You can take a ferry to Sandy Hook. You can take a NJ Transit train to Point Pleasant,Belmar,Spring Lake ,Manesquan(it stops at a few other shore towns too). You can take a bus to Seaside Heights. You can take a casino bus to Atlantic City and get a casino bonus so the trip is free. Near the city, you can go to Long Beach or Jones Beach easily. Renting a car makes things easier of course but you can get to lots of beach towns on the bus or train

Asbury Park, NJ is a funky, gentrifying, up and coming town. Accessible by NJ Transit train, although you would need to make a transfer (not sure if at Newark Penn or Newark Airport).

Great Boardwalk, plenty of restaurants, shops, etc.

Long Branch, NJ is also a nice stop for a day trip, restaurants, shops, beach.

If you've "researched plenty," perhaps you'd like to share what about the "Jersey Shore" appealed to you over and above the other options you researched. Then perhaps people can direct you to the best towns for what it is you liked. The various towns are dramatically different. Are you looking for the Jersey Shore depicted in the reality tv series( Seaside Heights) or something else?

The jersey Shore TV show was shot in Seaside Heights, NJ you can take a tour of the house and meet the guy who owned the T-shirt store they worked out.

Go to Seaside Heights

It can be done and it's not difficult. I haven't done it for awhile but Asbury Park/Ocean Grove are about the closest and easy to get to by train. I don't remember making a change as #3 sez but it may depend on which train you take (or I could just not be remembering). I think the station is Asbury Park but you can take a short cab ride to either the beach at Asbury Park or Ocean Grove and won't need a car while you're there. If you go to Asbury Park (more restaurants, shops than OG), you can walk to OG and see the beautiful old Victorian painted houses. Check into details on beach passes--I think you need them at OG; not sure about AP.

Asbury Park would be best for your family. You can take a New Jersey transit train from NY Penn Station. Easy to do....No need for a car.... Lots of good restaurants..... unusual boardwalk..... nice beach.

www.njtrainst.

http://www.apboardwalk.com

The various New Jersey Shore towns each have their own personalities. For example, there is one inhabited by Syrian Jews and another by Methodists. As mentioned, the NJT North Jersey Coast Line makes a number of these town accessible. One often has to transfer to a diesel train at Long Branch where the electrification ends.

Ocean Grove is full of historic Victorian architecture with a small business area and a boardwalk with nothing on it ---a very quiet place. Asbury Park, just to the north, was a very popular place up to the 1960s when civil disorder chased the tourists away. Blocks near the boardwalk were demolished for redevelopment that never took place. About 20 years ago, the boardwalk and beach were completely abandoned and in disrepair. I even fell through the rotted planks once. There has been much improvement in recent years with the return of boardwalk stores and major renovations there. I believe the beach fee has been reinstated and Ocean Grove has had one for many years. Both towns can be visited in one trip. Some parts of Asbury Park are still in need of improvement in terms of buildings and people.

Casino bus to Atlantic City! They give you $$ to use in the casinos so it's like the bus ride is free. AC has beaches, boardwalk, casinos, food, amusements parks.

my suggestion is Point Pkeassnt. You can take a NJ transit train. There is a boardwalk the kids will like. Good food. You have to pay for the beach.