At The Shore: Top Adventures for Fourth of July Week

By SARAH KNEIFF If you're on the hunt for something adventurous to do at the Jersey Shore, you'll have plenty of intriguing options – from escape rooms to waterparks to whale watching tours. Check out these top experiences we have handpicked for the Fourth of July week: AMAZING ESCAPE ROOM At Amazing Escape Room, they’re all about bringing a family together. They have rooms all across New Jersey. The rooms will challenge your minds and abilities to work together with others in a high-stress and interactive, team-building environment. A select few locations also offer axe throwing. Check out amazingescaperoom.com for more information. BEACH BEE MEADERY You'll find hard cider and mead in Long Branch at the Beach Bee Meadery. Indoor and outdoor seating is available. Grab your friends for a flight or buy some to go, in-store or online. beachbeemeadery.com. BIPLANE RIDES OVER NEW JERSEY The Cannibal Queen is a World War II Stearman biplane made famous when it became the subject of Steven Coonts’ best-selling novel. A flight in the open cockpit of the Cannibal Queen makes for quite the experience. The pilots can tailor each experience to the individual, providing a smooth ride for those who want to enjoy the view or some acrobatic maneuvers for those who prefer a more adventurous flight. biplaneridesovernjb.com. CAPE MAY WHALE WATCHER The 110-foot Cape May Whale Watcher has been providing dolphin and whale watching in Cape May, Wildwood, Stone Harbor, Atlantic City and the rest of the New Jersey Shore area since 1993. They also have been featuring history cruising in conjunction with the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts since 1993. Visit capemaywhalewatcher.com. CASINO PIER WATERPARK Breakwater Beach, the waterpark at Casino Pier, is a wonderful place for kids and adults alike to spend a day taking in the sun and all of the popular attractions the park has to offer. There’s fun for the whole family – all in a safe, supervised environment. The pier also offers food, games, rides and even mini golf. casinopiernj.com. Buttermilk Falls in Layton, N.J., is one of the hikes in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. (Courtesy of njhiking.com) HIKING AT DELAWARE WATER GAP Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area offers over 150 miles of trails of various difficulty levels that run from New Jersey to Pennsylvania. The Mount Tammany trails are more strenuous paths for those looking for a real adventure. njhiking.com/mt-tammany. KAYAKING AT ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK Experienced kayakers can access the beach and bay from numerous places in the park. Kayaking events are also held during the summer. You can learn basic kayaking, how to fish from a kayak, or simply go on a tour with others to see some of the natural areas around the park. Kayaks are available for some of the events, age and footwear restrictions may be required for your safety, and there may be fees charged to cover some of the costs. Check islandbeachnj.org for more information. SIX FLAGS Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey is home to 14 world-class coasters, family rides and a 350-acre drive-thru safari right next door. More info is here: sixflags.com/greatadventure. TIKI BOAT TOURS Atlantic City Tiki Boat is the only tiki boat cruise in New Jersey with a full-service bar. You can book a private booze cruise for your friends and family or join them for a social cruise with single-ticket bookings available through FareHarbor. The tiki bar boat runs each week from Tuesday to Sunday, with five rides available each day. actikiboat.com.