New Jersey shore or Connecticut Shore? (Atlantic City, Ocean City: rental, hotel, houses)

[JerseyGirl415]

Some shore towns can be quite depressing in the winter, imo. Depending on the town, some may be near empty compared to the summer populations. The southern shore areas imo generally have less going on in the off-season months, are kind of in more isolated parts of the state. You may like and appreciate the quiet, though. But this is partly why they're cheaper. I'd recommend a Monmouth County town because I find the towns not on barrier islands and further north tend to have more going on all year round than a town like Seaside Park or towns on LBI, but I don't think you'd find anything in your budget there, at least not in a safe area.

I've always wanted to live by the beach, too, but personally, I'd be picky with beach towns, making sure they aren't too dead in the winter. Unless you don't mind that, of course. I just think some people who did not grow up at the beach have these ideas of beach towns based on how they are in the summer, only to find that actually living there during the rest of the year is a lot different.

[joee5]

Jersey shore. One of the few things nice about living in NJ

[ocnjgirl]

Originally Posted by JerseyGirl415

Some shore towns can be quite depressing in the winter, imo. Depending on the town, some may be near empty compared to the summer populations. The southern shore areas imo generally have less going on in the off-season months, are kind of in more isolated parts of the state. You may like and appreciate the quiet, though. But this is partly why they're cheaper. I'd recommend a Monmouth County town because I find the towns not on barrier islands and further north tend to have more going on all year round than a town like Seaside Park or towns on LBI, but I don't think you'd find anything in your budget there, at least not in a safe area.

I've always wanted to live by the beach, too, but personally, I'd be picky with beach towns, making sure they aren't too dead in the winter. Unless you don't mind that, of course. I just think some people who did not grow up at the beach have these ideas of beach towns based on how they are in the summer, only to find that actually living there during the rest of the year is a lot different.

Ocean City is busy year round. They have activities year round. All the stores and restaurants on Asbury Ave are open year round. At Christmas, they have Santa in a lifeboat, and free horse and carriage rides from November through Christmas. First Night (New Years Eve) gets 10,000 participants yearly, with the Polar Bear Plunge the next day. There are about half a dozen to a dozen stores on the boardwalk that stay open year round. There are a LOT of people with summer homes who rent them out during the summer and come down and use the house themselves on nice days in the off season. I loved the off season, personally. Like I told OP though, I wouldn't want to live in certain areas that don't have more than a handful of year-round residents. Margate and Ventnor are also busy year round with a lot of yearly residents, as is Cape May and Brigantine. Stone Harbor and Avalon are really the only beach towns that are truly deserted in winter, but they are too high-priced for OP in any case.

[Dangerous-Boy]

Originally Posted by moonshyne

LOL ! I recently visited New Haven & it's very nice. Although good PIZZA IS super important to me!

I found new haven depressing

[Retriever]

Originally Posted by Dangerous-Boy

I found new haven depressing

I agree that the city of New Haven is pretty bleak, but there are 10 museums worth visiting in that burg, including three on the Yale campus.

[moonshyne]

Originally Posted by JerseyGirl415

I've always wanted to live by the beach, too, but personally, I'd be picky with beach towns, making sure they aren't too dead in the winter. Unless you don't mind that, of course. I just think some people who did not grow up at the beach have these ideas of beach towns based on how they are in the summer, only to find that actually living there during the rest of the year is a lot different.

Exactly! Good advice :-)
This is why Hampton Beach, NH ( a place I love in the summer) is not on my list!

[ansky]

Originally Posted by moonshyne

Exactly! Good advice :-)
This is why Hampton Beach, NH ( a place I love in the summer) is not on my list!

I would have to imagine that a beach town in New Hampshire is about the equivalent of a ski town in South Carolina.

[G1..]

Originally Posted by JerseyGirl415

Some shore towns can be quite depressing in the winter, imo. Depending on the town, some may be near empty compared to the summer populations. The southern shore areas imo generally have less going on in the off-season months, are kind of in more isolated parts of the state. You may like and appreciate the quiet, though. But this is partly why they're cheaper. I'd recommend a Monmouth County town because I find the towns not on barrier islands and further north tend to have more going on all year round than a town like Seaside Park or towns on LBI, but I don't think you'd find anything in your budget there, at least not in a safe area.

I've always wanted to live by the beach, too, but personally, I'd be picky with beach towns, making sure they aren't too dead in the winter. Unless you don't mind that, of course. I just think some people who did not grow up at the beach have these ideas of beach towns based on how they are in the summer, only to find that actually living there during the rest of the year is a lot different.

I love the NJ shore but I really loved it after the summer season. I loved going for walks on the beach while it's snowing .
Love the Maine and Cape Cod Beaches both have their own character. I will say that beaches in Delaware and Maryland were ok ,Va just did not like and the same with the Carolina's ,not a fan of the outer banks.

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by G1..

I love the NJ shore but I really loved it after the summer season. I loved going for walks on the beach while it's snowing .
Love the Maine and Cape Cod Beaches both have their own character. I will say that beaches in Delaware and Maryland were ok ,Va just did not like and the same with the Carolina's ,not a fan of the outer banks.

Carolina and Kure Beach reminded me of the New Jersey Shore.

[JerseyGirl415]

Originally Posted by G1..

I love the NJ shore but I really loved it after the summer season. I loved going for walks on the beach while it's snowing .
Love the Maine and Cape Cod Beaches both have their own character. I will say that beaches in Delaware and Maryland were ok ,Va just did not like and the same with the Carolina's ,not a fan of the outer banks.

I love being at or near the beach all year, too. I have a lot of family living in shore towns or near shore towns, so I'm near the beach quite often. I'll walk the boardwalk or sand at any time.