Wildwood Crest named top beach in Best of Jersey Shore contest

PRESS RELEASE

WILDWOOD CREST - The Borough of Wildwood Crest has been voted as the top beach in the 2023 Best of Jersey Shore contest hosted by Regional Media and Coastal Broadcasting.

Winners of the contest were determined through a public voting process following a nomination period. Winners were announced online at bestofjerseyshore.com and in the Best of Jersey Shore Magazine.

Best of Jersey Shore described Wildwood Crest as a "beautiful, family-friendly beach ... (that) offers visitors the perfect spot to soak up the sun, take a refreshing swim or enjoy a variety of beach activities such as volleyball, the paddleboarding and surfing. The beach is ... a convenient and enjoyable destination for all beachgoers."

One of New Jersey’s few free beaches, the Wildwood Crest beach features various amenities, many of which have been added or upgraded in recent years. 

The borough’s iconic fishing pier at Heather Road was restored more than a decade ago, various improvements have been made to the beachfront bike path in the northern end of the borough from Cresse Avenue to Rambler Road, hundreds of beach storage boxes are placed across the beach each summer for the convenience of residents and visitors; and, most recently, ADA-compliant improvements that include new and wider decking, benches, foot showers, bike racks and more have been made to each beach entrance from Rambler Road south to Jefferson Avenue. 

Some of the annual special events on the Wildwood Crest beach include the Wildwood Crest Sand Sculpting Festival, Cape May County Lifeguard Championships and Wildwood Crest 5K Beach Run. The beach is guarded by the Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol from Memorial Day weekend through the weekend after Labor Day each year. 

“We are truly honored and humbled to have won this best beach award through the Best of Jersey Shore contest,” said Wildwood Crest mayor Don Cabrera. “Modestly, we have always believed that Wildwood Crest features one of the best beaches along the entire East Coast. Our entire staff, in particular our beach patrol, public works department, police department and recreation department, works hard to ensure that Wildwood Crest maintains its status as one of the nicest, safest and cleanest beaches in the country.” 

The Best of Jersey Shore award is one of several garnered by Wildwood Crest for its beach over the years. Wildwood Crest was previously named the Best Family Beach in New Jersey through an online sponsored by the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium and was previously feted as one of the Beast Beaches in the North by Marinalife magazine and website. 

Wildwood Crest has also been honored in various best beaches lists in conjunction with neighboring Wildwood and North Wildwood.