Quick answer
Everyone who comes to Wildwood Crest does the same four things: beach, boardwalk, pizza, repeat. All great. But if you're here for more than a few days or you want the trip to feel less touristy and more local, these are the ones to add in.
On the beach / water
1. Sunset Lake paddleboarding + kayaking
Sunset Lake on the bay side of Wildwood Crest is much calmer than the ocean. You can rent a paddleboard on the lake (Lakeview Docks on Park Blvd offers rentals), paddle around, and see a side of the Crest you'd never guess existed from the ocean side. Mornings tend to be calmest, before the wind picks up, and it's a popular spot at sunset.
2. Diamond Beach
Just south of Wildwood Crest. It's technically Lower Township, but the sand is continuous, so you can walk right into it from the south end of the Crest. It tends to feel quieter than the beaches closer to the boardwalk.
3. Crest Pier at Heather Road
The pier at Heather Road is a nice spot for an easy walk or some fishing, and a good place to watch the beach wake up or wind down.
4. Early-morning beach walks
The beach is quiet early in the morning, before the lifeguards come on at 10am. Pack coffee, walk south toward Diamond Beach, and come back as the first umbrellas go up. Best free hour of the whole trip.
Up the island
5. Hereford Inlet Lighthouse (North Wildwood)
A short drive up to North Wildwood. The lighthouse was built in 1874, still works as an active light, and has a lovely garden. In season the tower is open to climb (there is a fee). A rainy-day activity that doesn't feel like a rainy-day activity.
6. The Wildwoods Boardwalk after sunset
You already know about the boardwalk, but go at night. The neon from Morey's Piers, the smell of funnel cake, the famous recorded "watch the tram car, please" announcement. It's honestly kind of magical. The boardwalk starts at Cresse Avenue on the Crest border, so from the north end of the Crest you can walk there.
7. Ride the tram car
The Sightseer Tram Car runs the length of the boardwalk, from Cresse Avenue up to 16th Avenue in North Wildwood. In 2026 a one-way ride was $5, and a $13 hop-on hop-off wristband covered unlimited rides until 5pm that day.
8. Morey's Piers water parks
Morey's runs two beachfront water parks on the boardwalk. Passes aren't cheap, but if you're traveling with kids around 7-14 it may be the best day of their trip. Check MoreysPiers.com for online deals before you go.
9. Doo Wop Museum + concerts at Fox Park (Wildwood)
Fox Park sits on Ocean Avenue in Wildwood, across from the Convention Center. It's home to the Doo Wop Museum and hosts free concerts through the summer. Bring a blanket or beach chair.
Looking for a Wildwood Crest place to stay?
Food + treats
10. Primo Hoagies
A Shore classic, with a Wildwood Crest shop on New Jersey Avenue. Order your favorite Italian hoagie, grab a bag of chips, and eat it on the beach or back at the rental.
11. Beach Creek Oyster Bar & Grille (Wildwood)
On the bay side of Wildwood, a short drive from the Crest. A good pick for a nicer night out, especially around sunset.
12. The Jellyfish Cafe
Casual breakfast and lunch spot on New Jersey Avenue in the Crest. The place you default to when you don't want to think about where to eat. Check hours before you go, since it closes early afternoon and isn't open every day.
Local stuff you'll miss if nobody tells you
13. Downtown Wildwood Farmers Market
Saturdays from 8am to 12:30pm on Pacific Avenue in Wildwood (at Byrne Plaza), from late May through Labor Day weekend. Handy for stocking up on breakfast and lunch stuff for the week.
14. Bike the island
A bike path runs about a mile from Rambler Road in the Crest up to the boardwalk. In the morning, when bikes are allowed on the boards, you can keep going up the boardwalk into North Wildwood. Many local shops rent cruisers by the day or week.
15. Cape May for a day trip
About a 20-minute drive south. Victorian-era town, totally different vibe from Wildwood, great restaurants, lighthouse at the point. Pair it with lunch at The Lobster House or dinner at The Ebbitt Room. The easiest "we did two Shore towns this week" move there is.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Wildwood Crest besides the beach?+
Plenty: paddling on Sunset Lake, walking or fishing at the Crest Pier on Heather Road, biking the path up to the boardwalk, the Wildwoods boardwalk itself, Diamond Beach just to the south, Hereford Inlet Lighthouse up in North Wildwood, and day trips to Cape May.
Does Wildwood Crest have a boardwalk?+
Not its own. The Wildwoods boardwalk starts at Cresse Avenue on the Wildwood/Wildwood Crest border and runs north through Wildwood into North Wildwood. From the north end of the Crest it’s a short walk; from the south end it’s a short drive or bike ride.
What should I do with kids in Wildwood Crest?+
The beach itself is wide and lifeguarded in summer. Morey’s Piers and its two water parks are close by on the boardwalk, the tram car is a fun ride, and Fox Park in Wildwood has free summer concerts.
What’s the best thing to do on a rainy day in Wildwood Crest?+
Hereford Inlet Lighthouse in North Wildwood, the Doo Wop Museum at Fox Park in Wildwood, the arcades on the boardwalk, or a day of shopping and lunch in Cape May.
Is Wildwood Crest worth visiting over Wildwood?+
If you want quieter beaches and a family-friendly vibe, we think Wildwood Crest is the better pick. If you want to be in the middle of the boardwalk action every night, Wildwood or North Wildwood may suit you better.