Things to do / Travel Guide
When you think of a drive throughout the Jersey Shore picture this: the windows are down; you smell the sea breeze, feel it on your face. Instead of racing to your destination you drive a little below the speed limit, absorb the sights. Maybe you'll enjoy some music while staring out in to the wild blue yonder. Why don't you give these routes a try?
Scenic Drive along Ocean Boulevard
For a short-but-sweet taste of north Jersey Shore's scenery, anyone visiting the Sandy Hook area by car should find an excuse to take this brief, beautiful four-mile detour. Begin on First Avenue in downtown Atlantic Highlands and follow Ocean Boulevard all the way to Mt. Mitchell Scenic Overlook. On this short stint you will see Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook Bay, Manhattan, a smidge of Brooklyn (including Coney Island), and on a clear, cloudless day, you might even catch sight of the Empire State Building.
Jersey Shore's Garden State Parkway
Get a great sense of the Jersey Shore by driving its length from Sandy Hook Peninsula to Cape May. In Belford, take Red Hill Road (CR-52) to the Garden State Parkway south; you'll have a few occasional views of the coast and many views of pastoral, flowery fields. To get closer to the coast, you can merge onto Route 9 near Pleasant Plains and follow it through small seaside communities until Tuckerton. At Tuckerton, Route 9 veers west, joining up again with Garden State Parkway. This route is a wonderful way to get a sense of Jersey Shore geography and to get familiar with the region's charming communities.
Jersey Shore's Ocean Drive
Ocean Drive (County Route 619) traces 40 miles of coastland from Absecon Island down to Cape May Point. You'll pass tiny archipelagos and cross over a series of arching bridges. The scenery along Ocean Drive is so beautiful that you'll likely choose to drive it both ways just to catch the spectacular views of the Atlantic at different angles. Ocean Drive gives you that free-spirited, seascape excursion that just makes you want to fill your lungs with fresh, salty ocean air.
Jersey Shore's Beautiful Estate Homes
For a lovely tour of the most beautiful estate homes along the Jersey Shore, head south of Bay Head on Route 35 toward Mantoloking. At Herbert Street turn west and cross over the bridge. The scenic drive through the communities that line the Metedeconk River will give you a good sense of the local lifestyle. The drive is less than 10 miles long, but you may continue either north or south on Route 35 for as long as you wish to enjoy lovely ocean views. As you gaze at sprawling homes and seascapes, Route 35 will give you a glimpse at the breadth of Jersey Shore's material and physical riches.
Jersey Shore's Wildlife Drive
For a drive on the Jersey Shore's wilder side, head to Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge and pick up an Auto Tour brochure at the visitor's center. The leisurely eight-mile Wildlife Drive crosses wetlands, uplands, forests, and fields; you'll also see a wide range of migratory birds (250 species visit Edwin B. Forsythe) including geese, ducks, egrets, and herons. The drive usually stays open for most of the winter (weather permitting) and, as you motor through, you will feel as though you have been transported to a veritable wildlife wonderland.
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