Heading to the Jersey Shore for the summer is a tradition for many, especially residents of the mid-Atlantic. It’s a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a few months. All winter long, you looked forward to heading out to the Jersey Shore for the summer. You have a soft spot for this place, and it will always be one of your favorite areas in the country. Here are eight signs you grew up going to the shore every summer.
1. You fondly remember Fantasy Island, an amusement park.
Fantasy Island Amusement Park is where some of your best childhood memories were created, and you’ll always associate the park with those happy times. The arcade, the rides, the games, and, of course, the ice cream parlor are all a dream come true for kids. You can’t wait to bring your own little ones to Fantasy Island so that they can experience what you did as a child.
2. You’re nostalgic for the food
A post shared by Skylar Bergl (@s.kylar)on Jul 11, 2016 at 5:09pm PDT
The food on the Jersey Shore brings back so many memories. From the funnel cakes in Point Pleasant to the burgers at Woodies Drive-In in Long Beach Island, there were so many great food spots in the area. You might have had your go-to spot, or maybe every summer you found a new favorite, but the food at the shore definitely made you want to come back again and again.
3. Your best Independence Day memories were at The Shore
Every Fourth of July you think back on the past and remember all of the amazing nights you spent watching the fireworks on the beach with family and friends. There was probably live entertainment; food was definitely involved, and maybe there were arts and crafts vendors. Regardless of what you remember from this happy holiday, the memories have stuck with you your whole life.
4. You’re great at water sports
Because of your summers spent in the water, you’ve probably excelled in many water sports. Your swimming skills were developed from spending days at the beach. Maybe you’ve mastered parasailing or paragliding at the shore. And due to surfing being permitted at 19 spots around the area’s beaches, you’re most likely a talented surfer or a huge fan of the sport.
5. You're a seafood snob
Enjoying freshly caught seafood every summer has turned you into a seafood snob. There are so many great places serving up fresh fish and crustaceans in the area that it’s hard for you to enjoy seafood anywhere else. Places like Spike’s, Beach Tavern, and Barnacle Bill’s are some of the best joints around for freshly caught and well-prepared seafood.
6. You miss Old Barney
The Barnegat Lighthouse isn’t any old lighthouse; it’s Old Barney. Over the years you have spent many summer days at the northern tip of Long Beach Island at this popular place. The view from the top alone makes this lighthouse a magical spot; it’s well worth the 217 steps it takes to get there. Now, every time you see a picture of Old Barney, it brings back a flood of great memories.
7. Sunsets have never been the same
The shore is one of the greatest places in the world to catch the sunset. The colors are crazy, and you remember gazing in awe every evening as they lit up the sky in the coolest way. Those are some memories you’ll never forget, and now every sunset you see reminds you of those warm summer nights back at the beach.
8. You’re still close with your friends from The Shore.
You spent your summers in the same place with the same people; it comes as no surprise that you grew incredibly close. The friendly environment and sense of community make the area a wonderful place to meet respectful and kind people whom you’ll keep in contact with your whole life. And having friends at the shore just gives you another great excuse to visit.
