The Jersey Shore

One Saturday afternoon, I decided to see for myself what this "Jersey shore" everyone talked about was. I hopped on the train, and decided to get off in Belmar, mainly because I had heard about a vegan restaurant there, so I knew I'd have some good eats after a day at the beach. Once I got off the train, I stopped at a coffee shop called Coffee Blue. This coffee shop was a bit confused (but in a good way). How, you ask? Well, it thought it was a bar! Upon entering from the blazing outdoor sun, it takes a few moments for your eyes to adjust to the really dim interior. And, the first thing you see is a loooooooooong bar with barstools and a barista behind it. The chalkboard behind the bar, instead of boasting the freshest microbrew offerings, instead details the coffee drinks available, but reminds you of the"one-drink minimum" (funny huh?). I loved this place, because beyond the bar were tons of comfy couches, local art on the walls, and a really mellow atmosphere. I then spent time at the beach, surprised by the fact that you have to pay to get on the beach in Jersey, unless you wait until the gatekeepers go home around 4:30, at which point you can sun for free (if you know me well, you can guess which one I did!). It was a really lovely time at the beach, and the beach homes all around had huge porches. Maybe I can rent one for a month next summer; wouldn't that be great?!
In the next couple of weeks, I visited another town on the Jersey Shore a couple times. Point Pleasant, a bit further south, hosts concerts on the sand every Wednesday night in the summertime. People flock from near and far, bringing dinner, wine, candles and beach chairs to enjoy the music and beautiful evenings and nights on the beach. I was lucky enough to be there for two different Wednesday concerts, which were magical experiences.