Why I Love my Little Island

We have been vacationing at the same beach for the past 20 summers. We began this tradition when our children were young and they, too, now have a love for our Jersey Shore. We always traveled down in the off season to select our vacation week and house for the following summer. After visiting many (and I mean many) possible options, we always found our perfect spot. Our criteria was simple . . . we had to be within very easy walking distance of the beach, and well, the house had to live up to a few standards!

Our children so looked forward to this vacation. Days spent building and rebuilding sand castles on the beach, jumping the waves, playing catch and of course, digging for hermit crabs. There was no basking in the sun in those days! Our cooler was packed with enough food to get them through at least a few hours and enough sand toys to last the whole summer.

Now our beach house is filled with our grown children and their friends almost every weekend. Days spent on the water exploring the bay, or a game of wiffleball on the beach. If you ask them where they would like to go: down the shore, its that simple. My son even chose to write about life on our little island on some of his college applications.

Visiting Hawaii was a great experience for the sightseeing, and the Caribbean is wonderful for its crystal clear water. But I can get to my Jersey shore every weekend, if I want. Visitors to our beach are often amazed at the amount of quiet beach space there is, and the lack of people. After spending so much time down there, I still marvel at the beach when I set up my chair and umbrella and glance around at the solitude.

My husband and I both grew up vacationing at the Jersey Shore, even when money was tight, there was always a week at the shore. I think whevever life may take my children, they, too, will always have time for the Jersey Shore.