By Megan Antosy
Looking for sea glass or beautiful unbroken shells in Ocean City? We have a place for you.
Corson’s Inlet State Park is located at the southend of the island. Park at 58th Street and look south. The park is sitting right in front of you.
It’s pristine – different from anything else that Ocean City has to offer. The 341-acre section of sand dunes and undeveloped beachfront was established as a state park in 1969.
Corson’s starts on the ocean side of the island’s southern tip and wraps around to the bay. So strap your beach chair to your backpack, bring your phone for photos, grab your sunscreen and bug spray; bring your reusable water bottle and a bucket to carry your treasures and get ready to find more fun ways to experience life on the southend of the island. Admission is free.
Hunting for Shells and Sea Glass
Corson’s Inlet is a nature preserve so the beach cleaners don’t come down to sweep it. This means that Corson’s might give you the best chance of finding whole shells and pieces of sea glass on the island.
Walk slowly along the water’s edge to find hints of green, clear, or red sea glass intermixed with shells. Search for large conch shells (aka the knobbed whelk, New Jersey’s state shell) or go on the hunt for hermit crabs, sand dollars, horseshoe crabs, or maybe even a seahorse.
Walking Along the Paths
There’s two ways to make your way to the nearby Rush-Chattin Bridge, which is the bridge between the drawbridge into Strathmere and Ocean City. You can walk through the trails, or you can stay along the coastline to make your way to the bridge that way.
Walk the trails through the park to see the native flora and fauna including grasses, nesting birds (be careful not to disturb their nests), and other animals such as foxes. You also get to see the native plants and trees along the path.
In the spring, you can see migrating birds returning for the summer season. This also kicks off saltwater fishing season, which includes striped bass. See the birds searching for food or playing in the surf while you walk along the coastline.
Touring the Park
Take a guided tour through the park to learn more about the environment from experts. Tours are offered during July and August, perfect for locals or visitors. They are offered on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Every tour is different. You might get to see a lot of birds one time, but find a lot of shells another time. The tours start at the entrance to the state park at 59th Street and the beach.
Boating Through the Bay
There is a boat launch at the Rush-Chattin Bridge – permits and fees required. Fish off the bridge, fish from the sand, or slide your boat into the water. Popular fish species include bluefish, kingfish, striped bass and weakfish, according to NJDEP. Change it up and go crabbing, or take your kayak, paddleboard, sailboat, canoe, or Jet Ski out for a ride. You can finish your adventure by pulling up to the dock at the Deauville Inn for a drink and dinner.
Soak in the Sun
Lastly, the sunset at Rush-Chattin is one of my favorite sunsets. Stand on top of the bridge or look below and watch as the giant, orange ball dips into the water on the other side of the bridge.
Migrating birds, or birds searching for food fly over. Boats are going past soaking up the last rays of the summer day. Fishermen are looking for the last fish before they go home. It’s a peaceful place to take in the sunset.
The park is open from sunrise to sunset. Swimming is prohibited and dogs are not allowed April 1 through Sept. 15. Admission is free. Phone 609-861-2404 or search the NJDEP website for info.
