Saturday afternoon proved everyday can’t be the perfect beach day, but locals and visitors alike aren’t going to let a summertime storm ruin the day. How does Sea Isle keep the crowds enthusiastic, even as they frantically pack up beach gear and run for cover? Or simply “Why Do you come to Sea Isle?” From Cape May Point to Brigantine there are 14 shore towns, but for the bunch that roll into JFK Boulevard Sea Isle is the perfect choice. With this in mind we ventured by the outdoor bar at Lacoste Lounge to join the crowd weathering out the storm to ask their thoughts.
“It’s fun,” of course that’s the first response from everyone, but the easy answer is simply true. “I’ve come to Sea Isle with my family since I was a kid, and now I’m vacationing with my friends here as an adult. I have just as much fun now as I did back then,” stated one patron. Pointing to her friend, “I visited here 2 years ago and now it’s become an annual trip for me too.” Surely this is not a surprise to anyone visiting the Island. Spending the day on the beach, watching the sunset on the bay, and visiting the local bars and restaurants at night keeps the city bustling and alive from sun up until well into the beautiful summer nights.
When an entire town gets to enjoy this leisure time it builds an atmosphere that’s hard to replicate anywhere else. Steve Stier, a Sea Isle native, was quick to note, “The people,” when listing his love for the seashore resort. Sea Isle is welcoming and fun, the city screams, “Spend Your Summer With US!” Stier was accompanied by his niece who is experiencing shore life for the second year. Kate Metz and Caroline Leeds added a similar sentiment, “The vacation vibe,” being surrounded by others having a great time makes its that much nicer.
Tradition is a huge factor, “I’ve been coming to Sea Isle for 35 years,” John Mcmanus explained surrounded by a table of his friends who have been meeting daily every summer at the same table table beneath a sign reading, “Gone to Therapy.” He noted that the more things change the more they stay the same. Experiencing 35 years of Sea Isle’s evolution, but the atmosphere is no less special than it was before.
The storm subsided and brought about what would end up being a gorgeous summer night, and allowed us to head out onto the beach. The Price family were among the smaller crowd that made it back out onto the beach. “Family,” was a theme that they loved about Sea Isle. They, like many, spend the summer with the people closest to them. While it’s a personal importance, being surrounded by a plethora of other similar families made it so comfortable for them.
As the day wound down for the Sea Isle Lifeguards, they helped summarize the thoughts of everyone. For SICBP “It’s working in your favorite place.” Sea Isle is built on a tradition that makes Summer fun for everyone; why would you want to be anywhere else?
