The beach itself is not very large. Weekends can get very crowded if you are looking to pitch a large umbrella between the Boardwalk and the ocean. At times when the weather is more turbulent than normal out to sea, I've seen high tide actually swallow the beach whole.

I should also note that beach tags are required for admittance to the beach. For those who may be unfamiliar with "beach tags", "beach tags" are a frequently found device at most of the beaches in New Jersey. From my recollection, they cost less than $10 per adult, and less for children. This fee is charged by the respective towns for the purposes of keeping their beaches clean from the rubbish that is left behind by the less litter-conscious tourists.

The undertow isn't especially heavy or light. It is certainly lighter than that of the Delaware beaches. The shoreline is sometimes a little bit rough on bare feet with shells that have washed in. Some days, you can also expect some jellyfish.

The Boardwalk is my favorite out of all of them. It is just the right size. A healthy walk, but not so large that it can't easily be handled in a couple hours or less.

There are plenty of places to get ice cream, pizza, Italian dishes, subs, steaks, and many other fast food choices. For fudge, I recommend Steele's Fudge. The fudge is excellent and they have a large selection of other candies, chocolate, and otherwise. For caramel corn, there is none finer than Johnson's Popcorn. They make it right there on the premises. From my childhood on, I always looked forward with childish delight about getting a tub full of very warm caramel corn. Just wait by the booth and watch them pour the freshly stirred concoction into the showcase bin up front and you simply won't be able to help yourself.

There are T-shirt shops scattered over the ebtire stretch, all with special deals of some sort. Souvenir shops also abound.

There is a Christmas shop (Anna's?) that is open year-round. It is at 10th or 11th street. This store is a must-see. It is a little cramped with a stroller, so carry the kids. The store has a breathtaking array of Christmas ornaments and decorations, and the store is dresssed up from head to toe in the Christmas spirit. It is a lot of fun to visit in the summertime when you are as equally removed from last Christmas and the next one to come. There is so much to see that further description could not do it justice. Make sure to see it for yourself.

Though the summer brings many, many teenagers, it isn't as overwhelming as some of the more youth-oriented destinations like Wildwood or Ocean City Maryland. Violence is a rarity here ar well.

Activities wise, there are many arcades. There is a nice sized water park that is perfect for the pre-teen, early teen set. Heck, I'd like to spend some time there myself! There are also a couple of mini-golf courses, the best of which is a jungle-themed one with a great big gorilla head out front. You can't miss it.

The crowning entertainment venue, though, is Wonderland. Wonderland is like any other large carnival. You buy tickets which can be redeemed for all sorts of small rides. The ferris wheel is quite large and gives a commanding view of the whole area from its zenith. This place is a children's delight, but as the kids go up in age, they are less excited about it, if they are there at all. This is a requisite stop for parents and their small children. I look forward to the day that my kids are old enough to appreciate the simple pleasures of the rides at Wonderland. If they have half as much fun as I had as a kid, it will be worth it.

There are pay lots for parking, usually between $7-$10, or meters along most of the streets. On a couple of the streets that run parallel to the beach within a couple blocks of the Boardwalk, there are some opportunities to park for free. Just be sure that your car is facing the same way the traffic is, that you aren't near a fire hydrant, and watch for limitation signs. I rarely pay for parking except for on the weekends. There is usually a couple spots open if you take a few minutes to find one.