Hello everyone.
My husband and I are trying to figure out where to go on vacation for a few days this year. Our daughter is 6 1/2. We're in Connecticut and looking for someplace we can drive that's 4 hours or less. We've done the Cape, Herhsey Park, and Newport, RI. We were thinking of Wildwood, New Jersey . . . but we've never been there. I don't know if we're going to be able to book a hotel this late in the season . . . but we thought we'd give it a try. Have any of you ever been to Wildwood? If so . . . do you have any recommendations of where to stay? Or if anybody has any other vacation spots that you can suggest . . . that would be great!
I've heard that the Lake George area is nice too.
Thanks in advance for your help.
T. M.
Thank you all for your responses. I think we decided to try Ocean City, NJ . . . instead of Wildwood. In addition to some of the posts that we got here . . . a few friends of ours wouldn't recommend Wildwood for a family vacation. I just posted another post for any recommendations to say in Ocean City . . . so we'll see how that goes. Thanks again.
I don't know about Wildwood but long Beach Island, NJ is a great place for families. I've been going since I was 6 and now I bring my daughters.
HI, We go to Lake George every year, it is great up there...There is a six flags amusement park, there is also a place that is called fairy tale land (I think) it is great for that age, ours are too big for it (13 and 10). We stay at the Holiday Inn which is in between the actual lake and six flags. We live in NJ and have season passes, so we always go on vacation somewhere we can use the passes. The lake is beautiful and you can go on a steamboat ride around the lake. It is a nice, quiet, family place. There are a few outlets (nothing to write home about). If you have any further questions, post them on the site. From Lake George, it isn't far to Vermont, if you wanted to swing there on your way back, not sure how long you will be going for. We usually go for four or five days.
Although I love Wildwood, it's not a great idea to stay close to the boardwalk. Much better if you stay in North Wildwood or the Crest.
BUT, for a 6 1/2 y.o. Ocean City would be perfect, as would LBI.
We have never been to Wildwood, but our favorite summer getaway is to Ogunquit Maine. It is soooo clean and fresh up there!! We usually go end of July beginning of August and the weather is great, the ocean water is still chilly but the beach is beautiful. There is plenty to do in the surrounding areas, children's museums, aquarium, miniture golf, an amusement park, and you are a quick ride to Kennebunkport which is just the cutest little town! Check it out. I think it usually takes us 3.5 hours from Guilford.
I grew up spending my summers at the Jersey shore! I LOVE it! I would not recommend staying in Wildwood though. We stay in Avalon (or Stone Harbor) which are both a very short drive to Wildwood. We would go one night to do the boardwalk/rides. It is very rowdy, loud...not really a great family spot. Avalon and Stone Harbor are so much nicer and so family friendly! They have lots of little shop, ice cream, mini golf, movies (in case of rain!) They also usually have fun stuff going on at various times. Fireworks, sand castles building contests, parades, etc. We have always rented a house, so I can't really recommend where to stay, but I'm sure you can Google it. There are also many place to take day trips very close by. Cape May is beautiful! There is a free Zoo in Cape May Court House (slightly closer than Cape May proper.) It is one of the nicest zoo's we have been to. It's maybe a 20 min. drive. I hope you go, and have a great time! :)
I don't have any recommendations on where to stay, but I would suggest looking inland. Wildwood is a blast, but it can get pretty... um... "rowdy" at night. You do not want to be trying to sleep anywhere near the boardwalk.
I'd probably look more toward Cape May and plan day trips to various spots like Wildwood, Ocean City, and Sea Isle City (in addition to Cape May, itself.)
Avalon and Stone Harbor (particularly on the border of the 2) I think is a better choice - it's quieter. But my favorite would be Cape May - it's very quaint and there's more going on. Avalon and Stone Harbor are before the Wildwoods and Cape May is after. Lake George is also nice. Have fun!
Goodness NO!! Wildwood is not a good place for a family vacation. We go to Ocean City, NJ every year and this past summer decided to take a trip up to Wildwood and I just have to say -YUCK! It was dirty, the boardwalk was packed with people and lots of them not the type you want to be around on your family vacation. It was not a pretty town either. We couldn't wait to get out of there.
You should really try Ocean City. It is a dry town so you won't find the bars and all of the young partiers there for the summer like you will in Wildwood. They have a wonderful boardwalk with a ton to do for families. Their beaches are nice too. And if you do want to have a drink there are restaurants right over the bridges where you can.
If not OC then I would suggest Stone Harbor or Cape May. They are really nice also but there is not as much to do for kids as there is in OC.
Hi,
Wildwood Crest is where you would want to stay. Diamond Beach is beautiful (in WWC). Cape May is nice too but many of the places there don't take little ones (I had the same problem). There are some but hard to say what would be available now. Good Luck!
Long Beach Island might be better for you. Very family oriented and in the middle of the island is Bay Village (shops, fudge, miniture golf) It is Exit 63 off Garden State Parkway, so it is much closer than Wildwood. You can always get hotels, usually a 2 day min. is required. Google hotels. You can rent bikes. It is all flat.
Yes Lake George is a wonderful choice! We are actually going today and staying at the Great Escape Lodge. they have an indoor water park in the hotel and Six Flags is across the street. Six Flags runs the water park too. They have ALOT of things to do in the area. Magic Forest, outlets, boat rides on the lake.
LBI. You can go as high end or low end as you like, and it is SUPER family friendly.
