[Gerry Zagorski]

Since you are coming from the north, Sandy Hook would be your closest beach. Noting like Seaside though, so if you are looking for a boardwalk and rides this is not the place. There are however some cool places to vist on Sandy Hook. The oldest operational light house in our country, a old coast guard rescue station and a small wildlife musem.

PS - There is also one clothing option beach there called Gunnison so you might want to stear clear of that with the kids.