New Jersey, being a coastal state, naturally of course is known for its beach spots. Along with beaches almost always follows with a boardwalk, too. The top spots would probably be Sea Side, Ocean City (not the one in Maryland), and Wildwood. Out of all of them, Ocean City is the least I have experience with as I have never been there before, though I am planning to go this summer. From what I've heard, though, it is a very nice little area. Alcohol is supposed to be banned there, too, which is good news for the older folks who want a nice, more peaceful vacation. Though that's not to say alcohol can't be sneaked into the area, especially on Prom Night where kids may find that area a good spot that they would like to spend the weekend at. If you look for Ocean City hotels, you may not be able to find too many, which may indicate that it is a smaller kind of area.

Sea Side could be a good spot to vacation, though I have not stayed for the night in a motel in the area. The boardwalk and piers are good places for fun, though. The piers are family friendly, at least in the daytime, as with all amusement parks more of the younger partying crowds come out later in the evening. Though if you compare their different piers with Wildwood's, Seaside's rides tend to stop sooner than Wildwood's. That doesn't mean that Seaside isn't as good, as in ways it is better than Wildwood. Unless you are in Wildwood Crest, which is the most family friendly of the sections, the rest of the neighborhood tends to look more trashed and lower class as you go along, which could mean more families deciding to choose alternative vacation destinations. The beach does seem to be littered quite a bit of the time-or at least in the summer- and the water does tend to not look as nice and clear compared with Seaside's beach. It does seem that Wildwood has been starting to fall apart during the last few years, which could largely be due to the fact that it's not seen as much as a family place anymore as it is seen as a place to party. However, some of the motels around the area have been demolished, which could be the effect of attempting to get less of the younger crowd to decide to stay in the area, thus attracting more families to decide to choose Wildwood as their vacation spot once again.

This is not to say that Wildwood is completely family inappropriate. There are still activities offered for children, and many families are seen exploring the boardwalk and piers, mostly during the daytime. The beach there also seems to still be quite popular, as many kids and families do still enjoy it. It is also quite large,so there's plenty of room for people to play beach sports such as volleyball, as well as boogie board in the ocean and tan on the sand.

Each of these places could be great shore destinations for anyone, both for families and younger generations. Ocean City may be the best spot for families and the elderly, mostly because of its ban on alcohol which could turn off some of the party goers. It also tends to be more costly to stay there as opposed to Wildwood and Seaside, which could also be another reason. Atlantic City and its beach is also nearby, which in turn would attract more of the older crowd because of its casinos and age limits. Anyone, though, can have a good time no matter where they decide to go. If you are bringing young children along, it is probably best not to stay on the boardwalk too late when it gets more crowded and safety hazards are more present.

With its different vacation destinations, New Jersey can be a fun spot for any age.

Learn more about this author, Jenn Balella.
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