100 Things to Do at the Jersey Shore Before You Die

by R.C. Staab

Overview

While the Jersey Shore is known as a destination where salt water taffy and frozen custard were born, Miss America was crowned and “The Twist” was invented, there’s even more to the Shore just waiting to be discovered. With 100 Things to Do at the Jersey Shore Before You Die as your guide, you’ll find the best places to thrill, eat, fish, party and swim on the 130 miles of the New Jersey shoreline from the Sandy Hook Lighthouse to Cape May Point. Climb inside a giant elephant, stroll the world’s most famous Boardwalk and observe a vast migration at North America’s number one birding destination. Admire the Painted Ladies mansions and discover the town chosen by seven U.S.
Presidents as the “Nation’s Summer Capital.” Learn about fun ideas for your family on rainy days, find free beaches (and parking), and choose the hottest nightclubs. Beyond the summer, this guide helps you enjoy the Shore year-round. Discover fall foliage at historic battlefields; take a brisk walk in the winter with a llama or hear the hottest rock bands at the legendary Stone Pony. Local author and Shore expert R.C. Staab deftly leads you through top tips and itineraries, whether you’ve spent many summers at the Jersey Shore or are looking for your next beach vacation. His book will help you dive deeper into Shore life and enhance your trip.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781681062457
Publisher:	Reedy press, LLC.
Publication date:	04/15/2020
Series:	100 Things to Do Before You Die
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	1,010,786
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

From his first vacation as boy in Stone Harbor, R.C. Staab has returned to the Jersey Shore often, as a homeowner in Brigantine to the south and now in Sea Bright to the north. For more than 40 years, he has been a tourism and culture expert who has been quoted by and had photos published in numerous publications including the Philadelphia Inquirer, USA Today, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the LA Times. With Mario Lopez, he recently co-authored a children’s picture book, I’m My Own Dog. I’m Jack about his forever dog. In the past decade, he has written musicals that have been produced in New York, San Francisco and England. On the weekends, you can find him biking, running, paddle boarding, swimming and falling off his surfboard on the Jersey Shore. He hopes you’ll join him – except for the falling-off-the-board part.

Table of Contents

Preface xii

Food and Drink

1 Relish Sea-to-Table at the Lobster House in Cape May 2

2 Get Stuck on the Original Salt Water Taffy 4

3 Sink Your Teeth into White House Subs in AC 6

4 Watch the Corn Pop Year-Round in Ocean City 8

5 Embark on an Eating Adventure with Chef Lucas Manteca 10

6 Cool Off with the Whatever-You Call-It Ice 12

7 Munch at Chic Brunch Places 14

8 Taste the Original Frozen Custard at Kohr's 16

9 Be Italian at Joe Leone's in Point Pleasant Beach 17

10 Savor Your Eggs or Chicken 24/7 in Beach Haven 18

11 Get Chocolate-Covered (Almost) Anything at Van Holten's 19

12 Seek a Healthier Alternative at the Shore 20

13 Squeeze Your Thirst with Lemon and Lime on the Boardwalks 22

14 Define Your Vacation with the Perfect Fudge 23

15 Sharpen Your Eating Skills at the Knife and Fork Restaurant in AC 26

16 Sing "Hello, Ice Cream!" on Long Beach Island 27

17 Crack a Claw at a Local Seafood Shack 28

18 Try the Boardwalk Fries in Wildwood and Ocean City 30

19 Feast on Fish at Bahrs Landing 32

20 Raise a Glass to Neighbors at Somers Point Restaurants 33

21 Slice into a New Jersey "Specialty": Pork Roll 34

22 Bite into Famous Hot Dogs at WindMill 36

Music and Entertainment

23 Rock Like Springsteen at the Stone Pony 40

24 Roll the Dice at the East Coast Gaming Capital 42

25 Get Wild on the Boardwalk in the Wildwoods 44

26 Applaud Comics and Pop Stars Headlining AC Nightlife 45

27 Awaken Your Senses at Ocean Grove's Great Auditorium 46

28 Hunt for Pirate Treasure on the Jersey "Sea" 48

29 Grab Some Sand, Games, and Fish at Jenkinson's Boardwalk 49

30 Groove into the Night with Guidos and Guidettes 50

31 Be a Pinball Wizard at the Silverball Museum Arcade 51

32 Take a (Board) Walk on the Mild Side in Ocean City 52

33 Swing to Jazz at AC's Chicken Bone Beach 54

34 Queue Up for a Party at the Parker House in Sea Girt 55

35 Pursue Count Basie's Legacy in Red Bank 56

36 Enjoy the Vibes and the View at the Asbury Hotel 57

37 Hear the Greats in Sea Isle City at Tribute Band Concerts 58

38 Freely Walk through Cape May's Park & Zoo 59

39 Fly over the Seaside Heights Boardwalk 60

40 Party (Legally) on the Beach at Donovan's Reef 62

41 Watch the Lights Go Up on Musicals and Plays 64

42 Connect with Lions, Tigers, and Scares at Six Flags 66

43 Tune into Major Concerts Outdoors at the PNC Bank Arts Center 67

Sports and Recreation

44 Visit the Nation's Top Bird-Watching Town 70

45 Snap a Seine with a Celeb Wolf 71

46 Discover Sandy Hook Beaches with a View of NYC 72

47 Canoe the Cool Waters of the Pine Barrens 74

48 Root for the BlueClaws, Baseball Pros of Tomorrow 76

49 Cast a Line from the Ventnor Pier 77

50 Find Love and Joy on a Llama Adventure 78

51 Search Cape May Seas for Whales and Dolphins 98

52 Cheer the Thoroughbreds at Monmouth Park 99

53 Splash at Water Parks 100

54 Play with Man's Best Friend on the Best Dog Beaches 102

55 Spend a Day on One of the Last Great Barrier Beaches 103

56 Head Out for Deep Sea Fishing from Atlantic Highlands 104

57 Leave the Crowds Behind at Corson's Inlet in Ocean City 105

58 Pedal with Friendly Fowl on Wesley Lake 106

59 Make a Pledge on the Beachcomber Tour 107

60 See Seals on the Mend in Brigantine 108

61 Fly Like a Kite over the Water 109

62 Catch Crabs in Great Egg Harbor Bay 110

63 Travel Back to an Era of Discovery on the Henry Hudson Trail 111

64 Run the Boards, Swim the Ocean 112

Culture and History

65 Climb a Lighthouse to Imagine History Sailing By 116

66 Peek Inside Lucy the Elephant 118

67 Walk the World's Most Famous Boards in Atlantic City 119

68 Admire the Painted Ladies of Cape May 120

69 Hang Out Where the Hindenburg Flew (and Crashed) 121

70 Explore African American Heritage in AC and at Stockton University 122

71 Marvel at the Mid-Century Look of the Wildwoods's Doo Wop Motel District 124

72 Uncover Children's Stones in Egg Harbor Township 126

73 Watch Living History Take Center Stage at Cold Spring Village 127

74 Tour the Opulent Woodrow Wilson Hall at Monmouth University 128

75 Dine and Cruise along Toms River 130

76 Take a Top Gun Flight at the Wildwood Aviation Museum 131

77 Time Travel to Allenhurst's Historic District 132

78 Sail Classic Boats by Navesink River Mansions 134

79 Bow Where Miss America Was Crowned at Boardwalk Hall 135

80 Join the American Revolution at Monmouth Battlefield 136

81 Investigate a Mariner's Life at Tuckerton Seaport 137

82 Sit on the Veranda and Smell the Sea 138

83 Drive Stress-Free on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry 140

84 Observe History in the Making at Allaire State Park 141

85 Revel in Free Sailing at LBI's Maritime Museum 142

86 Step in the Sandy Footprints of Seven Presidents in Long Branch 143

87 Absorb Big Apple Sights via the Seastreak Ferry 144

Shopping and Fashion

88 Discover the Origins of East Coast Surfing at Ron Jon Surf Shop 148

89 Shop and Marvel in Quirky Ocean Grove 150

90 Find a Historically Good Reason to Shop in Smithville 151

91 Pump Up Your Shopping at the West End Garage 152

92 Send Greetings from Asbury Park's Hip Downtown 153

93 Make a Comic Pilgrimage to Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash 154

94 Fish for Good Bargains in Beach Haven 155

95 Shop Like Your Grandparents Did at the 5 & 10 156

96 Browse at the Pedestrian Mall of Cape May 158

97 Stroll Day or Night in Downtown Red Bank 159

98 Search Out Flea Market Bargains at Englishtown Auction 160

99 Find "Mainly" What You Want in Stone Harbor 161

100 Get Outlet Deals Steps from the AC Boardwalk 162

Suggested Itineraries 165

Activities by Season 171

Index 174