May 17, 2018
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
The Ventnor City Boardwalk is popular with walkers and bicyclists.
There's a reason Ventnor Avenue is one of the most prized pieces of real estate on a Monopoly board.
Just a few miles southwest of Atlantic City, Ventnor draws its name from a town in the Isle of Wight in England, where a visiting American family was so enthralled by the seaside scenery that they brought it back to New Jersey in the late 19th century.
A quiet cousin to Atlantic City's dazzling nightlife and casino culture – like Brigantine is to the north – Ventnor is known for some of the finest homes at the Jersey Shore. The town is an ideal place for outdoor recreation — check out the 1000-foot fishing pier at Cambridge Avenue and the Boardwalk — and appreciation of New Jersey's coastal beauty.
And when you're ready to step up the activity level, Ventnor's boardwalk is a 1.7 miles stroll straight into Atlantic City.
Beach badges are required in Ventnor from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Pre-season badges for the summer are available for $7 (ages 12 and older) and $3.50 (ages 65 and older) until May 31. After that, regular seasonal badges will cost $15 and weekly badges will cost $10. There are no daily badges.
The badges can be purchased using cash or check only at Ventnor City Hall, 6201 Atlantic Ave., or online using the Viply app. Those using the app can show their purchase to a beach inspector, who will then give out physical badges.
Lifeguards are on duty 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Surfing is allowed next to the fishing pier at Cornwall Avenue during daylight hours.
Alcohol, picnics and ball playing are not allowed on the beach or boardwalk during the summer.
Dogs are only allowed on the beach between the hours of 7-9 p.m. from May 15 through Sept. 30. They must be leashed during these hours and are never allowed on the boardwalk.
Bike riding is allowed on the boardwalk during daylight hours, except on weekends from July 1 to Labor Day, when it is only allowed from 6 a.m. to noon.
Kayaking is allowed during daylight hours at the beaches next to Princeton Avenue and between Surrey and Suffolk avenues.
Metered and non-metered parking is available. The rate varies according to location. There is also a municipal parking lot on Newport Avenue between Atlantic and Ventnor avenues.
The Ventnor City Farmers Market, held at the Holy Trinity Parish Parking Lot, Newport and Atlantic Avenues, runs every Friday morning from May 25 through Aug. 24.
Ventnor's Concerts on the Beach events and Movies on the Beach occur alternate Saturday nights at Newport Beach Pavilion beginning June 23 with a beach concert.
A full calendar of events can be found here, and Downbeach Buzz also is a good reference for happenings in Ventnor, as well as Margate and Longport.
Back on the bay #bay #ventnornj #ventnorcity #sky #clouds #colors #water
A post shared by Dave Nuhn (@nuhns_ramblings_) on
ADA-accessible beaches are available at Suffolk and Newport avenues, and the Beach Patrol has beach wheelchairs – call (609) 823-7948.
Additional information can be found at the municipal website.
