Sandy Hook - Gateway National Recreation Area

This scenic peninsula mixes military history with coastal calm. Explore the historic Fort Hancock, where World War II-era buildings recall the area's role in protecting New York Harbor, and climb to the 250-year-old Sandy Hook Lighthouse. The beaches are peaceful and uncrowded, and birdwatchers can spot nesting ospreys and piping plovers along the trails. Visitors also report seeing horseshoe crabs along the shore.