with everyone trying to outdo each other. There is no way a dry beach town founded as a religious community is ever going there. Again, this is the way it's always been and the way it will always be. Don't like it? Go somewhere else. 3. Yes there are a lot of crappy restaurants in town. But there are a lot of crappy/overpriced restaurants in any beach town. It's the nature of the beast when you combine a largely captive audience with an environment where most businesses need to make their money within a very short window. This isn't the only beach town or even the only Jersey beach town or even the only South Jersey beach town where this type of gouging is going on. Don't like it? Go somewhere else of just stay in and cook every meal at your rental. 4. But the biggie is of course from all of the hipsters/twenty somethings/drunks/self-important types who feel that beer/wine/liquor is mandatory with every meal and that you should be able to buy it whenever/wherever/however. To you I say bullshit. There is no need for it and over multiple referendums the residents who have to live there year round and put up with shoobies like us summer after summer have said a resounding "NO" towards allowing alcohol to be sold on the island. Look, Circle Liquors isn't that far and neither is the Super Liquors on Roosevelt. You can make it, you can last the short drive. It'll be OK to live those extra few minutes without booze. Don't like it? Go stay somewhere else because clearly you're in the minority and it'll just make that one more rental be available for me next year. The beaches themselves are well maintained and beautiful. The town does a great job keeping them clean and they along with the state of NJ plus the federal government do a good job with the never ending task of beach replenishment. While OC is not perfect, if there's a better overall place to go in season especially from a family orientated standpoint in NJ....it flat out doesn't exist. read more
10 years ago
Ocean City is home to some of my least favorite beaches. I grew up vacationing in Wildwood and Cape May each summer, so OC has never been the first town I'd think of to visit. On the other hand, my extended family loves this town. If I ask one of them to join me at the shore, I know I'll be stuck on the road to OC. There is no compromising. I dislike OC for a number of reasons, and I'm sure they're the very reasons why others like the town. 1. Beach tags. Usually I just bum one off my family since they're season tag-holders. But the idea of paying to sit on a tiny plot of sand has always seemed absurd to me. 2. Tiny beaches. Maybe it depends on the street, but if you want to be anywhere near the boardwalk, expect to feel cramped. I don't find it relaxing to listen to someone else's radio while babies cry two feet in front of me. 3. Dry town. Sure, it's family friendly so that's cool for most, but there's no bars here. Not only are you stuck listening to someone else's crappy top 40 music, but ya gotta do it 100% sober. There are, of course, some positives. 1. It's clean. From the restrooms to the boardwalk to the actual sand, it's unlikely you'll find too much trash. Compared to other towns, this place is sparkling. 2. You can relax. If you find some sand away from loud people (re: away from the boardwalk), this is a good beach to just pass out on for a few hours. 3. Shorter drive. Compared to Wildwood/Cape May, you won't spend quite as much time in your car. More time for the beach! read more
Miles of clean, beautiful New Jersey beach. Thinking about Ocean City's Beach in February while flicking through picture albums from summer's past. Popping colors remind the world is not always as muted as it was today. Bright skies and smiles. Glinting eyes. Swimsuits drenched from taking dips. Flying kites, digging in the sand. Frequent snack breaks. Crowds of the like minded, but there is always room somewhere not too far from the waves. $5 beach tags required and life guards on duty until 5 pm during summer season. No alcohol allowed. read more
2 years ago
9 years ago
What I like: Ocean city offers about 8 miles of clean and family friendly beach. OC beach is ideal for building sand castles with the family, lounging on a chair soaking up the sun or taking a stroll along the boardwalk for games and other entertainment. What I don't like: The $8.00 beach tag/shower fee. I understand this fee is cover the costs of lifeguards, cleaning and etc. but it can be a tough pill to swallow when traveling with a large group. Street parking can be difficult to find and lot spaces will run you about $25.00. If you spend a little time searching you may luck out and find a good spot. Overall I really like it here. Like any beach it has a couple of drawbacks but the good definitely outweighs the bad. Sometimes it's worth paying a few extra bucks for a safer & cleaner environment. read more
13 years ago
As a born and raised "south Jerseyan" 59th st beach has been my go-to beach since high school. As a child, my family were die-hard Avalonians. But once I reached my beach "coming of age" independence, 59th st in OC is where it's been at since 1998. The dunes, Corsons Inlet State Park, the public bathrooms, you can't beat it!!! Park in the yes-pay to park- lot (IF there are no free street spots available) and walk down the beach to the last lifeguard flag...then, you're officially on state property and the beach is free (yet you can still use the bathhouse, foot wash spigot, and other basic amenities). OR pay for a daily or season pass and support the local community and OC Govmt so that they can continue to maintain the fabulous beach that makes you feel "away from it all"...no boardwalk, no rides, just pure ocean, sand, surf, and natures beautiful park (Corsons Inlet). By the way, you can walk from 59th st beach along the water and around the peninsula that leads you into Corsons. It's a solidly decent walk, absolutely beautiful, and the further towards the peninsula you get the more isolated (and peaceful) it becomes. I've been going to Avalon, Strathmere, and Ocean City since my toddler days...and hands down, 59th st at OC wins!!! Ps: after a solid day of sun, cross the Corsons inlet bridge Into Strathmere (no toll that way) and grab a drink a 1- Twisties (a local, favorite spot) or 2-The Beach House next to the Deauville if it's open (it's seasonal). Just avoid the Deauville itself at all costs. read more
A little FYI, beach tags are $5 a day, $10 a week. ($25 a season!) if you're complaining about that in the same breath you're complimenting the beach condition, you need a knock upside the head. Figger out what kind of tag you need and open your wallet, Jughead! Whadda ya think PAYS for those nice beaches? Great sand, clean water, good lifeguards, few Guidos in Speedos. You can't do better. read more
12 years ago
I grew up in Central NJ about 15 mins from the Shores in that area. My friends and I mainly frequented the Shores in Monmouth & Ocean counties. If we went south, it was only to Wildwood. This was back in the 80's & early 90's. Fast forward--I don't live anywhere close to the Jersey Shore, and I have a family of my own. If we want to go to the Shore, we have to drive a couple of hours to get there, and we want to go to a place that's worth the drive. I think we found it in Ocean City. The beach itself was clean and the lifeguards were very attentive for everyone's safety. Very relaxing with none of the rowdiness of some of the other Shore area beaches. I recommend getting there as early as possible and taking advantage of the small all day parking lot located on 8th Street. For $10, it was a bargain, and it's a very short walk to the beach if you have a lot of stuff to carry or little kids to handle. read more
All I can say is this is the best beach on the east coast. In my opinion. The water is nice and clean. The waves are perfect. Not out of control. I came down here for a weekend getaway. Arrived at the beach on a Friday. It wasn't to crowded. The carnival is awesome! I enjoyed the view from the biggest ferris wheel. Very nice. This will be my beach between travel times. Much better than the beaches in the Maryland area. Thanku so much Ocean city New Jersey. . As Arnold Schwarzenegger once stated. I'll be back. read more
10 years ago
Cost 5.00 for anyone over 12 to go to the beach before 5:30pm. Parking in the lots near the beach is approximately $15-$20 per vehicle. Beach is okay, hard to please me because I'm Florida. The water was a bit murky. There is a water park directly behind the beach and a boardwalk. read more
I am in love with Ocean City. I've been going there for weeks every summer for my whole 29 years. We don't stay near the boardwalk, so the beaches are much bigger. There's always the person who will sit on top of you, but that's not OC's fault! Sure you have to buy beach tags but that's one of the reasons the beaches are so clean. For all of those complaining that it's a dry town - there are liquor stores right over both bridges. I actually kind of like that it's a dry town, it maintains the family atmosphere that OC is known for. read more
Normally when we're at the beach we go to Stone Harbor. The beaches in SH have us spoiled! We went to OC for the day last week on a day trip. The day passes were reasonably priced and the beach itself if nice and clean. The lifeguards are great and allow you some flexibility while in the ocean. Parking is a bit of an issue, SH offers parking lots, OC is all street parking. Overall we had a great day and would return. read more
8 years ago
13 years ago
Ocean City is in South Jersey and not Jersey shore proper. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey_Shore OC had very little damage of the beach and boardwalk but it did have some and they built ramps to the beach and upgraded the bathrooms with no touch sinks. There were many new healthy food choices such as organic salads and juices. It is still clean and wholesome and a dry town! Here are my previous reviews- I must upgrade it to 4 stars. After revisiting NY beaches including beaches in LI, I now appreciate the pristine beaches at the shore much more and specifically OC. There is no crime, dolphins you can see daily from the beach, better food than in LI and a more wholesome crowd! You can't see dolphins in Long Island unless you go out in boat or go to Montauk. No bikes, no rude people and better yet the water is clean and pristine! There has been a major clean up of the Jersey shore. If you look at local news helicopters over the shore the water looks blue like Florida but helicopters over the beaches of Long Island are muddy looking! That includes all of them! Most of the people in Ocean City are really wholesome and there is no drunkenness or smoking. It has been voted America's best family beach http://en.wikipedia.org/... It is always in the top 3 family beaches on the Travel Channel in the country. The boardwalk is 2 and a half miles and there are very few tacky shops but more wholesome stores, surf shops and restaurants than you will find at any other boardwalk in the rest of the country and the cleanest boardwalk you will find in the country! Ocean city has been on the Travel channel for being one of America's top family beaches. Right on the OC Chamber of Commerce web site it says America's greatest family resort. OC is a very wholesome town. It is also a dry town like Ocean Grove and was started as a Christian camp meeting town. It is in South Jersey past Atlantic city and before Wildwood. Yes the beach can be dirty at times because it is close to Atlantic city. But it is not as dirty as a NY beach such as Jones beach, Coney Island or even Long beach, LI. It is also some how hotter and more humid than other shore towns. But where it shines is the board walk. It is not a honky tonk board walk. It is extremely clean and pretty. It does not just have T shirt shops like most board walk beaches. You can do some decent shopping here. We go to OC at least once a year for great shopping bargains. In fact when I had young children to shop for I did my Christmas shopping here in the summer. They have every kind of store imaginable right on the board walk. The beach is 8 miles long. In 2009 OC was voted top NJ beach beating out LBI. I agree because it attracts a diverse crowd families from NY, NJ and PA. The board walk also has the famous Kohr brothers frozen custard and many unique eateries. The board walk doesn't just have hot dogs and french fries, it also has places to get fresh salads, fresh sea food, fresh squeezed lemonade with strawberries and other fruit, the famous Johnson's popcorn as featured on the Food network and many other eateries as well. I decided to go body surfing in a hurricane to get that euphoria that you get when riding the waves. I am such a genius. I had to be rescued several times. The life guards told me not to get back in but it was so addictive that I could not help it. I actually fell asleep on the board and looked up to see that the beach was no where in sight. The life guards did one last sweep of the ocean even though the beaches were now closed they knew geniuses like me would be out there. My husband jokingly accused me of getting swept out to the middle of the ocean to be rescued by a hunky life guard. Well I was younger then. That was about 8 years ago. It is about a 4 hour drive from New York city with traffic. It can take longer depending on the traffic. It is a very wholesome town and there is nothing like it in the country. I have been to the Santa Monica pier in California and it has the same look but the beach and board walk in Ocean city is cleaner and seems much safer. You see groups of teenagers playing guitars on the board walk and it is still one of the few places you can go to that children can run around on the beach and board walk while their parents sun bath. I bet people would rate this beach higher if it was a drinking beach like OC Maryland or Wildwood, NJ. But I like it the way it is. I have to add that the 3 stars is based on the fact that I have been to beaches all over including Hawaii. If I had only been to East Coast beaches I would give it 4 stars. read more
13 years ago
I love this place. It's nicer, prettier, and cleaner than Atlantic City beach. Still has the long board walk. Only 20 miles away (30 min from Atl). It cost $5 for the day or $10 for the week but it's worth to come and relax here. The sand is softer. Not too loud, fun, and relaxing here. Places to eat, shop, and take photos. Very lovely place and small town feel. Eat and drinking on the beach is allowed. Subway, pizza, and other restaurants are there and a few activities along the boardwalk. read more
9 years ago
The beach here is great. We came during September which is the off-season and had a great time. The water wasn't too cold and the beach wasn't too crowded. Great place to learn how to skimboard and build sand castles. There's also a lifeguard on duty to watch as long as your swimming in the designated area between the green flash. There are some areas where there is a lot of seashells so bring flip flops. ALSO watch out for seagulls that come and try to take your food!!! read more
16 years ago
12 years ago
Ocean City is a great, family oriented place. There is something for everyone to do. Tons of good lil eating spots, beautiful beaches, one of the best boardwalks, friendly people, and fun for the whole family. You can find great places around the country and Ocean city is right up on the top of the list. read more
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551 Ocean Ave
Ocean City, NJ 08226
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(609) 525-9306
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