“We know our beaches are fantastic and it’s great to have that confirmed by voters in the NJ Sea Grant Consortium’s annual Top Ten Beaches poll,” said Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the County’s Department of Public Information and Tourism. “Fans of Monmouth County and its beaches voted online last month and their votes made a difference. County beaches made the top 10 list for every category.”

Asbury Park, Belmar and Manasquan made the top 10 beaches for day trips, Belmar ranked number nine in the top beaches for family vacations and Sandy Hook and Belmar were voted as two of the top beaches for ecotourism.

“This is a fun way to get started with the summer season,” Arnone said. “The days are warmer and we are ready for the beach season. Our businesses have ramped up for visitors and residents are getting ready to entertain family and friends with a day at the New Jersey shore.”

The winners were announced at the special summer kickoff on May 22 at McLoone’s Asbury Grille in Asbury Park. The beaches all received a recognition plaque.

“Most important are the bragging rights,” Arnone said. “This is a fantastic boost for Monmouth County’s tourism industry.”

In order, the beaches on the 2014 NJ Sea Grant Consortium Top Ten Beaches list are: Ocean City, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, North Wildwood, Cape May, Belmar, Stone Harbor, Asbury Park, Sea Isle City and Island Beach State Park.

Twenty-three Monmouth County beaches are on the ballot and eligible for voting in 2014. The beaches are: Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar,  Bradley Beach, Cliffwood Beach, Deal, Elberon, Highlands, Keansburg, Loch Arbour, Long Branch, Manasquan, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Ocean Grove, Port Monmouth, Sandy Hook, Sea Bright, Sea Girt, Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, Spring Lake and Union Beach. 

To find out about Monmouth County’s beaches and other things to do in Monmouth County this summer or year round, visit the Monmouth County website at www.visitmonmouth.com

In all, there are 68 shore communities represented in the survey, from the County’s Bayshore to Cape May. There were three categories in which voters helped determine this year’s Top 10 Beaches: family vacation, day trips and ecotourism. 

The competition is organized annually by the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium. Voting takes place in April and the results are released as part of the Sea Grant’s annual State of the Shore Media Event just prior to Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of the summer season. For complete information log onto http://njtoptenbeaches.org.

#     #     #