Summers at the Jersey Shore are the best, but the beach hits differently during “local summer,” when crowds are fewer, restaurants aren’t packed, and the boardwalk is still so much fun.
We just spent an October weekend in The Wildwoods – and learned all about the history, culture and entertainment that make this a fun staycation and vacay destination year-round, with plenty to do in the off-season. Here are 20 things to do with the family during cooler months (many are free)! Since businesses follow a summer, extended summer or year-round schedule, make sure to call ahead before making a plan.
Explore History. The Wildwoods is a 5-mile island that consists of North Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest, but also West Wildwood and Lower Twp. Learn about the towns’ histories at the Wildwood Historical Society and George F. Boyer Historical Museum. There are thousands of photos and artifacts that go back to the 1800s, from doo-wop vinyl record albums to pieces of The Wild Mouse and Giant Slide to the dolphin sign from the Dolphin Restaurant to mementos from Castle Dracula. It’s also a living museum – the day we toured, there was a visitor doing genealogy research, a couple looking for background on their family’s hotel, and a teen working on a history project. Admission is free from April to October, as is parking if you use the adjacent lot or ask for a street parking pass (if not, ParkMobile charges $4.45 per hour – and you need about an hour to walk around the five rooms).
Let the Music Play. Wildwood is considered the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll, and there are iconic murals painted on buildings throughout the area. Look for paintings of Bobby Rydell, Bill Haley & The Comets, and Chubby Checker, all of whom lived in the Wildwood area. Walk along the Avenue of the Stars, from Rio Grande to Pacific avenues, to see who helped influence “the Entertainment Capital of the East Coast.”
Experience Doo Wop! There are two things you must do in the Wildwoods: first, take a ride on the famous tram car (which is currently closed for the season) and second, visit the Doo Wop Experience Museum in Wildwood. Ask about the Mid-Century Decor Tour, or walk around the museum for free (hours vary by day and season). The building is the former Surfside Restaurant from Wildwood Crest, which was preserved and turned into a museum. You can’t miss it, with its glowing neon lights. Inside, the collection includes a menu from Zaberer’s, a huge “Playpen” sign, dinette sets, old-time radios, a Wurlitzer jukebox, Tiffany lamps, stylish ashtrays and space-aged-themed decor from the Satellite Motel.
Explore the Boardwalk Off-Season. Although the water park is closed after summer, Morey’s Piers and the Boardwalk area still have lots to do. Get the kids wristbands for the rides, and you can eat at an iconic spot like Founder’s Grub & Pub or Curley’s Fries. If you’re walking between Wildwood Crest and Wildwood, at the Cresse Avenue dividing line, there’s a cute archway and “Boardwalk sign” at the bottom of the ramp where you can take selfies. There’s also the iconic “Wildwood” sign with its beach balls on Rio Grande Avenue (look up at the webcam and wave – and you’ll see yourself on the website).
See the Light. The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse in North Wildwood is more than a lookout point. When you first arrive, take time to explore the beautiful grounds which include gardens open to the public until dusk, whether or not you go inside the historic building. The pathway begins with a gazebo, and then continues on to the seawall, perfect for walking, hiking, pushing your stroller, or walking your dog. It goes 1 mile in either direction along the inlet and then the Atlantic Ocean. While inside the building, walk up the three flights of stairs of the 150-year-old lighthouse on a self-guided tour to get to the top room, where you overlook the water. Along the way, you’ll learn about former lighthouse keepers, see the rooms where the families lived, and get a glimpse of the beacons used at the top of the lighthouse. Admission is free from May to October.
Hotel Hop. We spent a few nights at Madison Resorts in Wildwood Crest, which is the newly revamped Oceanview and Royal Hawaiian properties. It combines modern and doo-wop amenities, like a selfie-perfect phone booth, an old-school refrigerator and microwave, and retro furniture. The rooms have a separate, super cozy suite section with a couch and TV. Each room has a patio with a table and chairs, or sit by the cabana with a fire pit for some end-of-the-night stargazing. The heated pool is open year-round, and the resort is just steps away from the beach. You can stop downstairs for a breakfast buffet at The Vinyl on select mornings. See our Instagram page for a firsthand look.
Side note: There is a sister property in Cape May called The Montreal Beach Resort, with Harry’s Ocean Bar & Grille (known for its Orange Crusher alcoholic drink), which you can reach via shuttle on select days.
The Doo Wop Motel District includes the Jolly Roger and the Port Royal Motel. Popular hotels from years gone by include The Shalimar, the Island Beach Resort and The Caribbean (on the National Register of Historic Places). Make sure you drive along to check out the fun, kitschy travel motif hotels like Waikiki Inn, the Nassau Inn, the Cape Cod Inn, the Fleur de Lis and the Crusader. Many of the hotels have a vintage vibe exterior, since they reflect the retro feel of the ’50s and ’60s, but have refurbished and modernized rooms.
Fuel Up Along Rio Grande Avenue. As you drive onto the island, you’ll see a Sinclair gas station on the left with its iconic dinosaur logo (one of only about a dozen in NJ); and on the right, a very Jetson-esque Wawa sign.
Work Up an Appetite. There are about a dozen restaurants open year-round, from Greek food at George’s Place in Wildwood Crest to Dragon House for Chinese in Wildwood to the Vegas Diner for pumpkin pancakes in North Wildwood. The Honky Tonk Saloon is fairly new, and there are Irish pubs along Pacific Avenue in the downtown business district of Wildwood. Mudhen Brewing Co. has a selection of handcrafted craft brews (we tried a flight and highly recommend the pumpkin beer), plus its brunch spot, The Station House, next door. Make sure to try the salty balls from Maui’s Dog House, which was featured on Food Network, too. And no trip to the Shore is complete without some Kohr’s ice cream.
Build Up Some Fun. There are lots of buildings around town that incorporate doo-wop, space age and tropical elements that were popular when The Wildwoods were redeveloped in the 1950s. Some are private homes, like a Romantic Italianate house on Glenwood Avenue in Wildwood, a Queen Anne home on E. 22nd Street in North Wildwood, or eclectic prairie on E. Rosemary Avenue in Wildwood Crest; or public buildings like the Lollipop Motel in North Wildwood, or the Caribbean Motel in Wildwood Crest.
Take in Nature. Watch sunrise or sunset, take out your surfboard, grab a crabbing bucket or birdwatch. The beaches are beautiful, super wide with pillow soft sand and free. The Wildwoods are also very dog-friendly, and you can bring your pup with you to the beach from October to May.
Pop Into a Park. There are lots of pop-up parks with playground equipment throughout the area. There’s exercise equipment along the bike path in Wildwood Crest, plus sports fields and courts, especially an uber-popular pickleball court in Wildwood Crest. Places like Byrne Park and Fox Park are fun pit stops and the sites of events and festivals on select weekends.
Take a Bike Ride. When packing for your staycation, include your bicycles, because The Wildwoods are known for being bike-friendly. There is a 12-mile roundtrip bike path that goes along the island, and you’ll see bikers from 6 am into the evening. We rented a surrey bike from D.R. Bradley’s Bike Rental, which has a shed filled with 400 different single, low-rider, surrey, tandem and kids’ bikes – conveniently located across from The Madison. You can ride on the boardwalk until 1 pm every day.
Explore Your Wild Side. Just about 15 minutes away is Cape May County Park & Zoo, located at GSP Exit 11 in Cape May Court House. The draw? More than 550 animals from 250 species, of course and it’s free admission. You’ll see goats, pigs, lions, bears, otters, peacocks, camels and squawking birds. It takes about 90 minutes to see everything, including kangaroos, capybaras and a giraffe encounter.
Pay Your Respects. The Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet in Wildwood Crest, All Wars Memorial Statue in Wildwood and Vietnam War Memorial in Wildwood let you honor veterans – and there is a small memorial behind the Hereford lighthouse dedicated to those who were lost at sea. The Forgotten Warriors Vietnam Museum is dedicated to the Vietnam and Korean wars at its Rio Grande location.
Plan For a Cold or Rainy Day. Don’t let the weather deter you: rent a lane at Island Bowl Family Fun Center or get tickets to a movie or comedy show at Old Movies by the Sea.
Go Window Surfing. Mike Sciarra surfed in Hawaii and decided to start Kona Surf Co., selling clothing and equipment out of Wildwood, and then manufacturing surfboards out of a nearby boarding house. People flock to the store not just to get their gear, but to see the flagship location.
Catch Some Festival Fever. So many fairs and festivals take place year-round in the Wildwoods, but fall has a different feeling. At the beginning of the month, The Race of Gentlemen brought together meticulously restored pre-1934 vehicles for drag races on the sand. Oktoberfest at Morey’s Piers is family-friendly, with the rides and attractions open for kids, but lots of beer options and live music, too. Run the Crest includes 5K and 10-Miler runs. Unity Day brings together churches, first responders and the community. Those events will all be back for the 2025 season.
The Wildwoods ’50s, ’60s & 70s Weekend (coming up October 18-19) is a weekend of nostalgia and music. This year’s performers include The Cameos, Animal House, Living Proof, The Deck Band, Frankie Avalon, The Shirelles starring Beverly Lee and The Letterman; though you need tickets for the main shows on Friday and Saturday nights, there’s a free street fair at Fox Park on Saturday.
You can also check the schedule for the Wildwoods Convention Center, which hosts events all year.
Plan a Spook-tacular Visit. Halloween events include MudHen Brewing Co. Boos & Brews on October 27, the Byrne Community Center Haunted Gym & Trunk-or-Treat on October 26 and 27, Boo Fest Makers Market at the convention center on October 26 and 27, the Greater Wildwood Elks Halloween Haunted House on October 26, and the North Wildwood Trunk-or-Treat Block Party on October 26.
Get Into the Holiday Spirit. The Wildwoods is filled with Christmas events starting in November, ranging from a holiday beach bonfire and shopping village in November; to tree lightings, visits with Santa Claus (and Santa Paws), and Winter Wonderland in December.
And Start Planning for Summer 2025: Throughout the year, other popular events in the Wildwoods include the Unlocking of the Ocean Ceremony, beach monster truck races, free Friday night fireworks, the New Jersey State Barbeque Championships & Anglesea Blues Festival, a baby parade, classic car shows, Christmas in July, an international kite festival, Irish and Italian fests, a sand sculpture competition, and the National Marbles Tournament (check out the National Marbles Hall of Fame Memorabilia Display inside the Great Wildwood Chamber of Commerce). And you can already get tickets for June’s Barefoot Country Music Fest, starring Lainey Wilson and Jason Aldean, amongst 40 other acts. Start your countdown to Memorial Day now!
Check out our favorite activities on our Instagram reel.
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Read More:
More Things to Do in Wildwood
Here’s How to Visit 6 Jersey Shore Towns Like a Local
These Are New Jersey’s Best Boardwalks
Why We Love Cape May in the Off-Season
