New Jersey Shore travel guide

The Jersey Shore is a 130-mile (209km) stretch of quaint fishing villages, white sandy beaches, and 23 lighthouses. From Sandy Hook in the north to Cape May in the south, it's interspersed with resorts, boardwalks, amusement towns, and tranquil Victorian refuges.

The Sandy Hook Lighthouse overlooking New York Harbour is the oldest operating lighthouse in the US, while miles of sand dunes and untouched nature form the barrier of Island Beach State Park, the ecologically protected environment often enjoyed by swimmers, anglers, and surfers.

Atlantic City is best-known for its boardwalks and casinos, while the Six Flags Great Adventure Theme Park in Jackson provides hours of family entertainment. This includes exciting rollercoaster rides and a safaris attraction.

Doo-Wop architecture, plastic palm trees, and neon lights are the features of Wildwood, an avid party town with boardwalk entertainment galore as well as some of the widest beaches on the Jersey coast.

In contrast, the Cape May Peninsula at the southernmost tip of New Jersey between the Atlantic and Delaware Bay is primarily a nature-lovers paradise. It's ideal for camping, fishing and hiking, while thousands of acres of wetlands make it one of the best birdwatching destinations in North America.

The classic Victorian seaside town of Cape May sits at the very tip. It is a national historic landmark and features rows of colourful, restored Victorian homes and trolley tours, and is one of the oldest vacation spot in the USA.