New Jersey shore???

[flipflop]

I live in Point Pleasant but go to the beaches in Bayhead. I am not a fan of the Jenks/Martels beach crowd. I also don't like that there is food/rides in sight all day and dealing with kids nagging to go up and buy stuff, etc. If I were coming in town with kids, I second the recommendation of staying on the south or north end of point. The White Sands is a nice hotel - there are beach front rooms and a pool. You are close enough to walk down to the rides and arcade but don't have to be up at the crowded beaches. You can also stay in Bayhead and ride bikes to the boardwalk (or drive and pay to park). Bayhead beaches are much calmer, less touristy and IMO more family friendly than some of the point beaches. A few notes about Bayhead - no food is allowed on the beach - you may bring water onto the beach but all other food must stay in a cooler up at the entry way and there are no bathrooms or showers. The bathroom and shower situation is generally why the beach is less crowded - if you are in walking distance this isn't really a problem.

I grew up in Spring Lake. I love that area but there isn't a ton to do with kids at night without driving. I think southern point or bayhead offer the best of both worlds if you are travelling with kids.

I would stear clear of seaside.

We spend a week every summer in LBI - southern end of the island. LBI is great - though depending on where you are staying you may have to drive to the kid attractions (pretty much consists of Fantasy Island, a very small waterpark and mini-golf). If you wind up in the Beach Haven area, check out Show Place - a singing ice cream parlor.

I have never really noticed a major issue with water safety in the area where I live. Perhaps I haven't been paying attention. There is a slight drop during high tide but during low tide it is pretty flat.


ETA: Hi Colleen!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

If your looking for a nice beach, I would try Island Beach State Park-it is right past Seaside. LBI is nice too (and my year round home), but a little drive from Pt. Pleasant.

 

[minnie2]

Hey I am originally a North Jersey gurl! I grew up in and Passaic counties. i am very glad i grew up there but i am also glad i left!

any way I grew up going to Seaside. We went last yr with friends so it was 5 kids under 7 and they loved it! PtPleasant, Ocean City and LBI are good choices as well. My kids were going to see the Ocean for the 1st time last yr So i wanted them to see what I grew up with so maybe I am partial to Seaside because of it.

If you want to just see what it looks like watch one of the old Bon Jovi videos! I can't remember which one right now it will come to me

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

If you want to just see what it looks like watch one of the old Bon Jovi videos! I can't remember which one right now it will come to me

That would have to be In and Out of Love.

 

[KelleyD]

just an FYI...dont know if you made a decision, but they just started doing a beachfill in Ocean City. Beaches will be open, I assume they will only be closing some sections at a time, but it would stink if the section in front of where you were staying was closed that week.

Could be fun to watch though...

 

[princesstinkerbelle]

ocean city would be your best bet...it is clean and very family friendly. since it is a dry town there is a very low crime rate. at night i usually feel unconfortable on the other boardwalks but in oc i feel very safe. Atlantic City is close if you want to do a "grown up evening", but AC's boardwalk is suprisingly family friendly...just make sure you are there during the day and early evening. Wildwood is also close (ww has much better rides!!) make sure you have some mack and mancos pizza in OC or WW!!!

 

[addicted2dizney]

Yes, don't miss the pizza.. the funnel cake... the Johnsons popcorn.. the shrivers fudge and salt water taffy! The homemade lemonade.... lol! I can eat my way from one end of the ocean city boardwalk to the other! They also have a funnel cake stand that does the deep fried oreo cookies and snickers bars.

 

[karemore]

Great too see all the wonderful support for Ocean City!! We're heading down next weekend with our 3 year old for the third year in a row! (our second fav vacation after WDW)

My parents took us every summer when I was a teen and we loved that they felt safe enough to let us go off on our own.

I love that the whole place if full of families! There's little to attract rowdy party crowds, and plenty of security walking or biking the boardwalk at night.

I love the rides on the boardwalk, it's so much cheaper than paying admission to 6 flags or someplace with our daughter right now. She's happy to ride 3-4 rides a night, knowing we can do it again the next night.

Love that we can park and walk to everything. Love to rent a surrey and the whole family can ride on the boardwalk. My favorite thing though is renting a bike and riding along looking for dolphins early in the am.

Oh and those homemade donuts way at the north end of the boardwalk!

Can't wait can't wait!!!!

 

[minnie2]

That would have to be In and Out of Love.

yup I couldn't think of it!

 

[minnie2]

Yes, don't miss the pizza.. the funnel cake... the Johnsons popcorn.. the shrivers fudge and salt water taffy! The homemade lemonade.... lol! I can eat my way from one end of the ocean city boardwalk to the other! They also have a funnel cake stand that does the deep fried oreo cookies and snickers bars.

Oh the Lemonade!!!!! Last time I went that is all I said I wanted so I got it at the 1st place i found and it was awful! then my dh went wondering and came back with his own lemonade and it was the right one. So i ditched mine and got the good stuff wit the lemon in the glass and all the sugar on the bottom

 

[addicted2dizney]

Yup! That's the one! We always stay at Watsons at the corner of 9th and Ocean, When you go up the boardwalk by 9th (shrivers is on the left the movie theater is on the right.. ) just to the right of the movie theater is a little stand that sells great funnel cakes and the good lemonade! You gotta have the lemon and the sugar in the bottom! It's a must!