Unsolicited Advice: Enjoy the Bay

For many, the beach is the start of any Jersey Shore vacation, for good reason. You can escape the heat by jumping in ceaseless waves, play sports with the friends and family you brought - or new friends you met - and experience the true uniqueness of Jersey sand and waves.

As someone who likes the beach less than your average bear, my opinion may not carry an incredible amount of weight, but I'll say it nonetheless: consider spending time at the bay.

One of the unique and underrated features of the Shore, is the unique landforms that jut in and out, creating many bays through the long stretch of the coast.

In Ocean County, the jutting Barnegat Inlet that creates the Barnegat Bay, miles of "brackish" water combining the salt water of the ocean with fresh water of streams. The Inlet ends at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. But then you have Horseshoe Island and The Great Bay and another little body of land where Brigantine and Atlantic City live.

If you want to swim, obviously the beach is your friend. But most park areas around the bay offer jungle gyms for kids, ample space to hang out and courts and fields to play basketball or tennis or other activities. It can feel hotter at the Bay, but there are usually gazebos or other structures to cool off in.

In the morning, early risers try to catch crabs or fish, often finding them too small to keep. But the joy is in the hunt.

In Lavallette, they show movies and have concerts at the Bay.

In Cape May, you can paddle board or pontoon.

Watch wildlife near Oceanville.

Go for a bay cruise in Sea Island and Margate.

As you can see, there's plenty options up and down the Jersey seaboard to experience more than the beach. Make sure you allocate time to the bay next time you go to the Shore.

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