CNBNews

The Wonderful Wildwoods

Story and Photos by Nicole Pensiero

(WILDWOOD, NJ)(July 10, 2023)(CNBNEWS)It’d been many years — ok, decades — since I’d spent any real time in the Wildwoods, the famed South Jersey beach resort made up of three towns -- Wildwood, North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest.

But a recent visit left me enthralled with all three communities — and a bit befuddled as to why I’d stayed away for so long. I’ll admit, like many other New Jersey residents, I’d gotten into a rut with my summer shore routine, making repeated runs to the same beaches, weekend after weekend.

I knew it was time to mix it up a bit, and I’d heard good things about Wildwood. Ends up, our three-day getaway had me convinced I’d discovered what might just be the best place on New Jersey’s coast: free, massive beaches; a fun boardwalk with rides and attractions; and lots of great dining options. Plus, it was extremely clean — the beaches, the boardwalk, and the streets— and had a vacation-friendly vibe that actually reminded me a bit of California’s pristine beaches.

After making a quick stop at the Doo Wop Experience Museum to learn more about the town’s history and some of its mid-century modern motel designs, we headed off to our accommodations to get our mini-vacation underway. The Port Royal Hotel, located on the beach in Wildwood Crest, was everything we could have wanted. A high-rise, four-star hotel, it features a full-service restaurant, as well as a spacious swimming pool. We loved our balcony view of the ocean, too. It was perfect.

There is so much to see and experience in the Wildwoods that it’s not possible to do it all in three days — but that’s not to say we didn’t try! From boardwalk strolls to beach time and boat rides, we savored all this fabulous place had to offer.

Why Wildwood?

It’s easy to see why so many visitors love the Wildwoods. For one thing, it won’t cost you a dime to relax at the shore; that’s right, no beach tags. And no feeling of being on top of other sun-lovers, either. These beaches are as wide as some shore town’s beaches are narrow --so much so, that you can use an inexpensive beach “taxi service” to get you down to the water and back. The 38-block-long Boardwalk is legendary for its fun vibe and many amusements. The three Morey’s Piers are the big-ticket items; you can ride the rides ‘til you’re giddy. There’s even a diner on the Boardwalk, something I’ve never seen in a shore town before.

I was also impressed to see a dog park located on the beach at Glenwood Avenue in Wildwood. You’ll spot it immediately; there’s a giant fire hydrant sculpture. Hours are 6 a.m. to dusk. Dogs are welcome on Wildwood’s and Wildwood Crest’s beaches from October to May, and on the North Wildwood beach anytime except when lifeguards are present, but are not allowed on the Boardwalk.

Speaking of which, we enjoyed riding the famous tram car up and down the boards. In operation since 1949, trams operate on the Boardwalk from 16th Street in North Wildwood, to Cresse Avenue at the Wildwoods/Wildwood Crest border. For $5, it’s a great way to get around and runs from 11 a.m. until the amusement piers close.

Speaking of which, those piers are another great thing that sets Wildwood apart. Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Water Parks offer amazing rides and activities for visitors of all ages. There are also several great places to eat at these three piers, too; we enjoyed Founders Grub & Pub and were knocked over by the beachfront setting at PigDog Beach Bar BQ, where we enjoyed terrific pulled pork sandwiches. It was relaxing and fun, all at once. The Wildwood Boardwalk at night is a sensory overload of sights, sounds and smells -– the quintessential summer experience. Along with our meals at two of the Morey’s eateries, we had another fun time with food at North Wildwood’s popular Maui’s Dog House. This family-friendly outdoor restaurant (now in its 24^th year) serves up freshly made hot dogs with more than 29 creative toppings. And if you’re not in the mood for a dog, there are also burgers and chicken sandwiches, not to mention some terrific side dishes.

And then there’s the Wildwoods Doo Wop vibe! Home to the country’s largest concentration of mid-century commercial architecture, mid-century themedhotels/motels and businesses can be seen throughout the five-mile island. More than 90 historically significant motels remain in the Wildwoods, while some businesses, such as the TD Bank, McDonald's and Wawa have incorporated the Doo Wop theme into their architecture. In 2011, the 1957 Caribbean Motel was named to the Historic Hotels of America registry — the only motel to ever receive that designation. I should mention that a Doo Wop Tour runs every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night throughout the summer. For a small fee, guests can learn about the shapes, images and symbols of the Wildwoods’ ‘50s architecture, along with the Space Age infatuation of that era.

We especially loved the beach near our hotel. The Wildwoods beaches the widest in the state; so much so that there’s a nominally-priced taxi service to shuttle visitors to and from the beach to make things easier. We didn’t mind the walk, though, and were impressed by how clean the beach was and happy to find equally clean portable potties at our disposal.

The last night of our getaway proved the perfect ending to our fantastic Jersey Shore getaway. A two-hour Starlight Fleet Dolphin Tour proved both educational and fun. Not only did we spot several dolphins (learning about them from the crew’s onboard naturalist), but we also enjoyed incredible views of the Cape May lighthouse and the nearly sunken SS Atlantus, a concrete (yes, concrete) World War I ship that ran aground in 1926. Plus, there was a breathtaking sunset to wrap it all up.

Afterward, we headed to the popular Mudhen Brewing Company, which features a full-service bar and outdoor restaurant with entertainment. We enjoyed our beer flights and burgers immensely; the food is very high-quality.

The next morning, we headed down to the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse in North Wildwood on our way home. Built in 1874 and the most important historic structure on Five Mile Beach, the lighthouse is open to the public and still functions as an active navigational aid maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. Admission is free and you can also stroll around its gardens.

The Wildwoods are known for hosting numerous events and festivals — more than 150 each year — including the recent four-day Barefoot Country Music Fest, which drew over 30,000 country music fans. There’s a popular Irish Festival, a Kite Festival and of course, the historically significant National Marbles Tournament, held each year. The full listing of upcoming events can be found here.

We can’t wait to return again to the Wildwoods; I’m already thinking about a longer trip for next summer. For more information, visit: www.wildwoodsnj.com

Nicole Pensiero is a South Jersey-based writer and a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association.