Wildwood Beach in New Jersey Is 5 Miles of Splendor

Going to the beach is a fun activity for everyone! With beautiful water to swim in, or soaking up sun on the sand, the beach is the perfect place to get away from the stress of life. With so much coastline in the United States, it can be hard to find a fun beach to go vacation to. Popular destinations like Florida and California are amazing in their own ways, but sometimes it’s fun to switch it up. New Jersey may be one of those off-the-beaten-path places. New Jersey has amazing beaches that many may not consider going to! With miles and miles of coastlines, there are plenty of beaches to go to all with their charms. This article is going to go into the longest beach in New Jersey and what kind of fun things there are to do.

Wildwood Beach

One of the longest beaches in New Jersey is Wildwood Beach! The coastline of Wildwood Beach is around 5 miles long. This beach has many amazing things to do around it! One of the most appealing aspects about it is that it is entirely free! Compared to other states’ beaches, some of the beaches in New Jersey charge an admission fee. This can dampen the mood while traveling, especially if you did not know beforehand. This makes Wildwood all the better. Throughout the warm seasons, for all 5 miles along the beach, you can see people out and about enjoying their time. The beach is often dotted with colorful umbrellas and beach chairs and families are often in the water playing. Other great features of the beach include the public toilets available, saving having to take a trip to a nearby establishment.

If you’ve been looking for a beach more up north, Wildwood is perfect. New Jersey state borders New York state, so taking a trip between Manhattan and Wildwood can be done in a day! With about a two-and-a-half-hour drive between the locations, those staying in Manhattan on vacation can easily head out for a beach day, or vice versa. If you’ve been looking for a great beach to frequent, Wildwood Beach may be the best fit!

Things to Do

There is lots of fun to be had either at the beach or around it. Wildwood has 5 miles to walk down and enjoy, and there is so much fun squeezed into it. Firstly, and the most obvious, is the water. Wildwood Beach water is crystal blue and perfect for swimming in. The waves depend on the weather of course, but an average day is perfect for adults and small ones alike! If you’re a family going on vacation, this will be perfect for you! The sand is another great spot to soak up the sun. Make sure to pack a sand castle mold and shovel to make the most of your time.

There are other activities as well. One example is Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Water Parks. Officially opened in 1969 by the Morey family, there are 3 separate piers of amusement parks for visitors to enjoy. One of the greatest attractions is the standard amusement park rides. While swimming is fun, getting sandy after a day at the beach can be a hassle to clean up. By enjoying the amusement park rides and rollercoasters, you can enjoy your time at the beach without the same hassle.

There are also two waterparks, Ocean Oasis and Raging Waters. These waterparks have amazing waterslides, wave pools, lazy rivers, and more. These waterparks can be great for kids who want to burn some steam. There’s nothing better than splashing around in the water at the waterpark on a hot summer day, and Morey’s Parks are perfect for this. Consider spending a few days at Wildwood Beach to enjoy both the beach itself, but also the amusement and waterparks.

Nature at Wildwood Beach

Wildwood Beach is home to amazing wildlife as well, especially the aquatic life. Being on the Atlantic coast, there is a lot of amazing wildlife that comes near the shore for people to see. There are also many guided tours to see if you wish. Here are some of the most common wildlife that you can see on your trip to Wildwood Beach.

Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

One of the best sights at Wildwood Beach is the humpback whales in the summer. In the summer, the water in the Atlantic gets cooler, ideal for the whales that want to cool off. Because of this, humpback whales can often be seen swimming off the shore! This is sure to be a fun viewing for kids. There are also whale-watching tours available to get closer and interact with them!

Horseshoe Crab (Limulidae)

Horseshoe Crabs are some of the oldest wildlife in the world. They are estimated to be around 400 million years old, dating back to dinosaurs. Horseshoe crabs are getting rarer and rarer to see, however. The species is labeled as “declining,” making it important to keep them safe if you see them on the beach. They are not found too much in more populated areas on the beach, so a bit of walking might be needed to see them. One of the reasons for their decline is the importance they have to medicine. The blood of horseshoe crabs works very well to fight bacteria, so more and more research is being done for human benefit.

Dolphins (Delphinidae)

Similar to humpback whales, dolphins in the Atlantic swim upshore in the summer to give birth. Dolphins are amazing to see when going to the beach! These creatures are naturally very social creatures who enjoy spending time with and interacting with humans! Dolphins often swim together in groups called “pods,” and these pods are the little bumps you see diving in and out of the water when you see them from shore. Dolphin sightseeing tours are also available, giving a chance to see and possibly interact with them. As mentioned, dolphins are very social creatures. This is because dolphins have one of the most developed brains outside of humans. Dolphins are able to communicate well and have facial recognition. Hopefully, on your next trip, you can see a pod of dolphins swimming around!

Seals (Phoca vitulina)

If you plan on going to the beaches of New Jersey in the fall or winter, then you have a high chance of seeing seals! A fun fact about seals, specifically harbor seals, is that they spend half of their life outside of water. This process is called “hauling out,” and seals do a number of things in their time outside the water. For example, giving birth, staying warm, and nursing. One of the most important parts of hauling out is the escaping from predators. The ocean is dangerous for seals naturally, and an easy way to avoid predators is to simply not be near them. This is a great feat of evolution. Seals are not accustomed to humans, however, so be careful to only view them from afar. In the state of New Jersey, it is illegal to feed and interact with them. Seals also have a pretty strong bite, so it’s rather safe than sorry!

Summary

Spending time at the beach is a great way to spend vacation time. Whether you’re getting away from work, or going on a trip with the family, there is always something fun to do at the beach! New Jersey has amazing beaches. While they may not be the first thing you think about when you hear New Jersey, they should be on the top of your bucket list! Wildwood Beach in New Jersey is 5 miles long and has amazing features to it such as it being free to the public and amazing attractions. The wildlife is also amazing, especially in the summer! If you’re planning on spending time in New Jersey or close by, consider going to Wildwood Beach!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Eifel Kreutz/iStock via Getty Images

WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more.

Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day.

Thanks for subscribing!