July 03, 2015
Every year since 2008, the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium and Stockton College have partnered for an online poll that surveys New Jersians on which beach destinations are their favorite.
Coming out on top in 2015: Ocean City.
According to the Associated Press, Ocean City won in the categories of Best Beach, Best Day-Trip Beach, Best Family Vacation Beach and Best Beach for Ecotourism (likely for the Stainton Wildlife Refuge). This is the second year in a row that Ocean City has received the top honor, and the third time since 2009.
Runners-up this year include Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, Sea Isle City, North Wildwood, Asbury Park, Manasquan, Belmar, Brigantine and Long Beach Township. See the beach list in photos here.
Notably, this is the first year New Jersey beachgoers were polled in late spring, rather than winter. This means that voters were able to sneak in a few early beach days before casting votes online, and that -- likely, anyway -- votes were based less on sheer nostalgia.
Of course, all of these Jersey beach feel-goods come amidst a string of venomous man o' wars washing ashore lately -- including in Ocean City. (Eep.) Still, looking at the positives, a report issued by the Sea Grant Consortium in May declared the state of the Jersey Shore as strong heading into the 2015 summer season: beach erosion from winter storms was minimal, and there are several promising "beach nourishment projects" to ensure there will, in fact, be beaches to survey folks about for years to come.
Thoughts on the results of the poll? Leave 'em in the comments section below.
