The Jersey Shore is 130 miles of Atlantic beach, mostly sand and warm enough to swim from late June to early September. Most beaches charge for daily badges in summer ($5–15) — buy on the beach. The character changes dramatically along the coast.
The northern shore — Sandy Hook, Asbury Park, Belmar — is the closest to New York City, busy on summer weekends, with a strong commuter beach culture. Asbury Park has reinvented itself with bars, music venues and the famous Stone Pony where Bruce Springsteen got his start.
The middle shore — Long Beach Island, Seaside Heights, Ocean City (which is dry, no alcohol) — is family-beach territory, often with full boardwalks, amusement piers and saltwater taffy.
The southern shore is the most distinctive. Wildwood has a vast, free beach (it has actually accreted in recent decades), an old-school 1950s-style boardwalk full of fudge and rides, and the celebrated Doo-Wop motel architecture. Cape May at the very tip is the historic Victorian alternative — preserved gingerbread houses, quieter beaches, the country's second-oldest seaside resort. The dolphin- and whale-watching trips out of Cape May are a worthwhile add-on.