New Jersey Shore

The Jersey Shore’s cutest tradition, Wildwood’s annual Baby Parade celebrates its 100th anniversary on August 6th. The first batch of charming and delightful youngsters participated in the Wildwoods Baby Parade in 1909. Ever since, this event has become a shore tradition, drawing huge crowds of locals and tourists with a soft spot for beautiful babies parading down the famous Wildwoods Boardwalk in decorated strollers and floats. This year’s special Centennial Celebration is sure to draw even bigger crowds to the 100th Anniversary of the First Baby Parade.

The 100th Anniversary of the First Wildwoods Baby Parade will take place at 6pm, Thursday, August 6, 2009. Registration for the event starts at 5pm at the Wildwoods Convention Center. The parade starts at the Wildwoods Convention Center, proceeding up the famous Wildwoods Boardwalk, and ending at 16th Street in North Wildwood, where winners and awards will be announced. Be sure to come out and celebrate a century of fun, tradition and cuteness on Thursday, August 6, 2009 at the Wildwoods Baby Parade!

Looking for a place to stay? Sundance Vacations has numerous places on the Jersey Shore. Try Key Largo, Esplanade, Leaming Avenue, or Mali Kai. http://www.sundancevacations.com/beach-resorts.html

*Photos are courtesy of the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority and the Best of NJ website.*

Wildwood, NJ is a sight to be seen at least once in your life. Recently, visitors to the Wildwoods have found the ever so famous boardwalk in repair. A great portion of the boardwalk is currently being replaced. Approximately 42,000 aging boards from Schellenger to Cedar Avenue are under construction. This renovation has caused uproar. Why? Because builders are using Brazilian hardwood called ipe (ee-pay) on the 3.5 million stretch of walkway. So what about ipe? Well, ipe is harvested from rain forests which have many environmentalists up in arms. According to Rainforest Relief, which protested the Wildwood project, about 80% of ipe wood sold in the US is harvested illegally from the rain forests.

Wildwoods Executive Director of Economic Development Lou Ferrara insists ipe comes from all over the world, not just rain forests. Although Wildwood pledged to not use rain forest wood on its boardwalk, they found it to be the best wood for the boardwalk that can support the weight of emergency vehicles and apparently save replacement costs in the future.

The Wildwood project is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and New Jersey’s Urban Enterprise Zone Authority. (New Jersey Monthly Magazine, pg. 69, 09)

Do you agree with personnel to use ipe wood, or do you think another type of wood might have been more suitable? Does this change your opinion of Wildwood?

It’s safe to say that many voters across the country are completely tired of government bailouts. The government is constantly raising taxes for special projects that we have no say over. If you or someone you know has a home or a business in New Jersey, you might feel differently because New Jersey’s political leaders are pressing the White House’s office of Management and Budget, to spend hundreds of millions of tax dollars to subsidize sand-replenishing projects.

Beach erosion has been a leading cause of the shrinkage of the New Jersey shore beaches. New Jersey has received about $450 million to pump sand along the coast since 1985. Federal tax dollars are representing about 65% of all the money spent replenishing sand in New Jersey. So, if you live in Pennsylvania or Texas you are supporting beach erosion projects in Ocean City and Beach Haven. Many people are angry that their tax dollars are being wasted. Whenever a storm hits, another chunk of the beach is lost. Isn’t there some other plan that can be implemented that would save the voters tax dollars?

Do you agree or disagree with government funding for the New Jersey beaches?

They’re known as Mibsters and they aren’t losing marbles, they’re winning them. For those of you who don’t know, a Mibster is a marble player. The Mibsters aren’t strangers to the Jersey Shore, they descended there in 1922, when the first-ever National Marbles Tournament was held in Atlantic City. Hundreds of Mibsters will soon make their way to the Jersey Shore. The 86th annual competition will take place from June 21st to June 25th.

Ten 12-foot-square concrete platforms, each with a 10-foot-diameter yellow playing circle, are arrayed across the Wildwood beach, comprising a venue known as Ringer Stadium. There, champion marble shooters (mibsters) ages 8 to 14 from all over the country will face off in two divisions (one for boys, one for girls), playing about 1,200 games over the course of four days. (New Jersey Monthly Magazine, pg. 21, 09) www.nationalmarblestournament.org

Do you have kids interested in the National Marble tournament? Sundance Vacations provides numerous properties in New Jersey. A popular spot is the Esplanade Suites in Wildwood, NJ. The resort is located just steps from the beach, boardwalk and convention center.

Sundance Vacations hosted their second customer service appreciation event on Saturday August 23^rd .  The event took place at the Esplanade Suites in Wildwood, New Jersey. Sundance Vacations wanted the opportunity to give back to their customers and say thank you. Many of the customers who were vacationing at the Esplanade were excited to see Sundance there to greet them. Frequent Sundance travelers staying at the hotel were treated to a lunch buffet, delicious desserts, and free Sundance gear. The children had fun with Customer Service Manager Judy Romanelli. Judy set up a cake eating contest as well as a hula-hoop contest. The winners received prizes varying from Sundance beach bags, to sand pails for the beach. Everyone had a great time sharing stories of their recent and past vacations. It was great meeting each customer and finally being able to put faces to the names over the phone. 

Tis’ the season for vacations, and most people are taking advantage. Sundance Vacations employees know the importance of vacations; after all we are working for a vacation company. We also work very hard to make vacations more affordable and memorable to numerous families across the nation.

This year, a popular spot for vacationing is the Jersey Shore. The main attraction you ask? Most people would say, the boardwalk. In South Jersey alone, three resort towns have them, Atlantic City, Ocean City, and the Wildwoods. The Wildwoods, which consists of Wildwood, North Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest, hold a plethora of activities. The towns are widely known to have some of the finest beaches in New Jersey. At the shore, you will find boardwalk standbys in multiple amounts. From t-shirt shops and jewelry stores, to arcade casinos the shore provides it all. In addition to the boardwalk and beaches, Wildwood also offers amusement and water parks to entertain the family. Pizza, hoagies, ice cream, fudge, soft pretzels, and the ever so famous saltwater taffy dominate the boardwalk menu. Just the thought makes your mouth salivate.

Sundance Vacations occupies 22 vacation properties for your convenience at the Jersey Shore. Some include: Surrey Beach House (Voted “Best Shore Motel” by Philadelphia Daily News), Wildwood By the Sea, and Mali Kai to just name a few. As the archway in North Wildwood boasts, the shore is home to “the happiest people in the world.”

Hopefully you’ll get a chance to vacation this summer, and if you do remember the Jersey Shore is waiting for your visit.

Have you visited the Jersey Shore? What was your favorite spot? What is your most memorable vacation?

Sundance Vacations employee Heather Henning visits Wildwood by the Sea. See post below.

A co-worker and I recently stayed at the Wildwood By the Sea in Wildwood, NJ. The condo was very clean, comfortable, nicely decorated, and located only half a block from the boardwalk and beach. Since we were so close to the boardwalk and the beach, we were able to leave our vehicle sit because everything was in walking distance. WE SAVED A LOT OF MONEY ON GASOLINE!

It was a great time browsing through all of the nifty shops. We went crazy buying clothes for ourselves and other unique gifts for our families. We found the boardwalk shoppes to be well stocked with fun beach apparel and a ton of other items that were very inexpensive.

We had unlimited choices of great restaurants within walking distance. We also have the option to cook meals if we wanted. We drove only 10 minutes to Cape May to have dinner at the Lobster House. The food was excellent! Every dish was fresh and perfectly prepared. The service was just as good as the food, absolutely outstanding! I highly recommend the Lobster House while visiting the Jersey Shore.

All in all we had a great experience. I cannot wait to visit again at the end of the summer. I might even take my fiance along this time!! 

-Heather Henning - Sundance Vacations, Harrisburg, Pa

Sundance Vacations is proud to announce that Surrey Beach House was voted "Best Shore Motel" by Philadelphia Daily News readers in the newspaper’s 2007-2008 People Paper Awards.  Located just minutes from Atlantic City, Surrey Beach House offers European-style boutique accommodations and unparalleled hospitality on the Jersey shore.  Each year, Philadelphia Daily News readers vote for their tried and true local favorites in a number of categories, including restaurants, stores, lodging, entertainment and more.

Nestled in the historic seaside town of Ventnor, New Jersey, Surrey Beach House offer luxurious guestrooms and suites featuring flatscreen TV’s, kitchens, air conditioning, deluxe bed linens. rainfall showerheads and complimentary WiFi access.  Beautiful oceanviews, the beach and public boardwalk are just steps from Surrey’s front door, as well as tennis courts, restaurants and public transportation to Atlantic City.  The relaxed atmosphere and small town appeal make Surrey Beach House the perfect place for a romantic getaway, business travel, family reunion or corporate retreat.    

Operated by TAN Resort Group (TRG), Surrey Beach House is already a favorite destination for many Sundance Vacations client’s.  For information about the property, contact your Total Vacation Services Department at 1.800.223.0088 ext. 3.

Kathy O’Mara, Communications Director