I posted a question a few days ago about Wildwood, New Jersey as a place a family vacation (our daughter is 6 1/2) and most of the responses I got mentioned that Ocean City, New Jersey was a better place for a family. Have any of you ever been to Ocean City, New Jersey and if you have . . . do you have any recommendations of places to stay?
Thanks.
T. M.
Thank you to everyone who responded to my post. We decided definitely on Ocean City after all of the great things we've heard . . . now we just have to figure out when we're going to go.
Thanks again.
T.
No recommendations on where to stay, but we have been there (we stay at a friend's house). It is very kid-friendly, with a very nice amusement park area on the boardwalk just for little kids. Nice boardwalk, beach, etc. The town itself is dry (as in no alcohol), so that keeps the college crowd and a lot of the non-family people away.
sorry,we go to OC Maryland not NJ & it is awesome!
Do a rental. This way you have a kitchen and don't have to buy every meal. Find something close to the boardwalk so you don't have to move the car. beachwatchnj.com/rentalsearch.php
We stayed at 1245 Asbury Ave 2nd Floor about 2 years ago. Recently remodeled. Parking for 2 cars, stroller was available for use, 3 blocks from the boardwalk.
Driveable fun: Cape May zoo, Lucy the elephant in Margate City.
We love Ocean City. Growing up, my family went to LBI, Wildwood Crest, and Cape May, which are all nice, but now Ocean City is my top choice. I haven't been to any of the hotels so can't make any recommendations. We rent a townhouse/condo right on the boardwalk.
Because its a dry town, its pretty much all families, so you don't have the riff raff or young partiers you might find on the Wildwood boardwalk. The "nightlife" is all family oriented. We like to bike on the boardwalk in the mornings, have freshly made, hot cake donuts from Ove's or Brown's for breakfast, spend the day at the beach, then stroll the boardwalk at night, stopping at the amusement pier for rides, and enjoying a kohr's custard and free fudge samples...
Ocean City is a great family friendly shore town as many of the other people have said. My family goes to Cape May, NJ (the town right past Wildwood...Exit 0 on the GSP)...It is our favorite place in Jersey...lots of mini golf, arcades, shops & excellent beaches. Quaint little Victorian Town. Great for walking;)
You can spend the day in Wildwood for rides etc...The Cape May zoo is not far & it's free!! They also have whale watching/dolphin cruises. The lighthouse is fun too;)
I went there with a friend when I was in high school. It was the best vacation ever, and one that I always recall with fond memories. We stayed in a beach house for 2 weeks. Of course I cannot give you any info, because that was 30 years ago, but just wanted to say that it was the best ever. Have fun!!
We love Ocean City. A very nice place for a family.
We loved Ocean City. Stayed at the Beach Club Hotel right on the boardwalk and it was great.
no rec. on places to stay but I go to both places all the time, ocean city is more family friendly, the height requirements and prices are lower on wonderland pier for rides, as opposed to the other piers in ocean city, so we go there for rides! My daughter is 4 and can get on pretty much all of the rides there and the beach is pretty nice compared to wildwood
Hi T.-I was one of the people who recommended OC. I agree with the pp on the Flanders. Also Watson's Regency. If you want to spend a little more the Port o Call is my favorite. We always rent a house though when we go. If you want a more quiet beach scene go to the Northern end starting with around 40th street on up to 59th. The beaches are bigger and a little less crowded. Esp around 59th. Even if you stay in town it would be worth it to come up and enjoy the beaches that far up because if you go right onto the beach at 59th you will hit a state park beach that is gorgeous and very uncrowded. IT makes a nice walk in the early am or early eve too.
A couple of my favorite things about OCNJ:
Mac N Mancos Pizza on the boardwalk is the best in the WORLD!! I think about it all year long!
Johnsons Caramel Popcorn
Homeade donuts at the end of the boardwalk at Oves
Kohrs custard
Hula Grill on the boardwalk is amazing and really healthy food. A personal fave. You will want to take Hula Sauce home to eat all year on your chicken.
Riding surreys in the am on the boardwalk is a blast!
Do the Pirate adventure in the Bay. Loads of fun.
We always love a day trip along the Ocean Drive into Avalon, Stone Harbor and Cape May. Atlantic City is not far either if you want to check that out though. The town is gross though....the Casino Hotels are the only nice things there...you walk a block away and it is poverty. Their boardwalk is a bit dicey as well.
Crabbing is really fun to do. Stop in one of the little bait shops coming off the island and get a basket and some bait. They can also point you to where to go. Not sure if a little girl would enjoy this but my boys sure do.
Hope that you go-I really do think you will like it a lot. Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.
I have been to both Wildwood and Ocean City. There is definitely more variety of both rides and games at Wildwood. Ocean City is definitely more "calm and serene."
I went to Ocean City High School so I know a good bit about the area. Of course, I've never stayed at any of the hotels being a local & all, but it's a great place for a family to vacation. I would say you should see if you can get a room at the Flander's Hotel. I know it's gorgeous inside, but pricey as it's on the boardwalk. If that's not what you're looking for you can call any of the realtors in the area & rent a house for the week or there are a ton of B&B's. As for restaurants, the Anchorage is right in Somers Point over the 9th Street bridge & has really good food. In Ocean City you could try the Fractured Prune for donuts for breakfast, Voltacos for cheesesteaks for lunch, Island Grill or the Hula grill are both very good, as is Piccini's for pizza. The boardwalk is nice with 2 piers with rides and also a water park on 10th Street. There are 2 movie theatres on the boardwalk as well (I worked at the Strand all through high school & college!), but be aware that you will need beach tags on the beach during the day. You can get day tags or weekly. Depending on what you like, you can go to the beach right off of the boardwalk, or do what the locals do & drive down nearer to 42nd Street & go to the beach there. It's wider, cleaner & quieter. Life guards are stationed at every 2nd block. Have a blast & let me know if you have any questions!!
