Best of the Shore
The Wildwoods
Vastly different from the Victorians of Cape May, the $5 million homes in Avalon and the Nantucket-esque feel of Stone Harbor, the Wildwoods remain more kitsch than cool, more tacky than trendy, more South Philly than Main Line—and continue to be more affordable than most other Shore towns. Not that they’re downmarket. “Wildwood 10 years ago had a lower-income crowd,” says Audrey Porter, of Century 21 Alliance. “Now you have middle-class families paying easily $300,000 to $400,000 for a beach house.”
The five-mile-long stretch, which consists of Wildwood, North Wildwood, West Wildwood and Wildwood Crest, prides itself on its classic doo-wop architecture, some of which is being reinvented as tongue-in-cheek hip. While boutique hotels and trendier eateries are cropping up, they exist among the swarms of families and longtimers—many of whom vividly remember the days when the drive into town consisted of two lanes over a floating wooden bridge.
Best of The Wildwoods
Buzzy BYOB: Pacific Grill. To a town dominated by Italian eateries, this BYOB lends a new level of haute American with its braised short ribs, seared yellowfin tuna, and grilled scallops with lobster risotto (4801 Pacific Avenue; 609-523-1800).
Cream-filled doughnuts: Brubaker’s Breads & Buns. The double-stuffed of cream doughnuts (1700 Central Avenue; 609-522-4411).
Pie: The Black Bottom at Groff’s
Restaurant. Yes, the meatloaf’s good too, but Groff’s pies are decidedly decadent (423 East Magnolia Avenue; 609-522-5474).
Family ice-cream outing: Duffer’s Ice Cream and Golf. Play miniature golf while waiting for a seat at this old-fashioned ice-cream parlor (5210 Pacific Avenue; 609-729-1817).
Personal Best: “La PiazZa [4119 Pacific Avenue; 609-522-8300] for its baked Italian cheesecake. Doesn’t sound good, right? Well, you’re wrong. It has this wonderful toasted crust on the outside, and a warm, creamy, soft inside that squirts out when you eat it. And they have bands that start around 10 o’clock. Me and my three grandkids, we’ll stick around to listen to the music for a while.” —U.S. Congressman Bob Brady
Bed & Beach
Average 2004 home prices: Wildwood City, $217,435; North Wildwood, $254,325; West Wildwood, $224,229; Wildwood Crest, $324,893.
AVERAGE 1999 HOME PRICES: Wildwood City, $79,133; North Wildwood, $93,815; West Wildwood, $80,370; Wildwood Crest, $134,106.
Recent listings: In North Wildwood, a two-bedroom, one-bath condo with water view, $254,900; in Wildwood Crest, a two-bedroom, two-bath condo four blocks from the beach, $459,900.
Cost to rent a three-bedroom Beach-block house: Between $1,300 and $3,500 a week.
Where to stay: The Starlux on Rio Grande Avenue. The island’s first boutique hotel has a large non-form pool, angular ’50s architecture, and lots of neon. Trendsetting, yet great for families, too (305 East Rio Grande Avenue; 609-522-7412).
On the beach: Some of the most crowded beaches around — but for some, that’s part of the appeal. Plus: no beach tags required.
