Hello, and apologies in advance for a long message. I am from the Uk and planning a trip to New York and its surrounds in late July, with two teenagers.
Originally, through the very helpful suggestions on Fodors, we had thought to visit New York before travelling to New Jersey and Wildwood/Ocean City. We have since revised our plans, and are now thinking of renting on a beach for the full two weeks and commuting for day trips into New York. Long Island seemed to be a good spot, but the message boards seem to suggest overcrowding and car jams. Whats our alternative, it would be great if there were lots to do (Boradwalks/amusement parks etc!) Where are Jersey Shores, and would that be an ideal base.
Many thanks for your help.

I'm not an expert on the Jersey shore, but there are 4 beaches that I know of that may be what you are looking for.

Point Pleasant Beach: About an hour and 15 minute car ride south of New York City. There is also a train station here with service to New York City. However, the train ride is about 2 hours.

Jenkinson's Boardwalk at Pt. Pleasant: http://www.jenkinsons.com/

Seaside Heights: About an hour and 30 minute car ride south of New York City.

Seaside Heights Tourism Site: http://www.seasideheightstourism.com/

Atlantic City: About a 2 hour car ride to New York City.

Atlantic City Tourism: http://www.atlanticcitynj.com/home.asp

Wildwood: About 2 hour and 30 minute car ride south of New York City. This one is probably my favorite of the four but it is pretty far from NYC.

Wildwood Chamber of Commerce http://www.gwcoc.com/

The biggest negative I see with the Jersey Shore is the commute time into New York City (which is assuming you rent a car). The times listed do not even consider traffic you will likely encounter.

Hopefully someone else will be able to give you more indepth information. Good luck!

Wildwood and Ocean City are a little too far to the South for day trips into New York City.

Point Pleasant Beach is a nice area, and has a small boardwalk area. A little farther south of Point Pleasant is Seaside Heights. They have a huge boardwalk w/amusements, but the area is a bit seedy. A place to visit, but I wouldn't want to stay there. Another option would be Seaside Park -- a tad South of Seaside Heights.

I hate to be discouraging, but I think you would really be better off dividing your trip between the city and the beach. None of the beach resorts are really close enough for daily commuting purposes - the closest is approximately 2 hours each way - so you eat up a good part of your day - and considerable funds - in RT train fares. Also, shows and other evening event sbecome problematic when you need to race for a train - which become scarce after rush hour.

I also do not suggest driving back and forth - the traffic can be hell to these communities in the summer - hours of delays on Sun or Fri or near any holiday - and once you get into Manhattan parking is very expensive.

I think you would enjoy both parts of the vacatin much more if they were discrete.

In addition to the NJ Shore beaches and Long Island beaches being a too long commute, they are also very crowded (trains & highways) and you would spend way too much time sitting and trying to get there and back. It would really spoil your holiday.
My suggestion:
One week in Manhattan and one week at the Beach. We spent a few days in NJ on Long Beach Island. It was nice but not as nice (to us) as the NY beaches.
I would go out to Montauk. There you have the Hamptons, Sag Harbor, Shelter Island , shark tournaments, roadside farm stands, movie stars and fishermen all living together in one of the prettiest areas I can think of.
There is a lot to do out on Long Island with a little less of the "cheese" factor that the NJ Shore boardwalks offer.
No offense to NJ people

Thanks very much for your help with this. Given the advice thus far, we are thinking that we will divide our two weeks. Without attempting to minimalise New York we will probably spend the first week doing a combination of New York and north of the city (Niagara etc). Then head south and base ourselves around Wildwood for a week. Maybe a little ambitious; but knowing our two teenagers (with characteristic ADS), it might just keep their spirits and ours afloat.

I think Niagra is a bit of a drive, which might give you only a day or two in Manhattan.
Wildwood is definitely a place that we heard families enjoyed going to.
Whatever you decide, I am sure you will have a great time~

I have to warn you that Niagara Falls is an 8-hour drive from NYC. If you're going to spend any time north of NYC your best bet is the Hudson Valley region.

No one mentioned Long Beach, on Long Island. It's only an hour from NYC by train (you could walk to the train). It has very soft sand and a boardwalk, though none of the carnival activities you may associate with boardwalks. It's more of a quiet, residential community. Body-surfing and volleyballl are the favored activities at this beach.

Metro NYC born & raised, spent every summer of my life at the shore (NJ). For maximum benefit, split the visit: week in NYC and week at the shore. Your original idea is perfect. Jersey shore around NYC would be as far south as Seaside. Wildwood/Ocean City is more the Philadelphia crowd shore. Either area will fill the bill. Assume you are flying in/out of NYC.

PS-in Oct we had guests from Europe. Niagara Falls was the top priority on their "to see" list. Airfare for 5 was unreal so we rented a van, drove to NF & Toronto for 3 nights but the trip used up 4 precious days of the first week. Maybe you can layover on your trip.

Thanks again. Looks like Niagara is a bit ambitious. Maybe then, Manhattan for a week then a week at either Mantouk or Seaside Heights. My geography is a bit vague but I think Mantouk is on the way out towards Long Island and within striking distance of Coney island, which sounds a good day out for teenagers. Mantouk would seem therefore an ideal base - I haven't looked in any dertail at Seaside Heights.

Montauk is the farthest tip of Long Island, The End..you go on the Long Island Expressway and through the Hamptons and end up in Montauk. It will be very busy in July and crowded but also a lot to do, great surfing too.
Coney Island is in Brooklyn, not even close

Coney Island is actually in New York City (in Brooklyn - one of the outer boroughs). If you want to see it just do it one of the days you are in NY - it's just a short subway ride - and is appropriately boardwalky and tres tacky - all sort of rides and games and quite awful food. Your kids may love it. There's also a good aquarium.

I have another idea. What about combining NYC with beach near Niagara Falls?

Jet Blue has inexpensive air fare to Buffalo from JFK. From there you'd have to rent a car and drive to the falls. I think this would be a fun thing to do during the summer. Niagara on the Lake is a great area during the summer with theater. Haven't been to the beaches there but it would be less expensive than a beach area near NYC and I think might offer more things to do.

I also think you're underestimating the draw NYC will have for your teens. My guess, they'll like NYC better than the beach.

Thanks again. I am reassured by the view that New York City should be a will (getting into the lingo) will be 'a draw'. A view expressed by some friends (although they have only been there once for a long weekend) is that you can't do anything with teenagers after dark in New York. Beach at Niagara - its nowhere near the sea?!

The only thing you can't do with teens in NYC is go clubbing. There is tons to do, especially in the summer, when there are outdoor events in Central Park and elsewhere (concerts, plays) and you can do boat cruises, walk around and explore Chinatown, Little Italy, Soho, the village...and what NYers love to do, go out to eat and make an evening of it. Not to mention many of the museums are open late on Fri/Sat.

As for Niagara on the Lake, while it doesn't sit on the Atlantic, it's on Lake Ontario where it meets the Niagara River. You really need to look at a map!!

And while the exchange rate is excellent for you in the US, you'll find your GBPs go even farther in Canada. It was a way of combining your desire to see Niagara Falls and have some beach time in a place with activities.

Here's some info on Niagara on the Lake. http://www.frommers.com/destinations...685010001.html

There are many nice seaside communities on the Jersey Shore within driving distance of New York City. There are also some that are not so nice. The drawback as others have mentioned is the traffic. However, if you can be near a train stop, that would make things easier. I'm no expert on trains in NJ, but Point Pleasant would meet your needs - nice beach, lots of amusements, rides, pizza, music, fishing, etc for the teens, and a family oriented area. Other nearby towns I would recommend are Manasquan, Bay Head, Lavalette,Ortley Beach, Spring Lake and Seaside Park. All these places are within 60 miles of New York, and at a low traffic time, the ride to the city can be done in 90 minutes. Avoid - Asbury Park, Bradley Beach, and Neptune.

Since you are going to split your weeks up anyway, instead of the northeastern beaches, have you thought of the southeast? The biggest plus would be that the ocean temps are much warmer. The Outerbanks of North Carolina are beautiful.

Can't speak to details of the Jersey shore but can reco the Hamptons. Have never done this with teenagers - but my family used to do it every summer when we were teenagers and we loved it. They would rent a cottage in Sag Harbor - a more middle class area with numerous small/mid size cottages many of which can be rented by the week. There is tons to see and do - bay beaches you can walk or bike to - ocean beaches a short ride away, montauk point/lighthouse, state park, whaling and old house museums, fishing boats, whale-watching cruises, lots of movies, shopping and teen hangouts. The summer my eldest cousin finally turned 16 was heaven - the (combined) parents leant us the smallest/rattiest car and we tooted all over - between the three of us I think we met every cute teenage boy in a 10 miles radius.

A great place for a family/teen vacation and very affordable if you go the cottage rental route.

Not so easy to find weekly rentals anymore nytraveler. And many of them are designed specifically for very large groups. Not impossible, just not easy and not so inexpensive.

OP might have a look on vrbo.com (vacation rental by owner) and see what's available in some of the areas we've mentioned. If you want to pursue the idea of the Hamptons and renting something, I can also suggest hreo.com (hamptons real estate online) and the local newspapers, southhamptonpress.com, easthamptonstar.com and danspapers.com