2023 Pool And Beach Badges On Sale Now In Toms River

Badges went on sale Monday, with beach and pool season badges available at the Toms River Recreation Building, where the pool is located, at 1810 Warren Point Road. Moreover, Beach badges also can be purchased at the Toms River Senior Center, 652 Garfield Ave., or at the Toms River Township Tax Office, 33 Washington St. All locations open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Beaches open weekends only starting Saturday, May 27, with the start of Memorial Day weekend. Subsequently, beginning June 17, the beach will be open seven days a week.

Beach hours will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Ortley Beach is located in Toms River and is also known as Dover Beaches South. It is not that large, in fact, its less than a square mile in the area but that does not stop tourists from visiting during the summer months. Ortley Beach is located between the Borough of Lavallette and the Borough of Seaside Heights.

Memorial Day weekend the lifeguards begin their season. They're on duty weekends for the first few weeks of the season, then daily from June 16th through Labor Day. The lifeguards are on the beach from 9 A.M. until 5 P.M. Pay attention to any warnings or directions the lifeguards provide. If you go swimming when the lifeguards are not on the beach - off-season or during off hours in the summer - you need to be careful. You should know about riptides and what to do if you find yourself caught in one.

However, if the pool is your preference, the Toms River Township pool,  opens daily beginning Saturday, June 24th,  11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.

As fall slowly approaches, you can still bask in one of New Jersey's greatest treasures: its 130-mile shoreline. One beach in particular however ranks as one of the best on the entire east coast. According to MSN, Cape May ranks supreme over Jersey's other beaches and all that reside on the eastern seaboard.

The site says that Cape May's Victorian bed and breakfast destinations are one of the beach's unique features, and are a big draw. Per CapeMayCity.com, Cape May's renaissance began at the end of the 20th century. That's when entrepreneurs came back to the Cape and restored the beautiful Victorian homes we see and love today. They restored many of them for use as bed and breakfast inns, guest houses, restaurants, and shops.

After business was once again booming on Jersey's pristine shoreline, culture was brought back to the Cape. "The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts was given a trolley and began tours of Cape May bringing its history to life and providing income for the restoration of the Physick Estate and eventually the lighthouse," the site reports. "Louisa’s Restaurant, opening in the early '80s was one of the first alternative eating establishments," the publication added.

The success of these ventures made the Cape a popular place for investors to see the shore town in a new light. Cape May's popularity as a seaside resort also included the creation of the Washington Street Mall in 1971 and other smaller restoration projects that began in the '80s.

Although Cape May is gorgeous in the warmer months, it is not just a summertime destination. Visitors can enjoy the Cape May Bird Observatory, Cape May's County Park and Zoo, The Whale Watch and Resource Center and the Naval Air Station at the Wildwood Aviation Museum on chillier days.

While there is still a few weeks left of warm weather, consider planning your next trip to the shore. Take a look at some beach activities you can enjoy on your next adventure to Cape May:

Swim Information from Cape May: Swimming is welcome. For your safety, the Beach Patrol recommends not swimming past chest-deep water (areas may be marked with flags). Ocean conditions may change quickly. Please check with the nearest lifeguard stand before you attempt distance swimming.

Skimboarding is a boardsport in which a skimboard is used to glide across the water's surface to meet an incoming breaking wave and ride it back to shore. Skimboarding Information from Cape May: Skimboarding is allowed with the permission of lifeguards.

Volleyball Information from Cape May: Volleyball nets are available at Steger Beach (Beach Ave & Jackson St) and at 2nd Avenue Beach (2nd Avenue & Beach Ave). They’re located on the beach, so you will need a beach tag to play, and please BYOB (bring your own ball).

Surf Information from Cape May: Surfing is permitted at Poverty Beach (Wilmington Avenue), The Cove, Surfing Beach (Gurney Street), and South Queen (Queen Street).

Fishing Information from Cape May: During guarded hours, fishing is permitted along the quarter-mile stretch east of the Brooklyn Avenue storm pipe. Fishing is prohibited at all other beaches during guarded hours.

Kayaking Information from Cape May: Kayaking is permitted past the bathing zone. You can launch east of Poverty Beach and west of The Cove stand.

Picnic Information from Cape May: Food and beverages are welcome on the beaches. Just don't bring any alcohol or use any portable cooking devices. And please remove everything you bring with you.

Sandsculpting Information from Cape May: Create the sand sculptures of your dreams. If you dig holes, make sure they're no more than waist height of the shortest person in your group. And please fill them in before you leave the beach.