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45 SANDY HOOK: GATEWAY NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, SANDY HOOK UNIT SANDY HOOK LIGHTHOUSE FORT HANCOCK HISTORIC DISTRICT SANDY HOOK VISITOR'S CENTER Off Route 36, Highlands, (732) 872-5970 www.nps.gov/gate The Sandy Hook region of the Gateway National Recreation Area features seven miles of beaches (with lifeguards in summer), evening beach concerts, hiking trails, salt marshes, and over three hundred species of birds. Ranger (and self-guided) tours are available year-round. The park is open daily, sunrise to sunset. Located near the tip of this seven-mile barrier peninsula, is the historic Sandy Hook Lighthouse. Built at the request of New York merchants wanting to protect their ships entering the harbor, it was light- ed for the first time on June 11, 1764. The octagonal tower was the fifth lighthouse in the colonies and remains the oldest operating lighthouse in the U.S. today. The Lighthouse was occupied by British soldiers during the American Revolution and was bombarded by cannons served by Patriot troops. It was also the sanctuary to local refugees who were sympathizers of the King. The grounds around the Lighthouse are open daily, and a video program can also be viewed. The Lighthouse itself is open daily for tours and climbs that are guided by National Park Service Rangers and Volunteers-in-the-Park from 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM. While there, also visit the Fort Hancock Historic District. Built in 1898, Fort Hancock includes gun batteries and over one hundred buildings. Start your visit at the Fort Hancock Museum; then visit History House, an 1890s officers' home. History House is open weekends 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Special use fees for beach parking are charged, while entry to the historic district is free. The Sandy Hook Visitor's Center is located at the Lighthouse Keepers Quarters in Fort Hancock. It features exhibits on the peninsula's natural environment and is open daily 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. An 1894 U.S. Life-Saving Station at Spermaceti Cove was closed after Superstorm Sandy and is cur- rently not open to the public. SEVEN PRESIDENTS OCEANFRONT PARK 221 Ocean Avenue North, Long Branch (732) 229-7025 or (732) 842-4000 www.monmouthcountyparks.com This 38-acre park was named to honor seven pres- idents who vacationed in the immediate area. In the summer, its guarded beach is a great place to swim, sun, and surf. During the off-season, it is a nice place for a quiet walk. Park features include an activity center, access to launch personal watercraft, fishing, a playground, swimming, sand volleyball, pavilion with snack bar, and restrooms. New improvements include a regulation in-line skating rink, a skate park, a shelter, and parking area. The park is open every day from 8:00 AM to dusk. SHARK RIVER PARK 1101 Schoolhouse Road Wall Township, (732) 922-4080 or (732) 842-4000 www.monmouthcountyparks.com Established in 1960 with surplus land from con- struction of the Garden State Parkway, Shark River Park is the first and oldest Monmouth County Park. There are more than 985 acres along either side of the Shark River in Neptune and Wall Township. A variety of picnic facilities host thou- sands of park visitors each year. Children can enjoy the playground year-round. The park's waterways, trails, hills, forests, and ponds attract birders, anglers, hikers, and nature lovers, and in the winter, cross-country skiers and ice skaters. TURKEY SWAMP PARK 200 Georgia Road, Freehold Township (732) 462-7286 or (732) 842-4000 www.monmouthcountyparks.com Turkey Swamp features 2,111 acres including a 17-acre lake for fishing, boating, and skating. Fish for bass, catfish, or bluegills either from the shore or from canoes and paddleboats that you can rent in summer. The lake offers winter ice-skating when the ice is thick enough. Nine miles of multi-use and fitness trails traverse the park which is located at the northern end of the Pine Barrens. Turkey Swamp's terrain is relatively level and the lake adds scenic interest. There is also an archery range and play- grounds. Get back to nature by spending the night at the family campground or reserve a picnic shelter for your next big group picnic. The family camp- ground offers campsites, electrical service, water service (April 1 - November 15), drinking water, mod- ern restroom with hot showers and laundry, a self serve sanitary dump station for campers with holding tanks, fire rings for charcoal cooking and campfires, picnic tables, and a children's playground. u Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, Long Branch. courtesy of Monmouth County Park System