A Family Jersey Shore Vacation in Ocean City

One of the best things about living in New Jersey is that you get to go to the Jersey Shore in the summer.  Actually it is a requirement – isn’t it? I look forward to this every year, and for the last few years I have especially looked forward to time on the beach and boardwalk with my grandson.  This year it was only my daughter and grandson joining me as my son-in-law was working and my husband preferred to stay home.  No problem – our little threesome still had a great time.

We go to Ocean City which is a dry town and has no gambling games on the boardwalk.  So it is strictly a family crowd and very multi-generational too.

My daughter prefers to stay at the pool at the hotel and I prefer the beach.  So my grandson gets to experience spending time with each of us.  Zach loved the beach and we did it all from building a boat in the sand (This is one of my most favorite things to do at the beach) to crashing the waves.  He is braver at the ocean each year and it is so much fun just to watch him enjoy it.

It is hard to capture pictures at the beach because of the sun, glare, suntan lotion embedded in your hands and sand.  But I didn’t let all that hold me back from trying and I’m glad I didn’t because I absolutely love these pictures from our vacation at the Jersey shore.

Our first activity at the beach was building a boat in the sand.  We did this just above where high tide would come in and protecting it with a wall and moat was part of the project.

Zach is proud to show off the final product.......

Uh Oh!  The tide has breached our wall and wet the moat.....

Off to the the ocean's edge......

Escaping the advancing waves....

And one of my favorites...

Before dinner on the Boardwalk.....

On Zach's favorite rides at Wonderland on the Ocean City boardwalk......

I took one night off from all the family fun and went into Atlantic City to Dock's Oyster House for dinner.  Way before casinos - in 1897 - Dock's opened for business and the Dougherty family still runs this incredible gem.  It is one of the best restaurants in New Jersey and I have heard many claims that it is the best.  In the summer it is always filled to capacity, serves the freshest and best seafood anywhere and never makes you feel rushed.  Yet when you get up to leave they turn around the table in less than two minutes and you have new neighbors sitting next to you at once.  The piano bar is right there as you open the front door and the cheery guy from Jersey City clearly enjoys being part of this institution and will ask for your request when you come near the piano.  My husband grew up in Hoboken about two miles from where he lived and so we always enjoy a little local geography history.  When you have dinner at Dock's you enjoy the whole experience - it is fresh and new and old and nostalgic all at once.

And now I look forward to next year's visit to Ocean City and all its splendor.

Marion

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