Finals are approaching, but so is the start of the summer. There is a ton to do and to see both within the state of New Jersey and out. Besides the shore and catching a tan, you want to look back on your summer vacation and all of the amazing things you did!
With four months at your disposal, imagine how much binge watching you can accomplish on Netflix! Narcos, Black Mirror and Stranger Things have met their match! If maybe watching television shows in one sitting for 427 hours on end is not your thing, you can make a trip to Delsea Drive-In Theater in Vineland, New Jersey.
Movie night with friends? Make your way to a modern movie theater to some highly anticipated blockbusters such as Deadpool 2, Incredibles 2, Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom, Avengers: Infinity War, and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again! For a different kind of movie watching experience, Aberdeen is the home of the live Rocky Horror Picture Show performance with a shadow cast as the film rolls on!
You may want to fill up your time that you have under sun doing more novelty or niche things. Maybe it is finally time to get a tattoo designed by a favorite artist? If having a needle stabbed into your skin or having a design permanent for eternity intimidates you, there are semi permanent options like from inkbox.com, where you can purchase a pen and have a tattoo for about two weeks.
You will be exposed to the sun a lot, so make sure to wear your sunscreen, but still take the time to appreciate this enormous burning ball of gas! Set aside a day, one day during break or once every month, where you wake up really early to watch the sunrise and sunset on the same day. Take a breath and notice how similar or different the colors are; think about everything you accomplished and ate that day, also known as a mindfulness practice. Four months can go by really quickly but it is enough time to learn a new language, train for a marathon, or learn to play ukulele.
If you are at or over the age of 21, wineries through the state are a great place to socialize and hangout. Carolynne Kelly, a senior business administration student recommends Laurita specifically!
Consider riding your bike along the Hoboken pier to catch the sunset or try your hand at glass blowing at Hot Sands in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The Princeton area is not only the home to an Ivy League University and a pleasant downtown area, but also to lovely parks and ammonites (fossilized shells) that can be dug up alongside creeks and rivers throughout the town.
The summer time is also a great time to accomplish a personal goal or complete an internship like Jane Lai, a junior English student, who chimed with, “I’m spending a large portion of my summer working an internship in special events at GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), a LGBTQ+ non-profit.” This summer is full of opportunities!
As everyone knows, the summer is the time to go on vacations and road trips! Look into doing a trip with friends to Burlington, Vermont for a great downtown area, good eats, and scenic trails along the northern part of the Hudson River. Other downtown areas within New Jersey are include Westfield and Montclair!
There is also Ithaca, New York! Look into the infamous Buttermilk Falls State Park for waterfalls and Robert H. Treman State Park that has picturesque hiking views and a small bridge perfect for killer photography. If looking within the state of New Jersey, there is Mount Mitchell in the town of Atlantic Highlands, the highest headland of the United States east coast south of Maine.
There are also lighthouses! South Amboy in the central area has one to admire and then there is also the larger one, Barnegat Lighthouse, located in South Jersey. Or what about something out of the country? Look into airfare websites and you can snag a flight to Paris for $360!
Kelly shared her exciting plans, “I am fulfilling my New Year’s resolution and returning to Europe after studying abroad and will be traveling all across the United Kingdom with stops including London and Dublin.”
Trips are not just for friends and couples; it is also a great time for family vacations and reunions. Erin Dolan, a sophomore graphic design student, shared her plans. “My family and I will be taking a trip to Cocoa Beach, Florida this summer,” she said.
Michael Donato, adjunct professor of art and design, is also planning on traveling this summer. “I will be going to Sicily in Italy this summer. It’s a beautiful place with lemon and olive trees galore,” he said.
If it is free, then it is for you and me! There are a ton of free events and festivals in New Jersey and even in the great city of New York. Asbury Park is well known to host flea markets, movies on the beach, and firework displays through the summer. There is a spring bazaar the weekend of May 12 and 13 with brunch, flowers, vintage vendors at the Convention Hall. It is extremely recommended to subscribe to the city’s email listing at apboardwalk.com.
When asked what she looks forward as part of her summer, Taffy Lashley, a sophomore communications student said, “I want to go to a lot more fairs and festivals and take advantage of all the free outdoor events that summer has to offer. The website Nj-carnivals.com has a list of all the fairs and carnivals that happen over the summer so I use that to find them.”
Within the city, the Shakespeare in the Park Program, sponspored by the Public Theatre, performs free productions at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park.
From time to time, there are also free shows and concerts at Central Park. Also, if you have a Facebook account, keep an eye for poetry readings in Soho and rooftop shindigs that are open to the public! Other events that are unfortunately not free, but so worth it, are a comedy show with Danny Devito on April 28 and a TED Talk on May 19, both will be in Asbury Park as well.
Can we get onto something also very important? Food! Get together with friends and throw a summer potluck with them! For those in the area, checkout the much loved vegan cafe in Red Bank, Good Karma Cafe. They serve your favorites like a Philly Cheesesteak, a beloved Mac n’ Cheese plates, and a tiramisu worth dying for, without the exploitation of animals.
Or even Playa Bowls, a summer cult classic, which is opening up a location in the city. While walking on the Highline near the Chelsea area of New York, there is always a cart and a vendor selling Mexican fruit ice pops, highly recommended for a delicious and refreshing snack!
For other noteworthy places to eat, there is Soul Kitchen, founded by the Jon Bon Jovi Foundation in Red Bank, which serves meals for $10 and allows you to work off the price of your food! For a fine dining experience, Frog and the Peach in New Brunswick, New Jersey is perfect!
Let us not forget to at least make s‘mores at least once during summer break! Make this a summer to always remember!
PHOTO COURTESY of Alexandria Haris
