Things to do / Travel Guide
Should you start feeling land-locked or sand-chafed, go for a pleasure boating excursion on the Jersey Shore's coastal waters. Captain your own vessel or pay someone else to be at the helm, as chartered sailing and boating excursions are easy to come by. With literally hundreds of miles of ocean waters and inland coastal waterways, a pleasure boating excursion in the Jersey Shore is both pleasant and easy to arrange. Whether you hope to ply the vast waters of the Atlantic Ocean or would rather tour calm coves and harbors along the Jersey Shore coastline, the options abound.
Windswept dunes, rocky jetties, and more than 100 miles of white sandy beaches are just a few of the sights to which you'll be privy. Near Sandy Hook, Barnegat, and Cape May you'll gain a unique vantage point from which to view some of the Jersey Shore's historic lighthouses. Sail near Long Beach Island, Island Beach State Park, and Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge where you can observe the Jersey Shore's pristine wildlife and hear the enchanting chirps of songbirds and watch rare, migratory fowl in flight.
Charter sailing and pontoon excursions are available throughout the Jersey Shore, generally from May-October, and can last anywhere from one hour to a full day, with prices depending on the length of the trip and the number of passengers sailing. For an excursion around the northern tip of Jersey Shore, enjoy sunset sails on the Raritan Bay and Lower New York Bay, which provide exquisite views of the Manhattan skyline and Sandy Hook Lighthouse. These excursions leave from Keyport and Monmouth Cove Marina on Sandy Hook Bay.
Other sailing excursions and cruises (with and without meals) leave from Bogan's Boat Basin, Brielle Marine Basin, and Hoffman's Marina in Brielle, Pier One Marina in the town of Toms River, from Farley State Marina, in Atlantic City, from Island Heights on Barnegat Bay, from the Wildwood Marina, in Wildwood and from countless other locations throughout the Jersey Shore throughout the day.
Should you choose to skipper your own boat, know that marinas and boat launch ramps are ubiquitous and that boats of every size, shape, and color are available for rent in most Jersey Shore coastal communities. There are a large number of marinas and boat ramps clustered around the northern area of the Jersey Shore, particularly around Keyport, Keansburg, Leonardo, Sandy Hook, and Brielle. Paddleboats and small fishing boats are usually less expensive, while larger fishing boats, pontoon boats, and sailboats can cost more than $100 an hour. New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection has compiled a Jersey Shore Boat Rental Directory that serves as a great reference when planning a boating outing.
Boating in the Jersey Shore requires a New Jersey permit. It is best to familiarize yourself with the New Jersey Boating Legal Requirements and New Jersey Boating License Registration procedures before embarking on a pleasure boating excursion.
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