Boutique hotels
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Bungalow Hotel
- Style
- Surfer’s paradise
- Setting
- Steps from the seafront
Jersey Shore Overview
New Jersey
- Cityscape
- Shore winner
- City Life
- Sapphire-gold Atlantic coast
Encompassing 130 miles of coastal scenery and four counties – Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May – Jersey Shore is where laid-back beach days meet sizzling nightlife.
On Jersey Shore’s buzzing boardwalks, sand-dusted beach bunnies in bikinis and shorts are as abundant as the saltwater taffy and candyfloss stands tempting tourists. Suntanned locals sit outside their stores, perched in beach chairs and hawking their goods, and arcade managers as theatrical as ringmasters announce the glittering prizes that await in the casinos. Take a breather from this swarm of kitschy carnival amusements though, and another side to the seaside resort comes into view: restored Victorian houses pepped up with pastel hues, authentic seafood joints and clusters of Italian restaurants (Jersey Shore has a sizable Italian-American population) serving up perfect pasta and pizzas. Discerning day-trippers fresh from the New York/Philadelphia commute enjoy tacos and mojitos in restaurants so peaceful, the crash of the surf provides a soundtrack to dining. To be simultaneously sparkling and serene is something few places can negotiate, but at the Shore, nothing’s out of reach.
Local Knowledge
- Taxis
- Taxis are plentiful at train stations. Each small town has its own taxi company, but Atlantic Taxi (www.taksee.com) is a safe bet for transfers from Newark airport and serves all of Jersey Shore. Shore Cab (732 280 4990) is the local cab company for Long Branch.
- Tipping culture
- A discretionary tip of 15–20 per cent will keep your waiter happy.
- Siesta and fiesta
- The seaside resort is slow-paced by day, lively by night. Boardwalk shops stay open well into the evening but are often closed on Mondays. Nocturnal types don’t dine before 9pm.
- Packing tips
- Pack for the season: sarongs, flip-flops, shorts, shades and sun hats for balmy days; windcheaters, deck shoes and jeans for colder days. In the evenings, dress up your tan with chi-chi cocktail attire: a crisp shirt and shades, or a vivid print dress.
- Recommended reads
- Learn about Atlantic City’s prohibition days in Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City by Nelson Johnson. The book has recently been made into a HBO drama. Travel back in time with Jersey Shore: Vintage Images of Bygone Days by Emil Salvini. Shore Stories: An Anthology of the Jersey Shore, edited by Rich Youmans, is a collection of short stories, essays and poems, written by literary luminaries.
- Cuisine
- Seaside staples with a strong Italian influence.
- Regional specialities
- Expect the typical seaside fare: sugary confections, including saltwater taffy, candy apples and ice cream, and equally sinful savoury treats, such as corn dogs and salt-licked corn on the cob. Try the fresh tacos at Pop’s Garage Taco Bar (+1 732 455 3275) at 1000 Asbury Park, a boardwalk hangout where you can sit under beach umbrellas or eat at the lively counter inside.
- Currency
- US Dollar ($).
- Time zone
- EST.
- Dialling codes
- United States: +1. The area codes for Jersey Shore are 732 and 838.
Don't go home without...
Going on the Asbury Park Ghost tour (www.paranormalbooksnj.com). Thrillseekers will learn about the history of one of the oldest towns on the Jersey Shore, visit haunted buildings and learn about the ghosts that haunt Jersey’s historic beach.
