Ocean City MD or Cape May.........

[lisaross]

I live in NYC, but have not been to either! I LOVE the beach as do my kids. I'm thinking ahead for next summer i'd love to have a relaxing beach vacation - about 3 nights...........I want a kid friendly place - i'd love a place to stay right on the beach or walking distance.

Which place do you prefer???

Any recommendations where to stay?

Price ranges????

thanx --

we have two boys whom next year would be 5 & 7!

lisa

 

[kaysmommie]

I'm from New Jersy but now live in TN. We love Cape May when we go just me and DH. It is so quiet and nice. There are families there too. But Ocean City has more for families to do with the boardwalk and stuff. Cape May is just a nice beach and lots of Bed & Breakfast type places and restaurants. There are a few small hotels for familes but I have not tries one because we usually stay in a B&B. It cost us about $200 a night for Cape MAy in summer.

 

[jobie61]

I think you might try Ocean City, NJ.

It is a nice cross between the two. Boardwalk for kids and nice atmosphere like Cape May. Check it out.

 

[juligrl]

I have never been to Cape May. I have been to Ocean City the past two years now and can only say good things about it, and I'm really not a beach person. The boardwalk is fun - always a lot of activity. We have stayed at both the Sea Hawk Motel and the Carousel Resort Hotel. Both are off the boardwalk but have the advantage of being on or within a block of a nice quiet beach area.

I also like OC because of its proximity to Asseteague, where we've spent one beach day on both our trips. It's neat to see what an uncommercialized barrier island really looks like.

OC isn't a bad drive from my home, but Cape May would probably be closer for you though. Hope this helps!

 

[debbi801]

Ocean City NEW JERSEY or Wildwood NJ. Ocean City MD is not as kid friendly as Ocean City NJ. Ocean City NJ is "dry" and there are no bars. So, you don't have all the rowdy drunk partiers that you get in Ocean City MD.

Cape May is pretty, but there isn't as much for kids to do--it is just a quaint town.

 

[PlutoPony]

Ocean City MD is very developed with high rises on the beach and lots of traffic. The beach is good tho. You might look at Rehobath Beach DE. It's smaller than OC with a little more character IMHO. There are a few hotels on the beach and you're within walking distance (a block or two) of lots of excellent restaurants and neat shops, so you really don't need to drive at all when you're there (that's a huge plus to me). Nice beach, a boardwalk and "amusement park" right on the beach that's great for the age you have.

 

[liznboys]

We love going to Ocean City for the day. Our boys love the Boardwalk games and rides! We stick to the inlet area...spend a few hours on the beach there then hit the boardwalk for a few hours. We never see drunk people when we go. lol But we don't stay till the evening.

Here's the Ocean City webcam website which links to lots of good info:
http://www.oceancitycam.com/

 

[GIOny]

I love Cape May, NJ . Above posters are right in saying there probabally is not as much to do there with the kids but we always seemed to be occupied. But we spent most of our days on the beach or in the town. We rented one of those surrey bikes, that was fun. We spent a day up in Wildwood (that was OK). Have you ever considered Cape Cod?? I don't think it's any more of a drive then Ocean City, Md. BTW I have been to Ocean City, Md. and while I liked it while we were there, I never went back. I like the charm of Cape May or Cape Cod better.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

Cape May! There is the beach, pool, mini golf for the kids. THe atmosphere and the Victorain houses are my favorite. You can do a day trip to Ocean City NJ. We did that one day and we found a water park on the boardwalk that my son enjoyed.

 

[lovethattink]

I have a 2 year old. We headed up north to a Jersey shore a few weeks ago. We stayed in Wildwood, NJ. The 12 year old loved the boardwalk (3 miles long) and rides. The 2 year old loved the beach and pool. We were going to drive over to Cape May because it is one of my favorite places. But we decided it would be too hard with the 2 year old. Cape May is definately relaxing. There isn't much "night life" for a small child there. There is a mini board walk, mini golf, and shops. It is only a 30 miinute drive over to Wildwood to walk the boards. Parking near the convention center is around $5 weekedays.

Ocean City, MD is more hustle and bustle. They have a great boardwalk like Wildwood. I don't see this place as a relaxing vacation, fun yes, relaxing, not really.

 

[Desnik]

I can't say anything other than what I see from pics of Ocean City that for our family it would be too much going on and not really our style. I don't know how family friendly it is? I know alot of younger, single people that like to go there for the summer. (Please don't think that is a put down, I'm not trying to offend anyone who loves it there!)

We go to Cape May every year. Year after year we have noticed it has become more family friendly. We just love the atmosphere. The beach is great, there are lots of restaurants and alot of family friendly ones too. There are lots of shops, I'm sure your boys would love the toy store and getting some ice cream. They might even enjoy the trolley tour or horse and buggy ride. There is also a zoo, and lighthouse. You can also take a drive to Wildwood one day and take them on some of the rides there.
Personally we do not like the motel type places that are on the beach, but those would be the best for your budget in the summer. Cape May gets very busy and it is expensive in the summer and alot of the places book up fast. We like the B&B's and that's the beauty of Cape May, something for everyone. A nice family friendly place, with a pool and on the beach is Congress Hall. But it is expensive. Keep in mind that hotel and some others have a minimum stay of 3-4 nights in the summer.

Here is a good site for Cape May:
http://www.capemay.com/

 

[pweyl36]

Bethany beach in Delaware is very kid and family friendly.

 

[PaulaSue]

I have never been to Cape May. I have been to Ocean City the past two years now and can only say good things about it, and I'm really not a beach person. The boardwalk is fun - always a lot of activity. We have stayed at both the Sea Hawk Motel and the Carousel Resort Hotel. Both are off the boardwalk but have the advantage of being on or within a block of a nice quiet beach area.

I also like OC because of its proximity to Asseteague, where we've spent one beach day on both our trips. It's neat to see what an uncommercialized barrier island really looks like.

OC isn't a bad drive from my home, but Cape May would probably be closer for you though. Hope this helps!

I tried to PM you with no luck. So you remember about the price ranges a night for those 2 hotels? My Mom just called and said about us joining them for a few days next month. We LOVE OC, MD. I haven't been down since I was preggo with my now 5 year old so I have a lot of research to do and fast.

Any other places in OC MD to recommend? We used to stay on the boardwalk (before kids) but I dread paying more for the hotel for a few day then our mortgage a month. The girls want to go to the real beach (we usually hit Pinchot) and collect seashells. After what happened the last month, I realize life is so short I want ot make the most of it for my girls.

 

[disneymom225]

I live year-round about 5 minutes from OC, NJ and think that might be your best bet. It's very family friendly and there are some decent, inexpensive hotels. It's also only about a half hour from Cape May so very easy to take a day trip and explore the beach, lighthouse, cute shops, etc. I think that with 2 kids I'd probably pick OC, NJ over Cape May-we love to drive down there for the day with our 2 year old (there's a GREAT zoo in Cape May-not the quaint part-actually a few miles north) but I don't think I would take her for a weekend trip there-plus many B &B's do not accomodate children. If you have any other specific questions- feel free to send me a private message.

 

[miclcon]

Ditto on what disneymom225 said. We (me, dw, dsx2, dd) live about 15 min from OC, NJ. For parents with kids - its the place to go.

 

[njco]

I have lived in Cape May the past 28 years. I think it is great. Yes it does get busy but there is about 3 miles of beach line so you can find a quiet place to go. there is a outside mall about 4 blocks long, you can go out to cape may point and see the sunken ship and see the sunset. Cape May is about 10 mins south of wildwood, its great to go there in the day to go on the waterparks or ride the rides and leave before it get to crazy. OC, is about 25-30 mins north a great place to take your kids. not to sure if they have any hotele,motels but do know they have house to rent...The zoo is in cape may court house about 15 min north of cape may. they have a great zoo and play ground for the kids. I would call some motels in cape may for price and then find out about Ocean City nj, again not to sure about anything other there then house for rent...feel free to pm me.

 

[HopperFan]

Awesome family resort town !

We just got back from a long weekend. Stayed at the Port-o-Call right on the beach/boardwalk. Rate was $165 a night, included our beach tags, had a swimming pool, room was huge with balcony and bathrooms all new. Great to be able to walk right out on the boardwalk (at a quiet area) and walk up to the activity. Kids LOVED it !