You Do Not Have to Travel Across the Globe to Have Fun This Summer
Our society as a whole has unintentionally caught the travel bug and the only cure is to venture, but what if you do not have the means to do so?
Most college students come into the issue of not having any money and thus, are unable to cure their wanderlust. If you are hankered down in New Jersey this summer due to this misfortune, do not think your summer vacation will be dull; believe it or not, New Jersey has much to offer.
Of course the most appealing luxury the state has is the Jersey Shore. Obviously, we are not talking about the television show, but instead talking about the majestic Atlantic Ocean and its various beaches located in New Jersey.
A junior education major, Rachel Fox, said that her favorite summer memories are provided by popular shore destination, Long Beach Island (LBI).
“LBI has a laid back atmosphere, which s perfect for relaxing vacation and of course the beaches are beautiful,” Fox said. “My family goes there every year.”
While there are various shore towns along the coast of New Jersey, each town is known for something unique. The dry town of Ocean City provides a great family shore town with a boardwalk, multiple piers, and activities such as mini golf, surreys, and bike rentals.
The Wildwoods remain as one of the only free beaches left in New Jersey and offer more for a teenage crowd and those who are into the bar scenes. At the end of the summer, the Wildwoods are known for hosting their version of Irish Weekend.
Atlantic City is typically a place for those who want to have a wild night or simply gamble while its neighboring shore town of Brigantine is for people who do not want the feel of a tourist beach town.
If you want the water, but not the crowd a beach tends to endure, try to visit Atsion Lake in Shamong Township. If you are a New Jersey resident, the entry fee is $5 per car and that is the only fee you will have while there.
At the lake, visitors can swim, walk through trails of Wharton State Forest and kayak throughout the cedar lake. If you do decide to venture to Atsion, make sure to conclude your day with a dinner at the highly popular Pic-a-Lili Inn which is also located in Shamong Township. For over 80 years, the restaurant has been serving wings, seafood and sandwiches to the community.
“I started going [to Pic-a-Lili] when I was in high school and I love it so much for a few reasons,” a junior business major Max DiLeo said. “The wings are so good you can’t even compare and the atmosphere. It became a tradition on Wednesdays to take a few trucks down there and do some off roading before, or meet some other people inside to off road with after.”
If you are instead looking for something to do at night, the best option would be to attend a concert and one of New Jersey’s many venues.
The Stone Pony will be hosting many big name artists this summer starting off with the reggae scene on Friday, June 13. The show will include Rebelution, Iration, The Green and Stick Figure.
The Stony Pony will then host the legendary band Lynyrd Skynyrd on Saturday, June 14. Tickets will be $45 in advance, $50 at the door and the doors will open at 5 pm.
If you are into country music, Camden’s Susquehanna Bank Center (SBC) will be hosting a slew of country artists this summer. It all begins with Brad Paisley on Sunday, May 11 followed by Tim McGraw on Sunday, June 15, Zac Brown Band on Thursday, June 19, Miranda Lambert on Friday, September 5, and concludes with Toby Keith on Saturday, September 27.
“I love attending the country concerts in Camden. I always feel safe and the people there are ready to have a good time,” a junior business major, Kyle O’Grady, said. “The venue itself is spacious and no matter where you are, you have a great view.”
It’s quite possible that country music is not your cup of tea, and if that is the case, there is still a large pool of options provided for you by SBC.
For example, the Dave Matthews Band will be at the venue both Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14. The Backstreet Boys and Avril Lavigne will appear on Saturday, June 21 while Jimmy Buffet has been booked for Tuesday, August 19. In total, the center will host over 25 concerts from May through September.
Perhaps you are seeking a more unique event to partake in. If so, attend the 32nd Festival of Ballooning held at Solberg Airport in Readington, NJ from Friday, July 25 through Saturday, July 27.
As of now, over 20 hot air balloon pilots have already registered for the event. The weekend will also include balloon rides, concerts, fireworks, yoga and a lot more.
If you feel trapped in New Jersey this summer, don’t worry. You do not have to travel far to enjoy yourself. There is plenty to do locally, you just need to find it.
IMAGE TAKEN from oxmeadproperties.com
