OT- beach in NJ

[la79al]

My mom has just announced that next summer she wants to rent a beach house for a week for all of us. She feels that Ocean City MD has a decent nightlife but not a whole lot for the kids/during the day. She thinks Wildwood has a lot more kid/daytime stuff but lacks a nightlife. Is there a beach somewhere in NJ area that provides a happy medium on both?

 

[meriface11]

my family used to summer in cape may. not quite as much of a boardwalk as wildwood, but there are several arcades, minigolf courses and the "mall" (a very long strip of outdoor shops). it's definitely a walking resort town, so depending on the ages of your children, they may be able to explore a little on their own. and there are definitely many things for adults to do at night.

 

[JTDisney]

www.capemay.com

Best town in Jersey is Cape May. Has a balance of both. The restaurants are unreal and the beaches are not 1/2 mile long like Wildwood. Wildwood is a dive. In 1989 it was fun but not any longer. Rent a huge house and have fun. I have been renting a home for the past 20 years there and it is AWESOME!

 

[Karenj2]

I agree with the above - I like Cape May better than the other shore towns. That being said, I think you should check out Sea Isle City - it's got a decent night life, and you can rent some decent sized houses. My BIL rented a house that fit him, his wife, her 2 kids, his SIL and their 4 kids, his mom & dad, and HER mom and dad. (We stayed somewhere else...)

 

[bellebud]

My mom has just announced that next summer she wants to rent a beach house for a week for all of us. She feels that Ocean City MD has a decent nightlife but not a whole lot for the kids/during the day. She thinks Wildwood has a lot more kid/daytime stuff but lacks a nightlife. Is there a beach somewhere in NJ area that provides a happy medium on both?

ocean city, md - we've been going there for years, and I can't think of anything they *don't* have for the kids during the day. they have a huge boardwalk w/ rides, etc. they have TONS of mini golf, go-carts, water slides, they have the bay and the ocean, frontierland (like a wild west city), wild ponies on assateque (sp???) island, movies, bowling alley, playgrounds, skateboard park, fishing off the pier, boat and jet ski rentals everywhere, miles of beautiful beach, and it's very safe. the only downside to me is it's so huge, you really have to drive a lot while there (unless you take the bus, but w/ kids I never wanted to do that).

good luck deciding where to go

 

[nmmom95]

We go to Sea Isle City every summer and love it, but there are no rides or waterslides like Wildwood. I'm not sure what you are looking for when you say nightlife, but Wildwood has a lot of bars and restaurants, plus the boardwalk. Ocean City, NJ has a great boardwalk as well, and good restaurants, but it is a dry town.

 

[Gretchen3ajoshmom]

I had seen on the news the other night that Sea Isle was going to have rides this summer- Gillians I think? I liked Sea Isle better than Wildwood... WIldwood was really a scary scene for this quite girl.....

 

[J3nn78]

I would choose OC Maryland anyday over any NJ shore town. OC MD has lots of family oriented things to do.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

We're a Rehoboth DE family (though we stay in far north Rehoboth when we go). Haven't been in two years, but at the time the kids enjoyed mini golf, the boardwalk rides (nothing like Wildwood however), and the cool shops on the main road. Dh and I like the restaurants! And we definitely prefer DE sand to NJ sand (dh's family rents in NJ every single summer and we have to go, bleh)---the NJ sand is finer and seems to stick with us longer.

 

[kckmom]

Wildwood has really gone downhill in the last couple of years, do not recommend it. Never been to Sea Isle City, but a friend goes there every year and enjoys it, has 3 young children under 8 and they are always busy.

Just spent a weekend in Ocean City, NJ, the boardwalk was great for my girls, all 8 and younger, town was nice, some cute shops, but some expensive ones too.

Only negative, the beach sand. It was so dark that it stained their bathing suits! Took 2 washings to get out the sand out, so beware, bring older clothes/suits!

Have fun!

 

[bratmomma]

I was going to recommend Ocean City, NJ as well. I LIKE the fact that its a dry town. No alcohol sold. It cuts down on the crazy party people. That also means it cuts down on the questionable outbursts from early twenties and late teens that are strolling the boardwalk, mostly there to make fashion statements and raise trouble. Ocean City is definitely more of a family atmosphere, when compared to Wildwood.

Cape May is beautiful and very nice, but more of an "older" atmosphere, in my opinion. Maybe for couples, retirees, etc. There are things to do there, but I think Ocean City is more family and "kid" oriented. Also, nothing says you can't make a day trip to Wildwood, or Cape May.

There is an excellent zoo right off the Garden State Parkway at exit 11 (I believe). Its the Cape May County Park and Zoo. Admission is free, but they ask for a donation at the gate to help maintain the property and animals. Its a "must do" for us each year. We usually go with a carload and drop $10-$20 in the bucket.

Enjoy your trip!