The votes have been tallied and Ocean City has been named New Jersey’s Best Beach toppling over last year’s winner, Wildwood.
"It's a great place for families," Jim Madden, a Pennsylvania school teacher told the Associated Press. "We came here with our children, and now with our grandchildren. You can go on the sand and in the water and it's not wild like some places."
Beach-goers have been voting since February and the announcement was made today during the annual State of the Shore event.
But votes aren't the only factor in determining which beach is best. They're also rated on science, you know, stuff like the width of the beach, its slope to the water and average wave heights.
Aside from bragging rights, Ocean City and the rest of the top ten beaches: Long Beach Island, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, Asbury Park, North Wildwood, Cape May, Seaside Heights, Sea Isle City and Avalon (geez, how many beaches are left?!), can mention their "Top Ten" status in advertising and promotion and each town will receive special signs to post.
The contest is run by New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium and Richard Stockton College's Coastal Research Center.
