2 kids, NJ Shore weekend

**BBQ KING** · 08-03-2011, 12:55 PM

looking for a bring nothing but you suit and sunscreen weekend with a 3.5 and 6.5 year old.

Pool, close to the beach, easy to eat (like eating pool side or on the beach)

Found the Pan Ameican and Congress Hall. Which is better, other options?

**NJbound** · 08-03-2011, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by BBQ KING

looking for a bring nothing but you suit and sunscreen weekend with a 3.5 and 6.5 year old.

Pool, close to the beach, easy to eat (like eating pool side or on the beach)

Found the Pan Ameican and Congress Hall. Which is better, other options?

Pan Am in Wildwood is top notch... We have stayed there many times and every time its been wonderful. The beds are excellent.. There is more to do for the kids in Wildwood too.

**BBQ KING** · 08-10-2011, 02:12 PM

thanks.

Congress Hall (per their web site) has some beach chairs, umbrellas, and will "deliver" food on the beach.
Any of that at Pan Am?

**D-man** · 08-11-2011, 10:55 AM

I've never been to the Pan Am, but it looks to me that it is in a different league that Congress Hall. CH is a more upscale hotel, with several restaurants and bars and will cost you at least $100 more per night than the Pan Am. On the other hand, the Pan Am looks to be more family friendly, and there is probably more for kids to do in WW than in Cape May (although Cape May is great for families, there are less amusements, etc.). Congress Hall is probably better for a couple's getaway.

**Molly Pepper** · 08-12-2011, 04:00 PM

I just got back from cape may with my 3 year old and 5 year niece, and it was great. Cape may is just so much nicer then Wildwood, and at Congress hall you are only blocks from the pedestrian mall and the beach. Wildwood is nice to visit for a night for the rides, but I wouldn't want to spend a week there (unless I was single and wanted to drink a large amount)

Of course on the wildwood boardwalk your kids will get an education on the classiest t-shirt comments known in the english language...

**Molly Pepper** · 08-12-2011, 04:02 PM

also the Blue Pig (at the congress hall) has a great breakfest for a descent price...

**theatergypsy** · 08-14-2011, 12:21 PM

Just came back from our annual week in Wildwood Crest with a 6-year-old and an almost-10-year-old. Beach every day, Boardwalk in WW a couple of nights. Saw a free concert with a Billy Joel cover band. Did miniature golf. Played some arcade games with the kids. Fireworks on Friday night. Dinner at a couple of nice restaurants. So-so cheesesteaks at Tony Luke's. A trip to the Cape May Zoo. (Not to be missed!) Took their scooters and challenged them to a long scoot. In all the years we've been going "donna shore", we've never seen an obviously inebriated person and why detractors perceive WW as being only for drunken singles escapes me.
We generally go over to Cape May one evening to wander among the over-priced pretentious shops, stopping to buy books at the small book store. Oh, and ice cream.
Cape May, while it has a lot of history and is a quaint little shore town, is more conducive to adult relaxation than to fun for small children.
And the only tee shirt our kids read on the Boardwalk was one that said "Dad - the human ATM" because we called their attention to it.
The beauty of the Jersey coast is that there is a town for every taste.

**hubba1** · 08-16-2011, 12:01 AM

Originally Posted by theatergypsy

Just came back from our annual week in Wildwood Crest with a 6-year-old and an almost-10-year-old. Beach every day, Boardwalk in WW a couple of nights. Saw a free concert with a Billy Joel cover band. Did miniature golf. Played some arcade games with the kids. Fireworks on Friday night. Dinner at a couple of nice restaurants. So-so cheesesteaks at Tony Luke's. A trip to the Cape May Zoo. (Not to be missed!) Took their scooters and challenged them to a long scoot. In all the years we've been going "donna shore", we've never seen an obviously inebriated person and why detractors perceive WW as being only for drunken singles escapes me.
We generally go over to Cape May one evening to wander among the over-priced pretentious shops, stopping to buy books at the small book store. Oh, and ice cream.
Cape May, while it has a lot of history and is a quaint little shore town, is more conducive to adult relaxation than to fun for small children.
And the only tee shirt our kids read on the Boardwalk was one that said "Dad - the human ATM" because we called their attention to it.
The beauty of the Jersey coast is that there is a town for every taste.

Just don't go down on Irish weekend if ya want to keep that no-drunk people streak going... heh heh. I don't go down there much, but that's because I'm from South Philly, and I think everyone I went to high school with years ago, all go down there every summer... when I get out of the city, I want to get AWAY from the city also, but I do enjoy a day here and there. I do have to get down to Cape May this year though!

**theatergypsy** · 08-18-2011, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by hubba1

Just don't go down on Irish weekend if ya want to keep that no-drunk people streak going... heh heh. I don't go down there much, but that's because I'm from South Philly, and I think everyone I went to high school with years ago, all go down there every summer... when I get out of the city, I want to get AWAY from the city also, but I do enjoy a day here and there. I do have to get down to Cape May this year though!

When I have a strange compulsion to see drunks, I just have to travel 20 minutes north to Scranton on St. Patrick's parade day. That brings out all the amateurs who start at 7AM and are incoherent by 11.

Seriously, I've found the Wildwoods to be very family-friendly. Now maybe if you hang around until 1 or 2 AM, the drunk thing may be more prevalent, but with young kids, you're usually safely back in your condo/bungalow/motel before then. Maybe the town got its reputation back when the legal drinking age was 18?

**AngelB** · 08-21-2011, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by theatergypsy

... In all the years we've been going "donna shore", we've never seen an obviously inebriated person and why detractors perceive WW as being only for drunken singles escapes me... We generally go over to Cape May one evening to wander among the over-priced pretentious shops, stopping to buy books at the small book store. Oh, and ice cream... The beauty of the Jersey coast is that there is a town for every taste.

Couldn't agree more about WW + CM even though I am mainly an OC gal. I hate that WW hasn't shaken that hard old drunken image. It really is a great shore destination.

**hubba1** · 08-22-2011, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by AngelB

Couldn't agree more about WW + CM even though I am mainly an OC gal. I hate that WW hasn't shaken that hard old drunken image. It really is a great shore destination.

I went down O.C this weekend (saturday morning until This morning), actually stayed in Somers point, right at the foot of the bridge basically. First time I have been there in a LONG time, really nice, although I found it funny that it is a dry town, but I guess the teenies get their hands on something in the rooms before they hit the boards. Nothing excessive or rowdy, just a lot of obviously drunk 14-16 year old kids walking around. But that had no negative effect on my trip, was really nice! Had dinner at Charlies in S.P, was told to try the wings... good call! Had a great time walking the boards a few times, hit the beach briefly Saturday afternoon, I'm not a beach guy, the wife is, so we compromised... an hour tops, or until someone nailed us for not having tags, whatever came first..lol. We had Dinner last night at a place called Luigs, right on 9th, after you cross the bridge- not very good, that may have been the only low point of the trip.. The bread was stale and cold, the sauce tasted like Prego and the Chicken parm was basically something you'd get at a diner. But I do suggest Charlies in Somers Point, and a small place- Beach House Grill, right off 9th on Ocean, good breakfast! For some reason never realize how close of a drive it actually is from South Philly, not a bad ride at all and will probably go back one more time before everything closes up.

**AngelB** · 08-24-2011, 12:42 AM

I really like Charlie's but next time in Somer's Point you could try the Anchorage. It is just good food & drinks with a great bay view. Agree about Luigi's too but Clancey's on the boardwalk has been a great alternative for a nice meal out.

Since I was little, OC has always had a few mildly drunk teens on the boards at night or at house parties. Sometimes I bring a cocktail with me to Jilly's at night too. (10 cent skeeball + open 24 hrs... Awesome!) I fully recommend trips in the off season though. Less crowded, no beach tags, and cheaper housing too.

**hubba1** · 08-24-2011, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by AngelB

I really like Charlie's but next time in Somer's Point you could try the Anchorage. It is just good food & drinks with a great bay view. Agree about Luigi's too but Clancey's on the boardwalk has been a great alternative for a nice meal out.

Since I was little, OC has always had a few mildly drunk teens on the boards at night or at house parties. Sometimes I bring a cocktail with me to Jilly's at night too. (10 cent skeeball + open 24 hrs... Awesome!) I fully recommend trips in the off season though. Less crowded, no beach tags, and cheaper housing too.

We tried to do Anchorage for dinner Sunday around 4pm... 90 minute wait... so that's how we ended up at Luigi's... wish we just waited! We were also going to try Baia in Somers point from a friends refferal, but talking to some of the regulars and locals of the area, we decided against it.

**Queen Villager** · 08-28-2011, 12:57 AM

I can't recommend this place highly enough. It's family friendly, the family who runs it is friendly, it's clean, affordable, has a pool, is across the street from the beach and promenade, across the street from an arcade with coin-operated rides for very young kids, walking distance to restaurants, bike rentals and shops. We've stayed there twice and plan to return (although I'm guessing we won't be heading to the NJ shore again this summer, at this point).

We've stayed at other decent places in Cape May and once at a good place in Wildwood Crest. We have an affinity for Cape May, though, and I like this place. I hope they and all the Cape May/NJ shore places are faring well and the folks staying safe from this storm! Same for us here in Philly!

**It'sJessMe** · 08-28-2011, 01:04 AM

Originally Posted by Queen Villager

I can't recommend this place highly enough. It's family friendly, the family who runs it is friendly, it's clean, affordable, has a pool, is across the street from the beach and promenade, across the street from an arcade with coin-operated rides for very young kids, walking distance to restaurants, bike rentals and shops. We've stayed there twice and plan to return (although I'm guessing we won't be heading to the NJ shore again this summer, at this point).

We've stayed at other decent places in Cape May and once at a good place in Wildwood Crest. We have an affinity for Cape May, though, and I like this place. I hope they and all the Cape May/NJ shore places are faring well and the folks staying safe from this storm! Same for us here in Philly!

It sounds exactly like the place we always stay in Cape May! It's not, but it's good to know this place exists if our regular place ever becomes unavailable or not an option.

**Queen Villager** · 08-28-2011, 01:28 PM

Forgot to say that the rooms at the Camelot -- at least some of them -- have separate bedroom and living room, with a kitchenette in between. Makes it nice to stretch out and have separate space from sleeping kids for relaxing.

**It'sJessMe** · 08-28-2011, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Queen Villager

Forgot to say that the rooms at the Camelot -- at least some of them -- have separate bedroom and living room, with a kitchenette in between. Makes it nice to stretch out and have separate space from sleeping kids for relaxing.

Excellent. The place we stay in has only one suite like that, so I try to book it the day they open reservations for the season (Oct 1). Last year while we were there, a lady in the pool said how much she liked the suite we got and asked what day I made my reservation. I told her and then said to my husband that she was going to try to get it ahead of time. Sure enough, I called at 9:15 that morning and it was gone. We had to move our vacation by a week.

**Queen Villager** · 08-28-2011, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by It'sJessMe

Excellent. The place we stay in has only one suite like that, so I try to book it the day they open reservations for the season (Oct 1). Last year while we were there, a lady in the pool said how much she liked the suite we got and asked what day I made my reservation. I told her and then said to my husband that she was going to try to get it ahead of time. Sure enough, I called at 9:15 that morning and it was gone. We had to move our vacation by a week.

Wow, that was, um, aggressive of her. So much for friendly poolside conversation!

**hubba1** · 08-29-2011, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by Queen Villager

Wow, that was, um, aggressive of her. So much for friendly poolside conversation!

Wow, thats rough! lol... she wasted no time huh? I also have a place in Wildwood like this that I have rented a few times, basically the same idea- we went on Irish weekend a few years in a row, we never really left the place, because 1. it was an older crowd, who liked to drink and barebecue, 2. I didn't have to deal with the other crowd that tends to flood the bars in Wildwood that weekend. We had a great time on the patio with other renters,drinking by the pool and having a big cookout with everyone else.