The beach is the main attraction. The cooler sea air found here is also quite a relief from hot humid summer days that occur in places like Philadelphia, interior New Jersey, or New York City. You can't spend all day and night at the beach. What else are you going to do while you are on vacation? There are plenty of options. Some of these are close at hand and, depending on where you are staying, within walking distance. Other places such as Island Beach State Park, Tom's River, and Six Flags Great Adventure are further away and require more planning than someplace that is just a few blocks away.
Island Beach State Park (http://www.islandbeachnj.org/) boasts ten miles of undeveloped barrier island with swimming beaches, hiking trails, and a look at what the now heavily developed Jersey shore once looked like.
