It is no secret that I totally love the New Jersey shore being that I’m a born-and-raised Jersey Girl myself. Summers down Ortley Beach and Seaside Heights at summer rentals as well as family-owned houses made for some great fun (and great memories). I’m lucky enough to be able to take my own kids down the shore – work schedule permitting – whenever we feel like jumping in the car and heading down. Belmar is our beach of choice mainly because it’s super easy to get to via Route 195 from our side of the state.
About the #JerseyLove Gals:
40 influential women, 4 days and one mission. We are travelling to New Jersey to help restore tourism to select areas and have some fun while doing so. Attendees will arrive on June 6th. We are staying in Atlantic City at Caesar’s Palace. On June 7th, we will be travelling down to Belmar to host an event for residents and bring some much needed joy into an area that was devastated by Sandy last year. The other two days will focus on Atlantic City.
I was beyond excited when I was asked to be a part of a weekend trip down the Jersey Shore to see how far along the reconstruction had (and had not…) come along since Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Since I’m a Jersey native, I’ve been down the shore after the storm last year, but this trip was my first time out this season. I was pleasantly surprised on how ‘back to business’ the Jersey Shore is, but did notice a LOT of still-boarded up homes, businesses and buildings in Belmar where we normally hit the sand. Because I’m generally a goof and like to hang with people that are funny and interesting, the group of ladies I drove from Atlantic City to Belmar with made a funny spoof video and put it on YouTube. I’m hiding out in the back seat for support!
One place that back in the swing in Belmar is DJais! I won’t lie – it was kind of weird to be there during the day and not at night when it’s a super cool nightclub. Must be a sign of me getting older! Some of the girls on the #JerseyLove trip were brave enough to go out in the ocean to learn how to surf courtesy of D6 Sports! Me, I stayed on dry land mostly because I have pretty banged up knees and no one really wanted to see me fall off a surfboard and cry.
The mayor of Belmar was on hand as well and was genuinely happy our group was there raising awareness to the work that still needs to be done helping families rebuild their homes. As a group we were able to donate money to the town to help displaced families get back on their feet. (You can do the same also by visiting the Belmar website.)
After a day in Belmar we stayed down in Caesers for the rest of our trip. To be honest since I live in Jersey I have never stayed overnight in Atlantic City (outside of a few business trips 20+ years ago). Atlantic City is a ‘day trip’ for us, or a trip when we stay in Ocean City or Wildwood NJ. Can I just say WOW! What a hotel. Like Vegas in over the top everything, but it has a beach and a boardwalk (and the Steel Pier!) I don’t care how much people say Vegas is family friendly, I don’t really find it to be that way. There is much more to do in Atlantic City and the other surrounding beaches and towns.
While I didn’t gamble (much) I found that the restaurants in Caesers were amazing. The first night we ate as a group at Mia’s in Caesers, and I loved it so much I took my mom and daughter there another night for dinner. (My mom and daughter came down and crashed with me in the hotel room for two of the nights of the stay, but I covered all their costs including dinner!)
The Atlantic City boardwalk has grown up a lot since I last remember being there in my early-20s. Or maybe it’s me that has grown up? In either case, it’s a classic Jersey Shore boardwalk complete with ice cream, cheese steaks, gift shops and amusement rides!
My daughter and I got to sit and stick our feet in the sand!
Jersey has quite a few wineries and some even let you customize the bottle & donate money back to Superstorm Sandy relief funds!
