Ocean City swept first place in all categories of the New Jersey’s Top Ten Beaches contest announced on Thursday.
“The Wildwoods” have been named “Top Beach” in four of the five years the contest has been held. Ocean City won in 2009.
New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC) and the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey’s Coastal Research Center introduced the survey in 2008 to “inspire pride in and stewardship of New Jersey’s beaches while promoting a little healthy competition between New Jersey’s favorite beach towns.”
The contest is decided by online voters who are prevented from voting more than once. Balloting ran from President’s Day weekend through the end of April, and winners were announced on May 22.
Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michele Gillian traveled to Asbury Park on Thursday to accept the honors on behalf of Ocean City.
Voters this year choose their top towns in four categories: Overall, Day Trips, Ecotourism and Family Vacations. Voters were asked to consider accommodations and amenities as they cast ballots. The four municipalities of “The Wildwoods” were listed separately for the first time this year.
See winners of the Top Ten Beaches title from 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The contest was not held in 2013 as beach towns in New Jersey recovered from Superstorm Sandy.
The announcement of contest winners is part of the NJSGC’s State of the Shore media event, which brings together coastal experts, State officials, and members of the news media to kick off the summer season at the Jersey Shore. See the full State of the Shore report below the list of winners. And see the full list of winners below as well.
Top Beaches
- Ocean City
- Wildwood
- Wildwood Crest
Top Beaches for Ecotourism
- Ocean City
- Wildwood
- Island Beach State Park
Top Beaches for Day Trips
- Ocean City
- Wildwood
- Wildwood Crest
Top Beaches for Family Vacations
- Ocean City
- Wildwood Crest
- Wildwood
