Page 23 - AAA Magazine – AAA Ohio Auto Club – May 2021

SECRET EAST COAST
BEACH GETAWAYS
By Steve Cook
Goose Rocks Beach
Photo Source: Kennebunkport Conservation Trust website
Do social distancing the right way this summer with these hidden East Coast beach towns that are perfect for your next getaway vacation.
Are you worried about pandemic safety when
you’re at a popular beach on the weekend and you’re umbrella-to-umbrella with fellow beachgoers?
On most East Coast beaches, there is no alternative. Even if you arrive early and find a perfect spot, in an hour or two you might be so close to families arriving later that social distancing is compromised. However, there are still a few secluded beaches on the Atlantic Ocean where you can find privacy in a beautiful beach town.
These “secret” beaches aren’t really secret. They are well-known by locals but rarely frequented by tourists. Some are in state parks or owned by conservation trusts dedicated to preserving coastal land to provide habitat for threatened species. Others are simply local, out-of-the-way beaches untouched by development.
So, pack a lunch and plenty of liquids and program your GPS for one of these out-of-the-way beaches that time has passed by.
ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK
Seaside Park, New Jersey
There are still a few beaches on the Jersey
Shore without arcades, Ferris wheels, commercial boardwalks and a ton of people. Island Beach State Park on Barnegat Bay in New Jersey is probably the best. It is the largest reserve of an undeveloped barrier island in New Jersey and a sanctuary for ospreys, peregrine falcons and other sea birds.
The exceptional sandy beach has 300 feet of frontage for swimming and 700 feet of shoreline access. It is equipped with a bathhouse with public restrooms and 500 feet of boardwalk, with benches, lighting and handicap access.
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