North Wildwood Live Cam

New Jersey's seaside resorts provide a contrast of landscapes for visitors. At the very tip of New Jersey's long shoreline is Cape May, a town of wide, white beaches and Victorian villages. Next, there is Atlantic City - America's favorite playground for casino gaming, world-class entertainment and family attractions. Further north along New Jersey 127-mile coastline is the Shore Region, with sparkling beaches, boardwalks, historic parks and lighthouses.

Spend the day exploring beautiful Cape May, America's oldest seashore resort and a National Historic Landmark. Located at the southern tip of New Jersey, the town is one of the "Prettiest Painted Places in America" with over 600 restored Victorian buildings. Begin with a walking or trolley tour of historic homes and bed and breakfast inns offered by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts.

Stroll the beachfront promenade for beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean. Dine and shop at the pedestrian Washington Street Mall. During the afternoon, climb to the top of the Cape May Point Lighthouse for a bird's eye view of the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay. Enjoy dinner tonight at one of Cape May's many restaurants offering gourmet and traditional fare. Top off the evening at a local jazz club. Overnight: Cape May.

Travel north to Atlantic City, America's Favorite Playground. Get a feel for the city with a stroll along America's first Boardwalk and stop for some salt water taffy, or take a dolphin or whale-watching cruise departing from Historic Gardiner's Basin.

This afternoon take a look at the historic and artistic side of Atlantic City by dropping in at the Florence Valor Miller Art Center and the Atlantic City Historical Museum, which showcases Atlantic City's long and exciting history. Stop by the newly restored Absecon Lighthouse, a 141-year old landmark, and the equally famous landmark, the 65-foot tall Lucy the Elephant in Margate. In warmer months, you'll want to take it easy relaxing on Atlantic City's famous beach. Tonight, take in dinner and a show and try your luck at one of the resort's 13 glittering casinos. Overnight: Greater Atlantic City.

On the way out of town for some local sightseeing, don't forget to stop by the new Sheraton Hotel at the New Atlantic City Convention Center. The hotel serves as the headquarters for the Miss America Pageant and contains a great collection of costumes and memorabilia from past pageants. This afternoon, take a step back in time to the 19th century and leisurely stroll and shop the Towne of Historic Smithville and the Village Green.

If you'd prefer a little exercise, hit the links at one of the many golf courses in the Greater Atlantic City area. The Greater Atlantic City Golf Association can pre-book tee times at many of the local championship courses. For dinner tonight, splurge for the fine dining at one of the local gourmet restaurants like the one at Renault Winery, America's oldest winery. Back in Atlantic City there are plenty of gourmet restaurants at the casinos, but you may opt for more casual dining at one of the popular themed restaurants such as Planet Hollywood, the All Star Café, or the Hard Rock Café. Overnight: Atlantic City.

Travel to New Jersey's Shore Region, a beach lover's dream. Try Jenkinson's Pavilion and Amusement Park at Point Pleasant Beach with rides, arcades, fishing, an aquarium and dolphin watching. Or stroll Seaside Heights Boardwalk, a one-and-a-half mile long promenade with the only beach skyride in the state, games of chance, an antique carousel and plenty of food. Visit Sandy Hook, the focal point of the Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area. The area is complete with dune trails, Fort Hancock and Sandy Hook Lighthouse, the oldest original operating lighthouse in the country. Overnight: Shore Region.

When visiting New Jersey's capital, you can experience all of the rich history and tradition Trenton has to offer. What better place to start your morning tour than by visiting the newly restored New Jersey State House Dome.

On July 8, 1999, Governor Christie Whitman unveiled the refurbished golden dome- a shining testament to New Jersey's liberty and prosperity. The recent State House Dome Repair and Restoration Project represents the first significant repairs to the State House Dome since the 1889 gold leafing. The New Jersey State House dates back to 1792, when a Philadelphia architect, Jonathan Doane, designed the original structure. In 1845 John Notman, also from Philadelphia, was commissioned to expand the original structure. The new addition was connected to the original State House by a rotunda topped with the state's very first dome.

In 1885, a fire damaged the original structure, destroying offices, the roof, and the dome. Lewis Broome, a Jersey City architect, repaired and rebuilt the State House in a Renaissance-Revival style, including a larger 145 foot dome. It is also around this time that the decision was made to finish the dome exterior with gold leafing. Completed in 1889, over a mile and a half of beaten gold covered the structure.

The second oldest capitol in continuous use in the United States, the New Jersey State House offers visitors a glimpse of the state's long and rich history. For two hundred years, the State House has proudly served as the center of our state government. It remains home to the Governor's Office, the State Legislature, and other executive branch offices. Despite structural changes and renovations over the years, parts of the original State House are still in use as the Governor's private chambers, adding to the building's proud heritage.

If you would like to absorb even more of America's lively past, the New Jersey State Museum is only a short walk away. Featuring American art of the 19th and 20th centuries, children's theater, Native American artifacts, films, lectures, special events and much more, it provides a rich educational experience for people of all ages. At the same time, you could also gaze at the moon and observe the stars at the planetarium, also at the New Jersey State Museum.

An eventful tour needn't stop here. You can kick off your afternoon by learning even more about historic Trenton's vital importance to General George Washington and the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Visit the recently renovated Old Barracks Museum and relive history by touring the site where the famous day-after Christmas battle took place. The Battle of Trenton changed the course of the war, as Washington marshaled his troops to victory over the Hessian troops holding the city, becoming a beloved national hero in the process. You can enjoy a guided tour by historical interpreters in period clothing and explore the museum, which is open seven days a week.

You can further enjoy your Revolutionary War experience by visiting the Trenton Battle Monument. Built in honor of the Battle of Trenton, this monument stands in the area where Washington and his troops fought and camped out during the battle. There's also the William Trent House, a historic house museum which offers a glimpse at life in the early 18th century.

With the day winding down, Trenton provides you with a wealth of options for an enjoyable and relaxing evening. After a long day touring the capital, enjoy a dinner at Chambersburg. Nicknamed, "Little Italy," it is a sheer utopia for lovers of fine Italian food. Just minutes away from the State House, Chambersburg is home to numerous Italian restaurants, each with its own unique specialties. Bring your appetite and let your love of Italian cuisine lead the way.

With your hunger satisfied, you may choose to relax with some live entertainment. At the War Memorial Theater, you can enjoy live theater, music, and dance. Among the performers, you can catch the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, the Greater Trenton Symphony Orchestra, Boheme Opera, and the NJ American Repertory Ballet.

And if you visit Trenton between April and August, go see the exciting Trenton Thunder in action. Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, the Thunder showcase baseball's superstars of tomorrow at Mercer County's Waterfront Park. If you visit in the fall or winter, take in an East Coast Hockey League game at Trenton's newest sports facility, the Mercer County Arena - home of the Trenton Titans.

At the end of a busy day touring Trenton, you'll be enriched by all that New Jersey's capital city has to offer.

Two kinds of visitors love The Shore after Labor Day: those who seek the serenity of quiet boardwalks for a stroll or bike ride along a beach empty of sunbathers; and their counterparts who realize that "the beach goes on" in the fall with a full calendar of fun events and myriad activities along New Jersey's magnificent 127-mile coastline. The following itineraries are geared to both, including visitors who choose the ideal combination.

The Jersey Shore offers a classic beach experience well into the fall, with the ocean water warm and many sunny days; the only difference is that rates for accommodations and parking go down. It's possible to ride a bike on the boardwalk all day -- rather than only in the morning or late evening. Nature lovers will particularly enjoy Sandy Hook and Island Beach State Park. There's even horseback riding along the ocean on Island Beach State Park.

If the weather's a little cool, visit Sandy Hook Lighthouse, the oldest original operating lighthouse in the country. Or take some time for antique shopping in Red Bank, Manasquan or Point Pleasant. It's well worth planning a weekend around the brand new Jersey Chowder Challenge in downtown Red Bank. More chowder is on the menu at the Chowderfest Weekend on lovely Long Beach Island.

Those with an appetite for discount shopping save lots of money at the 70-plus shops at Six Flags Factory Outlets near the theme park in Jackson. Six Flags Great Adventure & Wild Animal Safari itself is open weekends through October, with a number of special events scheduled. A fascinating look at the history of Barnegat Bay's fishermen is on view at the Old Time Barnegat Bay Decoy & Baymen's Museum in Tuckerton. If you're in town the weekend of September 25-26, the Tuckerton Decoy & Gunning show is a must -- with hundreds of vendors and exhibitors; it's two full days of competitions, music and regional food.

It may be fall but the fish is still fresh at the shore's many fine seafood restaurants. Finish the evening with a quiet stroll along the beach or boardwalk; you might need to wear a sweater. Catch more contemporary entertainment at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank.

After a late night, this is an idyllic time to stroll the famed four-mile-long Atlantic City boardwalk, stopping for salt water taffy; or for a whale or dolphin watching expedition departing Historic Gardner's Basin. Also at Historic Gardner's Basin is the new $4.5 million Ocean Life Center, which features "ocean-sized" exhibit tanks with a colorful collection of tropical fish, sharks and more. There are many alternatives, including: a climb up recently restored Absecon Lighthouse, a 141-year-old landmark; or a stroll through The Towne of Historic Smithville and the Village Green, ten miles north of Atlantic City.

Another side of Atlantic City is on view at cultural havens like the Atlantic City Art Center & Historical Museum on Garden Pier, which preserves and showcases the city's long and exciting history. The Noyes Museum in nearby Oceanville houses a permanent collection of fine contemporary American art.

If you're in the neighborhood the weekend of October, you might find your own treasure at "Atlantique City Fall Festival," billed as "the world's largest indoor antique and collectible show." And the Miss America Pageant, the event that practically reinvented fall holidays, is now a week-long series of fun events, including a parade.

Cape May is also one of the national centers for great birding, available through the fall. But the big event for birders is the annual Cape May Autumn Weekend with wildlife arts, bird carvings, nature photography, field trips, boat rides and hawk and seabird watching expeditions.