Walking on the beach is one of the most peaceful activities you can engage in at the shore. A beach walk allows you to clear your mind and focus on the beautiful natural surroundings provided by the beach and ocean. If you love to walk on the beach, you will be happy to know that there are several events planned throughout the summer. Several shore towns host weekly guided beach walks where you can learn about the animals that live on the beach. There are dedicated areas for you to take nature walks in some towns. These include maritime forest walks, dune trail walks and a salt marsh walks.
If you want to learn more about nature at the shore, check out our articles on “Beach Trails, Nature Centers and Museums” or “Seashells and Animals that Live on the Beach”.
Weekly Guided Beach Walks and Guided Beachcombing
We gathered information about the weekly guided beach walks and guided beachcombing offered by the shore towns in summer. Below is a list of the towns and information about the guided beach walks.
Avalon – Dune and Beach Walk
Avalon hosts a Dune and Beach Walk from 9:30 am – 10:30 am on Wednesdays between June and August. The dune and beach walk takes place along 48th Street and Dune Drive. People interested in this walk can meet at 45th Street and Dune Drive in Avalon. Here, they will enjoy an interpretive walk with a naturalist along the maritime forest and dune trails as you learn about the animals and plants that thrive in this environment.
Ocean City – Guided Beach Walk
Ocean City hosts a guided beach walk every Tuesday morning and Wednesday night in July and August.
The morning walks are held each Tuesday at 9:00 am. The night walks are held each Wednesday at 6:30 pm. Both walks begin at 59th Street and Central Avenue, at the entrance to Corsons Park. During the walks, volunteer beach guides share information on various topics including shells, birds, the ocean, beach vegetation, beach creatures and more. Each walk lasts approximately one hour. Tickets may be purchased on-site at the rate of $1 for adults $1.00 and $.50 for children.
Sea Isle City – Guided Beachcombing
Sea Isle City offers guided beachcombing twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays between the end of June and August. These events include a show-and-tell to educate you about ocean wildlife and the animals that live on the beach. Guided Beachcombing. On Tuesdays, the guided beachcombing occurs at the 29th Street beach (register on the promenade at 29th) from 10:00 am – 11:00 am. On Thursdays, the the guided beachcombing occurs at the 94th Street beach (register at the Townsends Inlet Waterfront Park Pavilion). These events are a wonderful and fun way to learn all about our beaches and the creatures that dwell in and around them from beachcombing guides, and then explore the beach for your own treasures. The cost is only $1 and includes a free beachcombing bucket.
Stone Harbor –Guided Beachcombing
Bring your kids and explore Stone Harbor Point with The Wetlands Institute’s “Exploration Point with The Wetlands Institute”. This event is held every Monday in the summer at 9:30 am at the trailhead at 122nd Street in Stone Harbor. Bing your beachcombing buckets and meet with an educator from the Wetlands Institute who will lead you on a guided beachcombing walk and help you find seashells, cool birds and animals that live on the beach. You will even get a lesson in sandcastle building. This activity is recommended for children age 3-7 accompanied by a parent and the suggested donation is $3 to help support The Wetlands Institute.
Other Nature Walks (Salt Marsh Walks, Maritime Forest Walks, Bird Sanctuary and Bird Observatory Walks)
Cape May – Bird Observatory Walks
Each weekday, the Cape May Bird Observatory offers birding walks throughout Cape May Point. On these guided walks, you will learn all about the birds who live in and around, and migrate to and through, the Cape. For more information on their summer bird observatory walks schedule, click here.
Stone Harbor – Salt Marsh Walk
This salt marsh walk teaches you all about the salt marsh. Every day in the summer, The Wetlands Institute offers their “Salt Marsh Safari”. On Weekdays the safari is at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm and on weekends it is at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. The event begins with The Wetlands Institute’s award-winning film, “Secrets of the Salt Marsh”. Then you will take a guided interpretive walk through the wetlands where you will travel along the new elevated walkway, down the salt marsh trail and out onto the dock overlooking Scotch Bonnet creek.
Stone Harbor – Maritime Forest Walk and Bird Sanctuary Tour
On Saturdays and Sundays at 10:00 am in summer, you can take a guided walk through the maritime forest at the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary. You will meet experienced docents at the Egret Espy Trail entrance at 114th Street and 2nd Avenue who will lead guided tours through the maritime forest and barrier dunes and teach visitors about the natural history and wildlife of the Bird Sanctuary. Tours are one hour long.
