In Photos: 'Perfect Beach Day' Kicks Off Summer Season, Lures Crowds to Middletown Shores

Monday's soaring temperatures hovered around 80 degrees and brought local residents and out-of-towners alike to Middletown's sandy shoreline and picture perfect beach conditions.

The Surfer's End lot at Second Beach remained busy all weekend and was jam-packed throughout the day Monday, while the Second and Third Beach lots showed steady streams of visitors throughout the weekend. License plates from Rhode Island, Massachusetts and other New England states poured into the lots, along with cars from New York and New Jersey.

Besides the day-trippers, throngs of Middletown residents steadily streamed to and from the Sachuest Point Road Gazebo to purchase their annual Second Beach Pass for the season or pick up their free Third Beach lot pass.

"It's a perfect day," said Rebecca Lavine, as toddler son Ari played at the water's edge at Third Beach, putting the final touches on his small cluster of sand castles.

Down the road a bit, the Second Beach Campground appeared to be about 75 percent filled to capacity by Monday, after many long-term repeat campers arrived over the long holiday weekend to set up their RV camps for the complete summer season.

The Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge also received a steady flow of visitors throughout the weekend, with its lot full or nearly full at most points as saltwater fishing enthusiasts, bird watchers, hikers and tourists stopped by.