New Jersey shore???

[npmommie]

We are possibly going to be in the area of Point Pleasant this summer. I grew up spending my summers in Cape May NJ, so I am familiar with that area.........the area surrounding Point Pleasant not so much.

about 4 years ago we did spend a couple of days in Point Pleasant and remember that it was family friendly and nice.
any suggestions for family friendly, clean, not too crazy beach towns in that area of the Jersey shore?
just wondering if we are missing anything else aside from Point Pleasant.

 

[ColleenG]

Hi-I live in Point Pleasant! The beaches in Point are nice. Jenkinson's has it's own beach. They own the boardwalk and most of the amusements on it. I would stay to the south end of the beach or the northern end. The northern end has lots of houses there and seems to be more families on the beach rather than teenagers. The south end used to be owned by a family, Risden's but the family is in the process of selling the beach front and the bath houses that are there but now closed. I'm not sure what will be going on there this summer. It used to be where more of the locals went to avoid the bennies.

Are you coming for the whole summer? Bay Head is the next town south of point and also has nice beaches.

 

[npmommie]

Hi!
No we aren't coming for the whole summer.........prob about 5 days maybe the whole week.
when we were there 4 years ago it was a fluke thing. we had gone to PA for a wedding, then we headed to Cape May for 10 days, then we were driving home ( new england) and didn't feel like going all the way, so we stopped off the parkway at Point Pleasant, pulled into the Sand Pebble and rented a lovely suite! The boardwalk was a lot of fun for the kids, and the aquarium too! we were pleasantly surprised by the town!
So we are going to check it out again this summer since we will be down that way to visit family!

 

[ColleenG]

Seaeide isn't too far and they've cleaned it up a lot, although I hear at night there can be an undesirable crowd. But in the day there are some water parks that are pretty good. Jenkinson's has been buying up Seaside so if you go to their website there may be a link to attractions in Seaside. Hope that helps.

 

[tinkandpan]

I'm not a huge seaside fan- still think it has that nasty teen element to it. I do love going to PP and there are so many nice little towns right around there as well- Manoloken, normandy beach.... you can also go a little further down south and go to Long Beach Island... we love going there and it's a little quieter but there is still tons of things to do with your family.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Jersey shore girl here! I like Jenks too (pt. pleasant) especially if you have kids. Its a nice beach with a lot to do on the boardwalk, and I like it over Seaside because it has way to much of a North Jersey element there in the summer (something you want to stay far, far away from!!!). Other towns you could visit would be..... Ocean Grove, Sandy Hook, LBI, Lavalet, and also Smithville is a great historic town to go to for the day. Smithville isn't on a beach or anything, but its just a nice day away.

 

[kowalchicky]

Long Beach Island is very clean,and very family friendly.....they do not have a typical boardwalk though.....they have bay village...you can shop,mini golf,and they even have a very cool water park.

 

[tinkandpan]

Hey- No Jersey Girl here and taking offense.....

 

[addicted2dizney]

I would recommend Long Beach Island (LBI) or Ocean City, NJ.
LBI is pretty laid back and is basically about the beach, mini golf, going for ice cream etc.. They do have a little amusement section on the south end of the island as well as a small water park and some nice shopping.

Ocean City is real old time Jersey Shore Boardwalk! It's a dry town, (no alcohol sold) so it just really attracts the family crowd. You don't get the influx of teenages/college kids like you do in Wildwood and Seaside. Ocean City has a beautiful boardwalk and all the great things that come with it. I really like their boardwalk because the have no midway games on it. Lot's of little shops, mini golf, two areas with rides, a water park and great little places to eat. I love them both!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

I would recommend Long Beach Island (LBI) or Ocean City, NJ.
LBI is pretty laid back and is basically about the beach, mini golf, going for ice cream etc.. They do have a little amusement section on the south end of the island as well as a small water park and some nice shopping.

Ocean City is real old time Jersey Shore Boardwalk! It's a dry town, (no alcohol sold) so it just really attracts the family crowd. You don't get the influx of teenages/college kids like you do in Wildwood and Seaside. Ocean City has a beautiful boardwalk and all the great things that come with it. I really like their boardwalk because the have no midway games on it. Lot's of little shops, mini golf, two areas with rides, a water park and great little places to eat. I love them both!

What do you mean "no midway games"? Does it have arcade games? We were thinging about going there some time this summer, but we like the arcades!

Thanks!!!
Sarah

 

[3mickeymom]

I grew up in Ocean City in Cape May County and now live in Monmouth County close to Pt Pleasant. The REAL difference is in the ocean. If you have very small children the ocean in southern NJ is safer. It takes a long time for the water to get deep and it is a gradual change. Toddlers can play in shallow water and ride rafts and boogie boards. In the Pt. Pleasant area, the water can get deep quickly. There is a shore break and those waves can knock down small children. The beach typically slopes toward the ocean, rather than being flat like in Cape May. I love NJ beaches -all of them- but when my kids were small, I preferred Cape May Co. beaches to those further north. Ocean City has a nice boarwalk and is very family friendly. My 11 yr old loves Pt. Pleasant as he likes the games of chance and the arcades. On my last trip to Seaside, people were using expletives as commonn adjectives and I am no saint, but I was embarassed as a parent walkiing with my son. Let me put it this way, not a Disney crowd.

 

[addicted2dizney]

What do you mean "no midway games"? Does it have arcade games? We were thinging about going there some time this summer, but we like the arcades!

Thanks!!!
Sarah

Yes, the have lots of arcades and those kind of games. By midway games I mean the wheels, blowing the balloons up with the water guns, basically the games in the stands where you win prizes. I LOVE the fact that Ocean City does not have these. With the average game costing $3 each it really adds up quickly! If they are not there the kids don't know that they are missing out on them.

 

[sillyguys]

I grew up in that area and spent my summers working on the boardwalks in both Pt. Pleasant and Seaside. I'm not a big fan of the beaches though. I would suggest driving about 25 mins north and going to the beach in Spring Lake. Spring Lake is a beautiful area and the beach is large with a boardwalk (no games though). Good luck with your decision.

 

[luvmy3]

We love LBI because its more low key. Last year we stayed in Lavalet for a long weekend. The beach was nice but the waves were so big that the kids couldn't stay in the water. They still loved the beach. We went to Jenkinsons boardwalk and really liked it. I think it was more family friendly than Seaside, at least if you have younger children.

 

[bartleby1]

Jersey shore girl here! I like Jenks too (pt. pleasant) especially if you have kids. Its a nice beach with a lot to do on the boardwalk, and I like it over Seaside because it has way to much of a North Jersey element there in the summer (something you want to stay far, far away from!!!). Other towns you could visit would be..... Ocean Grove, Sandy Hook, LBI, Lavalet, and also Smithville is a great historic town to go to for the day. Smithville isn't on a beach or anything, but its just a nice day away.

HEY! North Jersey isn't ALL bad, LOL!

OP - I do agree with some of the other posters about the beaches. The southern beaches don't have the quick drop off like the beaches at point pleasant and seaside. Having said that, we do take our kids to point pleasant for the aquarium and rides and once in a while for the beach for a day trip. However, my kids are young (8, 6, and 3) and I don't feel safe even letting them play at the edge of the water because the waves are strong and they can get pulled out very easily. The water gets deep very quickly too. So, while we do enjoy it for a day trip, the ocean makes me very nervous. The southern beaches are much more gradual and nicer for little ones.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

HEY! North Jersey isn't ALL bad, LOL!

I'm just talking about all the 20 somethings that come down from north jersey with nothing else in mind but getting trashed and having sex. I'm a 20 something too (and will be for the next 30 years, I don't care what my husband says!! ) but thats just not my agenda, and never has been. Maybe having two kids has something to do with it!!!

 

[Dopey19]

Last year I took my 2 year to Pt. Pleasant several times. It is very family friendly with lots of activities. Although she is not able to go into the Ocean without DH holding her she does love running throught the misting spray located on the boardwalk near the rides. It offered a perfect alternative for her to be able to play in the water and also sit on the beach and make a sand castle. She actually started asking yesterday about going to the beach (although her version of "beach" sounds like a dirty word )

Good luck and enjoy your time at the Jersey Shore!

 

[Dopey19]

I'm just talking about all the 20 somethings that come down from north jersey with nothing else in mind but getting trashed and having sex. I'm a 20 something too (and will be for the next 30 years, I don't care what my husband says!! ) but thats just not my agenda, and never has been. Maybe having two kids has something to do with it!!!

FYI: I'm from what some consider N. Jersey (although it really is Central!) and I totally agree with your comment and take no offense! There are certain crowds that lose sight of the fact that kids are around and I don't think that just applies to the 20 somethings, there are some 30 & 40 somethings that can't control their language and behavior! Just this weekend I was in a retail store and the "gentlemen" next to me let out a huge disgusting belch - I turned looked at him and "well isn't that attractive" and walked away. I'm sure he found it funny. And here I am teaching my daughter to say excuse me . . .No class. And this is mild example of some peopel poor behavior.

 

[badblackpug]

Avalon and Stone Harbor. They are nice family centered communities and the Wildwood boardwalk is a short drive away if you want to go for the amusements.

 

[npmommie]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! lots of good info.
we also love ocean city, avalon, and stone harbor. so much to think about.
I didn't know that about the water dropping quickly at point pleasant , when we were there before, it rained so we didn't get in any beach time, and it was just an overnight trip on the way home from cape may.
I do love cape may. and the beach there is perfect for the kids.