One of the great benefits of living in South Jersey is that the Jersey Shore and it's beaches are within easy reach by car, which allows South Jersey residents the ability to go to the beach for the day or the afternoon and return home in time for dinner and still have the evening.

Friends of ours decided, last minute, to go to the beach for the Sunday afternoon this past Memorial Day weekend with their kids and invited us to go along.   We accepted the invitation, as our original plans had been canceled and we wanted to spend some time with them.

The weather was beautiful and in the 70's, a perfect day to be outside.  So off we went. 

We like to take the scenic route and enjoy the ride as we go -- there's less traffic and we get to our destination in about the same length of time as other routes.    The Jersey Shore is made up of a variety of communities, each having their own flavor.    We enjoy them all, whether it's Long Beach Island, Cape May or even Atlantic City for a show.  Our destination this time was Ocean City, a great place to take families. 

Upon arrival, I was surprised at the traffic and the amount of vehicles that were going into the shore community.  We soon found street parking and arrived on the beach (which is free this time of year). 

While not packed like in July and August, a lot more people than I expected were out on the beach sunbathing.  The ocean temperature was too cold this time of year for most people, but that didn't stop some brave souls from briefly going into the water. 

I'm don't enjoy laying on the beach like my wife does, so I like to walk the boards for exercise.  The 3-mile long boardwalk is a great place to walk or jog while taking in all the smells, sights, and sounds. 

The boardwalk was crowed.  People were out enjoying the sun, visiting the shops, enjoying the food and  amusements.  There was a large audience watching free, live entertainment in front of the Music Pier provided by a local chorus of senior citizens singing Broadway tunes and even tap dancing.  They obviously were enjoying themselves as much as the crowd watching.   

The seagulls were out in force, circling the beach and boardwalk, adding their squawking to the sounds of crashing waves.  Mixed with the smell of the ocean and the aromas coming from the various food stands, it helps create the wonderful ambiance that I associate with the Jersey Shore.

After everyone was finished on the beach, we treated ourselves to snacks and purchased the obligatory box of Salt Water Taffy rolls to enjoy back home.   (My family also enjoys getting refills of Johnson's Caramel Popcorn when they come to Ocean City.) 

We then loaded ourselves in the car and returned home to our friends' house to enjoy a barbecue dinner and relax.

That's life, South Jersey style!


Images of Ocean City during Memorial Day weekend...

 

 



 





Click here for more South Jersey Shore related articles

Copyright 2008 by Lawrence Yerkes. All Rights Reserved.