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See a Mermaid —Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, located on
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Give a Shark a Snack —A 900 gallon interactive
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Hit The Beach —But first visit Ocean City’s one stop shop for
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tRIPLE yOUR fUN!
the AC boardwalk had a huge collection of oddball treasures and is open daily. (609)347-2001 • www.ripleysatlanticcity.com
Morey’s Piers and Beachfront Waterparks— Offering 3 piers packed with action and family fun including 7 world-class roller coasters, 2 unique beachfront waterparks and family rides galore. Make Morey’s Piers your destination for summer fun.
exhibit at the AC Aquarium gives visitors the opportunity to touch sharks and juvenile rays. Special feeding times 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM, daily. Limited quantities of food are sold at the gift shop for scheduled feedings. 609-484-9500 • www.oceanlifecenter.com EVERYTHING beach related-Island Beach Gear. Beach chairs, umbrellas, body boards, bicycles, bathing suits, cover ups, toys & more. 800-6430474 • www.IslandBeachGear.com
Go On A Cruise —Enjoy a back bay cruise, fishing trip or have
dinner on board one Jessie O’s fleet. Scenic bay cruises with dinner buffet and live music are available throughout the season. 609.412.3635 • www.Jessiofishing.com
Go on a Double Date —Catch dinner and a double feature at The Delsea Drive-In! The snack bar has an extended menu that rivals many restaurants. Check website for listings! 856-696-0011 • www.delseadrive-in.com
www.MoreysPiers.com
7. Give Yourself Something to Smile About—Get a brand new whiter smile in a spa-like atmosphere. Visit DS Dental--see results in two visits. 609-365-2424 DSDentalNJ.com
8. Become a Fashion Diva—Pick up an edgy new
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Follow the Yellow Brick Road —The Surflight
Theatre in Beach Haven, on Long Beach Island features a children’s theatre program. This year’s line up includes: The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, Peter Pan, The Tale of the Little Mermaid and Snow White to name a few. (609)4929477 • www.surflight.org 13.
Meet Rocky Cape May
County Zoo’s featured Amur Tiger Rocky is one of the most visited animals at the zoo. With nearly 550 animals, the zoo is a must see. 609-465-5271• www.capemaycountyzoo.org
14. Visit the Shore—The shore “Mall” that is... Home of the Jersey Shore Children’s Museum. There is a full schedule of free entertainment throughout the summer including Friday Fun, Hamfest and expos. Check it out on their website. 609-484-9500 www.shoremall.com 15.
Walk the plank—The AC Boardwalk holds the title of World’s Longest Boardwalk. Street performers, famous boardwalk food and attractions along with tons of beach-side shopping accompany the beautiful ocean and beach views.
outfit at Serenity Boutique in Absecon. The hottest fasion apparel and accessories. 609645-1868 • facebook.com/ serenityboutiquenj
609-522-3900
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Cast Your Cares Away—
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Cowboy Up—Enjoy a professional rodeo in the true tradition of the old west at Cowtown Rodeo located in Pilesgrove. Calf roping, Steer and Brahma Bull Wresting — Yipee! 856-769-3200 • www.cowtown-rodeo.com
Grab some Shimano or Penn fishing gear. Visit Tacle Directs huge, brand new showroom in EHT. 888-3547335 • www.TackleDirect.com
Have a Ball!
Hands on Fun at the Garden State Discovery Museum! Let your imagination take flight… touch, explore, create! Extended summer hours: $5 after 5PM. Discovery Summer theater series returns with 2 new productions! Recognized as Top 20 children’s museum in the country! 856-424-1233 • www.discoverymuseum.com
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Shop Amish Style—Experience the Amish Market at Vineland’s Landis
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Go fly a kite Visit Air Circus on the boardwalk in OC, pick out your favorite find a park or beach and go for it!
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MarketPlace. South Jersey a Unique Fresh Shopping Destination on the lower level and a diversity of local merchants on the upper level. Whatever your flavor is, they have something for you! 856-213-6002 • www.landismarketplace.com
Make Slime! Kidz can make slime, try out their creativity in the kitchen, paint a special keepsake, or enjoy one of the many new Summer Camp programs, walk-in arts and crafts, science and cooking workshops that are available all summer long at Kidz Creations in Ocean City. 609-399-9922 • www.kidzcreationsnj.com
19. Crawl Inside the Jaws of a Shark —The Discovery Seashell Museum of Ocean City invites you to take a picture inside the Giant Shark Jaw. Some of the world’s rarest shells, coral, shell lights, cone shells, bulk shells, seashell art - all can be found here. Customers can make their own jewelry with shells, hang out with some hermit crabs and learn about sharks, butterflies and plants. 609-398-2316 • www.shellmuseum. com 20.
giddy up and ride! Treat your kids to horseback riding lessons and a great summer camp at Atlantic Riding Center for Health in EHT. 609-926-2233 • www.arch206.org
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Fly like a seagull
Take the flight of your life with the Ocean City Parasailing crew. Soar 500 feet above beautiful NJ beaches. 23 years of experience & 100% safety record. Ages 6 and up. 609-399-3559 www.oceancityparasail.com
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Get Lucky —Sure, the house always wins... but it’s still fun trying. AC has the best casinos on the East Coast. There are a few newbies this year... try your luck and check out the new kids on the block. Let us entertain you— The historic Landis Theater in Vineland offers musicals, national touring acts, comedy, classic movies, children’s camp, workshops and junior musicals. 856-691-1121 • www.LandisTheater.com
Share a Pie from any of the great pizza places on the boardwalks — just watch the seagulls, they like to share pie too.
Make Tracks to Morris Arboretum for fun in the Garden. The Garden Railway is an outdoor quarter mile track with model trains, surrounded by miniature world of leaves, bark & twigs. “Painted Ladies” theme features colorful Victorian homes like those in Cape May. 215-247-5777 • www.morrisarboretum.org
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G N I S H TO T 41.
Save a Dolphin Visit the Marine Mammal Stranding Facility in Brigantine. www.marinemammalstrandingcenter.org • 609-266-0538 Get Rollin’ on the boardwalk in an Atlantic City Rolling Chair.
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Eat a Volcano—Try the Rainforest Café’s explosive dessert. 609-345-5757 • www.rainforestcafe.com Get Sand in Your Shoes
No excuses, even if you’re not a beach person... get to the beach at least once.
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Visit Alex have a drink for a great charity. Check for an Alex’s Lemonade stand in your area. www.alexslemonade.org
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learn to fly!
Take your son or daughter on a high-flying adventure they’ll never forget! Freeflight Aviation, SJ’s most family-friendly flight club, offers introductory flights and lessons for everyone in the family. 609-265-0399 • www.freeflight-aviation.com
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Shout at the Devil —Creepy,
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Dig for diamonds Tiny quartz crystals also known as “Cape May Diamonds” are tossed and polished by the tides. They can be found on beaches throughout Cape May, although it’s best to prospect for the little gems at Sunset Beach during or after a storm.
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Take a Walk at The Walk. The Atlantic City Tanger Outlets offer name brands at a discount.
treasure hunt with a pirate!
Relive your childhood
Step back in time as you walk though Storybook Land’s nursery rhyme-themed park. Timeless childhood favorites promise fun for the whole family. 609-641-7847 • www.storybookland.com
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Go Deep sea fishing on a local charter boat. Buy a ticket on the Jessi O’ and catch the big one. 609-412-3635 • www.Jessiofishing.com
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Splash Down at Splash Zone. The #1 Family-Friendly water park in Wildwood. Fully-gated with shallow water and great view of kids everywhere in the park. Check out deals online! 609-729-5600 www.splashzonewaterpark.com
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enjoy A Multi-Million Dollar Make-Over of
Atlantic City’s famous Steel Pier in AC where everyone can come and play! Rides, amusement games, boardwalk food and fun. Open Monday through Friday 3pm – midnight, Saturday and Sundays noon – 1am. Virginia Ave and the Boardwalk. www.steelpier.com
scary, ghosty stuff your style? Don’t wait for Halloween. Take a road trip at night to Bernard Township and visit the “Devil’s Tree.” Legend has it that slaves were hanged from the branches and their lost souls still haunt the tree. For more information visit www.weirdnj.com
Meet me at the hop — Wildwood earned the title of the “Birthplace of Rock and Roll” when the Comets performed in 1955. Enjoy the Doo Wop Experience tour and “Back to Visit Pirate Voyages in Ocean City for an old fashioned the 50s” museum. pirate experience aboard the “Sea Dragon” on the Bay. 609-523-1958 Face painting, storytelling, treasure hunting and more. Daily 27. Have lunch with trips, private birthday parties and private evening charters. Cinderella —At the Fun for all ages! 609-398-7555 • www.piratevoyages.com Surflight Theater in LBI. Bring your kiddies to Surflight’s character lunch every Wednesday thru the summer to 40. Pick a winner —Bring a bucket meet their favorite stars. 609-492-9477 and get busy. Find out why Jersey is • www.surflight.org known as “The Garden State.” Local farms offer you-pick fresh strawberries, 28. Get Wet! Have a water balloon fight. blueberries, apples and more. To find out 29. Row, Row, Row a Boat — where to go and what’s in season visit Rent a canoe and spend the day at www.pickyourown.org Belleplain State Forest, Woodbine. 26.
Break a leg — You can’t live at the shore and not know at least a dozen great seafood restaurants. Try EHT’s East Bay Crab and Grill 609-272-7721 or Mays Landing’s Crabby’s 609-625- 2722 for some of the best all-you-can-eat crabs around.
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Toss and Block—Toss out
last year’s lotion or at least check the expiration date or you’ll wish you did. Stock up with a few new bottles just in case.
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Enjoy the Thunder
on the AC boardwalk and beach. Don’t miss the annual AC Air Show “Thunder Over The Boardwalk” on Aug. 17. One of the very best air shows in the country, with heart-stopping feats, aerobatics maneuvers, formation flying and solo routines by military and civilian pilots. www.AtlanticCityNJ.com
TH IS
Get Jiggy with it — Gather your gear and go deep. Jigging systems by Shimanoand Penn are hot, hot, hot, and available at Tackle Direct in Ocean City. 609-788-3819 •www. Tackledirect.com
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Climb 228 Steps to the sky
The Absecon Lighthouse is the tallest in NJ & the country’s 3rd tallest! FREE parking, museum, exhibits, gift shop. Open July & August daily 10am to 5pm, last climb 4:30pm. $7 to climb, $5 seniors, $4 kids. Leashed dogs welcome. Ask about our “Keeper Sleeper” Overnight Program, “Wacky Wednesdays” and Full Moon climbs.609-449-1360 www.abseconlighthouse.org
SUMMER!
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Catch a Shark —The catch of the day could be anything when fishing in the ocean and bay. Come as you are, the Miss Chris Fleet provides everything from rod to bait. 609-884-3939 • www.misschris.com
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Don’t Rock the Boat Visit The SS Atlantus, a concrete ship built during WWI, just offshore at Sunset Beach in Cape May.
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Go to market —Ocean City Market Days every Thursday on Asbury Avenue. Entertainment, Face Painters, Balloon sculptors. www. oceancityvacation.com
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Catch a flick—The IMAX theatre located at Tropicana invites you to treat your
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Catch a cold —An ice cold Rita’s Italian Water Ice that is. Made fresh daily, try a Cherry Gelati or a Misto. Visit www.ritasice.com to find the closest location.
Celebrate with a Bang!
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Catch dinner & a show Have dinner at one of Cape May’s finest restaurants and get tickets for the 8pm show at Cape May Stage. 609-884-1341 • www.capemaystage.com
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Catch a wave—Book a surf lesson and learn from one of the experts at Primal Surf in Brigantine. 609-264-1999 • www.psurf.com
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Don’t wait until the sparklers come out. Ocean City, Wildwood, AC and Richland all have bangin’ hot displays.
Get the crabs —And a cage and some fancy painted shells and you’ll be all set for this year’s Hermit Crabs. Take them on a field trip to the beach, but keep an eye on them... They are faster than they look. Make a Difference!
Volunteering is a great way to spend family time together and do something for the community. Find the opportunity that’s right for you at www.jerseycares.org.
Become a Swinger —Have a seat and let the wind blow through your hair as Gillian’s Swing Ride spins you around and around. 609-399-7082 • www.gillians.com
senses to the most powerful and involving movie experience yet created. 1-800-736-1420
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Smores when you camp out at one of the many area campgrounds. Laugh your butt off —Laughter is serious business at the Borgata
Comedy Club. 609-317-1000 • www.theborgata.com
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Take a hike—Estell Manor park offers 20 miles of trails, going through all types of habitats and includes the Swamp Trail Boardwalk, a 1.8 mile elevated wooden nature trail that crosses some of the most beautiful areas of the park. The park is located 3.5 miles south of Mays Landing on Route 50. 609-645-5960 • www.aclink.org
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Take the plunge —You know you want to. You’ve been putting it off. Take the plunge this year and splurge on a swimming pool or spa. Do your part to stimulate the economy and invest in your property. The professionals at Leisure Pools North East can help you to choose the style that’s right for you. (856)696-2113 • www.leisurepoolsnortheast.com
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Ride a bicycle built for two —Area bike paths and boardwalks make any bike ride fun. Consider double the fun with one of the many new two or three seater surrey styles available. 1-800-976-5679 • www.surfbuggycenters.com
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Do it in the dark —Play
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Say Cheese—Get Family Portraits on the beach, memories of a lifetime!
Listen to the music —Since opening in 1929, the AC Boardwalk Hall has showcased hundreds of special events ranging from The Miss America Pageant to Disney on Ice. Elton John, American Idols Live! and Celine Dion and many more headliners will appear this season. 609-348-7000 · www.boardwalkhall.com
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Sing for your Sundae —Great ice cream is not the biggest attraction
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Eat cake —Can’t decide if you want to go to the beach or have dessert? Try a little of both with the Cake Lady of Marmora’s famous seashell cakes and flip-flop cookies. 609-390-2485.
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Pamper yourself —Visit the Cape May Day Spa and treat yourself to one of their many specialty massages, day packages or customized facials or holistic services.(609)898-1003 • www.capemaydayspa.com
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capture the flag at night on the beach. Fun for all ages, your never too old to get sand in your shoes.
Put your kids to work —
The Jersey Shore Children’s Museum’s interactive exhibits encourage role playing for kids 10 and under. Kids can “work” in a Pediatric ER, TV Newsroom, or Construction Zone among other hands-on activities. 609-645-7741 • www.jerseyshorechildrensmuseum.com
at the Show Place Ice Cream Parlour in LBI, the only ice cream shop with audience participation, improvisation, and cabaret shows. 609-492-0018
99 Things
to do
This Summer 73.
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Float down a lazy river —
Grab and inner tube and meander through Wildwood’s Splash Zone on a gently flowing river. Just one of the many great ways to cool off. Splish splash fun fun 609-729-5600 • www.splashzonewaterpark.com
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Feed your need for speed —Take a Nascar Go-Kart out for a spin at the Central Pier. St. James Place and Tennessee Avenue next to the boardwalk in Atlantic City. Go Racecars!
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Relive your childhood —Step back in time as you walk though Storybook Land’s nursery rhyme themed park. Timeless childhood favorites promise fun for the whole family. (609)641-7847 • www. storybookland.com Hand feed a baby stingray —A 900 gallon interactive
Enjoy the Salt Water —A Jersey Shore classic... Salt water taffy! Shrivers or
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Get a suntan on a rainy day —Visit one of South Jersey’s many tanning salons. Better than the best UV protection... and still rock a Jersey Shore tan.
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Play golf with King Kong — Miniature golf is a classic favorite at the Jersey Shore. Waterfalls, caves, snake pits, and other special effects make Congo Falls Ocean City attraction a family favorite! 609398-1211 • www.congofalls.com
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Arts Center Gallery changes exhibits every month of the year. An opportunity to meet the artist is made possible each month. 609-3997628 • www.oceancityartscenter.org
Gaze at the stars under the stars —Bring your beach towels and enjoy a wide screen movie ON THE BEACH! Wildwood has the most beautiful beaches on the Atlantic Coastline–and access is free! These powdery-white beaches offer plenty of room for any activity... beats the drive-in hands down!
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tank exhibit gives you the opportunity to touch and sometimes feed White Spotted Bamboo Sharks, Cownose Rays, and Southern Stingrays. 609-348-2880 • www. oceanlifecenter.com
Meet an artist —The Ocean City
Spend a night in venice—Don’t miss Ocean City’s annual boat parade is one of the largest in the world. Starts at 7:00 pm on July 28, 2012 from the Longport Bridge to Tennessee Ave. along the bay. Call 609-525-9300.
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Fralinger’s? Why not try them both!
Take Flight! Take your son or daughter on a high-flying adventure they’ll never forget! Freeflight Aviation, South Jersey’s most family-friendly flight club, offers introductory flights and lessons for everyone in the family. www.freeflight-aviation.com • 609-265-0399
Put your kids to work —The Jersey Shore Children’s Museum’s encourage role playing for kids 10 and under. Kids can “work” in a Pediatric ER, TV Newsroom, or Construction Zone among other hands-on activities. 609-645-7741
Become an artist — Take a summer art class at the Noyes Museum, Oceanville. 609652-8848 • www.NoyesMuseum.org Be King of the castle —Grab your shovel and enter the Sand Sculpting Contest. 9am at the 6th St. Beach - the first one of the season
Jump the waves –Rent some jet skies and hang on tight. 88. become a Castaway —Ocean City’s oldest amusement park, Playland’s Castaway Cove features over 30 rides and tickets never expire. Have any left from last year?
Tag it! — Make sure to buy beach tags and keep in plain site. 90. Eat Out —Order dinner on the beach. Did you know that a lot of restaurants and pizza joints 89.
actually deliver to the beach?
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Walk on water —Crab Beach at The Cove in Brigantine often has amazing sandbars that come and go with the tides. Catch the right time and you can wade thru water and take a walk in the middle of the bay!
Get the Claws out —It’s easy! Grab some string, a net and a chicken leg and go find the nearest bridge to catch some of Jersey’s best blue claws. (Check local ordinances... some bridges are restricted.)
Paddle a Duck —Historic Smithville and the Villiage Green are home to a ton of quaint shops, an old fashion carosel and best of all... Paddle boats!
Chase an Ice Cream Truck —A seaside staple. Start running at the first sound of bells or you’ll burn your feet waiting in line with the other beach bums.
95. Give a Shoobie Directions —Don’t pretend not to hear them... (You know who you are.) It only takes a minute help make someone’s day a little brighter.
96. Dig it! —Dig a really, really deep hole! More fun than a sandcastle, it can double as a pool for the little guys, and if you do a really good job it might even still be there the next day. 97. Become a collector —Make sure to check around the jetty’s for hidden gems... The best seashells always seem to end up there.
98. Go Snap Happy —Take tons of pictures, the summer goes too fast, make sure you capture the memories before they fade away.
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climb up on the world’s oldest pachyderm!
Lucy the Elephant, built in the 1880’s is now a historical landmark in Margate. Take a walk inside. 609-823-6473 • www.lucytheelephant.org