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By Bob Waite
Imagine fine sand, even soft white sugar sand, boardwalks and promenades where you can have an enchanting view the ocean while eating an ice cream cone. How about amusements and worldwide recognition for this special place you are visiting? You can also think about being there with your family in a cottage, a condo, a house or one of the B&Bs that make you feel like a time traveler spending time at an inn during the Victorian era. How about a hotel decorated in art deco and Danish modern furnishings? Imagine dining in beautiful restaurants facing the Atlantic Ocean or going to a moonlit concert on the beach. There is such a place. And it isn’t far at all. It isn’t imaginary. It is the Southern New Jersey Shore and its variety of beach towns that have everything you could ever imagine about a spring or summer vacation.
To stimulate your imagination and your spring and summer plans for a vacation destination, we will describe seven areas found along the southern New Jersey Coast: the Wildwoods, Atlantic City, Ocean City, Cape May, Stone Harbor, Avalon and Sea Isle City.
The Wildwoods
It’s known for its wide beaches and white sand. It’s where Bill Haley and the Comets on May 29, 1954 first played Rock Around the Clock and where Chubby Checker introduced a dance craze with his megahit, The Twist. And everyone has at some time heard the Wildwood anthem, Wildwood Days by Bobby Rydell. Wildwood has been called the Las Vegas of the East Coast and is known for its flamboyant hotels built and decorated in a style that is now known as doo wop, googie and populux. It is also known for its two-and-a-half-mile, 38-block-long boardwalk. And now, after a massive makeover and expansion, it includes the surrounding towns of Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood. So now we speak of the Wildwoods.
According to Ben Rose, the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWTIDA), speaking about Wildwood’s changes, he says, “Sometimes I hear someone say, the Wildwoods have changed, but we still don't think the Wildwoods are for us. And what I want to say is, if you don't think Wildwood is for you, you haven't been here lately. Most of the old motels and the old rooming houses were torn down. New hotels have sprung up, and new vacation rentals have exploded on the island. If you haven't been here in a while—you would not recognize the Wildwoods. Everything you can ever want in a great family vacation experience is all right here on one five-mile island.”
And Ben Rose is right. The beaches are free—yes free. That’s right, no beach badges required. The Wildwoods have the widest and most spacious beaches on the East Coast. They’re maintained by Greater Wildwoods Tourism Authority. They are covered with a soft white sand known as ‘sugar sand’ and offer plenty of room for summer beach activities. Beachgoers can choose a relaxing day in the sun, or more action-packed activities like fishing, surfing, boogie boarding, boating, jet skiing, paddle boarding, and kayaking in the crisp, clean ocean waters. Plus, a dog-friendly beach and dog park at Glenwood Avenue Beach ensures visitors can bring along their four-legged friends while vacationing in the Wildwoods. The Wildwood’s have been voted the #1 Best Beach in New Jersey in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice awards.
Not only do the wildwoods’ beaches have beautiful white sand and are wide, but on them are lots of free events that can engage every member of the family. The Wildwoods have more than 160 events and pageants a year and a good portion of them is on the sugar sand. Events include such fun activities and shows as: the Barefoot Country Music Fest, International Kite Festival, the National Marbles Tournament, Monster Truck Beach Races, Vintage Auto and Motorcycle Beach Drag Races, Classic Car Shows, Sand Sculpting Festival, Italian Festival, Irish Festival, BBQ & Blue Festival, Seafarers Festival, major beach concerts, sporting tournaments, and weekly free outdoor concerts. For more information about the kind of activities and events throughout the Wildwoods, visit www.wildwoodsnj.com/events-calendar.
The boardwalk that runs alongside the beaches is a wonder in itself. This two-and-a-half-mile stretch of well-maintained boardwalk is world renowned. Ben says that it is rated number two in the world for seaside boardwalks and amusements. He says, “It has three amusement piers with over 100 rides and attractions, three water parks, arcades, carnival games, shops and lots of eateries. So there's so much to do on this boardwalk.” I discovered that on Morey’s pier there are four roller coasters that can test anyone’s bravery: the Sea Serpent, the Great Nor’easter, the Great White wooden coaster, and the Runaway Tram. For those whose bravery deserves the Congressional Medal of Honor, there is the Skycoaster, the Skyscraper, and the Springshot.
The choices for dining include everything from fine dining to casual to boardwalk food. Ben Rose explains that even COVID had a positive effect on Wildwood dining. He says, “You know, during COVID, most of the restaurants had to adapt, and they developed outdoor dining because you couldn't dine inside. And it became so popular, that really expanded it, Now, just about every restaurant has outdoor dining. And, yeah, that's really a nice thing.” If you like seaside dining, Ben says, “There's some beach bars also and beach restaurants right on the beach where you can have dinner overlooking the ocean and have a cocktail.”
You can book a trip on www.wildwoods.com and decide whether you want to stay in a hotel, a condo or a house. Many renovated hotels and new hotels add luster of the new Wildwood without changing the doo wop style architecture that makes Wildwood unique. Realtors offer everything from small condos to huge summer homes close to the ocean. Summer homes are also for sale and there are retirement communities and other opportunities for retirement or an investment home. And the Wildwoods are year-round communities with places to go, people to see and things to do.
Atlantic City
Atlantic City is more than the gaming capital of the East Coast, although it is that. On its visitor’s website (www.visitatlanticcity.com), it states, “Atlantic City is more than just dazzling lights and exciting casinos—it's a city steeped in history, a fascinating blend of heritage and modern-day revitalization.”
Atlantic City receives over 27 million visitors each year. They come for the nightlife, and like New York, it is a city that never sleeps. They come for the casino resorts that include entertainment, swimming and their guests include families, couples, conference and convention attendees, gamers, sport fans, shoppers, beachgoers, newlyweds and sometimes athletes like high school wrestlers.
The Atlantic City boardwalk is iconic and between the large hotels, casinos and restaurants are shops where you can buy everything from clothing, home décor and even lawn statuary. The smell of boardwalk food wafts through the area and there are amusements on the Steel Pier and arcades everywhere along the boardwalk.
Across Atlantic Avenue from the boardwalk are the 109-store Tanger Outlets which span three city blocks and features designer brand shops and often large discounts..
Atlantic City is changing. People are moving into beach condos in the city and condos on its outskirts. Beach homes, cabins, retirement communities are everywhere. Rentals in Atlantic City are plentiful. Besides a large choice of hotels and self-contained resort hotels, there are house, cabin and condo rentals, timeshares and B&Bs nearby.
Concerts and standup comedians with celebrity entertainers can be seen every night at the resort casinos and a variety of night clubs. Atlantic City is a hub for East Coast entertainment and what is there and is coming can be found at www.visitatlanticcity.com.
The Visit Atlantic City website (www.visitatlanticcity.com) also has 266 pages of dining venues. Its introduction to the section states, “Budget buffets, delicious down-home diners, five-star restaurants featuring famous chefs—it’s all on the menu here in Atlantic City. Our countless restaurants offer new takes on classic dishes, your favorite comfort and international flavors you may have never tried before.”
And last but not least is gaming, which may be Atlantic City’s biggest draw. There are nine casinos that offer every kind of slot machine and table game known. All the casinos offer sportsbooks and most have poker rooms. So if you… know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, and know when to run…” you’ll be all right.”
Ocean City
Ocean City is often called America's Greatest Family Resort. Ocean City is proud of “... eight miles of pristine beaches, more than two miles of exciting boardwalk and its wholesome family atmosphere.” It is located at the northern part of Cape May County and is not far from Atlantic City. It’s beaches are clean and the boardwalk is known for its many amusements, food vendors and arcades. It is also a dry beach—meaning that alcoholic beverages cannot be sold there, but right across the bridge, on the mainland are plenty of liquor stores, bars and restaurants.
Ocean City offers a variety of places to stay including hotels and motels, vacation rentals, Bed & Breakfasts, apartments and guest houses. At www.oceancityvacation.com, you can learn about summer homes and condos that can be rented or bought.
The boardwalk at Ocean City contains eight full blocks of family amusements (from 6th to 14th Streets.) like OC Waterpark, plus Gillian's Wonderland Pier. There is also a musical pier that is home to The Ocean City Pops and concerts are performed all year. And during the summer, every Thursday is family night, with free entertainment throughout town.
Most restaurants in Ocean City are family owned and they offer a variety of different styles and menus. Besides restaurants there are bakeries, candy stores and a plethora of ice cream shops.
The eight miles of powdery sand that make up the beaches are perfect for relaxing, sunning, swimming and surfing. They are also the perfect setting for beach weddings. There are many bayside activities, that include fishing, kayaking, bird watching or just taking in the beautiful scenery.
Cape May
Cape May is known as America’s first seaside resort. And next to San Francisco, Cape May has largest concentration of well-maintained Victorian buildings in the nation. The colors are bright and many of the buildings have intricate gingerbread on overhangs, especially on the homes. There are over 600 beautifully preserved Victorian homes, including the iconic Emlen Physick Estate.
The Cape May Historic Trolley Tour will take you through the city to see many of these homes, and other historic buildings, such as the original firehouse, the house where abolitionist Harriet Tubman lived while she spent time in Cape May and so many other buildings that have historic interest. A combined tour of the historic buildings and an inside/outside tour of the Emlen Physick Estate is also offered by Cape May MAC (Museums Art Culture). Information about all the tours given by Cape May MAC can be found at www.capemaymac.org.
Cape May’s beaches are well kept, family friendly, clean, and close to restrooms and food. They run approximately 2.5 miles parallel to Beach Avenue and are within walking distance from most accommodations.
Running parallel to the beach is the boardwalk or rather Promenade, which is paved and replaced the old boardwalk after by a Nor’easter in 1962 tore it up. Walking or sitting on a bench, you can enjoy stunning ocean views and take a breather while savoring ice cream from a local shop. The promenade is the perfect way to soak in the salty sea air and people-watch as families enjoy their vacation time.
Cape May has an array of accommodations, from charming bed and breakfasts and historic inns to beachfront hotels and cozy vacation rentals. The Victorian bed and breakfasts at Cape May are upscale accommodations that are generally open year-round. These colorful remnants offer romantic getaways for couples, havens for people living a fast-paced life and are perfect spots to celebrate an anniversary.
At Cape May, you can take a whale watching tour or hop on a sunset dolphin cruise to witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. For a taste of local culture, check out the many unique shops downtown or enjoy fresh seafood at one of the many renowned restaurants. Cape May is not just about beautiful sights; it’s about creating memories, whether it’s your first visit or a cherished annual tradition.
Stone Harbor
Stone Harbor’s clapboard storefronts in muted pastel shades quietly say you are at the South Jersey shore. It shares an island that has 7-mile beach with town of Avalon. Stone Harbor is quiet and the lifeguard protected beaches are not crowded and the sand is white and clean. In fact it’s the sandy beaches and gentle surf that keeps loyal visitors coming back year after year. Water activities include surfing, kayaking and sailing. Stone Harbor beaches are also great spots for weddings, some hosted by The Reeds at Shelter Haven, a boutique hotel and spa on 3rd Ave.
Stone Harbor is also known for its fine restaurants, an outstanding shopping district and relaxed atmosphere. Places to visit include the Wetlands Institute And The Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary which has the only heronry sponsored by a municipality in the United States.
Niche reports, “Stone Harbor is in Cape May County and is one of the best places to live in New Jersey. Living in Stone Harbor offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Stone Harbor there are a lot of bars, restaurants, and coffee shops.”
Avalon
The affluent town of Avalon offers a unique charm that you won't find anywhere else.
Avalon has been a popular vacation destination for beach lovers everywhere. Located on a 7-Mile Beach, Avalon shares the island with Stone Harbor. The white fluffy sand of its beaches, make real estate on the island highly coveted. Between the Avalon and Stone Harbor are some of the most beautiful and palatial beach homes in New Jersey.
Activities on Avalon include boating, sailing, wave running, kayaking, paddle boarding, water skiing, wakeboarding, fishing, surfing and swimming in the ocean and back bays. Both shopping and nightlife can be found on the island. There are more than 30 restaurants in Avalon to choose from and there are many nighttime hot spots, from acoustic singers to popular bands, places to dance the night away and smaller venues to sit and chat with friends.
Sea Isle City
Sea Isle City has five miles of beaches that are picturesque, well-maintained and among the highest-rated in the Garden State. It also has a promenade that is ideal for bicycling, jogging or simply strolling along with a loved one. In addition to offering breath-taking views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Promenade also features gift shops, eateries, arcades and boutiques. Sea Isle hosts one of the largest Polar Bear Plunges on the East Coast. Thousands of residents and visitors come back each February for a weekend of fun family events that includes a parade, a walk and run, a block party and a dip in the Atlantic Ocean. Sea Isle is also known for its outdoor activities that include fishing, sailing, surfing and paddling.
If you can imagine a vacation, a summer or a weekend getaway at the Southern New Jersey shore, then you may want to look at our special advertising section in this issue of Bucks County Magazine as a resource to help you fulfill your dreams.
Bob Waite is the editor of Bucks County Magazine.