Hello all. I have been posting threads these past few months inquiring about surfing and weather conditions back home in the mid-atlantic. From what everyone told me, the best coastal towns in the mid-atlantic (OBX excluded) for surfers, who need steady year round employment are: Virginia Beach and Jersey Shore So, all surfing aside, I haven't spent too much time in either place and would like to know what you guys think about raising family in either place. I am from Baltimore, so Jersey shore is about 2.5 hour drive, which is AWESOME. Virginia Beach is about 3.5 hours from Baltimore, which also is awesome, since I am about 3100 miles away now =) So, both places are large enough that a restaurant manager such as my self, and my wife to be is a chef.... So, either place has tons of restaurants. Probably a few more year round down in VB. So, It looks like aside from Atlantic City NJ, most of the jersey shore has a pretty low crime rate. It also shows that there are quite a few schools up there. Also, the jersey shores looks filled with nooks and crannys with homes and condos that are a few blocks from the beach. Bayside etc..,. So the coastal setup looks fun up there. Virginia Beach, has slightly better weather. VB actually lies in a completely different sub-climate that Jersey does. So, only a few sprinkles of snow down in VB, more mild winters.... Slightly warmer water... So, Jersey seems to take the cake for surfing. Everyone agrees that Jersey is better than VB, altough both are pretty close... I also see that Virginia Beach has quite a bit more crime. There are more murders, thefts etc. down there. So, I don't know if those stats are related to areas further inland in VB. But there look to statistically be a lot more diverse ethnicities in VB.... So, for anyone who knows either place, how is the safety and over all family aspect of these coasts?
Jersey is probably you're best bet. better waves for sure but VERY high taxes. As a chef I'd look for work in AC first for more year round, high dollar places, then cape may.
no competition as far as waves go... The new Jersey coastline is pretty big. South Jersey is more laid back, country style, while Central Jersey is a faster pace and more developed due to the proximity to NYC.
Just my .02 Delaware has megalow tax on everything. Nj has better waves than DE and VA because it has a better swell window. From a business standpoint, isnt north jerz more year round as the beach goes. You probably couldnt make mad stacks working only in the summer when people are actually at the beach. I would assume it is b/c it is close to real jobs in NY and other towns. Ive seen LBI in winter and nothing is open. DONT GO INLAND!
Jersey is great for business, especially if you go into the area around Perth Amboy and north. That's where the density skyrockets. My hometown is as north as NYC and you can't get enough people everywhere. The ride to the shore is quick and easy (Garden State Parkway). Another really viable option is my current residence: Philadelphia. 1 hour drive to Atlantic City, for gambling, entertainment, and of course surfing. It is 20 minutes north of Delaware (aka closer to Baltimore for family). Also it isn't terribly far from OCMD, and other DelMarVa locations. Best part is that you are in Philadelphia where you have businesses left and right, and the consumer living around you (literally). Just my two cents. Good luck!
it depends on what kind of town you're looking for. i don't like cities that much so I like the smaller beach towns. South Monmouth County and Ocean County in NJ would be a good compromise between both because there are not too many people but not too little. whatever you do, don't be a commuter. You don't want to identify yourself with the Benny crowd, and besides, it's more fun if you live closer to the ocean anyway.
South Jersey! The Jersey Shore is a restaurant mecca. Philadelphia and its surrounding counties supply us with a constant flow of rich people who love to drop loads of cash to be here ( I know it's crazy) but its tradition. No don't show up here and act like a kook!
I would recommend Monmouth and Norther Ocean Conunties. There are tons of restaurants, pubs, bars, nightclubs and if all else fails there is mass transit to NYC. Most towns in the area are very good to raise kids(schools and activities). Plus within a couple of hours you can surf the points in RI, snowboard, and street skate some of the best cities. Last Sun I snowboarded in the morning and surfed in the afternoon, not to many places you can do that.
NJ or VahBeach New Jersey, by all means! You'll really like it there and the people are so incredibly friendly as well. It's like one big family, especially at the surf spots.
wow, thank u all for your quick and honest responses. I am definitely looking to be within walking distance to the beach. I don't ever want to live inland. I live 1/4 mile to the beach in sd and have no thoughts of living any more than a half mile really. but anyway, I guess it is unanimous that jersey is just a better beach town for surfers even though its colder up there. which actual coastal towns r best to find residental townhomes and single families? ocean city nj was all seasonal rentals and tacky little shacks when I searched real estate. there are some cool affordable homes in north atlantic city, but I heard a.c. is the gnarliest area up there. so I was looking at brigantine, moregate city and a little further south. any other coastal communities near all the action that I should research? it still baffles me that jersey shore is closer to baltimore than oc md. crazy! p.s. salty j: I am up to my neck in kooks out here, so I would bring nothing but respect and hoepfully some new talent to the area. I share waves with about 50 people a day out here from all skill levels. I have a pretty high tolerance for nonsense in the water.
Monmouth County for sure! You can just hop on a train to NYC in little over an hour. and its Boss' home turf! He lives in Rumson now though (not far). P.S. anywhere you look you'll find that people aren't selling as much.
Curious, how do you identify yourself with the "benny crowd" haha? If you commute more then 20 miles, you're a kook? Come on dude, calm down you're not at pipe or J-Bay. I live in northern jersey and trust me cant wait to sell my place and buy home close to the beach. However, I'm not a kook, nor do I disrespectful people in the water as I'm pretty aware of who I see out there all the time and who are chill and rip vs. the kooks who live in mommys house suck, have wack style but think they are Jordy and have big mouths like they own the ocean. Anyway, I'm all for protecting your spot and everyone showing respect as that is where you live and surf everyday but just because people come there to surf that dont live in your town doeant mean you have to act like be a barney. In the winter though, always see the best crowds or most respectful surfers out in the water no doubt and that's why gotta love jersey during this season.
i'm sure there are lots of people now a days, who are looking to have someone rent their vacation home for whatever they can get. Even tho the real estate agents have an asking price... believe me there can be a considerable amount of negotiating with these beach rentals.
If water temps are a big factor VB is warmer longer than Nj. Vb stays boardsshorts from about mid-june to mid-october then you can probably get by with a 3/2 until mid december and then 4/3 or 5/3 for the 40 degree waters until end of march when it starts warming up again.
NJ Does have much better waves but one nice part about VB is that it is only a one hour drive to the OBX. Alot of guys that live in VB will regularly surf in VB but then take a day-trip down to the OBX every few weeks. I regularly take camping trips down to Hatteras (two hour drive) and have a great time. Hope this helps!
yes,it does help, thank u all. so, to the vb guys: how is daily life down there away from surfing? is crime bad? the statistcs aren't too great down there, but is that because of norfolk etc.? or is the actual coastline safe? I hear that traffic in vb is aweful. and obx is a definate plus being so close. baja mexico as likee that for me for the past 6 years. I went on day/weekend trips 2 _nd 3 times a month. surfing empty reefs and point. all natural!! now baja is a war zone and none of us gringos r safe down there. it sucks. baja was my second home. 40 minute drive from my house in ob and im in the lineup at baja malibu. ohhh memories... **** all these drug cartels down there. killing and terrorizing innocent people.
I have live in Virginia Beach my whole life. Well actually I don't "live"there now cause I go to college in colorado, but I still return every summer to teach surf camp. VB is a great place, all this talk of crime and what not is in the ghetto. VB is a HUGE city, and yes there are bad areas, but then there are ridiculously nice areas. Anything near the ocean is gonna be awesome, and you can find some anything to suite your price range. Honestly I would say that its a great place to raise kids, you just need to find a house that is a good location. I personally would choose to live there over jersey anyday. And as for the snow thing, I've lived in VB for 21 years, and I can count on 2 hands the number of times its snowed more than an inch.
zack619, I posted you about your relocation query and gave my vote for SNJ. I believe the town you have been referring to, on the island where Atlantic City is called Margate. This is where I set up shop after having to leave my beloved Pacific Beach, SD. It is a very year round community. Margate has its days but your right in between Ocean City and Atlantic City which can get very good. its a 10-15 minute drive either way. there are towns on the mainland like Northfield and Somers Point which might be a little cheaper and takes about the same time to get to the beach. the further south you the more seasonal it is and quite dead till you hit Wildwood and Cape May. Cape May can get very good it just needs a BIG swell to turn it on. Central and North Jerz the waves do have more punch and get a lot more hollow but I really no nothing about the scene. When hurricane season is on its just a six hour drive down to the Banks and then you just follow it up the coast. As far as the cold water goes wetsuit technology has come a long way since I used to surf in the winter in a straight 3mill. If need a break down on any spots just send me a message.
Ya, this is VB's only saving grace. Anytime there is a swell, I drive down south, sometimes multiple times a week. If there is swell and the wind is offshore its worth the drive 110%. And it does not take 2 hours. You can make it to Kill Devil Hills in an hour. And if its got size this is probably my favorite place to surf. My record is 35 min from my driveway to the wrights brothers bridge. You can make it to Rodanthe in a little over an hour usually. And the more you make the drive the easier it becomes, and you'll also learn where all the cops hide.
I live in north nj and commute to the beach when there is swell. There is a substantial difference in the amount you can expect to pay in real estate between snj and nnj. Everyone has their own idea of where snj begins but most seem to agree it is near the lbi area. I have a friend who bought a condo in Brigantine for a song and she gets plenty of waves. I dont know much about the area but I dont think it is that far of a commute to AC to work if you choose that route. I have only been to AC once this past year for a convention and I can tell you that place is a hole. You do not want to live in the city!
