dtjcview wrote:

Bus might be an option.

http://www.njtransit.com/summer2/summer_js_bus.html

http://www.njtransit.com/var/var_serv ... ?hdnPageAction=SummerJSTo

Hit up your friends too for car pooling. As others have mentioned - car is the best way to go.

Annod wrote:
Have they been to Coney Island yet? Just take the subway.

http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/coney-island-beach-and-boardwalk/

tommyc_37 wrote:
Long Beach is another option by train - 50 minutes, direct shot from Penn Station on LIRR. Unlike almost all of the NJ beach towns, which require a transfer, Long Beach is pretty easy because it is direct, and the time to get to Penn Station from Grove Street is basically the same as getting to Newark Penn Station (20 minutes as opposed to 15 minutes).

But I highly recommend doing the ferry from Pier 11 at least once with the kids!

07310 wrote:
If you decide the schlep to the beach is more work than it's worth there is the beach east of the carousel in Newport.

07310 wrote:
If you decide the schlep to the beach is more work than it's worth there is the beach east of the carousel in Newport.

caj11 wrote:
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bodhipooh wrote:
Even though you stated public transportation, I do wonder if perhaps you would be better served by doing a one-day rental of a Zip Car, or maybe even one of the local Enterprise locations. I am only familiar with Zipcar (not HertzConnect, or the Avis program) but with Zipcar, your gas and basic insurance is already included.

With public transportation, you would have to pay close to $30 (each way) for train fare for one adult and two kids, plus whatever other costs to get to/from the train stations in Hoboken (Uber, light rail or PATH, from DT) or Newark (PATH, or Uber?) plus the hassle of having to lug around all your gear, synchronizing timetables, plus what will be two tired kids on the way back. With a 7-to-7 rental from Zipcar, you wouldn't have to worry about times, plus you could maybe squeeze in a side trip to another place on the way down, or back, including even a supermarket run (Wegman's in Woodbridge is a few emails from the Turnpike exit, and right off Rt. 1).

All good points. If it were just the OP, train would make sense. But with three people, a rental car starts to look a lot better. In some beach towns you can find free parking on the side streets. Not always though, particularly on the most beautiful days, so you may have to pay a few bucks for parking.

bodhipooh wrote:
Even though you stated public transportation, I do wonder if perhaps you would be better served by doing a one-day rental of a Zip Car, or maybe even one of the local Enterprise locations. I am only familiar with Zipcar (not HertzConnect, or the Avis program) but with Zipcar, your gas and basic insurance is already included.

With public transportation, you would have to pay close to $30 (each way) for train fare for one adult and two kids, plus whatever other costs to get to/from the train stations in Hoboken (Uber, light rail or PATH, from DT) or Newark (PATH, or Uber?) plus the hassle of having to lug around all your gear, synchronizing timetables, plus what will be two tired kids on the way back. With a 7-to-7 rental from Zipcar, you wouldn't have to worry about times, plus you could maybe squeeze in a side trip to another place on the way down, or back, including even a supermarket run (Wegman's in Woodbridge is a few emails from the Turnpike exit, and right off Rt. 1).

caj11 wrote:
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JCMan8 wrote:
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Monroe wrote:
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caj11 wrote:
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Monroe wrote:
Spring Lake is great, but there are very limited amenities. I'm not sure they even have public bathrooms available.

Definitely not. They want to keep the "riff raff" out and are trying to be a Hamptons of the Jersey Shore, if something like that is ever achievable (laughable if you ask me).

They're actually better at accommodating day trippers than some other towns down the shore. Try finding beach access on the north end of LBI, for example. At least you can park beach side in Spring Lake and access the beach easily. Belmar is right next door, so there is something for everyone-and every year Belmar is becoming more upscale, so the trend is towards more families and less group houses/partying. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

Odd that caj11's post that Monroe responded to seems to have been deleted. Maybe someone wants to keep Spring Lake all to themself.

I don't. I've never really been there, other than a BBQ at someone's house once. I just deleted it because I clearly made some incorrect statements and was unaware of recent developments in Spring Lake. I had some egg on my face, I admit it. :(

JCMan8 wrote:
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Monroe wrote:
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caj11 wrote:
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Monroe wrote:
Spring Lake is great, but there are very limited amenities. I'm not sure they even have public bathrooms available.

Definitely not. They want to keep the "riff raff" out and are trying to be a Hamptons of the Jersey Shore, if something like that is ever achievable (laughable if you ask me).

They're actually better at accommodating day trippers than some other towns down the shore. Try finding beach access on the north end of LBI, for example. At least you can park beach side in Spring Lake and access the beach easily. Belmar is right next door, so there is something for everyone-and every year Belmar is becoming more upscale, so the trend is towards more families and less group houses/partying. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

Odd that caj11's post that Monroe responded to seems to have been deleted. Maybe someone wants to keep Spring Lake all to themself.

Monroe wrote:
Quote:

caj11 wrote:
Quote:

Monroe wrote:
Spring Lake is great, but there are very limited amenities. I'm not sure they even have public bathrooms available.

Definitely not. They want to keep the "riff raff" out and are trying to be a Hamptons of the Jersey Shore, if something like that is ever achievable (laughable if you ask me).

They're actually better at accommodating day trippers than some other towns down the shore. Try finding beach access on the north end of LBI, for example. At least you can park beach side in Spring Lake and access the beach easily. Belmar is right next door, so there is something for everyone-and every year Belmar is becoming more upscale, so the trend is towards more families and less group houses/partying. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

caj11 wrote:
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SRhia wrote:
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Monroe wrote:
Just remember the amenities are quite thin on the ground at Sandy Hook, and the walk from the parking lots to waters edge can be a bit of a schlep. Have you considered taking NJ transit to one of the shore towns? I'm sure you could get a cab or Uber from most of the train stations, and many are very kid friendly-Manasquan built last summer a terrific playground area on the northern edge of their beach. And kids love taking the train.

That's a great suggestion, and point to consider. So besides Manasquan, what other shore towns are easy to get to, and good for a day trip with kids?

Thanks!

Point Pleasant Beach is pretty family friendly, and you can walk to the beach from the train station. It's a long train ride down and I suggest getting an early start. No doubt the kids will fall asleep on the way back though. You will need to buy daily beach tags for each of you - cash only - for the privilege of going onto the beach (there are monthly and seasonal tags but they are probably not worth it for you). Changing rooms and lockers are also available, for a fee (changing rooms are included with beach tag purchases but not the lockers). There are also places on and around the boardwalk to eat, and not all of them are ripoffs (i.e. Subway, among others). If the kids get sick of swimming, there's also a nice mini golf with a pirate theme. Ahh... the memories!

Long Beach is a shorter ride, but I don't think you can walk to the beach from the train station, and I don't know much about that beach. Maybe someone else can chime in.

caj11 wrote:
Quote:

Monroe wrote:
Spring Lake is great, but there are very limited amenities. I'm not sure they even have public bathrooms available.

Definitely not. They want to keep the "riff raff" out and are trying to be a Hamptons of the Jersey Shore, if something like that is ever achievable (laughable if you ask me).

Monroe wrote:
Spring Lake is great, but there are very limited amenities. I'm not sure they even have public bathrooms available.

SRhia wrote:
Quote:

Monroe wrote:
Just remember the amenities are quite thin on the ground at Sandy Hook, and the walk from the parking lots to waters edge can be a bit of a schlep. Have you considered taking NJ transit to one of the shore towns? I'm sure you could get a cab or Uber from most of the train stations, and many are very kid friendly-Manasquan built last summer a terrific playground area on the northern edge of their beach. And kids love taking the train.

That's a great suggestion, and point to consider. So besides Manasquan, what other shore towns are easy to get to, and good for a day trip with kids?

Thanks!

Monroe wrote:
Just remember the amenities are quite thin on the ground at Sandy Hook, and the walk from the parking lots to waters edge can be a bit of a schlep. Have you considered taking NJ transit to one of the shore towns? I'm sure you could get a cab or Uber from most of the train stations, and many are very kid friendly-Manasquan built last summer a terrific playground area on the northern edge of their beach. And kids love taking the train.