New Yorker's tend to focus on the Long Island beaches, forgetting that New Jersey has some of the most spectacular beaches in the North East. One of the largest, Point Pleaseant, lives up to it's name once you get beyong the hectic boardwalk. The clean sand stretches for miles, and the water somehow feels cleaner than the crowded New York beaches. Note that there is a decided heirarchy here between the private strip, known as Bradshaw Beach, and the smaller public Point Pleasant strip. The public access beach is marked by a small blue sign on Ocean Avenue, across from the Dunes Motel. While free, it tends to get crowded and is not monitored by Life Guards. North of this lies the quieter Bradshaw Beach, accessible only with the purchase of a daily or seasonal beach badge which you may purchase at any entrance. Aside from offering fewer crowds and Life Guards, the private beach offers more amenities such as beach chair and umbrella rental, and a waitress service Tiki Bar.