Cape May NJ length of stay

[dodge_guy]

So I am in the planning stages of our trip. we are staying in NJ (Liberty Harbor RV Park) to see NYC I`m planning on 2 1/2 days. is this too much, not enough? want to see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. then check out Manhattan, Times Square and the World Trade Center memorial. Is there anything I`m missing, do I need more/less time?

From there I`m going down to Wildwood NJ and am planning 4 1/2 days, staying within a few miles of the area. again is this too much, not enough? just doing the normal tourist stuff, boardwalk, beaches maybe check out Atlantic City. Anything else in the area I`m missing?

This trip will be around the 4th of July 2018 getting to NYC area on the 5th and leaving the morning of the 8th (Thursday-Sunday). Wildwood would be from the 8th through the 12th, leaving on the 13th(Sunday-Friday).

Thanks again!

[phyllen]

As others have said... don't miss Cape May County Park and Zoo. Free but they do ask for a donation. Rated one of the 10 best zoos in the country. Warning though..... get there EARLY. Long lines to get in. Take your lunch. Picnic area and playground.

[DavidandDayle]

We had a week in Liberty Harbour in October. Usually we have 2 weeks; once we had 3. 3 weeks seemed a bit much.
Liberty Harbour is about a 1-5-10 campground. The trips to the islands are not convenient -- across the inlet. Might be better to go to lower Manhatan and get a tour there.
Ferry service is rush hours only, weekdays only. PATH service is a 10-15 minute walk away.

[temccarthy1]

Have spent many years camping in the Wildwood/Cape May area. IMHO, the very best campground down there is Holly Shores Campground on Rt 9 between Wildwood and Cape May. Only 10 minute drive to each! Very big park, shaded sights, great for kids with a huge pool, playgrounds, organized activities. Very clean and modern restrooms, showers. Have been going there for 35 years. It is rated #1 in NJ! Full hookup sites. However, it is not cheap! You will need to make reservations right now for July. Pull it up on line for more details and CG map of sites.
Regarding beaches, Wildwood Crest is the nicest! Huge wide beach, never a problem finding a private spot to put your stuff The ONLY beaches in NJ that are FREE are Wildwood and Wildwood Crest. Extremely clean and groomed daily! If you want the whole boardwalk and amusement pier scene, that is in Wildwood. 4 large fun piers, hundreds of eating places on the Boardwalk. Very clean, mostly "family" atmosphere. Not dirty and dangerous like Atlantic City-- As others have said, unless you just want to gamble, do NOT go to AC for any other reason. It is a real scumbag town and you will not feel safe!
As others have said the Cape May zoo which is free is amazing! much bigger and well done than you would ever expect in a small town! Do not miss it!
Enjoy the Jersey shore!

[All_I_could_aff]

If you do decide to take a ride on the Cape May Ferry, and if u bring your car, go check out Assateague Island State Park for a few hours and see the ponys roaming the beach

[2_Retired]

Don't know how long you will be on the road, but if you have time, you might want to check out Annapolis, Md and/or Baltimore's Inner Harbor. We love both and find them at least as fun and interesting as anything in NJ. Might be because we are so used to the Jersey Shore!

[2_Retired]

Strongly agree with those who suggest you get your campground reservations NOW!! That time of year CG sites in NJ are very, very hard to come by. Sites are never cheap, and are most expensive when you are going, but still much less expensive than finding a decent motel room! If you are really planning to go to AC, be aware. It is nothing like Vegas, or any other gambling town for that matter. It is sometimes very crowded, always dirty, and often just plain nasty! The casinos that are left try hard, and a couple still have that Vegas 'glitz and glamor', but then you go outside and it's still Atlantic City! If you really like to gamble, it's worth the effort, but just to go 'see Atlantic City' - I"d skip it!

[2_Retired]

I'm a Jersey Girl who lived at the Jersey Shore for over 50 years! The suggestion to stay in the Cape May area is a very good idea. You can get wherever you want to go in a very easy drive. Don't miss the ride on the Cape May-Lewes Delaware ferry. Shopping in Lewes is great (no sales taxes!). Cape May also has a nice zoo for a 1/2 day visit. Think you might want to think about staying in the NYC area longer than 2 days. Actually believe there is more to see in that area than in South Jersey. Definitely visit what you have planned, and I would add the the Empire State Building, and, since you're there, check out the kiosks in Times Square where you could pick up a pair of tickets to a Broadway Show as a two for one! (They go on sale the day of the performance - those seats that are not already purchased). Not every show, not every day, but I would check each day you're there for what you might get to see! You might want to check into getting a good guide book for the City that can help explain how to use mass transit easily. It goes EVERYWHERE and really isn't that hard to use, but it can seem crazy to anyone not familiar with it. Also suggest going to see the 9/11 Memorial and the new Freedom Towers. Inspiring.

[rockylarson]

We don't like to tell people about this Gem of a Zoo. Prefer to keep the better attractions to ourselves.

CAPE MAY COUNTY ZOO

[jarata1]

Is there even anything to do in Atlantic city anymore

[Busskipper]

dodge guy wrote:
So I am in the planning stages of our trip. we are staying in NJ (Liberty Harbor RV Park) to see NYC

I`m planning on 2 1/2 days. is this too much, not enough?

want to see Ellis Island and the

Statue of Liberty. then check out

Manhattan,

Times Square and the

World Trade Center memorial. Is there anything I`m

missing, do I need more/less time?

Empire State Building at night - ChinaTown - Subway - Yankee Stadium - Museums - Just walking around - IMHO, the times we have gone we felt it was like a National Park - Lot's to See and Do - Good sturdy shoes, hat sunglasses. The amount of time is dependent on your energy level and time out and back in - Start early stay late - July 4th will be Warm.......

From there I`m going down to Wildwood NJ and am planning 4 1/2 days, staying within a few miles of the area. again is this too much, not enough? just doing the normal tourist stuff, boardwalk, beaches maybe check out Atlantic City. Anything else in the area I`m missing?

While all the beaches will be crowded on the 4th I'd look at the Option of Rehoboth Beach, DE or Ocean City, MD as additional options, just might be a little change of pace from the NY/NJ areas. We do a couple of weeks at the Beach every year - but will drive down for just the day with the Grand kids and still enjoy it. Sounds like you have a great trip planned.

This trip will be around the 4th of July 2018 getting to NYC area on the 5th and leaving the morning of the 8th (Thursday-Sunday). Wildwood would be from the 8th through the 12th, leaving on the 13th(Sunday-Friday).

Thanks again!

Sounds Great,

Best of Luck,

[esyers]

There's no better view of NYC at sunset than from Liberty State Park across the marina from the campground.

Remember, you CAN use the Garden State Parkway to get down to Wildwood/Cape May. You don't want to use Rt. 9.

[dodge_guy]

Thanks everyone. You have given me a lot to look into. I’m hoping to make my reservations this weekend. So I’ll do some research this week.

I did see how big the beaches are in a Wildwood on google earth! I guess you don’t get the full perspective that way. I would imagine it’s got to be crazy!!! Maybe we are crazy, but We like tourist traps just for all the stuff to do and to people watch! At the same time I also like no one around and that’s when I head up into northern WI. Very quiet up there!

[All_I_could_aff]

Side note: Wildwood and North Wildwood are quite commercialized with a 3 mile boardwalk full of roller coasters, games, water parks, food,etc. Wildwood Crest next door is cleaner and quieter. No boardwalk, no liquor stores, and no gas stations.

There is a mile long concrete bike path along the beach in wildwood crest that leads directly to the boardwalk. Bike riding is allowed on the boardwalk before noon, but it starts getting crowded by 10am. One of my favorite things to do when I'm down there is get up early, bike up to the boardwalk to watch the sunrise, then stop at one of the many places that serve breakfast and most have outdoor seating. Some of the breast breakfast deals are at the pizzerias which most open by 6 AM.

I would give yourself at least four days if you want to see Manhattan. So much to see and do in the area. In Addition to museums and theaters, there is the Greenway which is an elevated pedestrian walkway made mostly from an old railroad line that you can see much of the city in a whole different perspective.

[All_I_could_aff]

Us Wildwood people take great pride in our unusually big beaches! When my grandfather bought his beach house down in Wildwood Crest decades ago he used to refer to going for a swim as "crossing the Sahara".