New Jersey Shore Help

I am wondering....

Is it possible to start at Keansburg at opening 10 AM and head down the Garden State Parkway picking up all the credits as I go.

I think it entails.

Keansburg (Keansburg)
Jenkinson's Boardwalk (Point Pleasant)
Casino Pier and Funtown Pier (Seaside Heights)
Steel Pier (Atlantic City)
Gillian's Wonderland Pier and Playland's Castaway Cove (Ocean City)
Morey's Piers (Wildwood)

I am skipping Bowcraft since I can do that when I work in my company's office in North Jersey.

I looked at it drive wise and see it can be done in one day with giving about 1 hour at each stop other than Morey's. I know Steel Pier all I will ride is the Crazy Mouse and the Disk-o. What I am wondering is there any of these that will need more than say 1-2 hours because of a great collection of flats. I am not going to be kiddie coaster credit grabbing so it's pretty much adult/family coasters and flats that I am going to be riding.

Any insight on any of the places would be a great help. Thanks in advance.

That's going to be pretty tough, and it will depend on when you attempt it.

Your major problem is going to be the Parkway and the roads that take you to and from the shore points you want to hit. All of the amusement parks are on the water and the roads that connect to the Parkway are usually covered with traffic lights, meaning it might take you upwards of 20 minutes to reach places like Keansburg and Seaside Heights. You're also going to have to worry about finding a parking space, which won't be impossible as much as time-consuming. Try it on a weekday and traffic might agree with you. Try it on a weekend and you're going to be in for a nasty surprise.

Also, don't forget that many of the parks have more to offer than just coasters. Keansburg has a great old darkride, Jenkinson's has the Fun House, Casino Pier has a classic carousel and some good flats, Ocean City also has a classic carousel and good flats and Wildwood could easily take about six hours since there's so much to do and it's a bit of a hike to get to all three piers.

Ambitious plan, but I don't know it'd work... and if it did, you'll probably be sorry you didn't spend more time at some of the parks.

*** Edited 8/16/2007 5:48:33 PM UTC by Rob Ascough***

I was really awaiting your answer to this Rob as I bet you know these places well. So a better Idea is to split it into two days and a North and South thing?

North being:

Keansburg (Keansburg)
Jenkinson's Boardwalk (Point Pleasant)
Casino Pier and Funtown Pier (Seaside Heights)

And South being:

Steel Pier (Atlantic City)
Gillian's Wonderland Pier and Playland's Castaway Cove (Ocean City)
Morey's Piers (Wildwood)

Honestly, I would make it two days- the second day being Wildwood and the first day for everything else! Besides, Ocean City would be a nice place to end the night.

You're more than welcome to message me if you want more pointers. I do know some of those areas quite well.

I did essentially that same trip last year--splitting the shore into two days. But even with about seven hours at Morey's, I didn't have anywhere near enough time. Definitely spend as much time at Morey's as you can and try at least one of the waterparks. After the piers close, go to Flipper's Fascination for a high energy session of various fascination games like 8-ball cover-all and 2-ball crazy bingo. It's a blast and puts ALL other Fascination parlors to shame.

Haven't Been to Keansburg, but take Parkway to Rte 34 to Pt. Pleasant BEACH (PP Boro is an adjacent town). Jenkinsons can be done in less than 1 hour unless you want to walk the 1 mile of boards. Not too many good flats - skip the Scrambler at Keansburg and Point (if they exist) for Seaside's Centrifuge. Fun House and Aquarium is North of Jenkinsons on the boards, parking in private lots is $10 + up.

Take Rte 35 South to Seaside Park... park in the metered parking at the end of the "Amusement" section. Walk the boards North to Casino Pier - Stillwalk Manner is sometimes above average (depends on actors), Centrifuge is fun, you can get your Disco credit here (unless Steel Pier's is one of the ones with a hump in the middle), definitely ride the classic Chance Zipper. On the other side of the Casino building (which is where one of the two historic carousels are) is a waterpark and some go-karts.

!!!!Keep an eye on the time and head back to the car showing up at least 1/2 hour before the meter ends (meters have a habit of running out in less time than what is shown, my sisters have gotten tickets to prove it). Refill meters for Funtown Pier for 3 coasters and shot-drop tower (and good go-karts, but Morey's has better). Since you are parked there you can always run back and hit it again with quarters. If you like the old shooting galleries there is one in the arcade with the Carousel in at the south end of the boards.

Don't forget Kohr's Frozen Custard, the Lemonad Stand in the middle of the boards mid-ways and Berkley Sweet Shop (best salt-water taffy in my book). If you want Pizza, good luck, it isn't what it used to be but 3 Brothers is OK... Take Rte 37 out of town, look for Parkway signs. That's the best I can do for you, it's been too long since I've gone further south... *** Edited 8/17/2007 12:46:26 AM UTC by jshorerzd***

Living outside Philly I go to Morey's almost every summer so I am very familiar with it. I can probably drop it completely.

I knew I was probably pushing it with the plan but it would be fun to say I rode every coaster along the Jersey Coast in a day. The issue I had was as most of you said I love flats also and I know the shore has some great rides along it.

As for Facination I guess I have to admit, I've never played it. I hear people here talking about it at PPP all the time but I've always been too busy riding to play. Maybe that is something to change soon.

Thanks for all the info jshorerzd. I will have this thread with me when I do the trip or trips so as not to forget that great info.

Steel Pier has the normal Disk-O and it's where I got my first ride on one. It started an addiction to them. Whenever I see one I must ride it.

The Techno Jump at one of the Ocean City piers (can't remember which one is which) is probably the best flat on the shore. Don't miss it. It's ridiculously fun.

Flipper's Fascination ruins you for all other Fascination parlors. It's like playing senior bingo at most places, but Flipper's makes it a high-energy sensory experience with special effects going off around you.

I would definitely recommend the Disk'o on Casino Pier. It's on the edge of the pier and being above the ocean definitely adds to the experience.

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dragonoffrost said:

Thanks for all the info jshorerzd.

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Not a problem, I grew up between the two (Point Pleasant and Seaside Heights) and visit pretty often. Hey, anyone else remember Point and Seaside in the early '80s?

If you've been to Morey's before, you could probably just pass through and ride the coasters, although I still think it's going to be a challenge. As for Keansburg, you might want to take into consideration that the Schwarzkopf Wildcat hasn't run in a few years. I don't even know if the ride is still there. But there is still the darkride, some flats and Lusse Skooters.

RCDB has the Wildcat at Keansburg as operational as of 6/2007. It has it SBNO for a period before that so hopefully it is operating.

But even for a ride on Lusse Skooters I could see it a worthy stop. I know they probably aren't like Knoebels but HEY they're Lusse's!

Another thing about Keansburg that has me worried is they state a limited opening at 10 and the full opening at noon.

That's interesting- and exciting. I was thinking the Wildcat was eventually going to be removed. I've never been on it, so if it is operating, I'll have to stop there next week on my way down to Wildwood.

Wildcat at Keansburg is definitely operating this year. I've ridden in the past so I haven't been, but I know quite a few people who have ridden it in the last month. The only catch is that there's only one 4 person train that's operational.

That's great news. The Wildcat is the last true Schwarzkopf on the Jersey shore- an area that was literally "littered" with Schwarzkopf rides just a few years ago. Casino Pier's Jet Star, Morey's Pier's Jet Star, Steel Pier's Wildcat, Gillian's City Jet...