Things To Do In Sandy Hook NJ
Sandy Hook, New Jersey, is the perfect destination for a week’s stay during a vacation, and there’s plenty to do with your time here. Especially on the beach.
The beach is free if you take the ferry, walk or bike into town. But if you arrive by car, there’s a $10 fee to park. During the summer, the lots are filled by 10:00 a.m., so be sure to arrive early. There are six separate beaches here, each with its own facilities and lifeguards. If you like New York, check out North Beach, which offers spectacular views of the city’s harbor on a clear day. You can even see the Verrazano Bridge and the Brooklyn waterfront (all the way east to Jones Beach, in Long Island) from this spot.
For a non-family-friendly beach experience, explore the secluded Gunnison Beach. It’s the largest nude beach in the Northeast. If you’re worried about wandering in unaware, fear not. The nude beach is clearly marked and set off from the main stream of Sandy Hook activity—so you’ll only find it if you’re looking for it!
Hiking and biking makes for a great day trip. Hiking trails begin at both ends and span the length of the peninsula, with paths that take you through everything from sand dunes to salt marshes. There is also a paved, multi-use path that is ideal for rollerbladers and bicyclists, as well as hikers. This makes for a less messy trip.
Spend a day exploring the history here, because there’s a lot to see. The Fort Hancock Museum teaches visitors about Sandy Hook’s key role in the defense of New York Harbor for more than 200 years, and the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, which is the oldest surviving lighthouse in the U.S. and has stood tall since 1764!, is open to the public as well. You can climb the lighthouse stairs and marvel at the views, which on a clear day include Manhattan! You’ll also want to check out the Twin Lights National Landmark, which preserves the memory of an 1828 lighthouse that was key to helping ships safely navigate the waters off of Sandy Hook. The existing stone lighthouse was built in 1862 and in 1898, and it became America’s first electronically-powered lighthouse. Admission to the historical landmark is free and guided tours are available with advanced reservations, so it’s a good fun activity to participate in if you don’t want to spend a lot of money.
Even if you’re not an expert bird-watcher, Sandy Hook will make you want to take up the hobby, at least for the day. The National Audubon Society’s New Jersey chapter runs the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory here, which is located in the northeast corner of the peninsula (near the park’s headquarters and the Fort Hancock Museum. The exhibits and a bookstore guides will give a good sense of what species to look for. The best birding locations include Plum Island and Spermaceti Cove which are both near Sandy Hook’s southern entrance.
It’s all about the outdoors here, so spend a day at the 736-acre Hartshorne Woods Park. The park is a hotspot for bicyclists and boasts 16 miles of biking and hiking trails that offer marvelous views of the bay and the town. Don’t have a bike? You can rent them from Sandy Hook Cottage Bike Rentals.
A trip here isn’t complete without seeing the Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook, which is home to some of the best views in town. On site, The September 11th Memorial begins with a “timeline walkway” which recaps the events in chronological order, culminating in a sweeping view towards lower Manhattan. Pay tribute to the nearly 150 Monmouth County residents who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center. There’s also another September 11th Memorial at the town’s Veteran’s Park. Two 13-foot marble statues honor the local victims.
