Atlantic City, New Jersey

The Jersey Shore is 127 miles of public beachfront stretching like a pointing finger along the Atlantic Ocean from the Sandy Hook Peninsula in the north to Cape May at the southern tip.There is no one description of what it's like "down the shore." Things change town by town and sometimes season by season -- winter storms have a habit of rearranging beaches and boardwalks.

Some shore towns, such as Wildwood, are party hot spots with all-out amusement piers; others, such as Ocean Grove, which was originally a Methodist camp meeting ground, Spring Lake, and Cape May, are more sedate Victorian enclaves. Atlantic City has its glitzy casinos.

In the warmer months, locals and visitors also enjoy nature walks at the ecologically protected Island Beach State Park; the beaches, rides, and attractions at Six Flags Great Adventure Theme Park and Safari in Jackson; and performances at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.