We're thinking about our first trip to the Jersey Shore next summer - somewhere south of Atlantic City. Where are the best beaches for swimming and lying in the sun? Also, are there any sailboat operators who take people out on daysails? Thanks for any info.!

New Jersey has wonderful beaches-south of Atlantic City,Avalon,wildwood,Cape May. There should be day sails-but the local Chamber of Commerce could help. Cape May does have a web site.

Where you go will depend partially on whether you have children with you or not. Are you looking for a B&B, a motel or a house? Right on the beach or not?
I prefer Ocean City. I think it's the second town below Atlantic City (after Margate). It's family oriented with a nice boardwalk. The only problem with Ocean City is that you won't find many motels. Mostly condos, and houses- and if you want somewhere nice you should start looking in January! (I think a nice 4 bedroom duplex right on the beach would probably cost around $3000 a week). The beaches are great. If you go to the very south end (59th street area) it's less developed and the beaches are less crowded. The Wildwood area has huge beaches and many more hotels but the boardwalk is much bigger and you get a wilder crowd IMO, although I have friends who wouldn't go anywhere else. It's quieter in Wildwood Crest on the southern end and there are many motels on the beach there. Cape May is beautiful, lots of B&Bs and great restaurants but more of an adult place. I don't know anything about daysails. Have a great time!

you should go as far south as you can.wildwood crest beaches are beautiful.there's a condo complex called Seapointe Village and it is wonderful.they have a web site.check under seapointe village.if interested you must book very early.request a brochere.the swimming at wildwood crest is great,especially for boggie boarding.i am sure there are sailboat operators who take people out on daysails.there is a bay side also in wildwood.check with the wildwood chamber of commerce.if you have kids they will love the boardwalk and all of the minature golf courses.i have been going since i was 7 years old and it is a special place in my heart and the hearts of many who have been going since childhood.have a great time.

Tobey,
Avalon and Stone Harbor (both south of Atlantic City) have very nice beaches for swimming and sunning. I would describe both towns as low key. Sorry, can't help with daysails.

tobey it really depends what you are looking for. My favorite is Stone Harbor its quiet, nice beach, great stores. Ocean City is more crowded although I like it and a couple friends have houses there, it is a dry town and like someone said a fun boardwalk where as stone harbor doesn't have one. But what kind of element do you get with a board walk. When I was in college we would go to Wildwood at night for the clubs. It just depends what you are looking for and how much you want to spend