lobster

When you hear Jersey Shore, what do you think? Most likely, the MTV train wreck (that I watch regularly) crosses your mind. And there is definitely that side of the Jersey Shore. With all of the bad Jersey TV shows I watch (Real Housewives, Jerseylicious) and having grown up in NJ, I can definitely say I have seen some similarities in people from my home state. But obviously, not everyone (or even many people) are reality-TV ridiculous, and not all of NJ is a hot mess.

NJ has lots of beautiful parts, great restaurants, and clean beaches with big waves. And, of course, it has boardwalks like no other. This past weekend I went with my sister, brother in law, and niece and nephew to Point Pleasant, NJ for a seafood festival and some time on the boardwalk.

First we made our way through the festival, checking out all of the offerings. Stand after stand featured all sorts of seafood dishes from paella to oysters to fish and chips. There was pretty much any type of seafood you could want. There were also a ton of people.

I didn’t eat much before the festival and didn’t really choose my lunch wisely. I went straight for a lobster roll, which ended up being $14 and not very good. I spent most of the time picking out shells.

My sister was smarter, and once we got a table, she got crab legs. And she was nice enough to share the sweet, buttery meat. Isabella got fish and chips, and I had some of that too.

The festival also included a band, a wine and beer tent, and lots of handmade crafts and jewelry for sale.

While the festival was fun for adults, it wasn’t as fun for the little ones, and we promised them a trip to go on some rides. It was blustery out, but the boardwalk was teeming with those sights and sounds that are summer at the Jersey Shore.

Tacky as it may be, the boardwalk is a lot of good old fashioned fun, complete with really good junk food. We waited on snacks until after the rides.

Love, love, love.

We went on the train, and Isabella went on a few other rides while I enjoyed photographing the bright amusements against the cloudy sky. Despite being freezing, on our way our, I had to have one of my favorite Jersey Shore treats, a cone of Kohr’s custard. Richer, creamier, and more delicious than ice cream, Kohr’s is a must-eat on the boardwalk.

Back in the car, thawing out and bundled up, my sweet 10 month old nephew and my niece both instantly fell asleep. Aunt Meggie was pretty close too. It was one of my most favorite moments in a long time. Years from now I might not remember everything we did that day, but I will always remember how I felt with these two little ones I love.

Have you ever been to the Jersey Shore? I know summer is almost over, but what’s your favorite boardwalk or fair treat?