MetaChat - Things to do in NJ when you're not on a beach vacation.

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18 June 2008

Things to do in NJ when you're not on a beach vacation. We're headed to Wildwood Crest, NJ for a weekend beach vacation with some extended family we haven't seen in a while. Our hotel is booked and offers beach access as well as a pool. Trouble is, I'm not much of a beach person. I burn easily, don't really care to swim in salt water, and was traumatized by multiple jellyfish encounters as a child. I'm also not much of a shopper.

On the plus side there is at least a boardwalk.
I also found an events calendar.

Anything else I should check out?

post by: turtlegirl at: 21:11 | 7 comments

May I be the first to welcome turtlegirl to MetaChat as a full member after so long lurking here, and on #bunnies :)

yay!

posted by terrapin 18 June | 21:50

Welcome, turtlegirl!

I cannot help you, as the closest I've ever been to New Jersey was Vermont. Good luck, though.

posted by bmarkey 18 June | 21:54

You'll be busy soaking up the Peaches & Herb and Cinderella. Ooh, look, the Bacon Brothers! i know why they call it Wildwood!

Youth For Christ Beach Summer Splash, anyone?

posted by ethylene 18 June | 22:10

It's a little up the road, but make sure you go see Lucy, the Margate elephant.

posted by plinth 18 June | 22:29

Oh man, I was just in Wildwood for a beach vacation a few weeks ago. We spent four or five days at the American Inn in North Wildwood with my partner's extended family, then a few days in Philly.

The boardwalk is fun, but not my kind of every-day fun. Mostly there are some tacky tourist shops, some fake casinos (win tickets for prizes, not money), and some roller coasters at Morey's Piers. It will be full of recent high school graduates no doubt. But don't miss the Kohr's Brothers ice cream, it's awesome.

There are a few okay mini-golf courses nearby. Cape May is a great little town about 45 minutes away that was absolutely adorable and I wanted to take it home. There's a movie theatre near the KMart in Rio Grande (there's one on the boardwalk, too, but it's teeny). We also took a day and drove up to Atlantic City, did a bit of gambling, and walked their boardwalk.

Mostly, Wildwood is a beach vacation town. I burn very easily and also have a big sun sensitivity that shows via huge and itchy sun rash. I spent maybe an hour a day on the beach, which is way more than I should have (see: rash, above). I was concerned that I would be bored with nothing to do, but I really wasn't. It was just a slower pace.

posted by rhapsodie 19 June | 00:34

This website might help. It offers lots of different things all around the state, some you may not have considered before. What about a kayak trip?

Also seconding Cape May. They have a great zoo, Exit 11 on the Parkway, just follow the signs. You can visit Sunset Beach, to look for Cape May Diamonds on the beach there, or even catch a ferry over to Lewes, Delaware. It's actually my favorite spot in New Jersey, and I try to make it there once a year. Have fun!!

posted by redvixen 19 June | 06:21

Thanks everyone! Looks like I'll be able to safely avoid the sun, surf and Cinderella with your valuable suggestions.

posted by turtlegirl 19 June | 07:44

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