Photo by Ryan Stone on Unsplash
New Jersey has been named the third happiest state in the nation in WalletHub’s latest annual ranking. The Garden State earned this top-spot, in part, as it provides an excellent quality of life, which includes ample leisure time, good weather, and gorgeous scenery. So, if you want to get out and experience the best New Jersey has to offer, a Jersey Shore road trip is a great way to sightsee and explore. This route is just over 100 miles long, makes stops in iconic destinations like Atlantic City and Asbury Park, and ends in the quaint, seaside town of Cape May.
Fun and games in Atlantic City
The Game Up Lounge in Atlantic City’s Tropicana Hotel Casino is the latest attraction to open on Atlantic City’s historic boardwalk, and it’s an unmissable road trip stop. Here, you can try your hand at virtual reality games like augmented-reality darts and Godzilla Kaiju Wars, as well as classic arcade games like pinball. When you feel peckish, grab some chips and soda from the snack bar. But, if gaming isn’t your thing, you may prefer to instead visit Absecon Lighthouse, just a short drive from the boardwalk. It’s New Jersey’s tallest lighthouse (171 feet tall) and if you climb all 228 steps, you’ll be rewarded with picture-perfect views of the Atlantic City skyline.
Experience music history in Asbury Park
When you hit the road again, join the Garden State Parkway onto Asbury Park. This part of the drive will take you just over an hour, and it’s therefore important you have a reliable vehicle for your trip, such as, a crossover SUV (a smaller, car-like SUV). The all-electric Kia EV3, for example, was just crowned Topgear.com’s “crossover of the year”. As crossovers are spacious yet easy to handle, they’re a great choice for enjoyable, hassle-free drives.
When you arrive in Asbury Park, head to Convention Hall to check out the recently-opened Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music — this is a must for music lovers and anyone interested in the country’s pop culture and music past. Here, you can view in-depth exhibits on Springsteen, as well as others that cover American music history across decades and genres. Check out over 40,000 amazing music-related historical items, including merchandise, promo materials, and concert and artist memorabilia.
Connect with nature in Cape May
On the return trip home, extend your drive a few miles past Sea Isle to the seaside town of Cape May. Here, visit Jersey Shore Alpacas, a small alpaca farm where you can feed and pet the friendly resident alpacas. Admission is free, and you can purchase cosy clothes made from alpaca fleece in the gift shop. Next, drive onto the Cape May Bird Observatory to view the awesome local and migratory birds, which includes 400 different species throughout each migration season. Ospreys, eagles, songbirds, and raptors — you’ll see them all here.
Road trips are a great way to experience the beauty of New Jersey’s coastline up close. So, plan your next road trip along the Jersey Shore, and explore the best attractions along the way.
