Now that Snooki, Pauly D., and Mike the Situation’ are in Italy with the rest of MTV’s Jersey Shore cast this summer, the beaches, boardwalks, and bars will be a little more drama-free. And after a year away at college, many students will be thankful for a stress-free summer environment.
Whether you're a local patron or an out-of-town visitor, here are the best college beaches, boardwalks, and bars for summer, where you will be able to find a little less fist pumping, fake tans, and poofs, and a little more of the actual Jersey Shore.
Beach
Belmar, New Jersey offers a mile long stretch of soft, white sand for people of every age to enjoy. For college students, it’s 16th Ave. that you’ll want to check out. You’ll feel like you’re back on campus at this beach, and you might even run into some new eye candy to help you reapply your sun tan lotion.
Erin Murphy, a junior at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, says that Belmar is the beach for her.
“College students are normally anywhere between 15th Ave. and 18th Ave,” says Murphy. “Plus, it’s a short walk to the water.”
Murphy also says that since Belmar is located in the middle of the state, it appeals to many different college students from schools all over New Jersey.
So get your tan on without worrying about grenades this summer at Belmar Beach in Belmar, New Jersey. Check out Belmar.com for information regarding badge fees, season passes and daily hours of operation.
Boardwalk
Wildwood, New Jersey was listed as New Jersey’s number one beach for 2011, but it’s really the boardwalks that make this town the place to go. With a two-mile boardwalk filled with five amusement parks and two water-parks located right on the beach, college students will be able to enjoy a day at the beach and a night on the rides of Wildwood.
Brandon Gould, a junior at The College of New Jersey, says that he goes to Wildwood every summer.
“Wildwood has the best rides, best crane games, cheap food, a free beach, and it has three water parks,” says Gould. “Wildwood has dollar slices of pizza and great gyros. That’s perfect for college students.”
Between the affordable food and the water slides and crazy rides, college students will always have something to do on this boardwalk. Check out wildwoodsnj.com for more information on events happening in this shore town.
Bar
Bar Anticipation in Lake Como, New Jersey will blow all those small college bars near your school out of the water. With a diverse atmosphere of drinks, music, events, and specials virtually every night, Bar-A won’t disappoint.
Tom Jannarone, both the partner and general manager of Bar-A, says that his bar is a “festival for the senses.”
“[Our bar] has a special appeal to college kids because college students are all about fun and diversity. Bar Anticipation is best described as Ringling Brothers meets Walt Disney.”
So all of you college juniors and seniors, and those who are 21 and older of course, ditch Karma and Bamboo, and head over to Bar-A for good drinks and great times. Check out bar-a.com for their weekly schedule of events.
