Mar 29 2009
in which the new jersey shore sounds good right about now
Redoubt went off again last night, which I need to post about in more detail soon; I still haven’t actually seen an ash plume from where I live, but there was enough ash fall last night that people were advised not to go outside and to wear masks if they did. All our snow is pretty dirty, too.
What I’ve got right now is a post written up by a blogger with a number of sites about the New Jersey shore, an area where I’ve spent very little time but would really like to visit–at the tail end of a trip to D.C. and surrounding areas with several other college students, I did get to New Jersey and managed to sneak away with a few other students to spend about an hour at the nearby beach (I say “sneak” because it wasn’t actually directed by the professors, omg, but we had a free period between panels at this conference we were attending). We all rolled up our dress pants and took off our suit jackets and splashed around like little kids; the salt air and the wind were glorious.
So I have brief but very fond memories of the NJ shore. The rest of this post should tell you a bit more, from someone who actually, you know, knows about it:
“Many people vacation in east coast beach resort areas like Myrtle Beach, Virginia Beach, or at one of many Florida locales. These areas are great and offer lots of nice amenities - beachfront high-rise hotels, Subway shops and Starbucks - but they can be somewhat bland in regards to local culture. If you want to experience something a little different, you can instead head to New Jersey and see a slice of Americana.
“First you might wonder, why don’t you hear more about the Jersey Shore? First there are many beach communities there that are not very commercialized. Places like Long Beach Island, Belmar and Lavallette do not have large boardwalks with rides, games and foodstands. These places are great for a lot of PA, NY, and NJ residents that can drive a few hours to get to the beach. You can rent a house or stay in a hotel and walk back and forth from the beach your accommodations. The big drawback for someone coming from further away is the ocean water temperatures. The Atlantic Ocean in NJ is not nearly as warm as it is in someplace like NC or FL. It is better than the downright frigid waters found at Salisbury Beach in Massachusetts or Hampton Beach, NH but the Jersey shore ocean temps are still pretty cool.
“So why go? To experience a bit of the shore culture in NJ and to see a part of America you just can’t find at other east coast beach destinations. One of the most interesting things to see, besides being able to lounge on the beach all day, is the commercial boardwalks and the crowds of people they attract.
“The commercial boardwalk in Seaside Heights began offering amusements and diversions in the 1930s. Today it has amusements rides, a large water park, arcades, games of chance and food stands along its mile plus long boardwalk. Young folks and families representing many different ethnic groups - Italian, Polish, Irish, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Russian and Mexican – all come out to enjoy the entertainment the boardwalk provides. The blue collar nature of Seaside Heights, the large number of young people that flock here (it was featured on MTV summer reality shows a few years ago) and its mostly older motels makes some folks shy away from this area. Point Pleasant, NJ is less than twenty miles away but may be more attractive to some people. It has a similar history as Seaside Heights. Its commercial boardwalk has been in place for close to 100 years. Compared to Seaside Heights the boardwalk here is smaller, there are more families than groups of vacationing twenty somethings, there are more houses than hotels, and the area seems calmer, more laid back and a bit nicer than Seaside Heights. Despite it being a bit “less” than Seaside you can still experience a lot of the unique Jersey shore culture. It’s a unique local flavoring that you cannot find at the more developed and polished beach areas like Virginia Beach or Myrtle Beach.
“If the colder water does not deter you it is well worth considering visiting the beach in New Jersey. You could also combine a trip there with a visit to Philadelphia or New York City. Both metropolitan areas are less than two hours away by car from Seaside Heights and Point Pleasant and they offer many enjoyable things to do and places to see.”
I’m convinced; how about you?
(All photos by me from the aforementioned time on the NJ shore in 2006.)
