Wildwood

A beautiful collection of colored neon signs cast their glow on 1950's-era cinder-block motels - tidy, basic, whitewashed to a glossy shine every May. Wildwood is thrillingly democratic; there's no fee for the beach here, and you won't find a bartender in a white jacket (in fact, the town is "dry", which makes finding a drink a challenge). Children rule the sand at Wildwood and its vest-pocket motel pools. The motels aren't luxurious, but they're a great value, and the kids won't care about the thread count.