Belmar is like Cancun

GETTING THERE
By car: Take the NJ Turnpike South to the Garden State Parkway South (Exit 11). Get off the Parkway at Exit 98, which is Rte 138 East. Follow signs to Rte 35 North to Belmar. Travel time: 1hr 30mins.

By rail: Take NJ Transit from Penn Station to Long Branch and change there to the NJ Coast Line to Belmar; $21.50. Travel time: 2hrs.

WHAT'S CANCUN ABOUT IT?
A golden sandy beach, ample bronzed flesh on display, a near-permanent happy hour: It's the closest you'll get to the Mexican party spot without actually crossing the border. For a particularly spring-breaky vibe, get drunk for next to nothing at “Beat the Clock” Tuesdays at Bar Anticipation (703-5 16th Ave at Main St, 732-681-7422)—known locally as Bar A. The humongous outdoor venue supplies sun worshippers with draft Miller Lite for 50¢ starting at 8pm, with a quarter price increase every hour. Should be renamed “Beat Your Liver.”

WHAT'S JERSEY ABOUT IT?
The only party boats available on this beach are fishing trollers, such as the Big Mohawk II (15 Washington Ave, 732-974-9606, $55). Not to mention that the stiff-hipped boardwalk dance moves—heavy on fist pumping, light on rhythm—wouldn't fly for a second at any decent resort club.

THE BASICS
The mile-long beach ($7 per day, season pass $60) is a hive of activity all summer, with open-air Sunday-night movies at dusk on Fifth Avenue; a sand-castle–building competition between 16th and 19th Avenues on July 9; and the AVP national volleyball tournament June 20–22 (Fourth Ave; $20 per day). Belmar also has the friendliest surfing fraternity on the Jersey Shore, a designated area for bodyboarders and 70-degree water in August. Eastern Lines Surf Shop (1605 Ocean Ave, 732-681-6405) offers lessons for $40 per hour. Or to see how it's done properly, visit during the Belmar Pro surf contest on 16th Avenue, September 11–14.

WHERE TO EAT/DRINK
By night, summer renters from Rutgers, Princeton and North Jersey party with weekend Bennys (that's you) in the bar-saturated area of South Belmar. Go wild at beach-facing bar and club D'Jais (1801 Ocean Ave at 18th Ave, 732-681-5055) or the volleyball-court-sporting Bar A (see above).

For noshing, there's always a greasy, oversize slice from the concessions on the beach, or you can reacquaint yourself with civilized society at Matisse (1300 Ocean Ave, 732-681-7680), which offers an extensive—and refined—seafood menu right on the shore, with stunning ocean views. If you're on Main Street, eat outdoors at Casa Solar's (1104 Main Street, 732-556-1144), and try the refreshing Honduran-style tuna ceviche ($14), served in half a coconut shell.

WHERE TO STAY
The Mayfair hotel (1000 Ocean Ave, 732-681-2620; $115 per night for a weekend double) is directly on the boardwalk, and has a pool where you can nurse your hangover in private.

YOU HAVE TO SEE…
The thousands of shipwrecks that various storms, hurricanes and plain bad luck have deposited just offshore: 18th-century schooners, World War II boats and other wrecks—all teeming with deep-sea life. You can book your scuba trip with Divers Two (1 Main St, 732-776-7755; single tank $55, single location dive).