SIC OBSERVATIONS
New Jersey has roughly
130 miles of coastline. This “corridor” state, sandwiched between New York City
and Philadelphia, is a popular summertime destination. From Sandy Hook in the
north to Cape May in the south, the New Jersey beaches are inviting and
accessible and I have spent my life kicking around several of them. Most of my
Jersey beach destinations are in the northern half of the state. Places like
Belmar, Point Pleasant, Sandy Hook and Seaside Heights, in no particular order,
were some of the beach towns I would visit for the day or an overnight. Each
town has its own alluring qualities, whether it’s the rough, surfing waves and
the popular bar D’Jai’s of Belmar, or the beautiful porch of The Columns in
Avon-by-the-Sea, the solitude of IBSP or the frenetic activity of the boardwalk
in Seaside Heights and Seaside Park, I’ve enjoyed this natural resource for a
long time.
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| ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK, NJ |
Since I met Janet
though, I’ve now enjoyed visiting a number of the southern towns in New Jersey.
In her youth she often traveled to the Wildwoods and we have stayed in Wildwood
for short trips these past two years. This year we rented a house in Sea Isle
City.
THE ORIGINAL VACATION
FROM HOME
Travel has taken us around
the world to faraway beaches, and there are plenty of places to visit still,
but the beaches of New Jersey are our original VACATIONS FROM HOME! Going to the
New Jersey beaches was our first experience with travel and because Janet and I
have so many fond and varied memories of our times there, we wanted to share
our experiences. We got together with several family members from several
states in America and from England and rented a house large enough to fit
everyone.
A NUMBERS GAME
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| SIC Rental |
We rented a house in Sea Isle City that easily slept the 17 of us and we split the $10,000 price tag. Sadly, with the high season comes the high prices, but we got to watch the young boys from England play in the New Jersey surf for the first time.
The rental houses are tall and large and every available
inch of land in town has some structure on it.
Sea Isle City has less than 3,000 year-round residents, but during the summer season that number swells past 40,000.
It should have seemed crowded, but for our week there it was quiet and relaxed.
THE PROMENADE
This barrier island community doesn't have a boardwalk, but it has a macadam promenade that runs north nearly to the border with Strathmere at 29th Street and south to 55th Street. It is popular with bikers, runners and strollers. Mostly in the northern sections of the promenade are businesses like restaurants and ice cream parlors, a small arcade and a busy outdoor Tiki Bar (one of several found throughout the town), but in the southern portion there are just homes fronting the promenade. 
All along the street side of the promenade, facing the sand dunes, are park benches. All are emblazoned with memorials to loved ones. It's a nice touch for this family-oriented beach town.
FISH ALLEY
Before it was a Shoobie paradise Sea Isle City was a fishing village. The last enclave of this rich, vibrant history is found in the area called Fish Alley. Now being hedged in by condominiums this back bay, marsh area was settled by Italian immigrants in the early 1900's, and thrived for decades. Development and stricter fishing regulations and storms have pinched Fish Alley into a smaller space, but places like Carmen's and Mike's and Marie's Lobster House or the Lobster Loft are still the places to go for casual dock side eating while in Sea Isle City. One night we even had Carmen's cater a massive family style meal that we carried back to our rental house! 
Thankfully Sea Isle City has begun to embrace the history of Fish Alley and has promoted the area with a large welcome sign arcing over the street and a granite monument relating the history of the alley. There's also a new boardwalk along the water's edge.
Fish Alley is still a working harbor and a number of commercial boats dock here, so it's possible to have them cook it for you, catch it for you, or even go out and catch it for yourself! Hopefully, further condo development will be curtailed to allow the remnants of this fishing village to continue.
BEACH TAGS
Requisite beach tags can be purchased at the SIC Welcome Center at 300 JFK Boulevard during the day and 24/7 at a cash only vending machine at City Hall. Daily fees are $5.00, $10.00 weekly and seasons are $20.00 if purchased before May 15. Wednesdays are FREE! But, we already had beach tags that came with our house rental.
There is free parking on the street and for a limited time during the day at the library and paid meters closer to the beach.
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| THE VIEW FROM OUR BALCONY |
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