Sandy Hook is a barrier beach peninsula at the northern end of the New Jersey Shore. Its location at the entrance to New York Harbor assured its importance for coastal and harbor defense. For more than 200 years, most of the peninsula has been a federal reservation. This military presence shaped Sandy Hook's history and assured its preservation as open space. During the summer months, people enjoy swimming and sunbathing on the beach, and throughout the year the area offers opportunities for birding, fishing, hiking, and discovering natural resources and historic sites, including America's oldest lighthouse.
