Keep the kids and your wallet happy during your family’s beach vacation with this guide to free fun and great deals. Whether you plan to stay for a day or the week, there are plenty of low-cost ways to enjoy the trip.
New Jersey
Atlantic City
FREQUENT FREEBIES
Free beach access all summer
3D Light Show. Runs every half-hour after sunset. Boardwalk Hall.
HOTSPOTS
The centerpiece of this boardwalk theme park is the 227-foot-tall Ferris wheel — the steepest in the state. Cost cutter: Two- ticket Tuesdays are in effect 1-6pm, starting June 18.
This year’s free airshow is Aug. 21, featuring demonstrations and a high-speed boat-vs.-airplane showdown.
Margate
FREQUENT FREEBIES
No beach tags required! Sidewalk sales, farmers’ market and movies on the beach. July & Aug., 8:30pm. Huntington Ave. & the beach.
HOTSPOTS
Visit the town’s mascot, a 65-foot-tall wooden structure complete with a quaint gift shop. You can tour inside Lucy for a fee.
Party on the beach for free June 29, and enjoy live music and entertainment, treasure hunt, face painting and hula lessons.
Ocean City
FREQUENT FREEBIES
Entertainment, face painting and balloon art. July & Aug., 10am. Asbury Ave.
Activities differ weekly and include French fry sculpting and a donut-on-a-string eating contest. July & Aug, 10:30am. Music Pier, Moorlyn Terrace & the boardwalk.
Family-oriented boardwalk entertainment. July & Aug., 7:30pm. 6-14th Sts.
HOTSPOTS
Infants and toddlers strut their stuff Aug. 8 on the boardwalk during one of the longest-running events of its kind in the country.
Perfect for pre- or post-beach playtime, the expansive playground is equipped with rubberized flooring, equipment made of recycled plastic, shaded areas and bathrooms.
Sea Isle City
FREQUENT FREEBIES
Movies Under the Stars; July & Aug., 8:15pm; Excursion Park.
Family Dance Parties; July & Aug. (excluding Aug. 6), 7:30pm; Excursion Park.
HOTSPOTS
Enjoy live music, family activities, a craft market and tours June 15. JFK Blvd. & Pleasant Ave. and Excursion Park..
On June 26, discover turtles’ role in the
environment with nature displays, activities and entertainment. Excursion Park.
Wildwoods
FREQUENT FREEBIES
Free beach access all summer
Fox Park Concert Series. June 23-Aug. 25, 7:30pm. Fox Park Amphitheater, Wildwood
Concerts Under the Stars. July & Aug, 8pm; Lou Booth Amphitheater, North Wildwood.
HOTSPOTS
This Wildwood boardwalk staple boasts amusement rides and two waterparks. New this year, the Runaway Tram family coaster pays tribute to the town’s tramcar and the park’s 50th anniversary.
Also on the Wildwood boardwalk, this venue plays host to a slew of sporting events and all-ages festivals, many of which are free.
Delaware
Bethany Beach
FREQUENT FREEBIES
Free beach access all summer
Movies on the Beach. June 17-Aug. 19, dusk. Garfield Pkwy.
HOTSPOTS
Open year-round, the center features walking trails, exhibits and activities that highlight the area’s inland bays and wetlands.
With sand traps, water holes and secret pathways, this not-too-challenging mini-golf course lives up to its name. Cost cutter: Ages 2 and younger are free with a paying adult.
Rehoboth Beach
FREQUENT FREEBIES
Free beach access all summer
Concerts. June 14-end of Aug., 8pm. Rehoboth Beach Bandstand.
HOTSPOTS
Bike, boat, crab, fish, swim or hike at the 2,825-acre park.
The state’s biggest waterpark offers splashy faves like the Lazy River, waterslides and wave pools. Cost cutter: Take advantage of discounted admission after 3pm.
