History still squeaks out, most notably from 1930s World Fair electric trams which glide past and announce Watch the tram car please (they have no horns) and stores such as Douglass Fudge, where a seventh-generation Scot is still mixing sugar and butter into the tooth tingling fudge so beloved by his forebears. All rooms include 1950s-style furnishings and modern amenities. The Sans Souci Hotel, for example, was designed to attract French Canadianssans souci meaning no worries. The Jersey Shore, home of Wildwood, where good times are, of course, a shore thing. Try using these tags: Copyright 2022 Adventure.com | Copyright 2022 Adventure.com, LLC. Luckily, the old floral bedspread are gone, in favor of crisp white duvets. Posted rates apply to 2 guests per room as noted; extra person charge applies to 3rd & 4th guests. The food is roadside classic without a twist: meatball sandwiches and turkey Reubens are appreciated by the mostly local clientele, and this is reflected in the prices, which hover around $15 for a variety of the broiled or the battered inclusive of help-yourself salad bar, bread, water, vegetables, fries or spaghetti and dessert. The Wildwood Doo-Wop Preservation League has stepped in to save the remaining motels, recognizing the important place they have in a historical and cultural context. I've curated a list of the best hotels in Wildwood, New Jersey based on the following criteria: On-site amenities: Heated pool, kids' pool, cardio room, coin-operated laundry, meeting rooms, free parking, oceanfront restaurant. Cons: The room design could use a little updating and some may find it quite dated. And the best place to see it is New Jerseys Wildwood. In fact, claims architectural photographer Darren Bradley, theres probably a higher concentration of architecture of this type here than anywhere else in the world. I loved the colors, the architecture and the many old neon signs. For a true retro experience, book one of the propertys two vintage Airstream trailers. All rates may be higher for holiday, conventions, special event and weekend stays, Advance reservation excluded. Other iconic design details include a curved staircase that seems to float in the air and a crescent-shaped pool. The Wildwood area is best known for its retro motels, as well as its easy access to an enormous beach. Read more about the Wildwoods quintessential icon of Doo Wop architecture. There's a heated, Olympic-sized pool that overlooks the water, with an adjacent kiddie pool, and right next door is Centennial Park. So good thing there are plenty of charming small towns scattered within two hours of this city that make for easy day trips or overnight stays. If you have TWO cars must be parked ONE car on street at your OWN expense! Few properties in Wildwood celebrate their roots quite like the Caribbean Motel, and if you ask me, it's got the best neon sign in the area, with sweeping letters. Lastly, each hotel also has new COVID-19 policies in place. You can't help but fall in love with the swinging '60s music playing in the public spaces (it can also be piped into your room, if you want). The hotel recently updated many rooms, adding neutral flooring and bathrooms, but best of all: every room overlooks the ocean and comes with a neutral color scheme that doesn't distract from the spectacular views outside. I've chosen the top hotels based on my personal knowledge and trips to Wildwood. Design geeks will love the exact reproduction of original ashlar brickwork on the upper floors as well as the massive rooftop neon beacon visible for several miles out to sea. To certain travelers, they'll seem downright dated. The motels went up to accommodate the influx of vacationers. All thats missing is the Fonz and the cast of Grease. It sprawls across an entire city block right on the ocean, and has multiple sun decks for soaking up rays and views. The motels went up to accommodate the influx of vacationers. And for this alone, Wildwood deserves credit. Set at the tip of North Wildwood about as far north as you can get on this island, the hotel feels like a true getaway. The hotel is privately owned and we often spotted the owner on the grounds, making sure that everything was running smoothly. The crowds clear out and prices drop even lower. In fact, all of the accommodations have private balconies, even the Basic Room with a King bed. Loyalists return each year for the wide white-sand beach, lively boardwalk loaded with amusement rides and restaurants, and affordable midcentury modern hotels and motels. Only Visa, Mastercard and Discover card accepted. The Adventurer was built in the 1970s and while it has been updated over the years, it still has a Brady Bunch-era design flair with tweed couches and metallic wallpaper. I would know, I'm one of them. Located right on the beach, the Adventurer Oceanfront Inn is one of the larger properties in the area with 113 rooms ranging in size from one-bedroom Motel Rooms to four-room Suites that cater to families traveling together or large groups. Even the most basic accommodation (a King Room) has at least one 32" flat-screen TV, a microwave, and a small fridge. A neon sign shouts Salty Balls at potential clientele. So you'll need to go out for all your meals. It was hard to miss the motels. Cons:Guests complain about the parking: The spaces are tight, and it can be challenging to find a spot if the motel is full. Crowds gather at the sign for the Wildwoods, New Jersey. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Not that you want to stray from that open-air setting, but there's also a retro coffee shop attached with affordable food, and a game room. We particularly loved staying in a One-Bedroom Suite, with two double beds and a kitchenette. High season rates: $167-$301. Over 300 motels were built in Wildwood during what is known as the Doo-Wop era, a term that pays tribute to the musical period of rhythm and blues created in the 1940s by young African-Americans that made Wildwood famous at the time. With its giant colorful balls and iconic signage, it's the ultimate Instagram photo op. My daughter loved running around there and enjoying the COVID-friendly open spaces. Theres so much memorabilia the ice-creams (nearly all under $10) seem almost secondary but the place offers countless flavours including 35 sugar-, dairy- and gluten-free versions plus sundaes such as scoop deville and wild-woody. No refunds on deposits for cancellation within two weeks of arrival date or for early departure. What has always impressed me about the Blue Palms though, is that the hotel thoroughly embraces its name with a relaxing aquamarine palette and fake blue palm trees that line the perimeter of the property. Editors note: This article was published before the coronavirus pandemic, and may not reflect the current situation on the ground.When she first arrived in Wildwood, Adventure.com photo editor Nicola Bailey wasnt exactly enamored by it. Rooms range from a Standard with two Queen beds to a Two-Bedroom Suite with three Queen beds. Guests are given discount coupons to play the mini-golf course at its nearby sister hotel, the Starlux, and can also use the hot tub there. For registration provide valid driver license with same valid credit card. The nearest youll get to health food is the macaroni salad (mayo, tuna, spices) and the only greenery is a sausage-sized pickle ($1.65). Double rooms start from around $90 B&B, airstream trailer from $80, +1 609 522 7412, hotels.moreyspiers.com/starlux, Close to the Starlux Hotel and the Boardwalk, this home to the Doo Wop Preservation League is housed in a 1960s space-age restaurant, The Surfside, which was dismantled in 2002 and stored for three years until being rebuilt in its present location. I know that if I ever find myself in New Jersey again, Ill be heading straight to the nearest plastic palm tree and pulling up a pew to watch the world go by. So why Wildwood? The Boardwalk is open to cyclists from 5am to 11am (10.30am at weekends) and theres an 11-mile Bikeability route that takes in further sights. Sure, Wildwood was bold, brash, and ridiculously kitsch, but it was proud of it. I love the fact that the funky vibe of the public spaces continues right into the rooms, which are decorated with vintage-style lamps and colorful retro wallpaper. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2022 All rights reserved. Please activate at least one payment gateway in HBook settings (HBook > Payment). That is until I discovered Wildwoods real stars: An entire district of post-war modernist motels from the 50s and 60s, all built within steps of the carnival-esque surrounds of the Wildwood boardwalk. The choice of rooms includes two superb vintage airstream trailers. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Deposit refundable (not transferable) only if notified two weeks prior to arrival date and subject to 25 percent service charge. Inside, at first glance, it appears to be a random assortment of junk. The 1950s was Wildwood's heyday and you can still see the architectural evidence of that era in Wildwood's well-preserved "Doo Wop" design (the town is so committed to maintaining its funky vibe that it has an official Doo Wop Preservation League). But what they lack in sleek threads, they make up for with ample character and charm. But I wasnt there with family, and the vibe wasnt working for me. The public areas at Armada By-the-Sea have a beachy decor, with rattan furniture and rugs with wave designs. 62 Media Group, a division of New Jersey Monthly, creates custom print and digital publications that help build customer relationships and drive more sales. And of course, there's that stunning beach just steps away. Yes, its one of those towns. Pan American Hotel 5901 Ocean Avenue Wildwood Crest, 609-522-6936 The six-story, oceanfront Pan American celebrates its 50th anniversary this yearstill sporting its rooftop rotating globe. I've stayed at many of the properties on this list with my family over the years. For this alone, it deserves credit. Pros: Guests love the nostalgic atmosphere that is a flashback to the Wildwood of the past. Who can read more than that, anyway? A curious pinwheel-shaped roof of jutting angles and glass walls gave it landmark status back in the day. Original bathrooms are pink and chunky. These days, Wildwood and nearby Cape May seem to be having another moment, especially with families, in part because they're very affordable. High season rates: $250-$403. A wafer-thin concrete spiral walkway connects the floors. On-site amenities: Pool, kids' pool, terrace. It seemed that Wildwood was trying to be the ultimate vacation spot, offering something for the whole family. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CARIBBEAN SAFE & CLEAN PRACTICES! First opened to vacationers in 1957 and celebrating its 64th year of continuous operation in 2021, the restored, renovated, and re-invented Caribbean Motel stands as a living monument to a magical era in our Nations historya taste of pure Americana, you might say, with a 21st century tropical twist! In the town's heyday, as many as 200 motels lined the roads. Several guests on Trip Advisor complained about looking out on a wall, so be sure to ask about your view when you're making a reservation. There are no iPod stations here; piped music (doo-wop, natch) comes through the original ceiling speaker, with volume controlled by a single Bakelite knob. Just across the street from the beach in the center of Wildwood, the Blue Palms is another member of the Morey Resorts group. In the living area, you'll find butterfly chairs centered around a midcentury wood-burning fireplace and lots of board games ideal for a rainy day. NO THIRD-PARTY CREDIT CARD ACCEPTED. Caribbean Motel 5600 Ocean Avenue Wildwood Crest, 609-522-8292 Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, this doo-wop landmark, built in 1957, features a futuristic levitating ramp, spaceship lights and the first plastic palm trees planted in the Wildwoods. In summer, Wildwoods vast sandy beach and amusement rides keep both visitors and locals entertained. By the 1990s, these motor-hotels were largely redundant, with many bulldozed to make way for bland condominiums.
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