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New Jersey piers??

Looking for information on Jersey shore parks.

From Brad W
Posted June 22, 2010 at 4:35 PM
My family and I will be traveling from SFGAdv to Busch Gardens Williamsburg in a couple of weeks. We were looking at stopping at some of the piers along the Jersey Shore \fist pumping like a champ. We won't have a whole lot of time visit the piers so they would be short trips to ride a few rides and just get the experience of the parks.

I know of Morey's Piers but are there any others that are really worth visiting? Are there any unique rides that shouldn't be missed at Morey's other than the roller coasters? How long would it take to hit the highlights of Morey's? We would be visiting in the afternoon so I thought lines might be shorter.

Thanks for any insight!


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From Ryan B
Posted June 22, 2010 at 6:27 PM
Eh, Morey's Pier is definitely the biggest. Like you, I tried to find gold elsewhere along the shores' piers but all pretty lame. I've been to Seaside, Point Pleasant, AC, OCNJ,and Keansburg's piers' parks and they're all somewhat similar. Small steel coaster and some type of haunted mansion at most of them. After Morey's, Seaside's two piers might be the biggest, but again, nothing too special unless you have something specific in mind you're hunting for.

I haven't been to Morey's for about 10 years but they did have some neat looking older attractions, most probably gone by now. I'd say you could hit the highlights in two or three hours.

I don't know how long you'll be in the area for but one park I was really pleasantly surprised with was Playland Park which is a "beach park" along the Long Island Sound. It's near the north east end of the Bronx, maybe 2 hours from Great Adventure if there's not much traffic? Now the crowds and the employees are less charming than the park, but it does have a lot of feel to it, especially at night. It looks like a park that was built in the 30s and last updated in the 50's. It has nice midway lights, old buildings that were kept well that you don't see anymore,ice skating indoors, a pool and old fashioned stadium pool seating (although I think it's being renovated), the BEST Old Mill ride left, a mirror maze, and like 3 haunted houses. No extreme rides, but it's really a cool old fashioned park if you can get past the crowds, way more charming than anything along NJ shores.

Fist pumping will come in handy at Seaside Heights.

From KJ Simpson
Posted June 22, 2010 at 7:28 PM
Ryan- I was so excited to see someone posting about Playland! But unfortunately, I doubt it will work for Brad- it's a good two hours in the opposite direction from where he's headed after SFGA.

I started typing a long post about Playland, but then realized it was kind of rude to hijack this thread! I will save my Playland post for a separate post :).

From Tony Duda
Posted June 22, 2010 at 10:03 PM
I suggest Point Pleasant and Seaside as the best time wise. To get to the shore, you will be crossing the state west to east from GA, about an hour or so ride to Point Pleasant. (Always have lots of quarters for parking meters) You can spend an hour there to get the flavor of it. Then drive down the coast road to Seaside Heights and see Casino Pier. It has some vintage rides and an old carousel. Take the half mile walk south along the boardwalk to Funtown Pier, stopping at the "stands" and try to win stuff. Funtown Pier is in Seaside Park (I lived in Seaside Park for 6 years) and has an old carousel too as well as typical rides. Overall, 2 or 3 hours needed. Wander back to your car and then head west again towards the Del. Mem. Bridge and south to Virginia.

I suggested this route because going any further south would mean you need to go to AC or Wildwood for boardwalk amusement piers. Your query sounded like you were not intending to stay over night on your shore trip and going to them is like another 8 hours.

Point Pleasant and Seaside Heights and Seaside Park have web sites that have a lot of info. Check them out first.

From Brad W
Posted June 23, 2010 at 10:13 AM
Thanks for the responses.

We are actually planning on spending a night around Atlantic City the night after going to Great Adventure that day. Then we are planning on driving to Williamsburg the next day and maybe stopping by a pier along the way (or maybe we would need to stop the day before for casino pier). Using google maps, I found that it doesn't take too long to drive to the south in of Jersey and take the Lewes-Cape May ferry. If the ferry time efficient, or would driving around be better? (we are also trying to avoid DC traffic)

From Tony Duda
Posted June 23, 2010 at 2:57 PM
The ferry is more of an adventure than a shortcut. It costs $20 or so, times are limited and you need a reservation to be sure you get on, IIRC. The Eastern Shore of DelMarVa is a nice drive. Stop at Seaside on the way down, who knows, you may see "Jersey Shore" being filmed. Or did I scare you away?

From Thomas Caselli
Posted June 29, 2010 at 1:42 PM
I hate to say it, but stay away from New Jersey. I live in New Jersey and there are some good things, but I probably would not visit NJ if I had not been born and raised here.

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