On a recent week trip to Margate, NJ , I started to hear the whining of my children of how they were bored. At 14 and 11, the days of spending the whole day at the beach building sand castles and frolicking in the water are gone. After 2 hours boredom sets in and they are looking to be entertained. And entertainment costs, in a weak economy, I had to think hard for things we could do that would be free or as close to free as I could get.
Margate itself is a small island, so I knew my search for a cure to boredness would have to be expanded to neighboring towns. I started with the biggest thing in Margate, Lucy the Elephant. OK, Lucy does cost but how many times can you climb in a Pachyderm. Lucy’s cost is 6$ per person and $3 for children under 12.
Then grab your bike and head down Atlantic to Longport. Bike until you hit the last street and turn down for the most beautiful point on the island. Park the bikes and walk along the rocks out to see the view. Walk carefully as rocks can be slippery if wet. Here you will find some truly unique seashells and a great place to just relax. Oops I forgot with kids there is no relax. If fishing is your thing, this is also a great spot to set up anchor. Heading back to Margate from Longport there is a great playground. While the 14 year old is past the playground scene, my 11 year did enjoy his time there. There are basketball and tennis courts there as well to keep busy.
Our next stop would be the water show at the Pier Shops at Ceasars. If you can ignore all the amazing stores and focus on getting to the rear of the mall, there is a fantastic water show. Just remember to park outside the casinos on the street or your free light show will turn into an expensive venture. Trust me on this.
You can drive a little past Atlantic City to Brigantine to visit the Marine Mammal Stranding Center. There is a museum here on marine wildlife as well as a camera to show you the animals they have rescued and are rehabbing. They ask for a $1 dollar donation to help them cover the costs of their printed material.
Take a 45 minute drive to visit the Cape May Zoo. The zoo is free. You heard me correct, free. Donations are appreciated, but feel free to donate what you like. This is a great little zoo and best part, did I mention free.
So the next time you are at the New Jersey Shore and the sky is not looking like a beach day or you are bored of the beach, try out some of the ideas and enjoy!
