Hi Jaws! Welcome! I would definitely say try as many different machines from different manufacturers/eras as you can before you commit to buy one. There are some great machines at locations kind of close to you, as well as tournaments and leagues that can be found at this thread: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/philadelphia-area-pinball-leagues-and-tournaments

If your family still comes down to the NJ shore for the summer, there are a few boardwalk arcades in Ocean City that carry pins. Jilly's is a staple. Many of their games are beat up, but you can play newer Sterns for a quarter. All the best in finding your first pin!