Brenda Ann

Coastal Watercolor Artist
Inspired by the Jersey Shore & Key West

Favorite Things to Do in Wildwood, NJ

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Wildwood, New Jersey is one of the most colorful and nostalgic places at the Jersey Shore.

For many families, a Wildwood vacation is a mix of beach days, boardwalk nights, amusement rides, ice cream stops, and familiar local landmarks that become part of summer traditions year after year.

That sense of place is one of the reasons I enjoy painting Wildwood. The town is full of subjects that are instantly recognizable and tied to memories.

Here are a few favorite Wildwood attractions — along with the watercolor artwork they inspired.

Walk the Wildwoods Boardwalk

The Wildwoods Boardwalk stretches for nearly 2.5 miles and is packed with shops, arcades, food, rides, and classic shore-town energy. It is one of the best places to experience the sights, sounds, and nostalgia of Wildwood in one place. The Wildwoods, NJ

One of the most recognizable parts of the boardwalk experience is the famous yellow tramcar, which has carried visitors along the boards since 1949. The Wildwoods, NJ

That familiar sight inspired one of my Wildwood watercolor pieces:

View the Wildwood Boardwalk Tramcar Watercolor Print

Visit Morey’s Piers

Morey’s Piers is a classic part of the Wildwood experience, with amusement rides, family attractions, thrill rides, and beachfront water parks spread across the boardwalk. Morey's Piers

The bright colors, ride structures, and lively boardwalk atmosphere make it a natural subject for watercolor.

View the Morey’s Piers Wildwood Watercolor Print

Stop for Something Sweet

Food memories are a huge part of Wildwood summers.

Laura’s Fudge

A box of fudge is one of those classic shore treats that immediately feels like vacation.

My Laura’s Fudge watercolor print celebrates that nostalgic side of Wildwood — the local businesses and familiar stops people look forward to visiting each year.

View the Laura’s Fudge Wildwood Watercolor Print

Cool Scoops Ice Cream Parlor

Cool Scoops in North Wildwood combines an ice cream parlor with a 1950s theme, complete with vintage-car booths, a jukebox, and retro memorabilia. Cool Scoops Ice Cream Parlor

It is exactly the kind of colorful, personality-filled place that makes Wildwood fun to paint.

View the Cool Scoops Ice Cream Parlor Watercolor Print

See Hereford Inlet Lighthouse

For a quieter side of the Wildwoods, head north toward Hereford Inlet Lighthouse.

The lighthouse and surrounding area offer a completely different visual experience from the boardwalk, with historic architecture, coastal scenery, and a more peaceful atmosphere.

It is one of my favorite types of subjects to paint because it combines architecture with the natural character of the Jersey Shore.

View the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Watercolor Print

Spend Time on the Beach

Wildwood is known for its wide beaches and classic summer atmosphere.

A day can be as simple as swimming, walking, reading in the sand, or watching the changing light along the shoreline before heading to the boardwalk in the evening.

That mix of ocean, architecture, color, and activity is what makes Wildwood such a rich source of inspiration.

Explore Diamond Beach and Wildwood Crest

Just south of central Wildwood, the Wildwood Crest and Diamond Beach area has its own distinct coastal character.

One of the landmarks I have painted there is ICONA Diamond Beach, a beachfront destination that has become part of many vacations, weddings, and family celebrations.

View the ICONA Diamond Beach Watercolor Print

Painting Wildwood Memories

What I love most about painting local landmarks is that they are rarely just buildings or attractions.

A tramcar can remind someone of riding the boardwalk as a child. An ice cream shop can bring back a family vacation. A hotel may be connected to a wedding. A boardwalk attraction may instantly recall summer evenings by the ocean.

That emotional connection is what makes local watercolor art meaningful to me.

My Wildwood collection is part of a larger body of work inspired by Stone Harbor, Avalon, Cape May, Wildwood, Key West, and other coastal places that people return to year after year.