A late summer visit to Ocean City, New Jersey - September 6-10, 2013

Originally we had hoped to visit Kaleb's paternal grandmother in Ocean City, NJ during Labor Day weekend but they were having guests over, so we planned our trip for the following weekend.  Kaleb's dad, sister and brother were also able to make it so it was going to be a nice family reunion.  I had never been to the Garden State (not counting airplane transfers in Newark) so I was looking forward to seeing a different part of the United States.

On Friday, we flew Southwest Airlines to the East Coast.  For free.  I redeemed Rapid Rewards points and had designated Kaleb for my Companion Pass (CP).  I forgot to mention in my last blog entry on our Carnival trip that I had lately applied for two first-year-fee-free Southwest Airlines credit cards that offered a bonus of 50,000 Rapid Rewards points each.  In order to qualify for a CP, you currently have to collect 110,000 points in a calendar year.  Ways to accrue points include flying Southwest (of course), using Rapid Rewards partners, or using the Southwest Airlines credit cards.  Fortunately, the credit card sign-up bonuses also counted toward the CP, so I had already accrued 100,000.  The bonuses, in addition to the spending I needed to do to qualify for the bonus plus regular spend, got me past the 110,000 point threshold in the first half of 2013.  Now I had a CP that was good for the remainder of 2013, plus all of 2014!  (since the qualification was intended for the following year)  It was a great time to qualify for the CP as Kaleb and I were now able to fly together since he moved here, versus meeting up somewhere in previous years.  So we flew to Los Angeles last trip for free using Rapid Rewards points for my ticket and Kaleb as my companion, and we had done the same for this trip.  (we did have to pay the September 11th security fee of $2.50 per leg)  This is one of the ways I stretch my travel budget.

Kaleb's dad Steve picked us up from Philadelphia airport and we continued our journey to Ocean City.  Traffic was bad since we arrived at rush hour on a Friday, but we made it to Grandma Betty and Aunt Nancy's before dark.  The location was just a few houses away from Stenton Beach. (originally the house was beachfront, but other homes were built in front of it over the decades)

getting out of Philadelphia took forever

crossing the Route 52 causeway bridge

Atlantic City in the distance from Stenton Beach

Saturday morning, Kaleb and I headed out on rusty old bicycles to the boardwalk for breakfast.  I hadn't been on a bike in years so I was a bit wobbly.  It also had coaster brakes, which I haven't engaged in decades!  I managed to get to Oves Beach Grill in one piece and not contract tetanus.

on the boardwalk

seems like it's missing an "L" but it really is "Oves"

Oves breakfast menu

simple breakfast

After breakfast, Kaleb and I pedaled further down the boardwalk where all the carnival rides and attractions were located.  There were a number of people milling about even though high season was over.

We made our way back to the house and grabbed folding chairs and an umbrella to hang out at the beach.

during high season, the beach would be filled with colorful umbrellas

our spot on the beach

water still warm enough to swim in

After a few hours' relaxing and reading, we headed back to the house.  Kaleb's brother Jarrett and his girlfriend Kate had arrived, so we all sat on the porch and spent time together with Grandma.  Jarrett had taken out a stack of early 20th century Burr-McIntosh monthlies from within the house, so I had a good time looking at old ads.

Kaleb and Grandma Betty

the monthlies were bound with string

what a bargain!  $100 in 1908 is $2500 now

olden-day shapewear

it was "Sixteen Mile Drive" back then

time for dinner

After dinner, Kaleb wanted to get some beer, so we drove across the causeway to Circle Liquor Store.  Ocean City was originally established as a family-friendly town and never allowed alcohol to be sold within city limits.  Circle Liquor, positioned just outside Ocean City, must be a cash cow.  They offered a wide variety with reasonable prices, not totally taking advantage of the situation.

cars always coming and going here

pretty paintstroke sky

That night, we all walked along the boardwalk to grab some snacks and enjoy the atmosphere.  I enjoyed listening to Kaleb reminiscing about his childhood summers here.

spending an evening on the boardwalk

Kohr Bros frozen custard

fudge counter

hand-whipped fudge

other luscious goodies at "The Original Fudge Kitchen"

watching taffy being made at Shriver's

carmel corn at Johnson's Popcorn

curly fries from Curly's

Sunday was another day at the beach.  There were noticeably fewer beachgoers than yesterday, plus the wind had picked up.  We all went out and swam for a bit.

32-second video of Kaleb body-surfing and me getting jousled by the waves (click here if you cannot see the preview below):


Kaleb's sister Alicia and her husband Randy arrived; they went to the boardwalk for dinner while the rest of us stayed in at the house.  After dinner, Jarrett and Kate departed while Steve, Kaleb and I walked a few blocks to get some ice cream at TJ's.

the siblings and Grandma

Afterwards, Kaleb and I went back to the boardwalk to have more treats. :)

Rita's Italian Ice

Crabfries aren't made of crab, just dusted with Old Bay

posing with Shriver's Mr. Taffy

Monday morning, Alicia was nice enough to wake up early in the morning to grab a dozen donuts from Brown's.  We had passed by this restaurant many times on the boardwalk but never in time to buy donuts from them.

nom nom

We all headed back to the boardwalk to try out a new mini-golf course called Haunted Golf.  There were many mini-golf courses along the boardwalk, most of them outdoor, but Haunted Golf was all indoor.  The whole family had played them all over the years, except for this new one.

at the start of the course

the course was separated into different partitions

fortunately it wasn't too crowded at this time

We then stopped for lunch at Litterer's Food Court.  It wasn't the best, but it was open.

mushroom philly cheesesteak

crabcake burger

mint chocolate Dippin' Dots for dessert (my favorite flavor)

We returned to the house to grab stuff to spend time on the beach.  The number of beachgoers definitely dwindled as it was a Monday.  That night, we enjoyed another dinner prepared by Grandma Betty and Aunt Nancy.

Tuesday morning, Kaleb and I got up to grab some Brown's donuts for breakfast.  We got one of each flavor to try them out.  My favorite was the cinnamon sugar.

Brown's donut machine

seated at one of many benches along the boardwalk

now you see them

now you don't

Then it was time for everyone to leave.  Relaxing at the beach house was very enjoyable and it was nice to visit with Kaleb's family.  Steve dropped us off at Philadelphia airport.  The line to get through security was pretty bad, but the airport had free lemonade cart service!  Not many people took up the offer.  We stopped by the US Airways Club for a bit, but eventually grabbed some airport food for dinner.

the line...

...to get to this line

free lemonade

dinner

more Crabfries

This concludes our trip to Ocean City, NJ.  Hopefully we'll be able to visit Grandma and Auntie more often!

Our next trip would be just a couple of weeks later, meeting Kaleb's childhood friend Meade and his family in Las Vegas.  I know, Vegas again?  Stay tuned!

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