Even if you don't drink, it is obvious that the dinner restaurants are much better right outside of Ocean City. Fourth Street Cafe is good, but besides boardwalk food there aren't many places to recomend for dinner.

Supermom, have you considered Cape May? It's only 20-25 minutes farther down the Parkway, is very family oriented, has great restaurants many of which are family friendly as well as many byob. It's not a dry town either.
While it is known for it's plethora of beautiful BnB's, it has a large selection of hotels and motels with easy beach access, if not a beach view. Perfect for biking with your babe on two or one of those four wheeled things, or just pushing the stroller around the mall and Victorian streets.
If you want more info pm me, or peruse www.capemaytimes.com.

(all in no specific order)

Family

Ocean City
Cape May
Sea Isle
North Wildwood and the Crest

Teen

Wildwood (central)

Adult

Atlantic City

College

Sea Isle
Margate/Ventnor

Purchase

Stone harbor
Avalon
Margate
Ventnor
North Wildwoood & the Crest

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It's too tall..! it ruins the feel of the city..! It casts massive shadows..! It's an architectural nightmare..! We should stand together and fight this monstrosity that threatens our homes..! ...but amazingly no one tore down the Eiffel Tower.

or.. why we shouldn't always listen to "neighborhood groups" and critics.

I didn't know Cape May was a choice. That's my first choice for any shore town.

PM me also if you need help w/ restaurants or B&B's. You might also consider Heritage Southwinds or Summer Station - 2 bedrooms, small kitchen off of a small living room.

Oh yes, I forgot about Cape May. Now I'm confused, which ones are better Cape May vs OC vs WW? I havent been to any of the beaches in NJ since I just moved to Philadelphia and I'm looking forward to spending a weekend with my family. Anymore inputs will be greatly appreciated.

Spent my summers as a teenager in OCNJ and we still travel back there every summer past OCMD and Wildwood from southeren Virginia. Wildwood is fun and my older kids like to go for a night or two when we are on vacation. However, OCMD is not in the same league as OCNJ. JMD

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I refused to attend his funeral. But I wrote a very nice letter explaining that I approved of it.

Mark Twain

First off...these are all little thin islands that sit off the coast with marshland inbetween. You have to take causeways out to them but all the little islands are connected N/S. All of these islands below are south of AC.


Cape May - Very old historic victorian homes in a small community of B&B, restaurans, shops etc. It's the southern point of NJ. Quiet and family oriented. May have a little trouble getting a room. Small beaches and a cool lighthouse. (Also a ferry to Del if you want to go for a boat ride)

Ocean City - Somewhat bigger typical jersey shore town. It's a "dry" town so it's family oriented. Not mush to do after dark but the mainland town of Somers Point has some restaurants. Good beaches and a little commercial strip with local shops. Not too touristy.

Sea Isle - Family and college town. Similar to OC but more of a party scene. Some nightlife and a little boardwalk with small rides for the kids. I personally like Sea Isle the best.

Wildwood - Old resort town with rows and rows of cheap 50's style motels. Exptensive entertainment boardwalk with large Roller Coasters (basically a mini-Six Flags) Very touristy and a little beat up. Dozens of arcades, pizza shops, junkie tourist shops, a little tramcar train that rides on the boardwalk. This is a great place to go for a night and is only really worth staying if your a teenager. The beaches kinda suck but are huge anf free. There's also tow large water parks right on the ocean. Go for a night. Expect thousands of people. The boardwalk is about 20? blocks long.

North Wildwood & the Crest (south wildwood) Wildwood's a big Island and the top and bottom could be viewed as the burbs. Quiet single homes and quiet beaches. The boardwalks ends here and this is where you want to stay if you're staying in the wildwoods.

Stone Harbor, Avalon - Owned residences. This is where people own property and "summer" small towns with small town feel. Not much to do but great if you know someone who lives there and rents out.

There's more but ...that should be enough to get started.

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It's too tall..! it ruins the feel of the city..! It casts massive shadows..! It's an architectural nightmare..! We should stand together and fight this monstrosity that threatens our homes..! ...but amazingly no one tore down the Eiffel Tower.

or.. why we shouldn't always listen to "neighborhood groups" and critics.

There's plenty to do in Ocean City, NJ......check it out..........


http://www.oceancityvacation.com/events.htm

Ummmmmmm, excuse me. Didn't you tell me it would be perfectly fine for my daughter to go to Senior week in WW with a pack of young men? LOL BTW no she did not. Not a Senior.

Little kids the first time they lay eyes on the lights, and smell those fries, and funnell cake, and hear those wheels turning, and those jacked up barkers yelling "Come and get her da Hello Kitty" I swear they often wet their pants.

I don't have little ones anymore, and as kids my dad took us there, and dropped us off with our mom, and left. he HATED Wildwood. Man, took us anywhere in the world, but just hated it. My friends boyfriend is from some posh, uppity Hollywoody kind of place. When he visited she had to take him just to see it. You can't explain it. Nowhere in the world is Wildwood except Wildwood.

Cape May is alright for little ones. The promenade has an arcade, and tiny rides. No drunken teen is falling over your kids coach usually. Hey, it happens. Fine dinning is good there at the Independence Hall. Nice tours. Minature golph. Just don't put them kids on one of those surreys. Lord no.

Nobody mentioned Rehoboth. I haven't been in a few years, but I LOVE Rehoboth with or without little kids. Nice little rides. Quiet crowd. Then ya have the entire other part of great restaurants, and dancing later.

That dang Virginia beach though. Might as well just have a jet land on your head. I love a little hotel there. Cool architecture, and virtually across the street from the beach. You have a view even. Instead of those huge hotels they got on that ummmmmm, walkway, promenade, whatever it is.

I recommend this place Cutty Sark. Miami style architecture. Cute as heck, and sweet people. Just those jets scare the heck out of you if you don't get scared off by some nut-nut following ya home from the strip.

Oh too. Seaside. SEASIDE!!! Love it. The grit, and dirt, and the big drop in the ocean. The New Yorkers ordering all that food, and man, can they walk, and eat. I'd only takle the kids there off season, and for the day. Easter is cool in Seaside. Talk about Wheels. Love when my nephews scam and have us all cover every single name or number so ya win each time.

Alright. Who's goin downthe shore? Avalon? Lived every summer of my youth in that bay all summer long. Obviously that's where my problems started. Stone Harbor? Whoever got the place let's go.

Otherwise i advise P-Town. Hobknob with the rich, famous, and weird. I want to go to Provincetwon before summer is up. Anyone wants to run away from kids for a few days just PM me. I am outta here.

Oh, sorry for the hijack. I know this was for kids. I don't own one of them. I am in posession of a person called a TEEN GIRL. Thus my need to run away.

Me! Me! In August, I'm rentin' the same house in OC, NJ we've had since the early '90's. Spent many a happy summer vacation there with my kids.

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Don't make me send my flying monkeys after you!