OCEAN CITY - JUNE 2023
It's been a while since I've spent a week at the Jersey Shore. Having a sixteen-month-old creates a sense of excitement in planning trips that are a return to favorite destinations of my youth. Trips to the Jersey Shore were always a summer highlight, especially in my pre-teen years when extended family would pack a shore house. Our extended family today may not be as large with aunts, uncles, and cousins from past trips, however, all the old stomping grounds are more than familiar simultaneously bringing back great memories while creating new ones. There's not too much to analyze from a trip to the Jersey Shore - go to the beach, go to the boardwalk, hang out with family at the house in between. There's no deeper meaning. Just a family fun vacation.
We rented a beach house at 4504 Central Avenue, one house in from 45th Street, a half-block off the beach. Short and easy access to the beach, which when you are carrying a toddler, a beach chair, and have a sack of towels slung over your shoulder is extremely nice. We rented the house from a woman in my mother's book club who was also willing to waive their dog policy on our behalf so that Annie could join us.
Charlotte's been fascinated with the ocean ever since she first gazed upon the Pacific from the Manhattan Beach pier.  As soon as her feet touched the sand, she'd race to the ocean. No amount of waves could push her away. Cold temperatures did little to lower her excitement. She seemed to enjoy taunting the ocean and threw sand at approaching waves.
For the brief period of time that she wasn't in the water, Charlotte enjoyed tearing down sand castles as fast as Lola could build them.
After spending the day at the beach, it's time to follow up with a perfect night on the Boardwalk. Pizza at Manco and Manco's then a leisurely stroll down to Gillian's Wonderland Pier. Time for the rides.
There's a handful of rides that a 16-month-old can go on. The "Jumbo" flying elephants seem like an obvious choice for a first ride at the jersey shore - really, a first carnival ride of any sort. The ride allows for both a parent and child in car. In addition to spinning in a circle, the ride also goes up and down with the pull of a hydraulic linked lever. Time for takeoff.
I thought I'd be able to ride in this car with Charlotte but it was way to small. Charlotte took her driving very seriously to ensure that the car stayed on the tracks.
From the air to the ground to the water. I was a bit nervous about having Charlotte ride on a boat by herself but she was able to take her steady driving skills and apply them to the boat.
One more around-the-track ride, this time in a fire truck.
The three of use then boarded a sky tram to ride around the Gillian's Wonderland complex.
From above water to below in the crazy submarine ride. It goes forward. It goes backward. It goes up. It goes down. Charlotte was all smiles in every direction.
We ended with the classic carousel. Lola and Papa joined Charlotte and me to gallop into the night.
As if the night couldn't get any better...one more final stop at Kohr's for some chocolate ice cream.

​If only every night was Boardwalk night.
As much fun as the beach and the boardwalk are, the best times may be as the beach house spending time with family. From coloring to reading to meals to bubbles to lounging on patio furniture, the week goes by too fast when you are with family.
A few more stops. 

Breakfast at Uncle Bills - the silver dollars aren't so small.
We may need to see if Charlotte has an ice cream addiction. She tried to grab the cone out of the Aunt Betty's logo.
Dinner at the Deauville Inn. 
A mid-day trip down to Cape May with a quick stop on the return at Cape May Brewing.
And a few side-by-side flashbacks. Ironically the house we stayed in for my first trip to Ocean City was only two blocks from where Charlotte stayed on her first trip.