WILDWOODS BOARDWALK

EXPERIENCE NEW JERSEY'S BEST SUMMER DESTINATION

By Henry Libo-on

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New Jersey is endowed with a wide and long beachfront and beaches that face the Atlantic Ocean.  Wildwoods is not only historical but also the favorite destination of visitors and tourists from neighboring states and Canada.   Some of the popular beaches in New Jersey are Ocean City, Sandy Hook, Long Beach, Atlantic City, and Wildwood and Cape May areas, among others.  Wildwoods is also known as Wildwood.  

It was a long weekend when my children decided to visit Wildwoods.  Of course, I was an "ignoramus" as to where this area is,  So, I joined them and hope that I can finally know what and where Wildwoods is and what are its famous landmarks and services that catch a big chunk of tourist arrivals every year.

Photos by Henry Libo-on of Touristang Pobre. 

After about two hours of travel, we reached Wildwoods.  We checked-in in our hotel which was called Mango Motel. Its name alone sounded sweet and tropical.  Mango has enough parking area for their guests and it has a little but nice pool for the family.  A jacuzzi was located near the pool that overlooks the street.  A few minutes away from Mango is the Boardwalk and a few minutes of walking will lead you to the iconic name WILDWOODS at a far distance of the boardwalk.

There are so many things to do on the Boardwalk of Wildwoods.  When you turn your attention to the beach area, you will notice that the beach is a bit far from the boardwalk.  But the desire to enjoy the sea, the sun, and the sand overpowers you to walk a few distances.  I was tired of walking on the sand but it pays when you reach the sea.  Lining the beach were multi-colored umbrellas.  Swimmers enjoyed swimming in the ocean.  

From the distance were jet skis gliding back and forth.  A helicopter was busy hovering the Wildwoods area with tourists on board.  There were also two small planes that kept flying back and forth with a piece of advertisement attached to them.  I hope my description of these events was correct. You see, English is my second language.  Going back to the Boardwalk, there were many shops that sell a wide variety of food, sandwiches, fries, ice cream, drinks, and many more.

If your trip is souvenir hunting, there are enough shops that sell t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, pants, shirts, hats, caps, mugs, key chains, fashion jewelry, and many, many more.  I went to one of them and I bought a ring with an oval-shaped black gem.   

There was also a tram that travels from one end to another end of the Boardwalk.  Bicycling is limited until 11:00 a.m. only.  

Nightlife in the Wildwoods, specifically the Boardwalk area was really alive and kicking.  There were enough activities for everyone, from children to adults.  Of course, it was the beach that has more family bonding activities. I witnessed most of them as I rested under our umbrella and keeping an eye on my grandchildren playing.

Around town, Wildwoods offers a lot of facilities, services, and amenities, so to speak.  Restaurants are everywhere.  Other than hotels and parking areas, the next thing that tourists would be looking for are the restaurants and Wildwoods have enough of them.   They also have a Convention Center, a photo of which is posted here.

Wildwoods, indeed, is one of the most beautiful places I have been to.  I said this not because we live in New Jersey but because I had the opportunity to roam around the state and saw many beautiful spots that residents and tourists can enjoy.  In some areas of the state, there are palatial homes with wide lawns and gardens. In some areas, there are wide farmlands that specialize in growing different kinds of flowers. Spring and Summer are the times when these farms are frequented by tourists and local residents. 

                  

While the Delaware Indians were considered as the original settlers of the area, it was in 1524 that Giovanni de Verrazano was the first European to explore New Jersey.  He shared the honor with Henry Hudson who worked for the Dutch.  Through Hudson, the Netherlands developed the area specifically those located in what is now known as Hoboken, Jersey City, and Bergen.  The latter was one of the first permanent settlements of the Europeans that were populated by Swedes, Finns, and the locals. 
(Source: www.state.nj.us/nj/about/history/short_history.html)
                                         

Also, I added a few articles which I got from the internet and Wikipedia.  I will just enumerate them by using numbers so that you will know it was taken from the internet and not my own write-up.   Here they are:

1.  Wildwood was originally incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 1, 1895, from portions of Middle Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day. On January 1, 1912, Wildwood was incorporated as a city, replacing both Wildwood borough and Holly Beach City.^[21]

2.  The Wildwoods began developing as a resort in the last decade of the 19th century. A building boom began in the 1950s, due partially to the construction and completion of the Garden State Parkway in 1955.^[22][23]

3.  "Rock Around the Clock", often credited as the first rock and roll record, was first performed on Memorial Day weekend in 1954 at the Hofbrau Hotel in Wildwood by Bill Haley & His Comets. The song's status as one of the first rock and roll hits has given rise to the city's claim as "the birthplace of rock and roll".^[24][25]

Source:  Youtube...ok4602002.  

The Convention Center

4.  Wildwood is home to over 200 motels, built during the Doo-Wop era of the 1950s and 1960s,^[26] in an area recognized by the state of New Jersey, known as the Wildwoods Shore Resort Historic District.^[27] The term "doo-wop" was coined by Cape May's Mid-Atlantic Center For The Arts in the early 1990s to describe the unique, space-age architectural style, which is also referred to as the Googie or Populuxe style.^[28]

The motels are unique in appearance, with Vegas-like neon signs and fantastic architecture.^[29] New construction in the area has seen the demolition of several motels to make room for larger condominiums. The Wildwood Doo Wop Preservation League has taken action to help save and restore these historic buildings. The Caribbean Motel in Wildwood Crest and the Chateau Bleu Motel in North Wildwoods are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A 1950s Doo Wop museum includes property from demolished motels such as neon signs and furniture.^[30] Neo-Doo Wop buildings in the area feature a neon-lit Wawa and a 1950s styled Acme Supermarket.^[31]

5.  Wildwood is a resort city that is very popular with vacationers and tourists mostly from New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and even nearby parts of Canada during the summer months. Its most notable features are its beach and 1.8 miles (2.9 km) boardwalk, home to the Morey's Piers amusement complex, and Raging Waters and Ocean Oasis waterparks owned by Morey's Piers. The boardwalk features a trolley called the "Tramcar", which runs from end to end. In June 2006, its Doo-Wop-style motels were placed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's annual Eleven Most Endangered List,^[32] 

6. Wildwood was ranked the best beach in New Jersey in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium.^[36]

The year-round population of Wildwood of over 5,300 grows to as many as 250,000 or more during the peak tourist season during the summer.^[38] French Canadian tourists visit Wildwood during the summer.^[39]ww

Now, are you ready to come and enjoy the Wildwoods and its beaches?  

Wildwood is home to the New Jersey Firefighter's Convention, held annually every September since the 1970s. Known for its parade featuring fire company apparatus from across the state, it moved from Atlantic City due in part to rising crime and the disallowing of the parade on city streets. Wildwood is also home to an annual co-ed beach ultimate Frisbee tournament drawing teams from all over the country that attracted 430 teams and over 5,000 players to its 19th annual event in 2011.^[37]

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**Copyright photos by Henry Libo-on of Touristang Pobre. Except those specifically acknowledged as coming from secondary sources like Youtube, Wikipedia, and others. 

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 I hope you enjoyed reading this blog. Please LIKE my Facebook Page and SHARE this story with your awesome friends.  Thanks and enjoy your summer blast at Wildwoods.  

Updated on February 5, 2018.

Updated on May 29, 2019. 
Updated on June 12, 2020.

Updated on May 4, 2021. 

Reviewed on July 27, 2022.

Reviewed on May 25, 2023.

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