"So fix your hair up nice, and fix yourself up pretty, And meet me tonight in Atlantic City." - Bruce Springsteen, "Atlantic City"
You can't really talk about the Jersey Shore without bringing up a Springsteen song. Maybe the crew from the reality show "Jersey Shore" has put it in a more dubious light, but reality television is not really reality, right? Brigantine, New Jersey is just a quick 15-minute drive over the bridge from Atlantic City, but is a world away from the gambling, nightlife boardwalk atmosphere of that part of the Jersey Shore. If you want it, you can easily have your fun and then retreat to your little island. For a bigger city experience, you can be in Philadelphia in just over an hour, and on a good traffic day, Brigantine is only two hours from New York City.
If you are looking for apartment rentals in Brigantine, you have picked a beautiful area to call home
"So fix your hair up nice, and fix yourself up pretty, And meet me tonight in Atlantic City." - Bruce Springsteen, "Atlantic City"
You can't really talk about the Jersey Shore without bringing up a Springsteen song. Maybe the crew from the reality show "Jersey Shore" has put it in a more dubious light, but reality television is not really reality, right? Brigantine, New Jersey is just a quick 15-minute drive over the bridge from Atlantic City, but is a world away from the gambling, nightlife boardwalk atmosphere of that part of the Jersey Shore. If you want it, you can easily have your fun and then retreat to your little island. For a bigger city experience, you can be in Philadelphia in just over an hour, and on a good traffic day, Brigantine is only two hours from New York City.
Moving to Brigantine
If you are looking for apartment rentals in Brigantine, you have picked a beautiful area to call home. Though it may seem slightly inaccessible due to its island geography, Brigantine is easy to get to and from. There are a fair number of seasonal rentals on Brigantine so winter months can definitely seem quiet. Then again, this makes for affordable rental prices.
However, Brigantine is not a summer-only community and it offers everything full-time residents need. There are cultural areas, grocery stores and restaurants. If you need the mall or a movie theater, you are still only 15 minutes away from anything you find missing.
The seasonal nature of rentals in Brigantine may dictate your apartment search. If you are needed a long-term lease beginning in the middle of summer, you may find it difficult to find what you are looking for. Fall is the best time to set up a living situation that will last six months or more. However, some rentals will only be from September or October to May or June because owners take advantage of summer rental rates. There are plenty of year-round residents in Brigantine, however, and as long as you have the cash for the first month's rent and security deposit, you should be able to find what you need.
Neighborhoods of Brigantine
Brigantine is an island with about 10 square miles of area, four of which are water! However, there are plenty of opportunities for apartment rentals in this beach community. The areas of the island include:
City Center: City Center is just about everything north of Roosevelt Boulevard and the rotary. The northern tip of the island is a wildlife refuge.
W. Brigantine Avenue /17th Street S: Starting south of Roosevelt Boulevard to about 17th Street South, this area is more populated than the northern part of the island.
Bayshore Avenue: Further south on the island, from just north of Harbor Beach Boulevard to about 17th Street South, this is the most populated area in Brigantine, with a grid layout of streets and neighborhoods.
New Jersey / Harbor Beach Boulevard: This area encompasses the southern tip of the island and is less populated than the middle, though there are still plenty of rentals.
Throughout Brigantine, there are numerous options for rentals, including apartment complexes, in-home apartments, townhomes and condos for rent. Brigantine has an upscale side to its personality, so you will also find plenty of luxury apartments and premier apartments for rent.
What Life is Like in Brigantine
This barrier island protects the South Jersey shoreline from the mighty Atlantic and was one of the first areas in the United States to be discovered by European explorers. For whatever reason, settlement did not take hold as it did in other areas, but Brigantine has always been on the map. In fact, legend has it the old-time pirate Captain William Kidd buried his treasure somewhere on the beaches of Brigantine. Bring your metal detector and hit the sand, no one has found it yet!
Brigantine is definitely a beach community. Residents are wise to save money on beach fees by purchasing a beach tag. You can either purchase tags on the beach from the inspectors or from the beach office downtown.
The town itself encourages an active lifestyle centered on the beach by providing recreation opportunities for residents. There are swimming and rowing competitions sponsored by the Beach Patrol as well as plenty of swimming and water safety clinics. There are also surf clubs to support and encourage kids to take up the sport.
Dogs are allowed on Brigantine beaches in winter. From October 1st through May 31st, dogs on a short leash (under six feet) are welcome as long as the pooper-scooper or plastic bag is in the owner's hand!
Another unique and awesome activity on Brigantine is that you can drive your car right on the beach! No need to head all the way down to Daytona. You have to have a permit, of course, but think about how easy it is to load up the car or truck for a day on the beach and not have to schlep everything on your back. No more stifling hot walk to the car for the forgotten sunblock: just park it and relax.
On the more conservation- and nature-oriented side of things, Brigantine is home to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center. The center, started in 1978, is a rescue organization that assists seals, sea turtles, whales and dolphins that have been injured or are sick. Their approach is to rescue, rehabilitate and release. Additionally, the Brigantine Wildlife Refuge on the north end of the island has been a safe haven for migratory water birds since 1939. The refuge is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is a link in the chain of national wildlife refuges located along the most active flight paths in the Atlantic Flyway. If you are at all into birdwatching, or just enjoy getting yourself to peaceful places, the refuge is worth a visit.
If you would love to live by the beach -- and who wouldn't? -- Brigantine is definitely worth a look.
