Independence Day Vacation in Wildwood NJ
The Jersey Shore is one of the most popular destinations to enjoy on the East Coast. Wildwood, NJ, is an easy day trip or long weekend from most major East Coast cities as it is three hours or less from places like New York City and Philadelphia. Whether you live nearby, The Wildwoods are becoming one of my favorite destinations down the shore, especially for their Independence Day celebration. Here's my take on this famous beach town.
Walking on a boardwalk brings up so many feelings of Americana for me, and the Wildwoods boardwalk did not disappoint. The wafting smells of fried treats, pizza, and cotton candy filled the air, and the music coming from the speakers made you feel like you stepped on the set of your favorite movie's beach scene. We stayed in North Wildwood, where the boardwalk still needed to be updated, but the new and old boardwalk sections were full of stores, restaurants, rides, and attractions. In the morning, the boardwalk is bustling with bikes and wheeled modes of transportation, so watch out if you are out for coffee or on a morning stroll. There are several resorts along the boardwalk and beach houses in the area. Our accommodation Hotel Cabana was right on the boardwalk, making it a great location to people-watch from the rooftop terrace.
The rooftop terrace was my favorite feature of our hotel. The hotel was recently renovated, so everything was fresh, clean, and newly painted. You could tell the hotel was under new management as they were still working out some operating kinks. When we first arrived, there were no parking spots, and once we secured one the next day, there was an issue with registered cars, and we could not confirm a parking pass. The terrace was my favorite because we could enjoy the fireworks, the music, and the company of the other hotel guests without being sandwiched in a crowd. When I needed to use the facilities and refill my drink, I just walked back to my air-conditioned room and cooled a bit while I handled what I came to handle. The 4th of July in Wildwood has been the best Independence Day celebration to date.
Whether you are spending Independence Day or just a nice summer day in Wildwood for their Friday night fireworks, bring cash and quarters. The boardwalk is lined with arcades, and many vendors only accept cash. There are plenty of ATMs, but be prepared to pay hefty surcharges at these. When it comes to eating, you can find many casual dining locations in Wildwood, the upscale restaurant takes more work to come by. I had my share of pizza and burgers, so we visited the Copper Dog for a more exclusive experience. They had an exciting menu of sushi, pasta, ribs, and burgers, leaving something for everyone's liking. The best part was the live music creating a relaxed beach town vibe.
Lastly, the soft beaches of Wildwood are well enjoyed by visitors. From dusk to dawn, people (especially teenagers) walked under the boardwalk to reach the sands of the beach. Blankets and chairs were as far as the eye could see, but if we wanted to sit down, there was still plenty of room on the Wildwood beach. It was low tide when we visited the beach, and people were playing games, swimming in the cool water, and having a grand American time.
There's nothing like summer at the Jersey Shore, where you can spend your days riding roller coasters, relaxing on the beach, and eating ice cream, fudge, and fries. Ready to hit the beach? Contact me today!
