Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Gateway National Recreation Area, New Jersey
Like a finger pointing toward the vast Atlantic Ocean, Jersey Shore's Sandy Hook Beach (in Gateway National Recreation Area) is something of a legend among New York City's beach bums. A thin peninsula that enjoys both ocean and bay waters, Sandy Hook Beach is a beach lover's paradise. A thrilling thirty-minute ferry ride from Manhattan (with or without your bike), takes you to seven-miles of clean, dune-swept sands laced with holly forests and flourishing bird sanctuaries. History buffs inspect Fort Hancock and architecture enthusiasts climb the Sandy Hook Light, the oldest operating lighthouse in the U.S. But wait, there is more. Surf, swim or relax on the soft sand, fish the coastline or take a peep at the birds that line the shores. For those seeking history, architecture, or just a stretch of clean sand-and-water, Sandy Hook Beach is a rare, natural oasis just forty minutes from Wall Street.
With so many options lining two long bay and ocean shores it's hard to know where to begin exploring. Both oceanside and bayside beaches are manned by lifeguards, and equipped with snack bars, bathrooms and showers. Gunnison Beach, part of the Sandy Hook unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area, is the Atlantic Ocean's largest, legal clothing-optional beach and is a popular destination for clothed and skinny-dipping swimmers. Not to worry, Gunnison Beach is secluded and clearly signed; You won't stumble onto the nudity by mistake. Surfers consider Sandy Hook in Gateway National Recreation Area one of the few pointbreaks in all of New Jersey. Because the surfing scene is low-key, surfers can take the waves on with plenty of elbowroom. Cast into the surf for striped bass and bluefish, or hop aboard one of the hundreds of charter and party boats that service the Jersey Shore deep-sea catch including marlin, Atlantic mackerel, tuna, or bluefish.
If you've soaked up all the sand, sun and saltwater your skin can take, Sandy Hook offers other exploits. For birdwatchers, head to the nearby Sandy Hook Observatory, or hike around the Hook's Plum Island and along the Old Dune Trail, where, if you're lucky, you might spot a mute swan, Eurasian collared dove, or green heron. Or check out Fort Hancock's barracks and weaponry, where guided tours are available on weekends. A climb up Sandy Hook Light is a great way to catch sweeping views of both the New York Harbor and the great Atlantic. Tours are available on summer weekends.
Ply the New York Harbor on your way to Sandy Hook. Two ferry companies leave Manhattan's East 34th Street and Pier 11 on a regular schedule during the summer months. Two-wheeled tourists can take their bike along and ride the several miles to the beach from the dock; foot passengers will hop on the shuttle bus that waits at the harbor to take people to the beach area. If you prefer to rely on four wheels, take Route 36 to Sandy Hook (accessible from the Garden State Parkway.) Parking is plentiful, but spots are usually filled before noon during the peak summer season so it's best to roll in early.
Spend a day on Sandy Hook Beach in Gateway National Recreation Area and you will pledge to revisit the Sandy Hook sands and plan your next return. It happens to the best of us; Sandy Hook Beach will have you hooked!