Still, this is Cape Cod, so you get a more standard beach vacation thanks to nearby access to ice cream, pubs, and the occasional tanning tourist.
Seashore campsites inc cape may nj free#
To get a sense of the shore as Thoreau saw it in the middle of the 19th century, however, head to the 40 miles of protected seashore, free of the pomp and vanities you’ll find at the nearby Martha’s Vineyard. Henry David Thoreau seemed to be happiest on the shores of Cape Cod (“a most advantageous point from which to contemplate this world,” he called them) and the 4 million or so people who visit the resort towns each year would agree. Grab a backcountry permit and be sure to pack in and out since there are no official campgrounds here. But when the rockets are on ice, this nearly 60,000 acres of seashore is a wilderness - host to hundreds of birds and thousands of plant species. Kennedy Space Center, this National Seashore often contends with space launches. Do make sure you lock up your food - the horses are known to thieve. The small protected area of dunes and the large open beaches feel wild and open because of the limited number of campers allowed and, of course, the wild horses that roam freely. If car camping on dunes with wild horses sounds like your cup of tea, Maryland’s Assateague National Seashore is your spot. To witness such wild beaches is, as Thoreau said of Cape Cod, “a most advantageous point from which to contemplate this world.” Pack your camp gear, lay the sunscreen on, bust out the bins, and prepare for a truly wild beach experience with these 10 American gems. The swift weather, slow persistent eroding forces upon the beaches, the hourly struggle of plants and animals, the never-ceasing wind - these alien places are worth spending time in. Sure, you can stay in San Francisco, Martha’s Vineyard, or even Manhattan by night and find yourself in a National Seashore within two hours’ time. To navigate the National Seashores, you need to be ready to rough it - to varying degrees. These sandy shores are far-flung, sparsely populated, and largely free of development. In the 10 National Seashores that Congress has set aside, you will find beaches in their most pure state. Now, get packing! America’s 10 National Seashores Show What A Beach Can BeĬape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts Ariela Basson/Fatherly Getty Images, Shutterstock Each comes with its own distinct flavor and rules, but they’ve got a few elements in common - inviting waterways that are open to all, plants and animals that thrive within, and scenery that will make you feel both at home and miles from day-to-day life. You’ll find them on remote lakes, wild rivers, inside National Parks, or all around Hawaii (where beaches are all public by law). They’re just not necessarily where the caravans of families are headed.
But they’re also better protected, more wild, more pristine, and you can find a better travel deal than that spare “beachside” motel that sets you back $300 a night.įortunately, if you dig a little, you can find plenty of public places by the water in America. What’s so great about public shores? They’re open to all, of course - that goes without saying. The 63 National Park sites, by comparison, make up some 3.6% of all American soil. shoreline, less than one-half of 1% have been set aside under the protection of Congress. American shorelines are largely a private affair. Chances are when you go to the beach, you’re playing on someone else’s property.
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