The Quad

Issue date: 4/30/07 Section: Features

As the summer season slowly approaches, and if she's in a good mood, Mother Nature will throw a few warm spells into the last few weeks of the spring semester. Eighty degrees and sunny forecasts can make college students have the urge for one thing. Not to study for finals but to pack up the car and head down the shore for the day, or the summer.

College students in the Philadelphia area are lucky enough to be within a couple hours of over a dozen beaches. In the tri-state area, everyone has their favorite beach town. In New Jersey, beach-goers have the choice of traveling to over a dozen towns including Cape May, Wildwood, Stone Harbor, Avalon, Sea Isle City, Ocean City, Longport, Margate, Ventnor, Atlantic City, Seaside Heights and Long Beach Island. Some people's hearts belong to the beaches of Delaware like Dewey, Rehoboth, Bethany, Lewes and Fenwick Island. And then there are those who will always be partial to Ocean City, Maryland.

There's a reason why beachfront property, like that in Avalon, New Jersey, over the past 40 years has risen from $8.7 billion in 1962 to $34.3 billion, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. It is the same reason why Friday night traffic in the summer can double anyone's trip to the shore. The shore, whether that means New Jersey, Delaware or Maryland, brings a summer full of carefree fun, distinctive food and endless beach days.

As the dry-town beach, Ocean City, New Jersey keeps its "family-friendly" feel, along with its boardwalk full of amusement piers, specialty shops and classic 'shore food' including Boardwalk Fries, Kohr Brothers ice cream, Johnson's Popcorn, Monkey Bread, saltwater taffies, fudge and the 'Best of the Shore' pizza, Mack 'N Manco's.

For South Jersey shore lovers, there is a beach for everyone. Family summer vacations can be spent at any shore spot, but college students tend to judge "the best shore town" a little differently. Beach bars and nightlife are what influences those 21 and over.

Atlantic City is a Jersey hottest all year long, but the summer weather turns it into a whole new city. In recent years, casinos have conformed to beach-goers ideals and added several new "beach bars" open throughout the day and night, creating an island-like feel on the AC boardwalk with parties lasting until the early morning hours. People looking to party outside can choose from the Beach Bar at Trump Plaza, the Sand Box at Caesars, Bally's Bikini Beach Bar and Nikki Beach at Resorts.

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