Whenever I tell people we’re going to the Jersey shore I feel the need to immediately follow it up with “South Jersey! And it’s beautiful there!” New Jersey gets a bad rap, doesn’t it? (Remember Snooki? Me neither.) Some of my favorite places in the world are right there along the coast: the southernmost tip, Cape May, and Stone Harbor, and Ocean City, and Sea Isle. So many memories. I could go on and on, almost as long as the beaches. Plan a trip to the South Jersey shore, would ya?
All the cousins (that were old enough) did Island Water Sports in Stone Harbor. How fun does that look? The adults who sat watching dreamt up an over 30 night. Maybe preceded by a rousing game of beer pong? The section on the right was hilarious. It’s on a slope so just about everyone who tried it slipped right off their feet and right into the water. I felt a little sadistic laughing at them. Just a little though, so it’s OK.
Steve! Enjoying his first of three Wawa hoagies while we were down there. I’m surprised he paused stuffing his face long enough for this picture to be taken. Steve’s ultimate Hoagie recipe: Classic Roll with provolone, toasted; add: lettuce, tomatoes, onions, spinach, cucumbers, pickles, spicy mustard, mayo, vinegar, oil, oregano, salt and pepper. “Perfection!” he says. All veggies, so I was pretty impressed.
Anders all ready for the pool. He kept his hat on most of the time and there were no sunburns!
My Dad has done this with most of his grandbabies. They should be in Cirque du Soleil. (???)
In the category of “best decision ever”–those two blue umbrellas in the middle. On a particularly hot day at Cape May with the rest of the family, everyone had umbrellas but the Hunts. Steve rented them for $12 each/day. Mind you, we own a beach umbrella, but–you guessed it–it decided to sit this trip out, staying in our shed at home! Arghhhh.
Why didn’t I invent this game? Everyone was playing this game on the beach this year!! (Note to self: think of the next big thing that everyone will want to buy.)
I ran into the water, diving into waves, and Parker got my attention wanting to come all the way out with me. Once again, he’s surprising Steve and I with his fearlessness (for him, anyway). Last year he would only walk along the shore and maybe his feet would get wet. This time there were pretty decent waves crashing into the shore, and he loved being out there in them. So fun.
Can you even?! I was way down crouching for this picture, and he began to mimic me. 
These throwback cabanas are reserved for those who stay at Congress Hall. Lucky bitches.
After hours at the beach always means pictures of kids jumping off lifeguard stations.
The houses in Cape May are some of the best ever. Mostly Victorian, with gardens full of flowers. They’re so beautiful.
So many porches, so little time. Oh how I love a big porch. I’ll take this one.
Or this one! Vines strung along the roof line?! Dreamy.
Finally, a video of our time there. What fun. See you next year!
Awesome video! Anders in the stroller soaking in the sights and sounds and smells on boardwalk – gah! And your mom doing a cartwheel?? Amazing. Looks like a great trip. (P.S. My husband loves Wawa subs. There is one near our lake house in PA and my 2-year old now asks for Wawa). Love your blog!
Love the video. Are they easy to make? Also what song is this that you used
they are fairly straight forward. I use iMovie. the song is follow the sun by Xavier Rudd.
Great blog today!!!! We love Cape May so much….we bought a little cottage there last October! Only 40 miles south of our “winter’ House! Now we can’t stay away for more than a few days. So happy to see how much you and your family enjoy each other and the Jersey (South) Shore! Lovely photos and wonderful video. thanks for sharing with us!
oh you lucky lady!!
You totally changed my idea of what the Jersey shore is like, it looks awesome!! What a great trip, anders man too cute!! Also what’s a hoagie?
ha! hoagie is the same as a sub. that’s what they’re called… south of nyc i guess? (i grew up in NJ so that’s all i ever knew!)
My brother and I were just talking about spike ball! I too need to invent the next it thing! And this year was my first time going to OCNJ and I loved it!
YOU HAVE CAPTURED OUR SHORE. perfectly. Love everything but especially the ending shots of anders in the sand. song was also perfect. can you tell I enjoyed this post?? I’ll say hi to stone harbor for you next week 🙂 🙂
yes! please do! and have a great time!
I love Cape May! My husbands family lives in PA and has been going for 20+ years and now we take our kids and it’s something I look forward to every summer. We live in Iowa so it’s a bit of a trek but worth to spend time with family at the beach 🙂
We were in Sea Isle (Townsends Inlet) the week before your trip. It’s been our beach vacation my whole life too – so we’ve probably passed you once or twice on our Ocean City boardwalk night. 🙂
And I agree – it’s so amazing, and kind of unbelievable, that my mom’s memories became my memories which have now started to become my kids’ memories. Such a beautiful spot for memories too.
1. Ocean City was the place where this Midwesterner learned how delicious fries are, dipped in vinegar.
2. Those old houses are everything.
Oh god – the southern Jersey shore is heaven on Earth. My parents (and my husband’s parents) own a home in North Wildwood (which is vastly different than Wildwood proper) so, we spend time all year down there! We were married in Cape May, by the mayor, in a gazebo which no longer stands, right next to Washington Square mall. Our favorite haunt is The Blue Pig in Congress Hall.
Also, not sure if I should state this but, I can see a Wawa both from my home and my work. 😉
Steve is so jealous of your vicinity to Wawa. (Love Blue Pig – and all of Congress Hall really.)
Thank you so much for including so many pictures of those beautiful homes!! We moved from MI to OK in February. I spent a LOT of time driving around looking at all of the houses here. haha!
I always love your videos and ever since watching them (especially when you were in Switzerland) it inspired me to do more videos with our travels. So, thanks! 🙂 Family home videos are making a comeback. ha
I just LOVE your videos!!!! Your mama is the coolest…I want to kinda eat Anders with a spoon in the shot of him just sitting in the sand on the beach and now I need to plan a trip to the Jersey Shore stat!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Hi Bridget, I ‘ve been following your blog for years, and haven’t commented before…but Cape May totally got me…did my J1 summer there in 1994 (Irish student summer exchange programme) and it was amazing. Looking at your fab photos and the video just totally took me back, especially the hoagies from WaWa (of all things). Capte May is a magical place. Love your blog and your beautiful family (I’ve three kids myself and defo hope to take them there someday).