Adventure’s Calling: This Beachfront Trail Is Ideal for Beachcombing in New Jersey

If there's one town on the Jersey Shore that's so quintessentially New Jersey, it has to be Wildwood. This is basically our own little Garden State Disneyland—a summertime paradise where the fun never stops. It's packed with family-friendly restaurants, museums, and amusement parks, along with one of the most over-the-top boardwalks around where you can get every kind of summertime treat imaginable. I always love to spend at least a few days here each year, but even for someone who basically calls the Jersey Shore a second home, I do need a break from the hustle and bustle sometimes. That's why I was so pleased to find a peaceful beachfront hike in New Jersey, only minutes from this wild-and-wacky town, hiding in North Wildwood.

The North Wildwood Seawall is a 2.5-mile hike that takes you right up to the water, and is a popular spot for fishing and beach combing. It's a little haven for natural beauty, before you return to more fun on the boardwalk before the sun sets!

North Wildwood is only a few miles from the heart of the Wildwood boardwalk, but it feels like a whole other world. This peaceful slice of heaven is a much more laid-back area, with plenty of beautiful beachfront to explore.

The best way to see it is the North Wildwood Seawall, a 2.5-mile trail that's as easy as it gets. It'll take you right along the beach, via a combination of boardwalk and sand. This is a popular spot for surf fishing, so you can pull in the catch straight from the Atlantic. The sand is also rich with seashells, for any collectors.

While the trail is fairly easy to navigate in one hour and you shouldn't encounter any challenging terrain, it can still get pretty hot in the summer, so it's great that the beach has several shaded areas, including a peaceful gazebo that's perfect for a picnic. Bring some food from home or the boardwalk and take in the stunning ocean views.

When the sun goes down, this is a great place to escape from the busiest parts of Wildwood and take in the sunset. You'll likely leave this hike with a bucket full of shells and some great memories. There's even a small shell garden just off 20th street, if you want to contribute one of your own finds to this unique collection.

Have you hiked the North Wildwood Seawall before? If not, this beachfront hike in New Jersey is rarely crowded, so tell a friend about this article and plan a visit to this hidden gem! You can see more pictures of this unique hike on the official AllTrails trail listing. While you're in Wildwood, make sure you pay a visit to Duffer's; if there's one spot in town that sums up the area's unique charm, it's this combination family restaurant/mini-golf course. And if you're looking for a unique place to stay, the Caribbean Motel is a historic lodging spot offering doo-wop vibes at a reasonable price.