Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to summer, but what Jersey Shore town is best? Here's one opinion on the top 10 Jersey Shore towns, ranked.

OK, this might get some hate, but truly, Wildwood is overcrowded, overrun with senior week houses and the boardwalk is chaotic. It's not as family-friendly as it should be and the beaches are so big you have to trudge like half a mile in the beaming sun. Apart from the beaches being free and Exton's Matt Ryan spending many a summer here, Wildwood still falls last on the list. 

This is a nice place. There’s a good balance of luxury and reasonably priced homes, as well as some amusement parks, shops and beaches big enough that you aren’t always sitting on top of your beach neighbors. But its location — a little far — drops it on the list.

These are all small, quaint towns. They’re nice, quiet and peaceful, perfect for relaxing in the sun. Margate particularly rocks because of Lucy the Elephant, who stands 65 feet tall in the town. They are only grouped together this low because of popularity and the amount of people who actually can fit in these towns. Otherwise, they’re all pretty nice.

Brigantine is nice and it’s a close enough drive if you’ve got an itch to gamble in Atlantic City. You can check out some lighthouses and grab dinner at the Crab Shack or breakfast at Yiannis. 

Wildwood’s nice and friendly neighbor, plus, you might see Flyers legend Bernie Parent hanging around, he is known to vacation there.

It’s a bit pricey, but Avalon is a quiet balance of good shopping, bars and family activities, like mini golf and the arcade on the small boardwalk. The beaches don’t get overly crowded, you have some space in between houses so you can’t hear your neighbors' conversation on the deck and some options for nightlife, like the Princeton or the Windrift (for happy hour). You know this place is great, because longtime UConn basketball coach Geno Auriemma vacations here.

Cape May is one of those cute places you just have to see. While there’s not a ton for a young crowd looking to go out at night, anyone can appreciate the Victorian gingerbread-style architecture of the homes and Congress Hall. There are some nice wineries at Willow Creek and Cape May, as well as Cape May Brewing Co., if you’re into that sort of stuff, and the pancakes at Docks are second to none. Maybe skip buying that pastel green tourist sweatshirt, though. 

Bring your kids here and between the excessive amount of mini golfing and rides, their heads will spin faster than the teacups. It can get a little overcrowded during peak times and it’s a dry town, which gives it the third ranking. However, it’s home to Ward’s Pastry and Dot’s Bakery for your sweet tooth. Or if you’re hitting the boardwalk, grabbing a slice of pizza from Manco & Manco's and washing it down with Kohr Brothers is a staple. It’s also typically a stop for the Sixers Summer Shore Tour, along with a few others on this list, and if you pop by the Ocean City High School tennis courts, you might also see Jay Wright getting a match in while on vacation.

This place can get pretty pricey, but it has some cute homes that are reminiscent of old-time shore homes. There’s a water sports place to take your kids, which conveniently is located next to an oversized margarita place called Buckets by the Bay. For dinner, stop by Fred’s Tavern, or if you’re feeling fancy, pick up a cocktail at The Reeds. Plus, Springer’s Ice Cream. The Flyers also do their free prospect exhibition here on the beach in June called Trial on the Isle and Eagles great Ron Jaworski can be spotted here on vacation.

Beaches and bars. Sea Isle is a great blend of families and nightlife, plus some good eats in Maritas’s and Scoops Ice Cream. The Carousel, with their famous 302s for no-shower happy hour, where you may or may not see every living soul you grew up with, is pretty hard to beat after a long beach day. Plus, there’s some family-friendly activities on the Promenade or local mini golfing if you need to do something else at night. Avoid the Jitney after 11 p.m. Finally, the Ocean Drive is Jason Kelce’s bar of choice, case closed.