Hotels at the Jersey Shore

[andrews1ma]

Wildwood Crest all the way! Seaside has been nick named Sleaside for a reason so really think it through! I went to Wildwood every year as a kid...and as an adult and took my DS there every year too up until he turned 6 when me moved to NC. I miss WIldwood! It has the best boradwalk and it is super kid and family friendly! I used to stay at the El Coronado Resort in Wildwood Crest I believe that was the name. We used to get a 1 or 2 bedroom efficiency. That is a pretty nice hotel compared to some of the others there. Have fun! My mom and I were just talking about taking a drive back up to Wildwood this summer if we could swing it. My DS would die to go back there!

 

[mjkacmom]

Wildwood Crest all the way! Seaside has been nick named Sleaside for a reason so really think it through! I went to Wildwood every year as a kid...and as an adult and took my DS there every year too up until he turned 6 when me moved to NC. I miss WIldwood! It has the best boradwalk and it is super kid and family friendly! I used to stay at the El Coronado Resort in Wildwood Crest I believe that was the name. We used to get a 1 or 2 bedroom efficiency. That is a pretty nice hotel compared to some of the others there. Have fun! My mom and I were just talking about taking a drive back up to Wildwood this summer if we could swing it. My DS would die to go back there!

We stayed here, so family friendly! We had 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and oceanfront views. They have a big pool, and kids activities all day long, and right on the beach. It's a little dated, but all NJ shore hotels are - it's part of the charm. There is also a restaurant onsite.

 

[J3nn78]

I would not stay at Seaside- WAY sleazy and not so family oriented. I live in northern NJ and we go to Island Beach State Park for day trips. I actually hate the Jersey shore. When we want a beach vacation we head south to MD

 

[dvcgirl]

Thanks for the ideas! I know Seaside isn't the nicest.. and I probably wouldn't want to spend a whole week there, but my kids have never seen a "boardwalk" and DH and I have only really spent time at Seaside when we were kids. Is Wildwood nicer? We've got plenty of nice beaches near us and we aren't looking for beach time (we live close to the beach in FL) but want to spend a little time on the boardwalk. You know, games, rides, cheesesteaks...

No, you don't want to stay in Seaside. Personally, I'd stay in Point Pleasant Beach. The boardwalk is smaller, but it's much more family oriented and not drawing the young partying crowd from North Jersey/New York. I grew up in Toms River and worked in Seaside Heights as a teenager. Trust me, the place has changed.

 

[Tweevil]

I like to stay in the Cape when hitting the shore (Ocean City, Wildwood, Atlantic City) - this place is just a short drive south and has lovely beaches and family activities right in Cape May - oh and they have a zoo as well.

Nice people, very accomodating - 1 and 2 bedroom units. Clean, clean, clean!!

http://www.bluefishinn.com/

 

[PrincessNoelle'sMom]

Born and raised in Point Pleasant BEACH NJ. The best hotel and walking distance to the boardwalk is The White Sands Resort and Spa. Beautiful property 3 pools, restaurant, gym, spa. You will love it! Point Pleasant has the best family friendly boardwalk on the Jersey shore imo...

 

[Tink415]

Well, I love to stay in Seaside Park! I agree Seaside Heights can seem sleazy, but we just visit that part of the boardwalk maybe once for the rides and avoid the partying scene. To me Seaside Park is family friendly and has great beach and beach activities for kids in summer, the best restaurants (Ebby's YUM and Berkeley are my favorities), playgrounds for young kids, bay docks for crabbing, BEST taffy and shops in town. The hotels are very basic but some that we've stayed at are Wind Jammer, Luna-Mar, Beach Club. Basic rooms with nice outdoor areas to relax at in the evenings.

I enjoy all the other towns mentioned too!

 

[luvmy3]

Seaside Heights has become home of MTV's Jersey Shore..that's enough said for me.

Another vote for Point Pleasant Beach!

I don't know if any of you watch American Idol but there was a young woman on there who was a bit crazy, she had auditioned one season and came back the next. Anyway she was killed in Seaside, somebody hit her with their car and the drove off and left her there, just awful. I realize this kind of stuff can and does happen anywhere, but it just makes that place seem even more sleazy.

Wildwood Crest all the way! Seaside has been nick named Sleaside for a reason so really think it through! I went to Wildwood every year as a kid...and as an adult and took my DS there every year too up until he turned 6 when me moved to NC. I miss WIldwood! It has the best boradwalk and it is super kid and family friendly! I used to stay at the El Coronado Resort in Wildwood Crest I believe that was the name. We used to get a 1 or 2 bedroom efficiency. That is a pretty nice hotel compared to some of the others there. Have fun! My mom and I were just talking about taking a drive back up to Wildwood this summer if we could swing it. My DS would die to go back there!

Does this place have a pool? We are looking into going further south this summer but I need a pool, I don't do ocean Our friends rent a house in Wildwood Crest everyyear and love it, but we have always stuck to the north because its less than 2 hours from home.

 

[mjkacmom]

I don't know if any of you watch American Idol but there was a young woman on there who was a bit crazy, she had auditioned one season and came back the next. Anyway she was killed in Seaside, somebody hit her with their car and the drove off and left her there, just awful. I realize this kind of stuff can and does happen anywhere, but it just makes that place seem even more sleazy.



Does this place have a pool? We are looking into going further south this summer but I need a pool, I don't do ocean Our friends rent a house in Wildwood Crest everyyear and love it, but we have always stuck to the north because its less than 2 hours from home.

http://www.elcoronado.com/ A nice one, oceanfront!

 

[mlynn]

I agree...Morey's Pier in Wildwood is THE ONLY Boardwalk in my opinion that is 100% Family friendly, clean, and of course the most fun.....

LIZ

ITA and Morey's is running some good deals on their website for pier tickets.

Spring Sale MOR-EZ Ticket Card

$125.00 sale price> $35.00
Qty:

MOR-EZ Ticket Card includes 60 ride tickets (up to a $66.50 value), plus coupons for two 50% off Saturday or Sunday Morning Waterpark Sessions, one "$5 After 5" Waterpark Admission, and three discount food offers.

 

[luvmy3]

http://www.elcoronado.com/ A nice one, oceanfront!

Thanks so much, I just put the site in my favorites. It looks so nice and their package prices aren't bad at all for an oceanfront hotel.

 

[3mickeymom]

and take your family to a nice family boardwalk. Ocean City is a great boardwalk(it is the town I grew up in). There are rides,great pizza, miniature golf but there are no boardwalk games like spinning wheels etc. It has great beaches and a nice family atmosphere. There are no bars in OC because it is a dry town. Point Pleasant boardwalk is great too. It has great rides, an aquarium as well as your boardwalk games. They have bars there but they attract a much more mellow beach crowd. There are many beautiful places to visit in NJ but unfortunately Seaside is not one of them. If you visit the places suggested by the other posters you will actually LIKE NJ. By visiting Seaside you will get the wrong impression of NJ. NJ is a beautiful state with great beaches, scenery and generally nice people who don't curse and flip tables in restaurants. NJ is getting a bad rap on TV between those nasty housewives and the Jersey Shore kids who aren't even from NJ. Have a wonderful vacation.

 

[Jennifer823]

and take your family to a nice family boardwalk. Ocean City is a great boardwalk(it is the town I grew up in). There are rides,great pizza, miniature golf but there are no boardwalk games like spinning wheels etc. It has great beaches and a nice family atmosphere. There are no bars in OC because it is a dry town. Point Pleasant boardwalk is great too. It has great rides, an aquarium as well as your boardwalk games. They have bars there but they attract a much more mellow beach crowd. There are many beautiful places to visit in NJ but unfortunately Seaside is not one of them. If you visit the places suggested by the other posters you will actually LIKE NJ. By visiting Seaside you will get the wrong impression of NJ. NJ is a beautiful state with great beaches, scenery and generally nice people who don't curse and flip tables in restaurants. NJ is getting a bad rap on TV between those nasty housewives and the Jersey Shore kids who aren't even from NJ. Have a wonderful vacation.

Thanks My husband and I grew up in West Milford, on the NY state border. We moved to FL about 15 yrs ago. I hate how people give NJ such a bad rap, based what they see on TV and their experience passing through the airport - and 95% of the state does NOT look like the area around Newark airport

We're thinking now the best way of doing this is spending the day at one of the boardwalks, then driving north for our hotel - since we plan on staying the rest of the trip up in northern NJ. We are coming from the south I'm thinking of going to a southern beach, maybe Wildwood.. I've never been there, but from what I've seen and heard it will have most of the stuff we're used to except the sleaze. Would you guys pick Wildwood or Ocean City?

 

[mmouse1239]

Judging by the Jersey Shore TV show, I wouldn't set foot in Seaside. Two years ago a relative rented a house for a week in Sea Isle City so we could have a "girls' week". Unfortunately, that place was filled with loud and roudy partiers from who knows where. I have to say, we visited many other towns along the Jersey Shore (Cape May, Ocean City, Stone Harbor, etc.) and they were all nicer than Sea Isle City and what I remember of Seaside Heights twenty years ago. Good luck with your choices.

 

[LisaNJ25]

If you visit the places suggested by the other posters you will actually LIKE NJ. By visiting Seaside you will get the wrong impression of NJ. NJ is a beautiful state with great beaches, scenery and generally nice people who don't curse and flip tables in restaurants. NJ is getting a bad rap on TV between those nasty housewives and the Jersey Shore kids who aren't even from NJ. Have a wonderful vacation.

Did you see one of the housewife's husband got arrested for a dui? They live a few towns over from me and it was just in the paper this week.

 

[mjkacmom]

Thanks My husband and I grew up in West Milford, on the NY state border. We moved to FL about 15 yrs ago. I hate how people give NJ such a bad rap, based what they see on TV and their experience passing through the airport - and 95% of the state does NOT look like the area around Newark airport

We're thinking now the best way of doing this is spending the day at one of the boardwalks, then driving north for our hotel - since we plan on staying the rest of the trip up in northern NJ. We are coming from the south I'm thinking of going to a southern beach, maybe Wildwood.. I've never been there, but from what I've seen and heard it will have most of the stuff we're used to except the sleaze. Would you guys pick Wildwood or Ocean City?

I like them both, but with older kids, I'd pick Wildwood for sure.

 

[Donnainnj]

We go to Seaside with the kids and have never had any problems. Granted we do day trips, either midweek, or off season, during the day. Point was good when the kids were little, but there aren't many rides for the older crowd. Have never been to Ocean City. Only went to Wildwood once as an adult, and it was early June. Seemed worse then Seaside at that time of year. Good luck and enjoy your trip.
Donna

 

[mollay]

Howdy! I'd also second the idea of going to the Ocean City Boardwalk. I grew up going there every year, there's a little amusement park with rides and games etc. It's good fun.
The Atlantic City Boardwalk is also great, though not as fun for kids. We go often because when we are at the shore, we stay in Brigantine, a little island right outside of Atlantic City, so it's just a 10 minute drive into AC.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

I would agree that Point pleasant is much more family friendly than seaside, but if you children enjoy rides, I think they will be bored there. The ride area, actually the entire boardwalk are is just not that big.

Its great for my family, because it is 20 minutes away & we go down in weeknights for 1-2 hours at a time. Its not a place we could stay a whole day. Most of the rides are geared toward your youngest child's age.

I have not been to Ocean City, Wildwood, Atlantic City or Seaside in years, so I can't recommend a good alternative (sorry).

But, I will say, if you are in the area, that the Marriot Residence Inn in Eatontown (or maybe its Tinton Falls) is a good place to stay. Big enough for your family, clean & just off exit 105 on the Garden State Parkway (we stayed there for a week while work was done at our house). You'll be back on the highway & on your way to North Jersey in 3 minutes once you check out.

Good Luck deciding.

Christine

 

[Lstar311]

Wow, Seaside has relly gotten a bad rap here. My family has a condo down there so we spend a lot of time there over the summer. I think it has cleaned up a lot from what it was when I was a teen. I happily take my 2 year old there without any reservations at all. Granted we are never out past 9-10 so I don't know what happens after that but in the early evening its totally fine. There are 2 great old fashioned carosels that my son loves. The beach and boardwalk are clean.

'fights, too much drinking, rowdy foul mouthed teens, drunk teens puking on the boardwalk etc.). '' I have never seen any of this there trust me I would definitely not take my son there if it was the case. Although like I said with a little one we turn in pretty early.