How NJ squanders the gift of 180 miles of coastline is beyond me.
I spend time on both coasts. In Southern California you have great public beaches and towns, i.e. Santa Barbara, Manhattan Beach, Malibu, Newport, Laguna, Dana Point.
In NJ, well Belmar is nice, Asbury Park is OK. Cape May is pleasant but remote. Not much there except opportunity.
AC is a dump and Seaside Heights is seedy guidoville, but the rest is gorgeous.