Post Travels: Down the Shore — The Beautiful Beaches of New Jersey

Come summer, visitors flock to the Jersey Shore’s many boardwalks to eat salt water taffy, play mini-golf and take a whirl on beachside amusement rides.

But the stretch of coastline known as Long Beach Island is bit different than sandy neighbors. Affectionately known as LBI to regulars, summer days here are spent on the beach, swimming, surfing, fishing, and looking for passing wildlife like dolphins and rays.

There’s no boardwalk, but you won’t miss it. Climb the 217 steps up to the top of Barnegat Lighthouse, take a behind-the-scenes tour of the commercial fishing docks at Viking Village, or if you’re lucky enough to be in town for the annual lifeguard races, you can cheer as local squads battle it out for bragging rights.