Summer vacation: NYC and NJ with kids

[papie]

Change of plans. We were originally thinking we would have to use our aimiles this year, because if we have a baby next year, we were worried about them expiring before we use them, so we were planning on Florida this spring.  We just realized that they only expire at the end of 2016, so we have plenty of time to get the missing airmiles for a family trip to Greece in 2014 or 2015 (depending on baby timing).  


So this summer, we think we would like to drive to NYC (we can park at SIL's appt in Manhattan for $25/day), spend 2-3 days there, and then head for a beach in NJ for a few days, then drive back.  Are there any CUTE beach towns on the Jersey Shore? I have never been.  Where would you recommend we go? How long a drive from NYC? Also, keep in mind the drive back to Montreal, so we don't want to be driving too far away. 

Also, NYC with kids.  Walk me through this (or travelling to any big city with young kids).  Do you bring a stroller? Walk a lot? Take the subway? Do you feel comfortable taking a cab without carseats? We obviously don't want to drive, which is what we do here when we go downtown with the girls.  Last time we went to NYC, we just walked all day long for 5 days, but I am not sure it will work very well with the kids.  Also, SIL is offering to watch the kids one night so that we can go see a show.  We definitely want to go to the Natural History Museum, Anna has been dreaming of seeing dinosaur bones. 

Also, we are thinking june.  Will the water be too cold for a beach vacation?

[Deleted]

IMO, the shore towns get cuter the further south you go. How far of a drive are you willing to do from NYC?

[toepick]

I'm from Manasquan, which is just over an hour from NYC. There are tons of cute beach towns in Monmouth County - Spring Lake and Sea Girt have (or used to have - not sure how reconstruction is going) traditional wooden boardwalks and are very family-friendly. Manasquan and Pt. Pleasant have more attractions - rides, arcades, restaurants on the beachfront. In my opinion, you don't have to go all the way to Southern NJ to find a good beach, especially if you don't have a lot of time.

[toepick]

Oh, in June the water will be pretty cold - low 60s in the early part of the month. Mid 60s by the end typically. I just describe it as "refreshing"!

[jerseygrl]

I'm not familiar with the beach towns in North but South has some real nice ones.

Ocean City is a family favorite.  Dry town, boardwalk, rides, junk food, mini golf

Sea Isle is like a mini OC with alcohol

Cape May is my most favorite.  No rides but quaint, victorian houses, alcohol and quiet town.

Stay away from Wildwood if you want cute but it is a very close drive from Cape May if you want to do amusements with the kids

[gozf]

Ocean City N.J. is very family-friendly and cute. I grew up going there, as did my parents. They go back every year, and I often accompany them. In June, actually. Maybe I'll see you on the boardwalk! lol.

[Deleted]

I'm a Stone Harbor girl through and through. We go every summer for a week.

[papie]

DRY town? Those exist? Yikes! That doesn't sound fun at all, lol. So does that mean, no wine at restaurants? If it is the case, I have to eliminate all those.

[gozf]

Feb 26, 2013 11:06:12 GMT -5 papie said:

DRY town? Those exist? Yikes! That doesn't sound fun at all, lol. So does that mean, no wine at restaurants? If it is the case, I have to eliminate all those.

You can't BYOB to a restaurant, but there are two HUGE liquor stores on the other side of each bridge.  It's not the worst thing in the world!  I just drink stealthily on the beach.  And at the rental after the beach.  And after dinner.

[ering1115]

Feb 26, 2013 11:07:05 GMT -5 @beagle said:

Feb 26, 2013 11:06:12 GMT -5 papie said:

DRY town? Those exist? Yikes! That doesn't sound fun at all, lol. So does that mean, no wine at restaurants? If it is the case, I have to eliminate all those.

It's only Ocean City. You cannot drink at the restaurants and they don't sell alcohol in the town.

That's why you should go to Sea Isle City

Correct- but the restaurants are meh anyway.  You go for the boardwalk and fried goodness up there. There is a liquor store immediately before you get over any bridge to enter the island.  I really like OCNJ for a trip with kiddos.  There are also decent plaves to eat with booze in Sommers Point or the surrounding towns. 

I am also a huge fan of Brigantine.  Not a ton to do but decent restaurants and a $20 cab to Atlantic City for the adults.

[Deleted]

Feb 26, 2013 10:58:20 GMT -5 jerseygrl said:

I'm not familiar with the beach towns in North but South has some real nice ones.

Ocean City is a family favorite.  Dry town, boardwalk, rides, junk food, mini golf

Sea Isle is like a mini OC with alcohol

Cape May is my most favorite.  No rides but quaint, victorian houses, alcohol and quiet town.

Stay away from Wildwood if you want cute but it is a very close drive from Cape May if you want to do amusements with the kids

Ditto on the comments about Cape May and Wildwood. It can take a while to drive down from NYC on the weekends, though, but I'm sure that's true of any NJ beach.

[papie]

Thanks for all the recs. I am thinking we may stop for a night in Lake George NY on the way home to cut the long drive back. We would probably be driving to the beach on Tuesday or something, not on a friday, so the traffic should be better, right?

I may be pregnant then, so I guess H can buy himself some wine and beer and drink on the beach or at night.

Are there nice condos/mini cottages near the beach in Ocean City? Do you have to book them months in advance?

[papie]

Cape May and go to Wildwood for a day could be cool.

[lightbulbsun]

Avalon and Stone Harbor are cute family beach towns. They're a longer drive from NYC, but I think it's worth it.

[jerseygrl]

Feb 26, 2013 11:20:27 GMT -5 papie said:

Thanks for all the recs. I am thinking we may stop for a night in Lake George NY on the way home to cut the long drive back. We would probably be driving to the beach on Tuesday or something, not on a friday, so the traffic should be better, right?

I may be pregnant then, so I guess H can buy himself some wine and beer and drink on the beach or at night.

Are there nice condos/mini cottages near the beach in Ocean City? Do you have to book them months in advance?

Ocean City is mainly houses and usually houses that can fit up to 2-3 families.  They do have B&B's and condos as well.  I would contact a realtor in OC to ask about availability.  I don't think it is necessary to book months in advance I would call to make sure

[Deleted]

Feb 26, 2013 11:26:53 GMT -5 lightbulbsun said:

Avalon and Stone Harbor are cute family beach towns. They're a longer drive from NYC, but I think it's worth it.

:Y: Especially if you are breaking up the drive home. And traffic will be easy on a Tuesday.

[ering1115]

Feb 26, 2013 11:20:27 GMT -5 papie said:

Thanks for all the recs. I am thinking we may stop for a night in Lake George NY on the way home to cut the long drive back. We would probably be driving to the beach on Tuesday or something, not on a friday, so the traffic should be better, right?

I may be pregnant then, so I guess H can buy himself some wine and beer and drink on the beach or at night.

Are there nice condos/mini cottages near the beach in Ocean City? Do you have to book them months in advance?

There are condos and duplexes (top/bottom and side-by-side).  The further south on the island you go, the more reasonable the rates would be.  I'm not sure how a mid week rental would work- there are some condo style hotels that might be a better choice for you.  Some people book when they leave for the following year, but there should be plenty of properties available now and well into April. 

[irishgrl417]

I really like Ocean City as far as boardwalk with amusements go but it is a bit of a ride from NYC. If you don't want to go that far, Point Pleasant has lots of kids friendly things. I usually go to Long Beach Island for the beach. They don't have a boardwalk but there is a little amusement area for kids.

Wildwood has a huge boardwalk with amusements but the walk from the boardwalk to the water feels so long that I don't like going to the beach there. It's also a far ride from NYC. I always see a lot of Quebec license plates down there and wonder if they advertise up there because that seems like such a long drive to make.

[lelolopa]

Check the beaches and reports as some/most towns down the NJ shore were devastated/ruined last fall by Sandy.

[papie]

Feb 26, 2013 12:42:39 GMT -5 lelolopa said:

Check the beaches and reports as some/most towns down the NJ shore were devastated/ruined last fall by Sandy.

Do you know where I can find out that sort of info?

Any NJ people can weigh in on that?

[Deleted]

Feb 26, 2013 12:55:26 GMT -5 papie said:

Feb 26, 2013 12:42:39 GMT -5 lelolopa said:

Check the beaches and reports as some/most towns down the NJ shore were devastated/ruined last fall by Sandy.

Do you know where I can find out that sort of info?

Any NJ people can weigh in on that?

Not from NJ, but we were in Cape May after the hurricane and it was fine. I saw a woman at the rest stop outside of Atlantic City on the phone with her insurance agent talking about trying to salvage some belongings before leaving for good. It probably varies based on beach. 

[mushmouse]

I LOVE Cape May and there seem to be a lot of Canadians there in the summer. People have said that towns south of Atlantic City just suffered some flooding and not the horrific damage of other places. I live near Sandy Hook and the damage is bad there and along there - Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach devastated.

For the city I use a stroller - the lighter the better. I don't like the idea of cabs without car seats and the subway is always much faster. How old are your kids - carriers are good too for littler ones. I love the dinosaurs but would also definitely go to the Central Park Zoo.

[jerseygrl]

Feb 26, 2013 12:55:26 GMT -5 papie said:

Feb 26, 2013 12:42:39 GMT -5 lelolopa said:

Check the beaches and reports as some/most towns down the NJ shore were devastated/ruined last fall by Sandy.

Do you know where I can find out that sort of info?

Any NJ people can weigh in on that?

Any shore town south of Atlantic City you will be fine.  No devastation (at least nothing major)

This includes:
Ocean City
Avalon
Stone Harbor
Strathmere
Sea Isle
Wildwood
Cape May

gozf made a really good point.  You can get liquor outside of OC and bring it to your condo.  Just no drinking in the restaurants.  FTR, Manco and Manco is the tourists favorite pizza in OC but I don't agree (maybe because I'm a local).  I vote primo pizza or preps pizza

[papie]

mushmouse, they will be 5.5 and almost 3 this coming summer. I guess the ergo would still work with Sophia, I still wear her sometimes in a ring sling for short periods, but she is already 35 lbs, and wants up/down constantly.

[papie]

Feb 26, 2013 13:05:20 GMT -5 jerseygrl said:

Feb 26, 2013 12:55:26 GMT -5 papie said:

Do you know where I can find out that sort of info?

Any NJ people can weigh in on that?

Any shore town south of Atlantic City you will be fine.  No devastation (at least nothing major)

This includes:
Ocean City
Avalon
Stone Harbor
Strathmere
Sea Isle
Wildwood
Cape May

gozf made a really good point.  You can get liquor outside of OC and bring it to your condo.  Just no drinking in the restaurants.  FTR, Manco and Manco is the tourists favorite pizza in OC but I don't agree (maybe because I'm a local).  I vote primo pizza or preps pizza

OK, this is great to know.  I was getting worried that maybe it wasn't the best timing for the Jersey shore. 

[jerseygrl]

Feb 26, 2013 13:10:19 GMT -5 romymichele said:

Feb 26, 2013 13:05:20 GMT -5 jerseygrl said:

Any shore town south of Atlantic City you will be fine.  No devastation (at least nothing major)

This includes:
Ocean City
Avalon
Stone Harbor
Strathmere
Sea Isle
Wildwood
Cape May

gozf made a really good point.  You can get liquor outside of OC and bring it to your condo.  Just no drinking in the restaurants.  FTR, Manco and Manco is the tourists favorite pizza in OC but I don't agree (maybe because I'm a local).  I vote primo pizza or preps pizza

I know that it's now Manco and Manco, but I will forever call it Mack and Manco.

I still call it Mack and Manco too.  Manco and Manco doesn't sound right at all

[mushmouse]

Feb 26, 2013 13:07:08 GMT -5 papie said:

mushmouse, they will be 5.5 and almost 3 this coming summer. I guess the ergo would still work with Sophia, I still wear her sometimes in a ring sling for short periods, but she is already 35 lbs, and wants up/down constantly.

I'd go with the stroller then!  I wouldn't plan on cabs all the time, but I'd probably jump in one if I had to get across town.

Depending on how far south you go for the Jersey part of the trip - there is a place called Storybook Land near Egg Harbor NJ (it's past LBI).  It's a toddler theme park and it is absolutely fantastic.  Maybe you could go for a day or half a day.

If you go to the Central Park zoo make sure you stop to see this clock Delacorte Clock
go off.  My son loves it!

[snipsnsnails]

The water will be cold. And most of the family-friendly sots are like people said, in South Jersey, so you're looking at 2-4 hours to drive and maybe more with traffic (which sucks in the summer or the NJ Turnpike. Point Pleasant is close-ish and a nice beach and a decent boardwalk, though I haven't been since sandy.

In NYC, I'd count on the subway and strollers and trying to plan within one neighborhood or close parts of the city each day.

[murdock]

Feb 26, 2013 12:55:26 GMT -5 papie said:

Feb 26, 2013 12:42:39 GMT -5 lelolopa said:

Check the beaches and reports as some/most towns down the NJ shore were devastated/ruined last fall by Sandy.

Do you know where I can find out that sort of info?

Any NJ people can weigh in on that?

For Monmouth and Ocean County beaches, there are updates on this local news site. www.app.com
They don't really cover Atlantic and Cape May counties.

Point Pleasant's arcades and aquarium opened 2 weeks ago, and they are working on the boardwalk every day. The aquarium is a little smelly from the flooding (in case that's a total turn off)but it was great to see it fully functioning.

I've read Memorial Day weekend as the grand re-opening for the boardwalk a few times, that I can remember. Of course, a few things will still be closed.

[ering1115]

I love Jenkinson's in PP- they used to bring their penguins out to some of my grade school science classes for me.

Storybook land is great for your girls' age group. If you can find some sort of a coupon code, do it. I love the place but hate the cost. We have been to Brigantine, OC, and AC since Sandy and all of them were fine for the most part. There are some people who are still figuring things out with their homes, but the cities are doing well. It will be beneficial for the tourists to come back and pump some money into the local economies at this point. Some homes in Brigantine will need to be torn down and completely reconstructed, from what I know, a lot of this work is already underway. None of the ones I know about are on the beach or would be a rental anyway.

If you have more specific questions about neighborhoods or hotels as you plan let me know and I will give you the scoop, if I know it.