North Wildwood is one of the most popular seaside destinations in New Jersey. Jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean near the Delaware border, the beach town has wide, white sandy beaches and gentle surf that brings visitors back year after year. Steps away from the water, North Wildwood’s legendary boardwalk along Five Mile Beach offers pizza parlors alongside eclectic attractions like a Ferris wheel, murals of popular ’50s musicians, and Morey’s Piers amusement park, with its 100 rides and attractions. Most outdoor activities here center on water, from the waterpark’s slides and lazy river to rental companies offering paddleboards, kayaks, and jet skis to make the most of sunny days along the Jersey Shore.

The wider region around North Wildwood is known for its saltwater fishing, wineries on the other side of the Garden State Parkway, and working lighthouses dating back to the mid-1800s. Hereford Inlet Lighthouse just around the bay is also a museum with gardens extending out to the sea wall with hundreds of different plant species.

In the summer, the weather is perfect for enjoying the beach and taking in the sights of the boardwalk. May marks the return of the Wildwoods International Kite Festival. This unofficial beginning of beach season sees visitors from all over coming to see the sea of kites flying along the beach and boardwalk. As the days shorten and fall arrives, temperatures start to cool, but the ocean is still warm enough for swimming into September and you’ll have more of the beach to yourself. You’ll need a light jacket for evening walks on the oceanfront. In winter, make sure to pack a heavy coat to enjoy the displays of holiday lights as days can be chilly, especially with breezes blowing in off the Atlantic. Nearby Cape May hosts the Exit Zero Jazz Festival every November with open-air performances overlooking the bay.

Belleplain State Forest

Around a 30-minute drive north of North Wildwood, Belleplain State Forest is nestled in the wider Pinelands National Reserve and spans over 40 miles of trails and waterways for canoeing. This tranquil natural landscape is home to dense forest, marsh, and swampland, and Lake Nummy’s northern waters are available for swimming between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Stepping back into the ’50s and ’60s

North Wildwood houses an impressive number of diners and other historical buildings from the ’50s and early ’60s. Neon signs, plastic palm trees, and other retro architectural styles dot the area. The Doo Wop Experience museum, housed in a former 1960s diner, has a Neon Sign Garden and vintage memorabilia that perfectly encapsulate this retro vibe.

The Cape May Peninsula

Forming New Jersey’s southernmost tip at the mouth of Delaware Bay, Cape May is reputed to be one of the country’s oldest coastal resorts. Cape May Point State Park is a renowned vantage point for birdwatching, while the peninsula’s wildlife refuges are havens for rare species, from sea beach amaranths to northern diamondback terrapins.