Travel like a local.

Podcast, Reedy Press

Lighthouses, Cape May Victorians & Atlantic City on the New Jersey Shore

Best things to do in Jersey Shore New Jersey RC Staab Atlantic City pier and beach

The Atlantic City pier, Ferris wheel, and beach

I’m really excited to interview R.C. Staab, author of 100 Things to Do at the Jersey Shore Before You Die, about New Jersey’s Shore. R.C.’s tips for the best things to do at the Jersey Shore are awesome because he has owned summer homes in both the southern and northern parts of the Shore. Over the last couple of decades, R.C. and his family have explored the Shore and created many memories along the way.

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Best things to do in Jersey Shore New Jersey RC Staab Jersey Shore boardwalk courtesy of Bruce Emmerling on Pixabay

Jersey Shore boardwalk. Photo courtesy of Bruce Emmerling on Pixabay.

New Jersey’s Shore

The Jersey Shore is a great weekend destination for people who live in the New York and Philadelphia regions. It is easily accessible and offers 139 miles of coastline for visitors. The summertime is the busiest time of year as an escape from the heat. However, the Spring and Fall are also wonderful times to visit to experience the warm sandy beaches and cool water of the Atlantic Ocean. If plan your visit for September or early October, you can still enjoy the warm weather without the summertime crowds as children are already back in school.

For those of us who don’t live in the Northeast, the MTV series Jersey Shore, featuring Pauly, JWOWW, and Snooki, is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Although these reality TV stars had many interesting adventures, there is way more to do at the Shore.

Although the Shore offers many places for 20-somethings to party and have fun, it is also a wonderful family destination. With such a long coastline and over 50 beaches to choose from, there’s a little bit of something for everyone.

We share a lot of resources and local suggestions in today’s podcast, but you should also check out Visit New Jersey, the state’s visitor’s site. There is a wealth of information to help you plan an itinerary based on your time, budget, and interests.

If you’d like to learn how to travel for free using airline miles and hotel points, check out my free 7-day email course.

Best things to do in Jersey Shore New Jersey RC Staab Sandy Hook lighthouse

Lighthouse at Sandy Hook

Getting around the Jersey Shore

When traveling to the Jersey Shore, the best airport depends on where you’ll spend your time. For people spending time in Atlantic City and the southern portion of the Jersey Shore, your best bet is to fly into Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). If you’re staying on the north side of the Jersey Shore (like Asbury Park), then you should fly into John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) or Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Both airports have easy access to the Jersey Shore.

R.C. says that when you are at the Jersey Shore, you should rent a car so that you can explore the New Jersey coastline and the outlying areas. Click here for the best offers from Avis, Budget, or Hertz.

If you’re flying into New York, there is great public transportation to the northern part of the Jersey Shore and Atlantic City. Once you’re there, Uber and Lyft are excellent ways to get around.

When you only need a car for a couple of hours, you can rent by the hour with Zipcar. Join now to get $25 loaded into your account.

Best things to do in Jersey Shore New Jersey RC Staab Kohr Brothers Frozen Custard

You have to visit Kohr Brothers for some frozen custard

Places we talked about on the podcast

Here is a map of all of the places we talked about on the podcast episode with R.C. Staab about the Jersey Shore, New Jersey. You can zoom into the map and click on each dot to explore the city.

  • Red dots = best places to eat at the Jersey Shore
  • Green dots = best things to do in the Jersey Shore
  • Yellow dots = best places to stay in the Jersey Shore

Who is R.C. Staab?

R.C. Staab has lived near the Jersey Shore for several decades. When he and his wife lived in Philadelphia, they owned a summer home in Brigantine in the southern part of the shore. After moving to New York, they purchased a home in Sea Bright, which is on the north end.

He shares many of his tips as the author of 100 Things to Do at the Jersey Shore Before You Die from Reedy Press. R.C. is also a freelance writer, photographer, playwright, and lyricist. Some of his shows include “How the Westons Won”, “Dumb Luck”, “One Way Ticket” and “Zombie Wedding.” R.C. has been involved in the electronic and print media for many years. When he lived in Philadelphia, he was the VP of Communications and Tourism of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Best things to do in Jersey Shore New Jersey RC Staab surfing

You can connect with R.C. on his website and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. In addition to his 100 Things book, R.C. also wrote I’m my own dog. I’m Jack, which is written in both English and Spanish to help children learn both languages.

Big thanks to today’s affiliate partner – AwardWallet

This episode is brought to you, in part, by AwardWallet. Using airline miles and hotel points makes travel affordable, but keeping track of all of those loyalty programs can be a challenge.

That’s why I use AwardWallet to track my miles and points balances, reservations, and special goodies like free hotel night certifications and airline companion passes.

Having everything in one easy to use dashboard helps ensure I don’t let any rewards expire and makes logging into my accounts super easy. Go to WeTravelThere.com/awardwallet to start your free account.

Best things to do in Jersey Shore New Jersey RC Staab Johnsons Popcorn

Johnsons Popcorn is delicious and a local favorite.

Stay tuned for our next episode

Listen to the next episode when Angela and Mark Aspiazu of New Orleans Secrets shares the best things to do in New Orleans, LA. Angela, Mark, and I talk about the French Quarter, live Jazz music, and the World War II museum. We hope you’ll join us when We Travel There.

What’s your favorite part of Jersey Shore? Send us a Tweet, let us know in the comment section below, or continue the discussion in our Facebook group!

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To see which cities we’ve interviewed and scheduled, please visit WeTravelThere.com/map. If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please submit an application at WeTravelThere.com/guest.

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