Driving southbound on the Garden State Parkway on a Saturday morning in July isn’t necessarily what I’d call a happy experience — but it’s worth it.
Although the traffic can be grueling, something exciting awaits: an exit ramp leading to sun-drenched beach days in Ocean City, New Jersey. Making the drive is a tradition my family has upheld for 30 years.
Growing up, both of my parents’ families summered at the Jersey Shore, and soon after I came along, my mom and aunt were determined to keep the tradition alive. So, they started renting a beach house each summer in Ocean City.
Even though we visit the same place every year, the trip is always exciting
Every summer, all 14 of us stay in one big house with a front porch close to the ocean.
Since it takes time for a group this big to pinpoint a week that works for everyone, we end up in a different house each year.
The advantage of this? We’ve stayed all along Ocean City’s coastline and have experienced different parts of the city each time. Plus, it keeps things feeling new and exciting, even though we’re always visiting the same place.
Although our home base changes, our routine stays the same — grabbing morning coffees from Aneu, savoring homemade sticky buns from Mallon’s, and taking leisurely bike rides along the coast.
Each one of us — ranging in age from 2 to 75 — looks forward to strolling the boardwalk, where the little ones rush toward the Ferris wheel, arcade, and mini golf, while the adults shop for cozy sweatshirts and souvenirs.
We all end the evening with Kohr Brothers frozen custard, a tradition every generation loves.
However, we don’t need to be out and about to enjoy ourselves. Part of the charm of the trip is that we can have just as much fun kicking back on the beach or gathering around the table to enjoy my mom’s homemade sauce and meatballs.
No matter how we spend the evening, we always return to the house for late-night rounds of Catch Phrase or UNO. The only difference over the years is that we’ve calmed down the competitive plays since the grandchildren are now part of the mix.
The trip gives my family much-needed time to connect
No matter how busy our lives become, our shore vacation is the one week everyone makes a priority. It’s a reunion of sorts that’s filled with meaningful conversations and endless laughs all week long.
The size of our group has gradually grown over the years, so aside from Thanksgiving, it’s challenging to plan quality time together throughout the rest of the year.
Although our family group chat is always active, this trip gives us the opportunity to share life updates in person. And, of course, we spend lots of time reminiscing on past summers.
What started as my cousins and me digging holes on the beach and diving into the waves has turned into watching the next generation do the same. It’s moments like these that I cherish and hope will continue for many years to come.
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