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Jersey Shore Summer…
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Sandy Hook - New Jersey Shore
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Categories: Local Flavor, Active Life [Edit]
Sandy Hook Visitor CenterGateway National Receation Area
Highlands, NJ 07732
(732) 872-5900
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
11 reviews for Sandy Hook - New Jersey Shore
My favorite Jersey beach - or should I say, beaches. I've spent many, many happy weekends and even weekdays here when I was a resident of New York and northern Jersey. Because it is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, in the summer you don't pay for beach badges, unlike in the other beaches of the Jersey Shore; but there is a vehicle entrance fee.
Once inside the Hook, you're treated to your choice of several beaches, from regular family beach-picnic beaches to fishing beaches to even a clothing-optional beach! There are also non-beach picnic areas, abandoned military structures, woodlands and wetland nature preserve areas. And in several of the Atlantic side beaches, you are treated to a view of the New York City skyline and the Verrazano bridge on the northern horizon.
This is also a bird-watcher's paradise, as many species of shore- and non-shore birds inhabit or migrate through the area. Being a nature lover, I enjoyed observing the distinctive shore flora which includes an indigenous species of prickly-pear cactus, abundantly-fruiting (in the fall) beach plums, and the most extensive holly forest in the northeast.
Food and drink is limited to boardwalk-type fare in the food kiosks and the Seagull's Nest Restaurant, but you don't come to the beach for gourmet fare anyhow, unless you bring it yourself; and remember, no glass containers allowed at the beaches. And if fine dining is what you want, nearby Sea Bright, Navesink, and Highlands have many establishments for finer dining after your beach visit.
I really love the place (can't you tell, from all the pictures I've posted?) and now that I've moved to the Southwest I miss Sandy Hook a lot ... and I know that when I visit New Jersey in the summer, a return to Sandy Hook will definitely be in my itinerary.
Sandy Hook is a beautiful beach...and yes it's $10 to park during the day, but free after 4pm =)
It's a great venue for picnics...there are a few inlets (concrete walkway/boardwalk)...was just there this past weekend.
Now...the traffic is a little ridiculous!!! You can pretty much drive right in...depending on when you get there, but leaving...there's a LONG LINE (at least from what I witnessed) from 4pm...til nearly 8pm. I left at 8pm...and was sitting in the line for nearly 1.25 hours!
In either case, it's definitely a great compromise...from the Carribean (GORGEOUS beaches) to Orchard Beach (with all the rocks and broken glass!) =P
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I grew up going to Sandy Hook as well as many other Jersey beaches. Just going 'down the shore' (as I call that everything past the Monmouth/Raritan tolls) has always been a big thing in my family. There is just something about being able to get in the car and arrive near the ocean/water in just some short minutes.
My uncle has documented some of the historical aspects of Sandy Hook and here is some info that might spark your interest as well: http://www.sandy-hook.com - Also, I like lighthouses and Sandy Hook has one of the oldest in America if I'm not mistaken.
http://www.lighthousef...
Oh and you can see the city skyline beautifully!
$10 car entrance from 7AM-4PM
or get the $45 ferry (powered from french fry oil) from E35 or pier 11 nyc ($6 beer on board) latest return 4-5p
free shuttle busses every 1/2hr 10-4 form north beach, gunnison (nude), south beach (restaurant).
leave after 8:00pm or you'll sit 2 hours in traffic for 3 miles just to get over the bridge (no danger of running over a turtle which are common May-July)
lots of history, great friendly rangers n' if you are lucky enough to bump into ranger Tom Minton a history buff who enjoys what he does, your experience will b even more...
lots of birds, about 300 species, areas of the beach are closed off to protect some endangered species, luv it in Feb. when you see them tiny migrating sanderlings or similar species run after the receding waves an amazing sight.
luv the shell mixed sand n' color variety, large clean toilets n' convenient showers.
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I grew up in Jersey- I learned how to drive at Sandy Hook in those big massive parking lots, taught my poor old def dog how to swim in her last years, even watched the Twin Towers from its beachy shore.
must say I'm just really grateful dirty syringes, plastic bags and things aren't washing up on shore anymore. The 80's were no good to Sandy Hook.
Now a days seems like its a great place to spend the day and take a few pictures.
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While I cannot deny the attraction of the numerous beaches at Sandy Hook I am really excited about the history of the area. Sorry for the extreme length.
In no particular order:
1) Old Nike-Hercules Missile site currently being refurbished which will include the launching area as well as the IFC (Integrated Fire Control) area.
2) Battery Gunnison (yes, it is right at the entrance of the nude beach). This battery has the only 2 remaining guns (6 inch) and is being restored. Be sure to check it out on some weekends when people are there to explain the guns and plotting room.
(I am amazed and saddened that we scrapped all of the guns during either WW I or WW II. We may have needed the metal but we could have left something for history)
3) Battery Potter - no guns left but this battery, built in the late 1890's, it is awesome. Walls over 30 feet thick, using guns raised by a very inefficient steam system. Only battery of it's type built at SH since the newer systems were much better.
4) Nine Gun Battery - cannot tour the site due to extreme danger from age but it is impressive from the parking lot.
5) Test Battery - immediately in front of Battery Potter and well worth going down to see where they test fired innumerable guns from north to south. Range became unusable when the range of the newer weapons
was longer than the Hook.
6) Sandy Hook lighthouse - oldest lighthouse in the US. Great view all around.
7) Old Mortar Batteries near the lighthouse - gives you an idea of a different type of artillery (high angle indirect fire).
8) Ft Hancock - walking the grounds is enjoyable and the old buildings (Officer's Row, Officer's Club, etc.) give a glimpse of the past. Too bad the "powers that be" cannot get their heads together to preserve the buildings before they crumble into rubble. Bruce Springsteen filmed a video in the O Club and it is now sealed up and falling apart.
9) Small monument for a group of English seamen killed here.
10) Almost forgot the Lifesaving Station - worth a look.
11) Not on the Hook, but too close to miss - Twin Light Lighthouse. They have a 9 1/2 foot Fresnel lens which was once installed in the south light. You can go to the top of the north light. While there be sure to try Off The Hook, a restaurant at the base of the hill.
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Sandy Hook National Park is not far from my house and I often ride my bike there. However, once I pass through the gates it feels like I have entered a whole different place.
Sandy Hook attracts all kinds of people. From nude bathers at Gunnison Beach to Tri-Athletes training. From Wind Surfers in the bay to Surf Fisherman in the Atlantic.
Road bikers should take caution and stay away from the bike path that runs parallel to the main road. It is much to slippery for skinny tires and you run the risk of crashing into sun bathers crossing from the parking lots.
The summer months find intense crowds but I find the park to be at its best in the late spring or early fall.
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I live 40 mins or so from Sandy Hook and have been going there since school trips when I was a kid. Everytime I get down the end of the hiway and make that left into the park its like another world thats less than an hour away. They have done a tremendous job running Sandy Hook as compared to the 90s and back. The beaches are ALOT cleaner and so are the parking lots. Like a few have said on here, leave early and depart late cause theres nothing worse than driving a distance and getting turned away cause the park is closed. And try to pack lunch and make it a stay cause due to construction on the new bridge your wait to leave is a 1/2 hour MINIMUM especially if you leave between 3 and 4 pm. Im sure once the bridge is complete things will be alot better. Just a great place to get away from the world if only for a few hours that is only a few mins away. Cant say enough how much this place has meant to me thru my life and just how much I appreciate it and the job they do with it!
Sandy Hook is like its own private island. They have everything, lots of different beaches, areas you can fish and even beware they have a nude beach too. If your looking for a great area to hang out all day,then Sandy Hook is the place. Bring your beach chair, sun screen, sunglasses and of course some food and enjoy the day relaxing on the beach.
Seagulls nest for the sunsets! It's a beautiful place to watch and the entire bars sings God Bless America when the sun hits the water. Quite a spectacle, food is just okay here, they have fun bands.
I love Sandy Hook beach, filled with sand from end to end without any frills of restaurants, bars, clubs, and hotels. A great place for the family, friends, and etc. I have been to this site many times throughout my life. I have been to bigger and better beach areas, when it comes to simplicity Sandy Hook is the place to be!
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