Island Beach State Park

This was “the beach” when I was a kid in the 70’s. Causeways are cool when you’re 11. Clean sand, lots and lots of room if you wanted that, crowds, too, if you liked that. Laughing gulls.

The last time I went to Island Beach State Park was sometime in the early 1980s. I grew up across the bridge and, as a townie, would avoid Sleaze-side Heights (too many annoying tourists) for either Ortley Beach or IBSP. IBSP was a great place to come – quiet, uncrowded, not commercial. I wonder if it is still like that…

It’s a good place to go for a day trip.Rough sand though…

but the sand there is really, really rough and nasty. You’ll get sandburn for sure. The sandbars aren’t far enough out and are riddled with broken shells, so be sure to bring your aquashoes.

Still, clean and nice enough for a day trip.

Island Beach State Park is a beautiful barrier island off the coast of New Jersey. In stark contract to its neighbour to the south – kitschy Long Beach Island – Island Beach State Park is a natural, unspoiled, undeveloped treasure.

When visiting Island Beach State Park it is very easy to get away from it all and forget how close you are to the millions of people who inhabit the New York City metropolitan area.

The beaches and dunes are clean and uncluttered. The avian and aquatic wildlife can be bountiful and unique. It is a great place to take pictures of the nature or to simply relax.