Family Beach Vacation in Ocean City, NJ

I grew up spending a week or two every summer in Ocean City, NJ at my grandma’s house. We would spend the day at the beach, digging, swimming, making sand castles with my cousins and sisters. We would all line up for the AWESOME outdoor shower and then eat meatball subs my grandma made. Night were spent at the boardwalk people watching and on the rides.

My grandma has since passed and everyone has moved to different places but my immediate family has kept up the Ocean City tradition. The kids LOVE the boardwalk and spending time together at the hotel and the beach. Ocean City is on Jersey’s coastal shore approximately 2 hours from NYC. The city has a string of beaches and boardwalks with a weekend art festival where vendors line the boardwalk Friday through Sunday. Ocean City is a dry town, meaning there are no bars and no alcohol served at restaurants. People do not go to Ocean City to party… they go to spend time with their family.

Rockville Climbing Facility

We stopped at Rockville Climbing Facility on the way to brake up the trip a little. It is about 1.5 hours from the city, and then about 1.5 from there to the shore. This is a great climbing place for kids due to their automatic belay system. Once kids are tied in, they can climb and drop on their own. This allows the moms to climb too!!

Biscayne Suites

Biscayne Suites is located on Ocean Avenue between 8th and 9th street. It is about 3 blocks from the boardwalk, an 8-10 minute walk to the beach. The deluxe suites have king beds, full kitchenette, sleeper sofa, and private balcony. There is a rooftop pool and outdoor seating which is perfect for ordering in with large groups.

Make sure you have the perfect beach cart for transporting your beach gear!

Fun Family Activities in Ocean City, NJ

The BEACH

The beaches are crowded but the sand is glorious. You’ll need a beach tag to get onto the beaches but most hotels include them in your stay. There are places to rent chairs and umbrellas on the beach, usually $10/day. The swimming area is usually pretty small and the lifeguards are on point. If you are interested in surfing, there are surfing beaches at 7th & 16th street and Waverly Street Beach.

The seagulls are insane. They will swoop down and grab anything you are eating from your hand. Do not leave any food out or visible when you leave your spot or it WILL be eaten. While we were there we saw a trial run of the East Coast Raptors which was awesome. The Jersey Shore spent $65K for falcons, owls and hawks to scare away the aggressive seagulls.

If you are spending the day at the beach bring some shade with you!

The Boardwalk

The kids LOVE the boardwalk! There are so many kids activities and it is an extremely safe place for kids. The two amusements parks are Playland’s Castaway Cove and Gillian’s Wonderland Pier. Both have rides for all ages. I was forced to go on the blue rollercoaster at Castaway cove TWICE. I didn’t open my eyes either time but the second time was less terrifying then the first. All the kids ages 7+ loved it…. I did not.

The Haunted Mini Golf, Mirror Maze and Laser Maze are all near each other. You can buy a pass that will last for days that covers all 3. I highly suggest this if you are traveling with children!

Although *I* do not enjoy Escape Room the kids do and the 30 minute option is a great compromise. The cousins, ages ranging from 4-11 all worked together to figure out the clues to escape. There was minimal fighting and the adults didn’t have to help TOO much.

If you don’t want to carry a large bag onto the boardwalk, take this little pouch belt with you…

The OC Waterpark is a great place to spend 2 hours on a hot day. It is right on the boardwalk and overlooks the ocean. It is very manageable for all ages and they even sell food and drinks inside to make it an easy stop. There is a $20 spectator fee for parents who would like to enter without using the slides.

Totally Tubular Watersports

Totally Tubular Watersports is on the bay side of Ocean City. It is a great place for a hot day. The kids have a few hours to jump, slip and slide. Bennett who is four had a personal lifeguard follow him around to assist him the entire time! There are options to jet ski, parasail and banana rides right next door.

I want to make a shout out to Starfish Cafe which we spent many meals enjoying. Their food is fresh and delicious. Smoothies, coffee, acai bowls…. OH MY.

If you are looking for a beach getaway with a small family or a large family group check out Ocean City, NJ. You won’t be disappointed!