A heads up if you're thinking of the NJ shore...

[HayGan]

HayGan, honey, you're flattering me! I just enjoy posting about my favorite travel spots is all. And I have a particular fondness for my home state. I didn't name myself "JerseyJanice" for no reason, LOL!

The amusement piers are run by the Morey family. Try searching on Morey's Piers to find their website. I am certain that in May they are open on the weekends, at least.

I think you know this, but I'll say it as a word of caution anyway--the ocean will still be pretty chilly in May. You'll be able to sit on the sand and get your toes wet, but it's likely you won't be swimming in the sea. (Unless you guys have a high tolerance for cold water temps.)

That said, the pool at the El Coronado is well heated, and you'll have the hot tub too. Did I mention yet that most of the rooms have balconies?

We love the Lobster House in Cape May also. It's an attraction unto itself. It's a complex situated on a fishing wharf that contains a restaurant, raw bar and oceanside bar. The views from the bar, which is actually a docked schooner, are spectacular. The place even has a take-out shop. Again, check around for the website; it's another place down there I gladly recommend.

Yeah, we know the water will be TOO cold for us! The heated pools and jacuzzi sold us! The kids have been asking about going to the beach since we went to Disney instead of the Outer Banks of NC last year and it will be the same this year. At least they will get to play in the sand a few days this year

I checked out the Morey's Piers and they are open only on the weekends. We will probably leave early on Sunday morning to get there in time to ride some rides.

The Lobster House sounds neat as well. We will have to check that out as well.

If you can think of any other activities, I would love to hear them! I'm just so excited

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Wildwood is the only beach we ever went to growing up. We used to stay at the Shore Plaza hotel, which I understood is no more due to a fire last year. Dinner at Groffs Restaurant, Laura's Fudge, Curly's Fries and Mac's Pizza....it was not a trip unless I went to each one of those places..even if it was a day trip. Its been a couple of years since we have gone there, of course, like everything, it has changed a lot, but its the only beach I know.

 

[JerseyJanice]

If your kids are younger or love animals, HayGan, the Cape May County Zoo is just off Exit 11 of the Garden State Parkway. It's a very nice zoo with a good variety of exhibits.

If you're looking for a cool weather activity and like to shop, I'd recommend taking the Cape May-Lewes ferry to Delaware. A shuttle bus runs between the DE dock to a factory outlet shopping complex that includes a QVC shop. The boat ride itself is lovely.

Cape May itself is a good day trip. You can take a guided tour of the Physick Estate or just walk around the historic area and take in the sights that include Victorian homes, shops, and cafes.

 

[Caradana]

Janice, from one New Jersey girl who loves the shore to another - that's a great beach hotel pick.

We're Cape May people but we love coming up to the boardwalk and playing the games! We also get amazing deals to the Borgata so we stay there a bit, too.

FUN! Beach planning makes me so happy.

 

[paras4ri]

Thanks for the info! DH and I are considering booking one of the mid-week packages as a getaway for our anniversary. We will take the kids along as well and probably head up to AC for an extra night. Anyone have any recommendations on the restaurants in Wildwood? Their choices for the package are:

The Boathouse Restuarant
The Ravioli House
Neil's Steak and Chowder House
Urie's Restaurant
Duffy's on the Lake
Bandana's Mexican Grille
Two Mile Landing
Beach Creek Oyster Bar and Grill

We've eaten at Uries and enjoyed it very much. We also like the Lobster House in Cape May.

The Silver Bullet is a great ride. If you're considering Morey's Piers you may want to do what we do. Rather than get a bracelet for one day we buy tickets so we can visit the piers several times over our visit to Wildwood. We've ordered them online and usually this time of year they offer discounts to purchase them.

 

[sweet angel]

Janice, I think the Lobster House had a partial fire not too long ago...

Anyone remember Zaberer's? A Wildwood vacation just isn't the same anymore without getting all dressed up to go to dinner at Zaberer's.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Dana, when you have little kids in a few years, you'll be wanting to stay in Wildwood Crest. Mark my words!

WWC beaches are the best in NJ for children. They're wide so there's plenty of room for ball games. A kid can play Wiffle ball for hours there! The water has calm waves, light undertow, and goes out very far until it gets deep.

I was putting away my El Coronado brochure and noticed that I got one for the Adventurer Inn as well. I believe they're at www.adventurerinn.com .

This is another great WWC hotel. I see that the prices are a bit lower than the El Coronado too. You don't get a hot tub at the Adventurer, but the location of this place is excellent. It's at the southern end of the Boardwalk. This place is an excellent choice for people who want to park their car when they get to WW and not move it till it's time to drive home. Not only are you adjacent to the BW, there are lots of nice places to eat that are walking distance.

The Adventurer is where the tram car turns on its loop to go back up to the northern end of the BW. In fact, the tram car office is there, where you can buy a batch of tram car tokens and save a few $$.

When DS was little and we stayed here, we'd walk up the BW with his stroller. We'd work our way up to Morey's Pier (great kiddie rides there!), then tram car back to the southern end.

"Watch the tram car please!"

 

[HayGan]

Well, we made the final decision today - 3 days at the El Coranado and 2 nights at Trump Marina (free)

Got to get working on the ebay stuff so we have plenty of $$ to give to the Donald!!!

Thanks again for the great idea!!!

 

[aprilgail2]

When we go to Wildwood we stay at either the Surf Song or Montego Bay...every room is a suite and Montego Bay has an indoor pool! Its at the very end of the pier and it is very nice there!

 

[sweet angel]

When we go to Wildwood we stay at either the Surf Song or Montego Bay...every room is a suite and Montego Bay has an indoor pool! Its at the very end of the pier and it is very nice there!

That's where I've stayed the last bunch of times too! We go off season sometimes for the Beef 'n Beer parties. It's getting pretty pricey now that they've added the addition and the pool.

 

[HoneyPooh]

Lobster house did have a fire. The Resteraunt burned but the raw bar was still in business. It's being rebuilt and will probably be ready for summer I would think. We did recently have one of their waitresses in looking for a job though.....

When I was younger we always got "Zaberized" at least once a summer! That was the neatest place wasn't it?

 

[imsorry]

SweetAngel, you have to try LBI this year!!!

 

[luvwinnie]

Wow, my best friend and I went there after college graduation!

 

[DisneyJen0504]

I am on the only Jersey girl who will not go to the Jersey Shore for vacation?

The closest I get is AC and I dont go for the shore.

You arenn't the only one!
I am less than 30 minutes from the closest beach and my DH lived a few blocks from the beach the entire time we were dating so the Jersey Shore is not a vacation for us.
We go to the beaches for day trips b/c it is close but we don't plan a vacation anywhere along the Jersey Shore.We also go to AC for overnight trips but not for the beach.

 

[sweet angel]

SweetAngel, you have to try LBI this year!!!

You'll have to let me know when you're going. I've always used the excuse of why drive someplace if I have a pool in the yard, but I don't know if I'm going to replace my pool, so I may have no excuse.

 

[DisneyGirl421]

I already live "down the Shore" - so no Wildwood for me...maybe...

I've never actually been there, but the traffic down here is bad enough for me.

Yay for TR people.
anyway, I literally live like 10 minutes from Seaside, so I go there all the time in the summer.
I haven't been to Wildwood since I was a kid, but I do go to Avalon alot. My grandparents own a summer house there, so we go down and spend a couple weekends a summer there, going to Cape May, Stone Harbor, and Avalon.