Details
Surfing on Long Beach Island, N.J.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

WHERE: Long Beach Island, N.J., is about 200 miles, or four hours by car, from Washington. From the Garden State Parkway north, take Exit 63, then Route 72 east to the island.

WHERE TO STAY: The island has a slew of hotels and B&Bs. The White Whale Revisited (20 W. Seventh St., Barnegat Light, 888-942-5325; from $85), for one, is near the beach and the bay and has bikes to borrow.

SURFING: Brighton Beach Surf Shop (8511 Long Beach Blvd., Beach Haven, 609-492-0342, http://www.brightonbeachsurfshop.com) offers 75-minute surf lessons for $45 (semi-private) or $65 (private). Other surf shops include Wave Hog Surf Shop (620 Long Beach Blvd., Ship Bottom, 609-494-1040), Surf Unlimited (19th Street and Long Beach Boulevard, Ship Bottom, 609-494-3555, http://www.surfinglbi.com) and Faria's Surf and Sport, which has two locations (2712 Long Beach Blvd., Ship Bottom, 609-494-7368; 823 N. Bay Ave., Beach Haven, 609-492-0200). For surf reports, check out Buoyweather (http://www.buoyweather.com).

INFO: Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, 800-292-6372, http://www.discoversouthernocean.org.