Wildwood Beach Trip

This past week the weather suddenly turned, and now it really feels like fall.  Looking at these pictures of our trip to Wildwood, NJ makes me long for warm weather again...  

This year we had the opportunity to do a beach trip with some family friends.  We started the drive down to the Jersey shore late Thursday night.  By the time we arrived it was way past the kiddie's bedtimes but they were so excited to be there and even more excited when they saw the surprise I brought for them--TMNT pjs. 

Leonardo and Donatello ready to fight

We stayed in a suite at Daytona Motor Inn, which was conveniently located just 2 blocks from the boardwalk and beach. I wasn't planning on cooking but the suite had a stove, fridge, microwave and a fully stocked kitchenette.  The Inn also has outdoor grills, which I might have cooked on if it were a longer trip.

Day 1:
We took advantage of the Friday Splashtacular, which gave us a discounted admission to one waterpark and all three piers.  I thought Raging Waters Water Park had more toddler friendly choices, so we opted for that one.

Camp Kidtastrophe & Shipwreck Shoals

Even though we had access to all 3 piers, we spent the entire time on the rides at Mariner's Landing Pier and that was plenty for the kids.

 

For dinner we ate at Sam's Pizza Palace and Curley's Fries, both recommended as "must eats."  The pizza was good, but not any better than the NY style pizza I get back home.  But these "world famous" fresh cut fries were pretty darn good.

While picking up some funnel cake for dessert, I saw this deep fried platter and had to get it because it reminded me of the deep fried treats hubby and I always used to get at the rodeo when we lived in Houston. 

deep fried buffet of oreos, twix, reese cup and heath bar

Day 2:
We started the morning off renting a surrey. We got a lot of stares.  I'm not sure if it was because 1. a surrey full of Asians down there can't help but stick out, 2. the little girls were singing "Jingle Bells" in August, or 3. we are all so darn good looking.  I'm gonna go with #3.

"on a bicycle built for nine..."

This was the first time that my kids finally overcame their fear of the waves.  Big "L" just loved being tossed by the incoming waves and spent a lot of time just rolling around in the water.  And Lil "P" just liked to lay in big puddles of shallow water.  The sand on the Wildwood beach is so much softer, finer and cleaner than the sand at Point Pleasant, where we normally go.  I loved it.

For dinner, we were treated by our friends to a fabulous and decadent dinner at the Lobster House in Cape May to celebrate my birthday.  I would have forgotten that it was my birthday, except that my friend had the wait staff sing happy birthday to me not once, but twice that day--for breakfast and dinner.

We ended the day on the boardwalk and ran into Captain America.  We played a few games and closed out the boardwalk at midnight ready to turn in.

What a memorable and fun vacation!