Hotels at the Jersey Shore

[czycropper]

We go to LBI every year but we rent a house in Barnegat Light, which is very quiet, we see Old Barney from the bedrooms and the beach is great. We absolutely love it! You could find a house there much cheaper than in Loveladies but hey, Loveladies is Loveladies and the houses there are gorgeous!

We do go down to Wildwood one of the days to go on the Boardwalk and to go ride some of the rides and get some of the boardwalk food - actually my DD has to do a 4th grade paper on NJ and she chose Wildwoods Boardwalk

We've also gone to Avalon/Stone Harbor and we like that as well - Avalon has a very small boardwalk but that area is very family oriented so it's nothing like Seaside.

Yes, I have to agree with a previous poster that NJ gets a bad rap about the beaches here but they really are very nice and very family oriented the further south you go.

Have fun at the Shore!

 

[andrews1ma]

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.

What a coinkidink! True about the hotels all being a little dated- I have stayed in many down in Wildwwood. We used to stay at the Admiral- right at the beginning of the boardwalk and liked that location because of convenience. The hotel itself is meh. Funny thing- when DH and I were dating I suggested we go for a long weekend in Wildwood- he had never been- when we drove in he was at a loss for words- he said it looked like a town right out of a 60's movie that just stood still. That was when they were first starting the Doo Wop thing. Anyhow I love and miss my Wildwood days and hope to get back there soon! Oh I also stayed at the Royal Hawaiian- that one was fn too! El Coronado was definitely my favorite though.

 

[andrews1ma]

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.

They definitely do have a pool. if you google them you can go on the website and I believe there are pics of the pool on there too.

 

[3mickeymom]

Pros for Wildwood-
-Beautiful HUGE beaches. You can get tired walking to the ocean. The water is nice with no sudden drop off, so the water stays shallow for a long time before becoming deep. This is great with small children. It is different than beaches further north where sudden drops in ocean depth are more common.
-Great lifeguards which is really important and totally underestimated by some. These guys have boats, jet skis, rescue boards and they are stationed everywhere.
-Rides for All ages and lots of them
-a pretty fun water park(never visited it myself though)
-boardwalk games of chance that can get expensive but are definitely fun
-a bit of a retro feel to the boardwalk with bright lights and a tram car
-close to Cape May if you want to visit the lighthouse or walk past the old
Victorian homes
-close to Free Cape May Zoo. It is small but a fun way to pass a summer morning

Pros for Ocean City(which is only about a 1/2 hour north up the Garden State Parkway-Exit 30
-much smaller beaches that can get crowded especially near the boardwalk
-Great lifeguards here too with all the required equipment
-no water drop off here either
-quieter and more family oriented
-rides but not as many THRill rides, more for the under 10 crowd.
-no games of chance
-nice stores for shopping on the main street and on the boardwalk(not just typical tshirt shops although they have those too)

You will have a great time at either place. Enjoy NJ!

 

[familyatdisney]

I would pick Wildwood for a day to play on the boardwalk. They have 3 piers and rides for all ages including large roller coasters and 2 waterparks. You can go to moreyspiers dot com to look at the rides. They have plenty of games, arcades, stores and even an aquarium on the boardwalk. Definitely plenty to do for one day.

 

[GJM]

I also think Seaside has gotten much better then when I was a teen. We still go when we go up to NJ in the summer, my parents have a condo in Lavallette, we go to the beach and go to the boardwalk around 4 and have never had any problems. I feel very safe there -

When I was younger I would love to go to Island Beach State Park for the day and then hit the boardwalk.

 

[Bellastumbles]

When I was growing up my Grandparents had a house in Lavalette we spent most of our time on the boardwalk in Seaside ( as a matter of fact my Uncles had summer jobs at 3 Brothers Pizza!) I never ever felt unsafe. As an adult now my GF's family has a place in Seaside Park so again I am a Seaside regular, maybe it's just because I am used to it but I have no issues with Seaside. OP you could look into staying Toms River, there is a nice Holiday Inn on 37 and it's only a five minute drive across the bridge.

 

[marcyinPA]

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

Yeah, us too. We much prefer O.C. Maryland over any Jersey beach.

OP, I agree 100% with everyone else...Seaside is disgusting.

As for other ideas, our friends LOVE LOVE LOVE Diamond Beach, which I believe may be in the Wildwood area. They rent a condo with their entire family every summer.

 

[Baloosgirl23]

check out the website vrbo dot com for vacation home rentals. these are rental homes that individuals rent out at for others to use. my family is actually using a rental from this site in ft. myers this fall. it's a great site, check it out! HTH!!!

 

[LBIJim]

By all means take your family to Seaside Heights Boardwalk!!! Yes, it's dirty and loud it's not for nothing that it's sometimes referred to as "Sleazeside", but it's perfectly safe and you and your family will have a wonderful time. The sights, lights, sounds, smells......ahhhh, a great way to spend a day or two.

There are several motels in Seaside and nearby Lavalette, but I've never stayed there. Across the bridge in Toms River on Route 37 there is a Holiday Inn and a few miles away a Quality Inn. They may suit your needs.

About 10 miles north is Point Pleasant Beach, which is, how shall I say, "pleasant," but strictly minor league when it comes to The Boardwalk Experience.

Wildwood's Boardwalk is a good alternative to Seaside's. It's probably out of your way, but well worth the drive. This boardwalk is nicer than Seaside's but still has the carnival atmosphere which I believe you're looking for.

The city of Wildwood is a bit iffy, but next door neighbor Wildwood Crest has dozens of nice places to stay. Previous posters mentioned The Royal Hawaiian and El Coronado. Both those places are still there. Wildwood Crest used to have literally 100 or more motels, many built in the 1960s or early 70s with wonderfully outdated themes and architecture. Sadly, in the past 10 years or so, quite a few have been knocked down and replaced with (mostly expensive and unsold) condos.

Probably the best "family" boardwalk at the Jersey Shore is Ocean City's. Fairly large, but relatively low key. Not loud and rowdy like Seaside's or Wildwood's, but with plenty to keep people of all ages interested.

Atlantic City's Boardwalk is not what you're looking for. Just a thoroughfare to get from one casino to another. Nothing much of interest.

I believe you owe it to your kids to visit Seaside Heights boardwalk like you and your spouse did when you were younger. Everyone should get to experience the "Jersey Shore/MTV Beach House/Real Housewives" side of New Jersey and realize that, YES, people like that actually DO exist, and enjoy living life at its sleazy best. For better or worse, your kids will remember it.

Sorry I really couldn't help with any hotel information, but I do hope you get to have a great time by visiting at least one New Jersey Shore Boardwalk.

Jim

P.S. I live on Long Beach Island, but there's no boardwalk here. No reason to visit. We have way too many people here in the summer anyway!!

 

[LBIJim]

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.

True. Seaside has actually gotten somewhat BETTER in the past 5 or so years. Still has plenty of rowdy teens/college kids, but it seems the police are cracking down and the town is slowing trying to upgrade its image. IMO it's not as wild as it used to be like it was in the late 1970s when I was in HS/college and the drinking age was 18. Lived there summer after HS grad and worked at one of the dozens of Lucky Leo's wheels of chance. The prize was actually cigarettes!!! (Of course no one under 18 was allowed to play)

Point Pleasant's boardwalk is nice enough, although small. But I think the OP's older kids would be bored out of their minds after 10 minutes.


Jim

 

[Mom3girls]

I have lived in South Jersey my whole life and have three kids:13,10,9. LOVED Ocean City NJ when they were younger for the boardwalk and beaches. Tons of rides on two different piers for the younger set. There are lots of rides for the older set in O.C. too. But about two years ago we stayed in Wildwood for a soccer tournament and my kids are SOLD on Wildwood's boardwalk. Tons of rides and go carts and TOO many games if you ask me. The prices for playing the games are not anything like when I was younger! There are three waterparks on Wildwood boarkwalk and I believe only one in OC which my friend tried both and said Wildwood was WAY better!

There is also a huge sale on tickets and mini golf tickets in O.C. the week before Easter through the week after Easter. You can order online too and they will mail them to you. Saved lots of money this way. Will post the websites soon for ticket sales.

http://www.boardwalkfun.com/

http://www.gillians.com/default.asp

http://www.moreyspiers.com/

 

[mjkacmom]

I have lived in South Jersey my whole life and have three kids:13,10,9. LOVED Ocean City NJ when they were younger for the boardwalk and beaches. Tons of rides on two different piers for the younger set. There are lots of rides for the older set in O.C. too. But about two years ago we stayed in Wildwood for a soccer tournament and my kids are SOLD on Wildwood's boardwalk. Tons of rides and go carts and TOO many games if you ask me. The prices for playing the games are not anything like when I was younger! There are three waterparks on Wildwood boarkwalk and I believe only one in OC which my friend tried both and said Wildwood was WAY better!

There is also a huge sale on tickets and mini golf tickets in O.C. the week before Easter through the week after Easter. You can order online too and they will mail them to you. Saved lots of money this way. Will post the websites soon for ticket sales.

http://www.boardwalkfun.com/

http://www.gillians.com/default.asp

http://www.moreyspiers.com/

Seaside and Point Pleasant have this sale, too - not sure about Wildwood. It's worth it - I spent $50 on 1/2 price tickets for PP, and my kids burned through them in under an hour!

 

[amcnj]

Some of the boardwalks mentioned here are geared towards different age groups. For example, I always felt Point Pleasant and Ocean City were catering more to younger children, while Seaside and Wildwood had more rides that teens would also appreciate. Also if games of chance are at all important, they too are more prominent in Seaside and Wildwood. There are websites for at least some of these boardwalks too, maybe all do by now. So you can compare what they offer in terms of rides and water parks.

 

[DreadpiratK]

Ocean City--hands down--great family oriented boardwalk--Impala Inn has deluxe rooms that sleep 6--have family week deals--Love it!!!

Amen to that! we've spent a week in OC almost every year for the last 17 years, and never get board. You could try the Owl Motel just off the island, it's 'quaint' to say the least, older Jersey shore, but they have some big efficiency type apartments, and the owners are very nice and try very hard. Definitely not a chain hotel type experience, but we stay there when we don't stay for a week, or when we squeeze in an extra night before our rental begins. It's right off the traffic circle in Somers Point.

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-16431561-owl_motel-i

Looks like most people like it if you appreciate older style hotels and don't need a lot of glass and chrome to be comfortable. We haven't stayed there for a few years, so no guarantees.