Having a ball in The Wildwoods

By Diane Goldie | dgoldie@newsday.com

7:14 PM EDT, July 28, 2008

Wildwood, NJ (BY DIANE GOLDIE)

Wide, white sandy beaches. Waves perfectly sculpted for boogie boarding. A 1.8-mile long boardwalk. Kitschy diners. A slew of bars and tchotchke shops. And plenty of on- and off-shore activities make this an ideal summer jaunt only 2½ hours from the city.

The star of these southern New Jersey resort towns, however, are the 200 plus doo-wop era motels in Wildwood Crest that after all these years still make you feel as if you've been transported to the 1950s or '60s.

The whimsical, candy-colored lodgings ¯ most complete with swimming pools and an easy walk to the beach ¯ are delightful, especially at night, when they are lit like a mini-Las Vegas strip.

This eclectic collection of '50s silliness ¯ signs advertising the Sea-N-Sun, Eden Roc, Stardust, Pink Champagne, Starlux, Tropicana and Caprice ¯ conjure images of the Jetsons, but also of the Rat Pack.

The boardwalk, dotted with T-shirt shops, custard stands, salt water taffy stores and game booths, offers another slice of Americana.

Morey's three piers each feature a wild roller coaster and a variety of rides for the young and old alike. The Raging Waters and Splash Zone Water Park are a blast. During the day, if you want to do more than bake on the beach, you can go fishing or rent boats or jet skis. Before 11 a.m., rent a bike and pedal along the boardwalk, a good way to work up an appetite for the Oreo pancakes at the Marvis Diner.

For a more substantial meal, unfortunately, the pickings are slim. The area plays host to mostly mediocre Italian eateries and a number of Irish pubs. Instead, take the easy 20-minute drive south to the historic Victorian town of Cape May for the day's fresh catch at the Lobster House. Bypass the seemingly endless line for the main dining room, which is over air-conditioned and over-priced, and head to the bay-front patio. There you can watch your seafood practically float off the boats, as fishermen unload the day's bounty.

The menu features an extensive raw bar, New England clam chowder, lobster and crab legs as tasty and fresh as you'll get anywhere. The corn on the cob is particularly sweet and there's a decent selection of beers on tap.

Want more than boardwalk nightlife? Sidle up to the bar for a frothy pint of Guinness at those Irish pubs ¯ Westy's, Keenans, Owens, Crest and Woody's ¯ some of which feature live bands.

Where: Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, North Wildwood and West Wildwood comprise the Wildwoods, which are about 2½ hours from NYC on the Jersey shore. Getting there: New Jersey Transit offers bus service from the Port Authority.

Beach: Free. No need to pay for a badge as in many Jersey Shore towns.

Lifeguards on duty from roughly 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Lodging: Motels and guest house rates from about $150 to $250 and up (double).

We ¯ two adults and two children ¯ stayed at the Waters Edge Motel (609-522-9440) and paid about $235 a night for a bedroom with two queen beds, a full kitchen and a sitting room with a sleeper sofa. The room had a balcony with a full ocean view.

Restaurants: Unless you grab fast food at a Subway or Pizza Hut, it's not cheap. Even at the diners expect to pay about $10 for breakfast and lunch per person and $20 for dinner. More dining options in nearby Cape May, where fresh catch is showcased at the Lobster House.

Boardwalk rides: Numerous packages are available. We paid $50 for 70 tickets. Most rides require 4 8 tickets per person.

(www.moreyspiers.com/rides.php) Trivia: Wildwood is home to the Lime Rickey. The versatile drink, which features lime juice as the main ingredient, comes alcoholic, virgin and in beach fashion as an ice cream flavor.