Which Atlantic Beach?

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

One day at the shore, which beach would you go to and why? Each is a 2.5-3 hour drive, You plan to arrive around 10am and depart around 5pm on Sunday.

* All of the above are free access.
* Parking? Rehoboth is metered, Wildwood has lots and we can park close enough without paying at OC MD.
* Boardwalk must have bathhouse/comfort stations.
* amusements are optional this trip - mostly just a getway to enjoy sun, sand and ocean water.

 

[princesspiglet]

I voted other. I have been to all of the above beaches and enjoyed them , but IMHO, Ocean City, NJ is the best one of all. We go there every summer. Love it. Cons about the others:

OCMD- can be very crowded and very noisy- tacky stores, traffic is horrendous. Small boardwalk.
Rehobeth- nice beach, not enough for us to do though.
Wildwood- is great if you don't mind constant smoke in your face and teeanagers everywhere. This is a party beach at all hours of the day.

OCNJ is a family beach. No alcohol allowed, no bars on the boardwalk. Lots of open room to roam, beautiful sand. Very clean, everyone is always friendly.

 

[wvjules]

I voted other. I have been to all of the above beaches and enjoyed them , but IMHO, Ocean City, NJ is the best one of all. We go there every summer. Love it. Cons about the others:

OCMD- can be very crowded and very noisy- tacky stores, traffic is horrendous. Small boardwalk.
Rehobeth- nice beach, not enough for us to do though.
Wildwood- is great if you don't mind constant smoke in your face and teeanagers everywhere. This is a party beach at all hours of the day.

OCNJ is a family beach. No alcohol allowed, no bars on the boardwalk. Lots of open room to roam, beautiful sand. Very clean, everyone is always friendly.

What is the water temp at OCNJ like this time of year? I might throw this into the running for our quickie beach trip this month. I had orginally picked Myrtle b/c it is more south and probably has warmer water.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I voted other. I have been to all of the above beaches and enjoyed them , but IMHO, Ocean City, NJ is the best one of all. We go there every summer. Love it. Cons about the others:

OCMD- can be very crowded and very noisy- tacky stores, traffic is horrendous. Small boardwalk.
Rehobeth- nice beach, not enough for us to do though.
Wildwood- is great if you don't mind constant smoke in your face and teeanagers everywhere. This is a party beach at all hours of the day.

OCNJ is a family beach. No alcohol allowed, no bars on the boardwalk. Lots of open room to roam, beautiful sand. Very clean, everyone is always friendly.

I like OC NJ too, but don't you need a beach tag?

 

[Kim&Chris]

I like OC NJ too, but don't you need a beach tag?

I voted 'other' -- for OCNJ also. Yes, you need a beach tag to get onto the beach.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

shameless bump.

This trip will be two adults and three girls ages 12, 16 & 18.

 

[njprincess601]

I voted Wildwood, NJ. We have a house in North Wildwood and are there very often. It has always been a great beach town but recently, I have to say it's gone downhill. Starting this summer, we began noticing a "different" crowd hanging around. I don't want to say anything to make anyone mad, so I hope you understand the group I'm talking about. However, we still think it's a great town with the best boardwalk I've ever been to, great restaurants and good hotels. I think Wildwood would be perfect for girls of those ages. If you're looking for something a little nicer, maybe take a drive across the bridge and stay in Cape May. Very quiant, beautiful little town. It's more expensive than Wildwood, but the beaches are still free. There's no boardwalk, but the Wildwood boardkwalk is a 10 minute drive away.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I never liked th NJ beach because when we went there once you had to buy a beach tag and the life guards kept everyone herded into a small area so that the ocean was crowded there and empty a short area away.

We like to go to the Delaware State Seashore. It costs $8 per out of state car to get in. There are concessions (but we always take Subway), lifeguard, and a bath house with showers. The showers get crowded around 5pm but are pretty good the rest of the time. There are several locations to pick from. We like Cape Henlopen and Tower Road.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

Definitely not Wildwood. The town has really gone downhill and I wouldn't bring my family there.

I have been to OC Maryland a few times and disagree with the poster about the crowds. If you park at the beach down by where the boardwalk begins, the beach is not crowded at all (example, down by Hilton Suites Hotel as a landmark since we stayed there). And the boardwalk in OC MD is HUGE!!!! It is so long they have trams to take you up and down because you often get to one end and can't imagine walking back. There is lots to do on the boardwalk as well in terms of food, shops, games, or rides.

OC NJ is very pretty but smaller and you do need to pay to get on the beach. But it is nice and family oriented.

Haven't been to Rehobeth so I can't comment.

Side note, I just returned from Myrtle Beach, SC and found that the water was definitely warmer than the water along the Jersey Shore in summer.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Definitely not Wildwood. The town has really gone downhill and I wouldn't bring my family there.

I have been to OC Maryland a few times and disagree with the poster about the crowds. If you park at the beach down by where the boardwalk begins, the beach is not crowded at all (example, down by Hilton Suites Hotel as a landmark since we stayed there). And the boardwalk in OC MD is HUGE!!!! It is so long they have trams to take you up and down because you often get to one end and can't imagine walking back. There is lots to do on the boardwalk as well in terms of food, shops, games, or rides.

OC NJ is very pretty but smaller and you do need to pay to get on the beach. But it is nice and family oriented.

Haven't been to Rehobeth so I can't comment.


Side note, I just returned from Myrtle Beach, SC and found that the water was definitely warmer than the water along the Jersey Shore in summer.

We went to OCMD back in June, for the air show. We were on the beach around 13th St, along the boardwalk, but away from the congested area where all of the shops are. We arrived around 10 and walked to the southern end of the boardwalk and back but it was lovely. I'm really considering this as our destination.

I've thought about Cape Henlopen too. I have a tent, but I believe they are completely booked this weekend. I would have headed down Sat. night if they had an opening (may have a walk-in available, but not worth taking the chance). Maybe next summer for a long weekend.

 

[eh24fan]

We like to go to the Delaware State Seashore. It costs $8 per out of state car to get in. There are concessions (but we always take Subway), lifeguard, and a bath house with showers. The showers get crowded around 5pm but are pretty good the rest of the time. There are several locations to pick from. We like Cape Henlopen and Tower Road.

We tend to go to Cape Henlopen with the kids. We get there early and leave by 2 so it's not that crowded in the showers, etc. We love it there! The waves are just right for body surfing/jumping/boogie boarding, etc. The beach isn't wide, but it's just right so you can be close to the water no matter where you set up, parking is free (of course you are paying to get it, but cheaper than paying to park!) and the beach is clean!

We love Rehoboth for the boardwalk & atmosphere, but never go "to the beach" there because then the kids want to go to the arcades, rides, etc and keep bugging. LOL Plus, it's hard to find a close place to park when you are lugging beach stuff.

 

[carone0318]

OCNJ is $5 for 11 and up for the day.

SIC - Sea Isle City is very nice too. I don't think it is as crowded, at least not where we go. Used to go to 17th St, now we go to 10th. It does cost, but I don't know price because we have seasonal passes (through my Mom).

At 17th and 10th, they do not have life guards, but there is usually no more than about 10 other families on the beach the same time as you. I found this even over 4th of July weekend.

I was just at OCNJ and SIC this past weekend and I will say that it is far more crowded than in previous yrs, but definitely not as crowded as Wildwood. I'm not a huge fan of Wildwood for the same reasons as PPs have said, plus more people.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[Kathi OD]

I love LBI. It has free parking and is family friendly, but you do need to pay to get onto the beach. Since you have a tent there is a campground near Cape May that friends of ours absolutely rave about. Cape May is beautiful.

I agree about LBI. Wonderful, family friendly beaches, however not every beach has showers and it seems as though that is something OP is looking for.


I don't get the attraction with OCMD. IMO it is just a city on the beach. I HATE those high rises that sit right on the beach; ruins the whole "beachy" feel. Just way to commercialized for me.

 

[glasslipper]

OC MD has 10 miles of wide free beaches and a 3 mile long boardwalk. The high-rises are before the boardwalk begins, mostly smaller hotels along the boardwalk. It can be crowded, most beach resorts are, and the traffic is bad during peak times. I'd suggest a small hotel on the boardwalk so you can just park and walk or take the bus (which is only about a dollar) if you want to go somewhere.
I don't like Wildwood at all, for some of the same reasons already stated. Also their shops have VERY aggressive employees. When we were there last I had them actually physically try to grab and pull me into the stores!

Whatever you decide, have fun!!