We were in North Wildwood earlier this summer. Great house very close to the beach (youngest was 2.5 and she walked it), easy access to the boardwalk for morning walks and bike rides. We found the beach quite wide and the water was great. It does get a little more honkey-tonk as you go south into Wildwood proper, but we didn't spend any time on the boardwalk in the evening. The retro hotels in WW Crest looked interesting.

Did some kayaking on the bay side and noted a ton of pro-Trump flags on houses and boats.

Anonymous wrote:I am in Wildwood right now for a last minute trip.
We have stayed in the Crest a few times, Rehobeth, OCMD, OCNJ, Avalon and several other Jersey Shore locations.
At the end if the day it really depends on what you are looking for.
The Crest has some really cute condos, homes with private pools and the beach is huge. You can go out for ice cream, do a day trip to Cape May and avoid the boardwalk if you want.
However Wildwood is def the equiv of OCMD. We are only here b/c our teen was begging for a quick weekend at the shore. That said the hotel we are in is decent, while not our crowd, everyone is super nice, lots of people wearing masks, and people doing their own thing. If I was to pick, of course Avalon or OC or even Long Beach Island, but 14-15 year olds want something to do.
It depends on your scene but nothing to put down and certainly not feeling unsafe. Different strokes for different folks.

I was at Wildwood not long ago. I'm not an OCMD fan but I would say OCMD has Wildwood beat hands down on the quality of hotels. I know this sounds snooty but I will only go to OCMD if I stay at the Hilton (thank goodness for HH points) or any of the newer and nicer hotels in the area.

I am in Wildwood right now for a last minute trip.
We have stayed in the Crest a few times, Rehobeth, OCMD, OCNJ, Avalon and several other Jersey Shore locations.
At the end if the day it really depends on what you are looking for.
The Crest has some really cute condos, homes with private pools and the beach is huge. You can go out for ice cream, do a day trip to Cape May and avoid the boardwalk if you want.
However Wildwood is def the equiv of OCMD. We are only here b/c our teen was begging for a quick weekend at the shore. That said the hotel we are in is decent, while not our crowd, everyone is super nice, lots of people wearing masks, and people doing their own thing. If I was to pick, of course Avalon or OC or even Long Beach Island, but 14-15 year olds want something to do.
It depends on your scene but nothing to put down and certainly not feeling unsafe. Different strokes for different folks.

Anonymous wrote:Oh, you do not want any part of wildwood NJ. It is bad. Way worse than OC MD. Nothing quaint about it. Agree with pp, look at OC NJ or Avalon. Much nicer.

When people say 'Wildwood' most dont realize it isn't just 1 town...its 4... The Wildwoods.

There is Wildwood.....older, crowded, the Boardwalk runs along the beach there, rents are lower so lots of college age kids, bars also in town and some clubs, and this is also where a lot of year round residents live, more lower income...not the first choice. They are trying to improve this area.

There is North Wildwood...nicer. quieter, family friendly, has predominantly been blue collar Irish Catholic, they have a big Irish festival in the fall, not much to do but the Boardwalk starts here. The beach is small and crowded and the water very rough.

West Wildwood is a small bonnet of residences.

Wildwood Crest has a huge beach that is raked everyday so it is clean. It's the nicest of the 4. Quiet, family oriented, some delis, pizzarias, restaurants, and over on Sunset lake you can rent waverunners, sail boats, etc. This is the best of the 4.....lots of retro motels but also new construction condos and rentals. Beach is lovely and huge...can walk out into the water and also swim.....tide pools for little ones. I'm partial to the Crest. At one point WWC tried to separate itself from the others and renamed itself. You're also just a short ride from the Wildwood 2 1/2 mile Boardwalk and Cape May's Victorian homes and B & Bs, great restaurants and nice shops, a small boardwalk and shops along their beach as well.

I live in wildwood. I have no idea what all of you are saying. We are a tight community. Never felt unsafe here. I guess it changed. I been living here for 4 years each year it gets better and better. This year do much is going on they are building everywhere and all the new shops. I would never leave here. I live on wildwood ave right in the heart. I think people put a stigma on such things they have no idea about. I wish everyone a happy and healthy vacation, where ever you go. Peace ☮️

PPs have summed it up pretty well but I will add

Pro: the beach is very wide in wildwood, widest I’ve seen in NJ or anywhere nearby (500y according to us news, https://travel.usnews.com/rankings/best-beaches-in-new-jersey/)

Con: definitely not quiet and you may not be able to enjoy its strengths currently (boardwalk)

Wildwood New Jersey is a place with lots of color and crowds of fun. I grew up in it and while it had its questionable places and moments, the entire island is like living the feeling you get when you attend a fair. It’s has reasonable pricing to stay and free beaches that are clean. Bulkheads are great places to fish and crab done there along with many commercial places to go deep sea fishing. Bayside and seaside hold both enjoyable experience to explore and sightsee. It has more fun and family oriented events and attractions than OC or AC. I believe wildwood is a gem.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The name escapes me, but there is a really nice resort in Wildwood with its own beach, pools, etcetera.

Seapointe village perhaps?

ICONA Hotel? We stayed their last Memorial Day Weekend and it was lovely. I agree the rest of Wildwood wasn't something to write home about and we much prefer the Rehoboth feel over Wildwood. Cape May was, however, close by and very nice.

Anonymous wrote:I equate Wildwood, NJ to Ocean City, MD. If you are looking for something more like Rehoboth, but along the Jersey Shore, check out Avalon, Stone Harbor or Ocean City (NJ).

Originally form NJ. This is spot on.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fun for young kids. The rides on the boardwalk are great. We stayed in the Thunderbird condos.

I had to google what you were talking about because when I was a child (working class parents that would save all year for our Jersey Shore 5-day vacation) we would sometimes stay at the Thunderbird Motel and "resort" (LOL), on the north side. Which was something I am sure most on here would shudder if they saw, but we were so grateful as kids.

Are the condos on that same old site? They are night and day of the Thunderbird I remember!

These are the condos we stayed in.

http://www.wildwoodrents.com/THUNDERBIRD_RENTALS_NORTH_WILDWOOD_2311_SURF.htm


Some of the units are more modern and updated than others. I think the place you are referring to has been replaced by these condos, because when I googled Thunderbird motel it was all nostalgic pictures.

This thread sent me into a nostalgic rabbit hole looking at google images for old motels in the area from the 70s and 80s. It was a nice mental break that made me smile.

We went to Wildwood a few years ago with my family- actually I'm pretty sure I asked a question about it here because none of us had been and was freaked out by the responses! But it was fine- we had a decent house within walking distance to the beach, which we never would have found in our budget in Cape May. The beaches are super wide (it can be a long walk!). My 2yo loved riding his balance bike on the boardwalk in the morning and the tram in the afternoon. The boardwalk was otherwise a bit crowded, hot, and occasionally smoky (from cigarettes) for my taste in the afternoon. I probably would not go back with my now 5yo as he would no longer be oblivious to the dozens of ice cream, fried oreo, and trinket places. But the amusement parks would probably be fun for teenagers.

Overall everyone in our group had a pretty good sense of humor about it even though some were envisioning something more like Cape May. The crest seemed nice and I would consider going back there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fun for young kids. The rides on the boardwalk are great. We stayed in the Thunderbird condos.

I had to google what you were talking about because when I was a child (working class parents that would save all year for our Jersey Shore 5-day vacation) we would sometimes stay at the Thunderbird Motel and "resort" (LOL), on the north side. Which was something I am sure most on here would shudder if they saw, but we were so grateful as kids.

Are the condos on that same old site? They are night and day of the Thunderbird I remember!

These are the condos we stayed in.

http://www.wildwoodrents.com/THUNDERBIRD_RENTALS_NORTH_WILDWOOD_2311_SURF.htm


Some of the units are more modern and updated than others. I think the place you are referring to has been replaced by these condos, because when I googled Thunderbird motel it was all nostalgic pictures.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fun for young kids. The rides on the boardwalk are great. We stayed in the Thunderbird condos.

I had to google what you were talking about because when I was a child (working class parents that would save all year for our Jersey Shore 5-day vacation) we would sometimes stay at the Thunderbird Motel and "resort" (LOL), on the north side. Which was something I am sure most on here would shudder if they saw, but we were so grateful as kids.

Are the condos on that same old site? They are night and day of the Thunderbird I remember!

NP. Spent every summer there from 1978-1988. We stayed at the Lou Booth, The American? that was next door and then last few years the white 3 story motel/condo across the street.

Anonymous wrote:Fun for young kids. The rides on the boardwalk are great. We stayed in the Thunderbird condos.

I had to google what you were talking about because when I was a child (working class parents that would save all year for our Jersey Shore 5-day vacation) we would sometimes stay at the Thunderbird Motel and "resort" (LOL), on the north side. Which was something I am sure most on here would shudder if they saw, but we were so grateful as kids.

Are the condos on that same old site? They are night and day of the Thunderbird I remember!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:wildwood may be trashy to the very same elite people who are out there protesting about how BLM and claim they aren't racist. But being classist isnt the same now isn't it?
put it this way, if you love the packed beaches of bethany, with overbearing parents making sure they orchestrate the most perfect vacation for their IG, then you will not like Wildwood.

if you like nice wide beaches, diversity, fun boardwalk with awesome rides and games and deliciously bad for you boardwalk foods, while staying entertained people watching then Wildwood is worth a try.

we went to bethany with my sil and it was brutal. my kids found it boring. I found it pretentious and too crowded. we took her kids to wildwood later that summer and guess where everyone had more fun???

stay in wildwood crest for more quiet and you can drive to the boardwalk and even cape may for your dose of classy white people.

You can definitely walk to the boardwalk from wildwood crest- it just is a long walk then when you total in the whole way (tram car!) I love the crest and can take the WW boardwalk in small doses but have kids who enjoy it. I hate those tee shirt shops now, they basically sell things now that are in REAAALLY bad taste and not just cheesy IMO like they used to be. Will say WW boardwalk bathrooms got a significant upgrade from when I was a kid!

PS- I'm also out giving money and protesting, not sure what that has to do with liking WW vs. Bethany? Just that wealthier and whiter crowds are in Bethany, sure. I am not bored there- I think its adorable and don't see anyone staging any kind of IG photo shoot when I am there.