Summer Nites Bed and Breakfast
2110 Atlantic Avenue
North Wildwood, NJ 08260
866-ROC-1950 or 609-846-1955

Summer Nites Home Page

April 2007

Welcome to www.weloveourlife.com. This is our page dedicated to our experiences while staying at Summer Nites in North Wildwood, NJ.

Accommodations

	We stayed in the 60s Suite. This is probably one of the few places we’ve stayed whose website pictures of the accommodations are extremely accurate – which is great. Our suite was on the first floor and had its own separate entrance.
	The bedroom nook had a very comfortable (!!!) king-size bed, TV, gas fireplace, and closet. There were plastic beads hanging down next to the bed.
	The sitting area had a red vinyl loveseat and yellow vinyl chair, another TV (that rotated), and a small refrigerator and sink.
	Off in the corner was a corner Jacuzzi – you could turn the TV so you could watch it while in the tub. The suite had 2 gorgeous custom airbrushed paintings – a 60s girl above the Jacuzzi and a peace sign in place of a headboard.
	The bathroom was huge (to accommodate a wheelchair since this room is handicap accessible) and had a sink, toilet, and large shower. The room had plenty of windows with blinds.

There were lots of books in the suite about different aspects of the 60s. We felt very comfortable there – weren’t worried about breaking anything.

When we visited, the weather was unseasonably cold (40s during the day and 30s at night with stiff winds), and we really appreciated the gas fireplace. There are only a few minor things we would change. There were two sets of towels – since there is a Jacuzzi in addition to the bath, it would have been great to have a couple more towels by the Jacuzzi. Also, perhaps putting some disposable plastic cups and paper plates on the shelves above the wet bar. We returned from dinner one night and needed glasses for our after-dinner drinks. We found some plastic disposable cups in the kitchen which we took to our suite. We're sure that if we had called Sheila (the innkeeper) and asked, that she would have given us cups, but we didn't want to bother her since it was late.

Inn Amenities

This B&B has some decent amenities to offer. There is a vintage coke machine that takes dimes – and the dimes are sitting on top for guests to use. There is a game room with vintage pinball machines, a bowling machine, and a treadmill with TV above. There is a pool table in the lobby area and a half-bath so guests don’t have to go back to their rooms to use the restroom. There is also a large living room with plenty of games and CDs and videos. The décor is all very retro 50s, very cool. The breakfast room has actually been remodeled as a very cool retro diner, complete with booths with mini-jukeboxes that feed into a large central jukebox. Guests feel transported back in time. The inn boasts a hot tub but it was being cleaned while we were there. (That worked out fine – it was probably too cold and windy to use it!) The B&B boasts large inviting porches that are likely quite a gathering place in warmer weather.

Inn Food

Breakfast is included, and guests fill out menus the day before and select a seating time. On our first morning we had huge spinach omelets with potatoes O’Brien and were offered a choice of sausage or bacon. Thoughtfully, the innkeeper offered vegetarian bacon and sausage and egg beaters. She seems very willing to accommodate her guests' requests – if reserving online, the form asks if there are any special dietary needs or restrictions. If you let her know ahead of time, she will do her best to meet your needs. Breakfast also included fresh fruit parfait topped with coconut, and a choice of fruit juice, toast, and breakfast bread. It was fresh and filling! On our second morning, Keith had the broccoli and cheese omelet and Lori had the banana nut pancakes. The breakfast meats were delicious – the sausage was slightly tangy and the bacon was lean and crisp.

Sheila Brown, the innkeeper, offers refreshments in the afternoon in the “diner.” While we were there, refreshments consisted of root beer floats (yum!) and hot soft pretzels. It’s a meal in itself and again, eating in the retro diner is very cool. It really took us back in time.

Inn Bar/Lounge

This is a B&B and does not offer alcohol (guests can bring their own). There was a refrigerator in our suite, which was nice to have.

Inn People/Service

Sheila Brown is the owner/innkeeper. Sheila and her husband Rick rehabbed this early 1900s house into a great B&B with a theme that is in step with the doo-wop nature of Wildwood yet offers an alternative. Most Wildwood accommodations are family-focused. This B&B is for adults and children must be 16 or older. Sheila really runs the inn herself with the help of her mother (who cooks breakfast). We didn’t really see her husband except in passing when we first arrived. The Browns reside on the top floor of the house. There are 4 rooms with Jacuzzis on the bottom floor (suites are 60s suite and Elvis suite, and rooms are Life’s a Beach and 70s). All of those rooms have their own entrances and are definitely decorated with love. Sheila proudly showed us the rooms on our visit (we were there Easter weekend and the rooms weren’t occupied). There are an additional 4 rooms on the second floor, two with Jacuzzis, and all have their own theme. Sheila dresses up for breakfast (think poodle skirt, bobby socks) and clearly enjoys what she does. We asked her all sorts of questions and she took the time to speak with us. She also gave us a great recommendation for dinner one evening.

Area/Attractions

“The Wildwoods” are a barrier island off of far southern New Jersey and contain 3 separate towns: Wildwood Crest to the south, Wildwood in the middle, and North Wildwood. Click here for more information on The Wildwoods. This barrier island is noted for its expansive beaches (honestly, some of the beaches appear to be a couple blocks wide from boardwalk to the water). There is a boardwalk with amusements, shops, and restaurants. There is also nightlife in season, although the Wildwood of the 21st century is a far cry from its party days of 20 years earlier, with a renewed focus on families and doo-wop architecture. The season is generally May to September, however Summer Nites is open year-round.

Dining

JP Prime - Chestnut & Olde New Jersey Avenues, North Wildwood, NJ, 609-729-4141
JP Prime Home Page
We had found this restaurant online and the menu looked appealing. When we talked to Sheila about it, she said she hadn’t been there yet, but warned us it was probably the most expensive place in Wildwood (which generally has very reasonable restaurant prices). We said we were OK with that – we were looking for something special.

We were greeted warmly when we entered the restaurant by an effusive host who took our coats and asked if we wanted to start with a cocktail in the lounge. It was early on a Saturday (6:30 p.m.) and the bar was empty (again, this was a holiday weekend in the off-season and a cold night) so we went to the bar. Were we glad we did! The bartender made us the best margaritas we have ever had, with Patron tequila, Citronage in lieu of Triple Sec (Patron’s version), and fresh lime juice. They went down smoothly, and we are happy to award JP Prime with our Best Of Margarita! (We are picky when it comes to margaritas!) The bartender was friendly and spoke to us. The décor of this place is modern yet warm, and combines class with almost a touch of Pacific Rim atmosphere.

After our wonderful margaritas (we could easily have had more), we were shown to our table, a nice corner banquette, where the host said we could “hold hands.” Note that Sheila did make a reservation for us a few hours earlier. We began with appetizers. Keith had the Barbeque Beef, described as tournadoes of filet mignon, layered with poblano chili peppers and Brie, served with a veal consommé. Lori had the Lobster Popcorn, described as beer battered chunks of lobster, deep fried, and served with a sherry wine sauce. Yum! We were served warm bread with butter that was smooth and spreadable as silk. For entrees, Lori had a special – sea scallops with a lobster sauce, and Keith had the 9-ounce filet mignon, topped with melted bleu cheese. As a side, we had a basket of shoestring potatoes, which were easily the best we tasted – like gourmet potato sticks sprinkled with herbs (we ate every single one of them). JP Prime has a great wine list, and Keith accompanied his meal with a couple glasses of Monkey Puzzle Pinot Noir while Lori had a couple glasses of Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay. It was wonderful dinner with great service and food and overall was a great dining experience. We would go back.

Owen's Pub - 17th and New Jersey Avenues, North Wildwood, NJ, 609-729-7290
Owen's Pub Home Page
On Sunday night, which was Easter, our dining options were obviously limited due to the holiday. Our innkeeper recommended a Owen's Pub for something casual. Owen's Pub is only a few blocks away from the inn. One side of the place was a restaurant and the other side contained a large square bar. We sat at the bar. Keith had Stella Artois on tap and Lori had chardonnay. We kept it simple, with appetizers of jalapeno poppers and crab “sticks.” For dinner, we each chose a chicken cheese steak – they had all sorts of varieties. Keith had the buffalo (spicy) chicken cheese steak, and Lori had the garlic chicken cheese steak. Be forewarned – it is a lot of garlic! Since New Jersey is now non-smoking, it was pleasant to sit at this bar with its paneling and 9 flat-screen high-definition TVs. The people who worked there were extremely pleasant. They seemed to know everyone who came in so we guessed this must be a local favorite.

Nightlife

Wildwood does still have some bars and nightclubs that feature bands and entertainment in season. There is also a convention center which hosts events such as a 60s weekend. But this resort island has definitely shifted its focus to families.

Weather

We visited the island on Easter weekend in early April. While we didn’t expect to be catching some rays on the beach, we were hoping for afternoon highs in the 60s. As we said earlier, it was unseasonably cold in the northeast that weekend, and the wind was formidable. We did manage to walk on the boardwalk but after about 5 blocks deserted the boards for inland, where it was warmer. The true season is from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with “high season” from July 4-Labor Day. But this can be a great place to visit in September and even October and in the shoulder season of May. Summer Nites is open year-round and there are things to do all times of year. This barrier island rarely sees accumulating snow in the winter due to the salt air.

Tips/Suggestions

Here’s a tip: if you are looking for a different place to stay in the Wildwoods (or even on the Jersey shore) and don’t have small children, check out Summer Nites. You won’t be disappointed and may find yourself drifting back to a time when all you had to worry about was what was playing on the jukebox and when you were going to get that next root beer float!