Belmar's Treasure Trail leads to different side of the Jersey Shore

Belmar's Treasure Trail leads to different side of the Jersey Shore NJ.com: ", the Belmar Treasure Trail, a nature walk located across from 1st Avenue next to the Belmar Fishing Club, offers visitors a nice change of scenery, without leaving the beach.
Essentially, the Treasure Trail presents a peek at what the Jersey Shore looked like before it was overrun by bulldozers, boardwalks. Though short, the trail includes sweeping dunes covered with native vegetation. You might also catch a glimpse of some of the animals that live on the shore, like seashore grasshoppers, common terns, and white-footed mice.The Treasure Trail is great for kids as well. There are educational signs posted throughout the trail, teaching children and adults alike about the importance of dunes and how they provide homes to the various plants and wildlife. Kids can also go online and answer questions about the Treasure Trail to win some 'treasure' of their own"

Me and Grandma packed up the boys and cousin Corinne while Aunt Juanita watched Gavin and Calleigh. My boys have been asking to go here since Memorial Day Weekend. Anything involving a "treasure hunt" peaks their interest. We followed the trail and read the signs of what to look for along the walk. The kids were thrilled to find almost all of the "treasures" we were searching for along with some extras. We found an entire flock of the special bird we were looking for (white bellied something or other), lots of flowers on the list, grasshoppers. I was very happy we didn't find the giant eared mice but the kids nearly lost their minds when Ciaran found the cottontail rabbit! Ciaran said he just knew he could find one in this "special bush". And he was right! We saw it two more times.

We brought home a collection of shells, rocks, driftwood and the "best" ever we found the skeleton of a bat or some other small animal and we rought it home.

It was such a wonderful way to spend some time. We watched some boats in the inlet go under the draw bridge. The kids were thrilled we got to see the bridge go up. We waved to some boats goinng out of the inlet. Lots of talking and vocabulary. Lots of fun.

We are having a great summe so far.....