Jersey Summers Mean 'Down the Shore'

Ah, memories. The on Jersey shore towns brought back memories of growing up in the Greater Delaware Valley for me.

I grew up in Northeast Philadelphia and then in South Jersey, before moving up to this area about 17 years ago. But for about 8 summers, growing up took place at the Jersey shore. My family trekked every summer — usually for the month of August — to Long Beach Island, specifically Surf City.

Between the ages of 8 and 16, we would load up the cars, meet up with other relatives and begin the trek to LBI. We packed up everything — food, clothes, sheets, towels. It seemed like we were basically moving our whole house down the shore.

On the way down, always a stop at Mayo's Halfway House for a snack, but we knew the best part of the drive was still coming — the smell of the fresh air once the car reached the causeway that crossed the bay! Ah, the sweet smell of the shore!

Picking up the keys to the rental house, unpacking the car and settling in and yet, all the while begging "Mom, can we go to the beach? Please?", until we finally got our way and got to see the ocean for the first time all summer.

Who can forget renting beach chairs and bikes from Farias', breakfast at Bill's or playing golf at Bill Burr's Mini golf? Summers on LBI were a mix of home and vacation because everything was familiar, old but with a new twist. Your school teacher was now selling you a surf glider or your principal was laying on the beach on a towel right near your own.

We never thought about the work it took for our parents to get all this done. Dad driving back and forth so he could go to work, Mom still having to wash and cook — was it really a vacation for her? But then you remember the nights. Walking the beach, meeting a special boy or seeing your parents "dating" at the Surf City Hotel lounge?

The summer was the time to break away from your parents and just have a good time, something we all would love to bottle up and keep for eternity.

Yes, for so many of us the Jersey Shore is summer. And the memories only get sweeter as the years go by.