Our summer trip began with a place so fun and unique that my 12 year old son now counts it as his favorite place ever. Beaches, amusement parks, restaurants, activities and some of the most fantastic Mid-Century Resort Architecture and Googie signs anywhere! Where do you find all of this? New Jersey!
The Wildwoods began developing as a resort in the last decade of the 19th century. Of interest to Mid-Century fans is the building boom began in the 1950s, 
due partially to the construction and completion of the Garden State Parkway in 1955.
Also of interest to Mid-Century enthusiasts, “Rock Around the Clock”, often credited as the first rock and roll record, was first performed on Memorial Day weekend in 1954 at the HofBrau Hotel in Wildwood by Bill Haley & His Comets. The song’s status as one of the first rock and roll hits has given rise to the city’s claim as “the birthplace of rock and roll”
The Caribbean Motel in Wildwood Crest, and the Chateau Bleu Motel in North Wildwoods are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
We stayed at the Imperial 500, which will merit a post of it’s own, but we wandered around a lot and ogled all of the fabulous motels in the district.
This is a fantastic family destination, our kids loved the beach and at least in June, when we went, it was fairly quiet with plenty of room to spread out and not feel crowded.
