Battle of the boardwalks – which Jersey Shore seaside funplex reigns supreme? – The Factors Man

Spinning, roaring, stomach-churning rides. Fried, cheese-covered, frozen and sugar-coated treats. Sea air, sand and sunshine. Combine all of them collectively, and you’ve got the Jersey Shore boardwalk, a recipe for summer season enjoyable that’s exhausting to beat.

If you happen to haven’t visited a boardwalk, image a state honest. Now place it subsequent to a seaside and have it open each.single.day all through the summer season months. Yeah, it is fairly superior.

As a born-and-bred New Jersey resident, I grew up going “down the shore” (how any genuine Jerseyian refers back to the seaside), spending days leaping the waves and evenings heading to the boardwalk.

Because the years have rolled by, I’ve indulged in boardwalk enjoyable all the best way down the 130-mile New Jersey coast. From the MTV-famous Seaside Heights within the north to the doo-wop historical past of Wildwood within the south, I’ve spent hours each as a child after which as a father or mother strolling the boards.

In some unspecified time in the future every summer season, the identical debate has popped up as my family and friends benefit from the waves, treats and rides: Which Jersey Shore boardwalk is one of the best?

This yr, as an alternative of simply considering that everlasting summer season query, I made a decision to place the places to the check.

Full disclosure: After I started the final word boardwalk quest, I used to be going to hit each boardwalk within the state. However then I noticed that, with tons of of miles of picket boards operating alongside sandy stretches of seaside, testing each one would turn into a full-time job, so I rethought my method.

After a lot session with my Jersey friends, I went with three large hitters:

• Ocean Metropolis: Thought of essentially the most family-friendly boardwalk.
• Wildwood: Recognized for having essentially the most, and most thrilling, rides.
• Atlantic Metropolis: The oldest boardwalk within the state.

For these large three, I in contrast a number of classes: meals, high rides, distinctive sights and seaside entry. Then I ranked every on a scale of 1 to five star(fish).

5 members of the family got here alongside for the experience — ranging in age from 2 to 72 together with one 18-year-old we despatched on the largest rides and whom we had eat the greasiest meals (he is effective, I promise).

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Within the title of analysis, most of our group walked practically 5 miles on every boardwalk (the 2-year-old both ran full pace or rode within the stroller), enduring a record-setting warmth wave after which epic rainstorms. Upset stomachs have been a given, in addition to a finances for Tums. There have been additionally some tears — however principally from the toddler in our group who did not need to be parted from his favourite rides, which is all the time the signal of a profitable outing.

So which boardwalk reigned supreme? Right here have been my findings.

Ocean Metropolis

A number of locations name themselves “family-friendly,” however in Ocean Metropolis, the moniker is well-deserved. Ocean Metropolis is a dry city, a carryover from an age of “blue legal guidelines” that regulated alcohol gross sales and consumption. In OC, which means you gained’t discover a beachside bar, a boardwalk nightclub, and even eating places serving alcohol. There’s additionally no playing (which means even skeeball video games don’t include prizes). What it does have: 2.5 miles of nice meals, free leisure and kid-friendly rides.

High meals

Ocean Metropolis excels at all-ages boardwalk eats. There’s the whole lot right here from a espresso roaster spinning beans with a view of the seaside to artisanal gelato to recent crab desserts, plus pizza and no less than half a dozen wonderful fried potato choices. To not point out frozen custard, water ices, boba tea and fudge and sweet outlets.

My group ate an ocean’s price of fried and frozen treats right here. Two actually stood out, although.

Johnson’s Caramel Corn: That is the form of candy, salty crunchy delight I continued to consider properly after our huge, family-sized bucket was gone. Johnson’s makes recent batches of buttery, caramel-coated popcorn all day lengthy (each seven minutes in line with their indicators) in copper pots giant sufficient that you just’d assume you can swim in them, then serves it up in a heat haze of burnt sugar for $7.50 for a small bucket and $11 for a big.

Tip one: If you happen to ask for it with out the lid, they will pile it to overflowing. Tip two: Be careful for diving seagulls in the event you go this route. With a lid on, the sticky corn may final per week earlier than dropping its snap — though our bucket solely lasted two days earlier than it was fully devoured. Everyone beloved this one.

Stars: 5.

Manco & Manco’s Pizza: As a result of I’m from the New York Metropolis metropolitan space, I’ve numerous ideas on pizza. This, I can frankly say, will not be a New York or New Jersey pie. It is a Philly-style tomato pie, that means the sauce is on high of the cheese. I nonetheless assume it is unbelievable. The hand-tossed, barely amorphous, hub cap-sized pizza landed out of the oven and on our desk within the monumental eating room — in what was as soon as a movie show — whereas the mozzarella was nonetheless effervescent.

The pizza eaters within the group actually preferred the cracker-thin crust and tangy sauce, which is piped onto the pie from a hose to create the distinctive rings.

Stars: 5.

Finest experience

In OC, you’re not going to search out large curler coasters or different adrenaline-pumping rides. Nonetheless, the 2-year-old in my group was in toddler nirvana. There have been a number of rides he may spin round in on his personal and one — a suspended prepare that rides a rail up and over the out of doors amusement space — that an grownup may experience on with him (on this case, our always-game teen).

Anybody over the age of 10 will most likely choose greater thrills. If you happen to’re 2, although, the hearth vehicles warrant 5 stars — our toddler was nonetheless speaking about it days later. Since that is a restricted viewers, I’ll give it a 4 for pleasing its core viewers. (Trip tickets are $1 every, or 50 for $40; most little youngsters’ rides value three tickets.)

Stars: 4.

Seashore

There are large dunes defending the seaside right here, so you will have one of the best views from up excessive on the Ferris wheel. If you wish to really feel the sand between your toes, you will want to purchase a seaside badge for sunlight hours entry between Memorial Day and Labor Day ($5 per day; many seashores in New Jersey additionally require a price to enter). The remainder of the yr it is free to go to at any time. It is a good seaside, however I am docking one star as a result of badge charges.

Stars: 4.

Solely right here

One of many issues that units Ocean Metropolis aside from different boardwalks is its free leisure programming. Previously, I’ve seen the whole lot from a Mummer’s Parade marching alongside the boards to an a cappella group performing in one of many coated pavilions. Nonetheless, this is not one thing you’ll be able to depend on each night time throughout a go to, so I am docking a star for lack of predictability.

Stars: 4.

Wildwood

Whirling, twirling and thrilling, this was essentially the most action-packed of the boardwalks I visited. Even on a wet day (and it rained actually, actually exhausting whereas we have been right here), there have been folks consuming, filling the arcades and ready in line to check out the rides. The jam-packed boardwalk stretches for two.5 miles, with outlets, arcades and sights on each side of the walkway. Plus, there are two piers of rides and water park sights that stretch throughout the seaside towards the ocean.

High meals

Wildwood presents tons of of retailers for purchasing and consuming copious quantities of sweet, ice cream and fried meals. We tried gadgets from the rows on rows of fried meals emporiums serving the whole lot from twirled potatoes deep fried on sticks to batter-dipped Oreos, Twinkies and Snickers. (We additionally sampled frozen custard from Kohr’s, which is one in all my favourite boardwalk treats, particularly the chocolate and mint twist dipped in chocolate — however because it’s out there on practically each New Jersey boardwalk, I selected to not put it in competitors.)

There have been just a few actual standouts within the meals class on this boardwalk — a recent and attractive lobster roll and a fried flounder sandwich that bought such excessive marks from my husband that he devoured it earlier than I may both style or {photograph} it (thus placing it out of the meals prize operating). Nonetheless, one meals stood out above all others.

Curley’s fries: Freshly sliced potatoes fried in peanut oil and served in containers so giant you’ll be able to’t probably think about anybody may eat all of them … after which they’re gone. My entire group remarked “by no means” greater than as soon as, after which — poof! — they have been eaten sooner than you’ll be able to say “addictive fried meals.” It helped that everybody from the preschooler to the grandfather in our group loves fries. Wash it down with a wonderfully balanced tart however candy lemonade and it is a combo made in boardwalk eating heaven.

Stars: 5.

Finest experience

The curler coasters right here “really feel like Six Flags,” and never beachside amusement choices, in line with my impressed teen. Fortunately, it appeared prefer it was going to be definitely worth the effort to check out the rides right here regardless of being in the midst of a heavy rain storm. There was one clear winner at Morey’s Pier in our soggy experience expertise.

Sea Serpent: If you happen to’re in search of the fun issue on the Jersey Shore, that is it. There are two 120-foot climbs, three upside-down loops — and then you definately do the entire thing once more, backward. My teen equated the expertise to being in a pinball machine, in the event you can image being pulled all the best way again after which ricocheted by means of tight turns, curves, and spins.

“Higher than House Mountain!” he raved. (For non-Disney followers, that is excessive reward certainly.) Trip tickets for Morey’s Piers value $1.25 every (there are reductions for bulk purchases, beginning with 80 tickets for $92.50), and it is 10 tickets to experience the Sea Serpent.

Stars: 5.

Seashore

Wildwood’s seashores are 500 yards huge, making them the most important in New Jersey. And so they’re free; no badges are required. You too can stroll proper onto the sand with out having to barter dunes (though it helps to have a seaside cart to traverse the five-football-field lengthy stretch of sand). As a bonus, there is a canine seaside proper on the coronary heart of the boardwalk the place Fido can play on the sand, a rarity for New Jersey.

Stars: 5.

Solely right here

Wildwood’s Tram Automotive traverses the miles of picket walkways, making it potential to avoid wasting shoe leather-based whereas taking in all of the sights, rides and tastes of Wildwood for simply $4. Nonetheless, what you will bear in mind long gone your keep is the monotonous intonation that accompanies the mini prepare because it rolls alongside the boards “watch, wa wa wa watch, watch the tram automotive please.” It is the Jersey Shore’s equal of “It is a Small World After All.”

Stars: 5.

Atlantic Metropolis

It’s exhausting to speak about Atlantic Metropolis with out conjuring a imaginative and prescient of some model of its previous. It’s the oldest boardwalk within the nation, opened in 1870, and it was as soon as identified throughout the U.S. for its diving horse attraction, the Miss America Pageant, casinos and big-name leisure. Even the Monopoly board recreation is predicated on Atlantic Metropolis’s streets.

You can also’t speak about AC with out discussing the disparity between on line casino accommodations and areas off the boardwalk, which traditionally have not had the entry to cash or enhancements given to the extra tourism-based enterprises. A historical past of bankrupt casinos and job losses prior to now have additionally made the boardwalk appear a little bit extra miserable than entertaining.

Nonetheless, in the previous few years, progress has been made, and there is extra to do and see than in a long time previous. To be trustworthy, the boardwalk isn’t the place the actual motion is; that’s within the casinos. Like Las Vegas, the prime eating places and entrainment all happen within the windowless confines of the towers the place you’ll be able to by no means actually inform what time it’s. Nonetheless, for this showdown, I caught to the out of doors boards and away from the slots.

Due to this, we principally centered on historic Metal Pier, the 1,000-foot arm of the boardwalk full of rides and meals that shoots out over the seaside and the Atlantic Ocean. The choices have been restricted, although.

High meals

Within the casinos, yow will discover eating places starting from Nobu to a number of outposts by Gordon Ramsay. Out on Metal Pier, you’re restricted to state fair-style funnel desserts, sausage and peppers, and a few vaguely Mexican choices. It’s effective, however not price a particular journey. There have been some mediocre fries (“limp, pasty and chilly,” stated the disgruntled teen) and actually dangerous lemonade (“principally simply sugar,” stated the vegan). I couldn’t persuade even the toddler to strive the “strolling nachos” (a form of Fritos pie made with Doritos and served in a metallic comfort retailer bag).

Nothing appeared nice, to be trustworthy, and we had hassle committing to consuming any of it. I used to be inspired to enter the accommodations greater than as soon as by my members of the family, however that’s not what most individuals who stroll the boardwalk or have youngsters with them do, so we made do with what was out there open air.

(And earlier than you ask, famed White Home subs can be off the boardwalk, though it has an outlet within the Exhausting Rock On line casino and Lodge.)

That left two gadgets we ate and considerably loved: Salt water taffy and funnel cake. Neither of them will likely be successful any awards, but when you end up in Atlantic Metropolis taking within the salt air, they will do the trick. So long as you may get a funnel cake sizzling from the fryer, coated with powdered sugar and eaten out within the sunshine, it is exhausting to complain.

Saltwater taffy: This chewy confection was really first offered, no less than in line with legend, in Atlantic Metropolis. We tried two totally different manufacturers, each of which was once independently operated however now are owned by the identical firm and offered in the identical shops: Fralinger’s and James (the previous is lengthy and historically tube-shaped, the latter is sq., “minimize to suit the mouth”). It is a low cost thrill: You possibly can pattern just a few items, offered by the pound, for round $1.

The 2 taffy followers within the group proclaimed the molasses and bitter cherry flavors one of the best of the bunch, however not every bit tasted recent.

Stars: 3.

Finest experience

There is a hodgepodge of rides on supply on Metal Pier, with just a few large spinning choices such because the mixer, which loops again and again, and one other that flings you want a human slingshot. Neither appeared interesting sufficient to danger dropping lunch or limb. I could not get anybody to strive them out. However, we did have one group favourite.

Carousel: We beloved the classic feeling horses and hurdy-gurdy soundtrack that instantly conjured a sense of the historic amusements that after stuffed this stretch of the picket thoroughfare. It is exhausting to argue with this type of nostalgia. Tickets for primary rides (excluding the Slingshot) are $1.75 apiece, with offers reminiscent of 50 tickets for $60. The carousel prices 4 tickets.

Stars: 4.

Seashore

The sand right here is huge and welcoming, and it is free to go to the seaside. It’s one of many causes folks have come to AC for greater than a century and a half. Nonetheless, whereas there are lifeguards, there are only a few easy-to-reach snacks or companies, so deliver your individual requirements.

Stars: 4.

Solely right here

Helicopter rides: On the finish of Metal Pier, there’s a really distinctive providing for the normally low-key Jersey Shore: a helicopter launch pad. Though it is now a part of the amusements at Metal Pier, it was initially constructed for one of many now-demolished Trump casinos that went bankrupt within the early aughts. Immediately it presents sightseeing journeys down the shoreline and round Atlantic Metropolis (costs from $75 per individual), giving guests a one-of-a-kind glimpse of New Jersey’s golden shores. It is a enjoyable possibility, however not interesting to my group of six folks since it might have value me a number of hundred {dollars} past my boardwalk finances. Nonetheless, if I ever hit it large on the slots, I am going helicopter all the best way.

Stars: 4.

The winners

The three seashores we visited have been fairly related, since they’re all within the southern half of the New Jersey Shore. Nonetheless, Ocean Metropolis is the one one requiring a pay-to-play seaside tag, and Atlantic Metropolis lacks easy-to-reach facilities, so Wildwood took the lead there with its large, free, sandy shore.

To be trustworthy, Ocean Metropolis is the place my coronary heart is relating to this contest. I beloved all of the meals choices, and it did win in that class with two 5-star choices for pizza and caramel corn. I additionally benefit from the mellow vibes and the family-friendly environment. Nonetheless, there aren’t any nice rides right here. For that, Wildwood takes the prize, even on a wet day.

Add within the only-there tram automotive, and it turned clear what was going to be named our winner. Here is the breakdown.

Meals

Wildwood had Curley’s Fries, however Ocean Metropolis had two 5-star winners — Manco & Mancos for pizza and Johnson’s Caramel Corn — so I am calling the “greatest meals” class for the OC.

Rides

It revs up a 120-foot slope, it reels over three separate 360-degree turns after which it goes backwards and does all of it once more. With its theme park-worthy thrills, the Sea Serpent coaster provides Wildwood the win for “greatest experience” — no competitors right here.

Seashore

Wildwood’s free, huge and dog-friendly shore and surf provides it one other win for “greatest seaside.”

Solely right here experiences

You may not love the ever present Wildwood tram automotive’s ear worm jingle, but it surely’s an unmissable (and handy) a part of a go to to the boardwalk, and the winner for the “solely right here expertise.”

OVERALL WINNER

Wildwood, with its mixture of pulse-pounding rides, free seaside and iconic tram automotive, gave it a trifecta of wins.

That stated, there have been meals, enjoyable and thrills giant and small available in any respect three of our stops.

Actually, my entire group was the winner of the boardwalk showdown since we bought to eat and play to our coronary heart’s content material whereas doing the vital “work” required to dig deep into the Jersey Shore’s well-known boards.

Planning on a go to to the New Jersey space? Do not miss this distinctive slice of iconic shoreline.

Oh, and yet one more piece of recommendation: Contemplate happening the rides earlier than you begin sampling the entire tasty boardwalk treats (you will thank me later).