Beaches are among the most popular vacation destinations in America, and the communities on the New Jersey shore are among the favorite beach locations.

In the United States, summer is the traditional time for vacations. The ways in which Americans spend their leisure hours are as diverse as the land and its people.

Among the most popular vacation destinations — for families and individuals from across the United States and from other nations — are the beaches that line the East Coast along the Atlantic Ocean. And of those, the beaches that line the shore along the New Jersey coast are popular for their history and the diversity of their attractions.

The photo above shows the beach in Ocean City, New Jersey. Ocean City, with its nearly 13 kilometers of beaches and four kilometers of boardwalk, has been a favorite summer vacation destination for families (alcohol is not sold within the town’s boundaries) for more than a century. With a history that goes back to the 1700s as a way point for whalers, Ocean City is located within Cape May County, which is home to a number of other beach communities. In all, Cape May County welcomes about 19 million people annually, according to the county’s tourism office.

Those seeking a less tranquil New Jersey beach vacation can travel 18 kilometers north of Ocean City to Atlantic City (in Atlantic County), which has casinos and attracts 37 million visitors annually.

For more information on vacation destinations in the United States, see 50 States in 50 Days.