Ultimate Family Week
7 days of family fun at the Jersey Shore
A week-long family adventure packed with beaches, boardwalks, water parks, mini golf, and wildlife encounters. Designed for families with kids of all ages, with a mix of active adventures and relaxing beach days.
Perfect For
Estimated Cost
$1,400-2,400 for family of 4
$200-300 per person
Trip Highlights
- ✓Beach days at family-friendly shores
- ✓Wildwood boardwalk adventure
- ✓Water park thrills at Morey's Piers
- ✓Whale watching or dolphin cruise
- ✓Cape May lighthouse climb
- ✓Mini golf tournament
- ✓Fresh seafood feasts
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arrival Day
Theme: Settle In & Beach Intro
Wildwood/Wildwood Crest
🌅 Morning
Drive to Wildwood area
💡 Stop for snacks and fill up the cooler before arriving
☀️ Afternoon
Check into accommodation
💡 Many rentals allow 2pm check-in. Call ahead for early access.
Grocery run for the week
ShopRite or ACME
💡 Stock up on breakfast items, snacks, and drinks to save money
First beach visit
Wildwood Beach
Duration: 2 hours
💡 Wildwood's wide beach is perfect for kids. Gentle waves.
🌙 Evening
Boardwalk dinner
Wildwood Boardwalk
💡 Try Mack's Pizza or Sam's Pizza for classic boardwalk slices
Evening boardwalk stroll
Wildwood Boardwalk
💡 Watch the tram cars, get ice cream, let kids play games
Day Tips
- • Wildwood beaches are FREE - no badges needed
- • Bring sand toys for the kids
🌧️ Rainy Day Plan
If rainy: Explore Rio Grande shopping outlets or catch a movie
Beach Day
Theme: Full Beach Day
Wildwood
🌅 Morning
Breakfast at the rental
💡 Fuel up with a big breakfast - long beach day ahead
Beach setup
Wildwood Beach near 25th Ave
💡 Arrive early for prime spot. Bring umbrella, chairs, boogie boards.
☀️ Afternoon
Beach lunch break
💡 Pack sandwiches or grab from boardwalk. Kids can eat under umbrella.
More beach time
Duration: 3 hours
💡 Build sandcastles, boogie board, shell hunt. Reapply sunscreen!
Clean up and head back
💡 Outdoor showers available at beach entrances
🌙 Evening
Rest and cleanup at rental
Dinner at family restaurant
Duffinetti's
💡 Great Italian food, kid-friendly, reasonable portions
Mini golf
Congo Falls Adventure Golf
💡 Night golf with blacklights is extra fun for kids
Day Tips
- • Pack snacks, water, and juice boxes in a cooler
- • Bring a pop-up tent for shade if you have young children
Water Park Day
Theme: Morey's Piers Adventure
Wildwood
🌅 Morning
Quick breakfast
Morey's Piers opens
Morey's Piers
💡 Get the combo pass for all 3 piers and both water parks
☀️ Afternoon
Raging Waters or Ocean Oasis water parks
Duration: 4 hours
💡 Pack water shoes. The lazy river is relaxing for parents!
Dry off, ride some dry rides
💡 Hit the Great White coaster or Sea Serpent for thrill-seekers
🌙 Evening
Boardwalk dinner
💡 Curley's Fries are a must. Get the bucket.
More rides as sun sets
💡 Lines are shorter after dinner. Night rides are magical.
Head back to rental
💡 Kids will be exhausted - early bedtime tonight
Day Tips
- • Buy tickets online in advance for discount
- • Bring waterproof sunscreen and reapply often
- • Lockers available at water parks
Cape May Day
Theme: History, Nature & Charm
Cape May
🌅 Morning
Drive to Cape May
Duration: 20 min
Breakfast in Cape May
Mad Batter or Uncle Bill's Pancake House
Climb Cape May Lighthouse
Cape May Point State Park
💡 199 steps. Great views from the top. Kids love it!
☀️ Afternoon
Beach time at Cape May
Cape May Beach
Duration: 2 hours
💡 Cape May beaches have calmer waves, great for young kids
Walk the promenade and Victorian district
Cape May downtown
💡 Get fudge at The Original Fudge Kitchen
Cape May Zoo (free!)
Cape May Court House
Duration: 2 hours
💡 Great small zoo with giraffes, lions, and more. Totally free!
🌙 Evening
Dinner in Cape May
Louisa's Cafe or The Lobster House
Drive back to Wildwood
💡 Kids can nap in the car
Day Tips
- • Cape May Zoo is one of the best free attractions in NJ
- • The lighthouse is worth the climb for the views
Ocean City Adventure
Theme: Family Boardwalk & Beach
Ocean City
🌅 Morning
Drive to Ocean City
Duration: 25 min
Beach time
Ocean City Beach
Duration: 3 hours
💡 OC is a dry town - family-friendly vibe everywhere
☀️ Afternoon
Boardwalk lunch
Manco & Manco Pizza
💡 The most famous pizza on the shore. Get it fresh.
Gillian's Wonderland Pier
Duration: 3 hours
💡 Classic family pier with rides for all ages
Playland's Castaway Cove
💡 More rides and games. Go-karts are popular.
🌙 Evening
Dinner on the boardwalk
Voltaco's or boardwalk stands
Ice cream and stroll
Kohr Brothers
💡 Orange and vanilla swirl is the classic choice
Return to Wildwood
Day Tips
- • Ocean City is alcohol-free - very family-friendly
- • Manco & Manco lines can be long - worth the wait
Nature Day
Theme: Whale Watching & Wildlife
Cape May / Stone Harbor
🌅 Morning
Early breakfast
Whale & dolphin watching cruise
Cape May Whale Watch
Duration: 3 hours
💡 Book in advance! Dolphins are almost guaranteed. Bring Dramamine.
☀️ Afternoon
Lunch in Cape May
C-View Inn or Lucky Bones
Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary
Stone Harbor
Duration: 1.5 hours
💡 Walk the boardwalk trail through heron rookery
Beach time at Stone Harbor
Duration: 2 hours
💡 Upscale beach town, beautiful beach
🌙 Evening
Ice cream at Springer's
Stone Harbor
💡 Famous homemade ice cream. Lines are worth it.
Casual dinner back in Wildwood
Day Tips
- • Book whale watch 2-3 days in advance
- • Bring binoculars for bird sanctuary
Departure Day
Theme: Final Beach & Farewell
Wildwood
🌅 Morning
Pack up and clean rental
💡 Most rentals require 10am checkout
Final beach visit
Wildwood Beach
Duration: 1.5 hours
💡 Quick dip and goodbye to the ocean
☀️ Afternoon
Lunch on the boardwalk
Wildwood Boardwalk
💡 One last boardwalk meal for the road
Depart for home
💡 Leave by 2pm to beat traffic. Stop at Wawa for road snacks.
Day Tips
- • Pack beach gear the night before
- • Leave tip for rental cleaners if applicable
Where to Stay
Rental in Wildwood Crest
Wildwood Crest
Weekly rental condos and houses. Best value for families.
💡 Book by February for summer weeks. VRBO and Airbnb have options.
Various Wildwood/Crest Hotels
Wildwood Crest
Many family hotels with pools, often motel-style
💡 Look for hotels with pools - kids love evening pool time
Rental in North Wildwood
North Wildwood
More residential feel, still walking distance to boardwalk
Packing List
- Beach chairs and umbrella for whole family
- Cooler (big one for beach, small one for car)
- Boogie boards and sand toys
- Sunscreen SPF 50 for kids
- Aloe vera for sunburn
- Beach wagon or cart
- Cash for boardwalks ($200-300 for week)
- First aid kit
- Motion sickness medicine for boat trip
- Binoculars
- Rain jackets (just in case)
Pro Tips
- 💡Wildwood beaches are FREE - that's a huge savings for families
- 💡Buy a weekly beach badge in Cape May/OC for day trips
- 💡Pack breakfast and lunch, splurge on dinners
- 💡Let each kid pick one special activity during the week
- 💡Take breaks during midday sun - hotel pool time!
- 💡Book whale watch and any tours in advance
- 💡Bring a big beach wagon - you'll thank yourself
Cost Breakdown
Accommodations
$200-350/night
Food
$100-150/day for 4
Activities
$300-500 total
Transportation
$50-100 parking/tolls
May Not Be Ideal For
- • Adults-only trips
- • Those seeking nightlife
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