Painted on the tank of a powder-blue water tower, an anthropomorphic sun (wearing sunglasses, no less) greets drivers as they cross the bay onto the island. Next to the sun, the confident sans-serif capitals of the town motto come into focus the closer you get to the beach: SMILE YOU’RE IN SEA ISLE.

Sure, it could use a comma, but at least they got the right “you’re.” No one’s debating grammar when six miles of beautiful beaches unspool from Townsend’s Inlet to Corson’s Inlet.

Technically, this is Ludlam Island, but nobody calls it that. People say they’re headed to Sea Isle, and fewer still say they’re going to Strathmere, the quiet enclave at the island’s northern tip. Together, they offer a pleasing one-two punch of barefoot luxury and blue-collar Shore shenanigans, perhaps best embodied by shoobie emeritus Jason Kelce.

Time the traffic right and you can get there from Philly in about an hour and a half. Start the car.

After landing in Sea Isle, hang a left and point the car north toward Strathmere for breakfast. This quick drive really gives you a sense of how wispy the northern end of this island is, revealing just how narrow the island becomes, at points barely wide enough for Commonwealth Avenue. Here you’ll find Sidney’s Coffee and Eats, a beach-block bungalow slinging Liege-style waffles, protein smoothies, and egg-and-cheese croissants. After breakfast, take your cappuccino down to the beach and get those toes in the sand.

📍 705 Commonwealth Ave., Strathmere, N.J. 08248

Unlike many Shore towns, Sea Isle has only a handful of hotels, while Strathmere has none. Most visitors rent houses or stay in nearby campgrounds before commuting onto the island. Fortunately, the Colonnade Inn, a circa-1883 Victorian that sits in the center of town, just a block and half from the beach, still has availability in July and August for its cute cream-and-turquoise rooms — some for less than $300 a night.

📍 4600 Landis Ave., Sea Isle City, N.J. 08243

You might recognize the square-edged bottles of Hank Sauce from the shelves of your local Acme or ShopRite, but the brand was created by a trio of friends right here in Sea Isle. Jason Kelce joined as an investor last year. Their casual restaurant serves buffalo chicken cheesesteaks topped with blue cheese crumbles and baked wings glazed in your favorite Hank’s sauce. The tangy, herb-packed Cilanktro remains a standout. Order lunch to-go and head straight for the beach.

📍 8605 Landis Ave., Sea Isle City, N.J. 08243

A few blocks from Hank’s, Sea Isle comes to a rounded point where the ocean meets the bay at Townsend’s Inlet Waterfront Park. At low tide, the ocean beach fans outward into a broad stretch of sand that feels surprisingly secluded. If you can’t find a spot on the street, there’s a lot at 94th Street and Roberts Avenue. And remember: Sea Isle requires beach tags, so have $10 on hand.

📍 Beach access at 93rd Street and Pleasure Avenue, Sea Isle City, N.J. 08243

Near Strathmere’s northern tip, where the bridge crosses into Ocean City, the Deauville Inn has been welcoming travelers since 1881, when it was known as the Whelen Hotel. The establishment has been through a lot — nor’easters, ownership changes, neighborhood disputes — but remains a historic fixture of the island. (Just count the people wearing Deauville Inn hoodies on a chilly night.) Bought and renovated by Tim Fox in 2019, the waterfront restaurant, under chef T.J. Ricciardi, serves lobster rolls, broiled Cape May scallops and Friday- and Saturday-night prime rib in “lady of the inn” and “innkeeper” cuts. Don’t forget to grab one of those hoodies on the way out.

📍 201 W. Willard Rd., Strathmere, N.J. 08248

So far this summer, the sunsets have been particularly showy, with epic displays of hot-pink, tangerine, and lavender. Certainly, you can catch sundown from Deauville Inn, but if you wrap up dinner before dark, it’s worth walking a few blocks to the beach at the island’s north point — a huge expanse of sand shaped like a dolphin’s dorsal fin pushing into the water. Walking out there feels somewhat otherworldly, as the surf of the Inlet the bay reshape the sands. Take a seat and enjoy the show.

📍 Beach access at Commonwealth and Seaview avenues, Strathmere, N.J. 08248

Just weeks ago, Kylie and Jason Kelce’s annual celebrity-bartending benefit at Ocean Drive raised $1.26 million for the Eagles Autism Foundation. While this juggernaut event brings peak crowds to the O.D., the bar and restaurant is no stranger to packing people in from day-load to no-shower happy hour to late-night dancing. Catch a local act like Secret Service or Fat Mezz, order a Sea Isle Iced Tea, and watch the hours melt away like a rocket pop on the beach.

📍 3915 Landis Ave., Sea Isle City, N.J. 08243