Cape May or Wildwood, NJ?

[Anonymous]

We are thinking of a soccer team weekend/tournament in NJ in mid August - Cape May or Wildwood better to stay? Also - anyone stay at/can recommend a cute, reasonably priced motel near the beach for a biggish group (probably 6 rooms or so)?

[Anonymous]

Cape May, but you might also want to look into Ocean City.

[Anonymous]

Cape May is a quiet but classy village. Wildwood is a seedy trash beach town. Don’t get me wrong — it’s fun in its own way but you need to know what you’re getting into. They couldn’t be more different.

One thing to consider is you have to pay for beach access in Cape May. Not so in Wildwood.

I would stay in Cape May and do one night on the boardwalk in Wildwood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cape May is a quiet but classy village. Wildwood is a seedy trash beach town. Don’t get me wrong — it’s fun in its own way but you need to know what you’re getting into. They couldn’t be more different.

One thing to consider is you have to pay for beach access in Cape May. Not so in Wildwood.

I would stay in Cape May and do one night on the boardwalk in Wildwood.

+1

[Anonymous]

The players will enjoy Wildwood more. You can go to Cape May for the downtown area for fun. More likely to find lodging in Wildwood, too.

[Anonymous]

Wildwood is where everyone goes when they don’t want to pay for beach access and it is overrun by people who trash the beaches. The lodging there is also very dated. Cape May is beautiful and scenic and a really great place to take a group of kids/teens. Much safer than Wildwood. You could do one night at the boardwalk in WW but be sure to supervise the kids. There is also a large grocery store near Cape May where you can grab snacks if you need them for the weekend. Highly suggest taking the group to look for sea glass if in CM.

[Anonymous]

NORTH Wildwood. Much more low-key than Wildwood proper, free beaches, and an easy walk to the controlled(?) chaos of the boardwalk.

Not sure whether there are hotels there or not, but you could find a big house.

[Anonymous]

Not wildwood!!! Cape May is nice, but I was there last summer and hotel rates were about $1000 a night in August. I agree OCNJ.

[Anonymous]

As a kid, I loved Wildwood and hated Cape May. Cape May is too stuffy and boring. We used to stay in Wildwood Crest, specifically, and go to the Wildwood boardwalk in the evenings. I took my kids there a couple years ago for nostalgia's sake, and they loved it. Beautiful huge beach and family vibe.

[Anonymous]

OCNJ is a nice middle ground.

Or Cape May.

Wildwood only for the afternoon/night if you need a fix of tshirt shops and amusement rides.

[Anonymous]

Wildwood is disgusting and seedy. 100% Cape May. My tween/teen love Cape May.

[Anonymous]

PP above - I also wouldn't be comfortable with my kids on the boardwalk alone in WW, most especially after dark (was there just last summer for a day and have been before). Whereas, in Cape May, my tween is fine walking around in the evening.

[Anonymous]

North Wildwood or Wildwood Crest. They're not seedy, you can rent a bunch of condo apartments if it works better for your group, you can walk to the boardwalk attractions and do the fun stuff but it's totally safe and easy at night. The prices will be much better for a large group than in Cape May.

[Anonymous]

Cape May. Wildwood is fine but honky-tonk.

[Anonymous]

This isn't really a choice. I'm not sure what hotels you're going to get at this point for a weekend in midsummer. PP noted prices. Most houses are rented through an agency by the week (Sat to Sat). Agree kids will like the Wildwood boardwalk. OCNJ is a middle ground if you can find something. You may get lucky with an AirBNB.