Summers Spent on LBI

Finally I get to share my two favorite places! I love food. Skipper Dipper and The Chicken or the Egg on Long Beach Island are a must. Since I have been there so many times, I could not capture how special these places are to me in one story.

Skipper Dipper is only six blocks away from my house, so I have been getting ice cream there since I can remember. When I turned 14, I applied and was hired and worked there for the next three (ish) summers. It was the best first job anyone could have asked for, but my working experiences is not what this post will be about. Instead, I will focus on the ice cream! Almost any flavor or topping you want, they have it. Although they do not make their own ice cream, it comes from some of the best makers that are rare on the island. They have both soft and hard serves, homemade waffle cones, cookie cones, homemade ice cream cakes, milkshakes, water ice, creative sundaes, banana boats, macaroons, and so much more. In addition, the customer service at Skipper Dipper is phenomenal, and I am not just saying that because I worked there… The two owners are amazing and train each employee to happily accommodate and needs, such as combinations of flavors, portioning, allergies, and all other requests. One person helps each individual group from beginning to end. The line is always out the door, but it is so worth the wait and does not take long. Hands down, Skipper is the best.

You may have heard of the Chegg because it is arguably the most popular restaurant on the island. It has appeared on Man vs. Food for their “Ludicrous” hot wings that I DO NOT recommend ordering unless you want your mouth to burn for a week. Overall, the restaurant pulls in many tourists as well as locals, so it can get pretty busy in the summer. However, it is open 24 hours during most summer months, and the food is the same at 7 pm and 4 am. My sister, cousins, friends, and I like going around 5 am, and then going to the beach to watch the sunrise. Furthermore, the menu is extensive. You can apply any of their buffalo or other sauces to ANYTHING on the menu, and they have things ranging from chicken and waffles to clam chowder (2 of my favorites). The best way to describe the Chegg is a diner on steroids. The atmosphere is definitely younger in my opinion, but there is certainly something there for everyone to enjoy. When you visit LBI, I would be surprised if you didn’t go to the Chegg, and that’s a good thing.

I think it is safe to say that most homeowners or tourists come to LBI because they love the beach, yet thus far, I have yet to talk about it. I as well LOVE the beach. For this post I am going to take you through my average day on Long Beach Island two summers ago…

Basically every summer night, I used to work at Skipper Dipper (Week 10). My shift usually begins any time between 6 – 8 and ends any time between 10 – 12:45. After work, I am so riled up because it is always so busy and starving because I work nonstop, so I usually eat, talk to my sister (who also works there with me) about the night, watch tv, and go on my phone. By the time I fall asleep, it is almost 2 or 3 am… The next morning, I wake up around 10 or 11 am and eat breakfast (or lunch). Then comes the best part.

Slowly but surely, I brush my teeth, put my bathing suit and sunscreen on, pack my beach bag (lots of water, a towel, sometimes a chair, mandatory beach badges, sunglasses, a book, headphones, snacks) and head out. Our beach house is like a 2 minute walk to the beach (as a lot of LBI houses are), so I do not sweat it if I forget something.

When I get to the beach, I like to put my stuff down somewhat-close to the water and by the flags designated to keep swimmers in that the lifeguards watch over. In my opinion, when it gets too hot, the best way to cool off is in the ocean. When my cousins or friends are with me, we usually go in the water right away, but sometimes I like to start by reading my book or tanning. If it is a really hot day, I will stay on the sand until I sweat and then have to go into the water. If the waves are nice I like to surf. 

I am friendly with all my neighbors (most of them are older for some reason) and usually  will talk to them about work or how my day is going. Most people I have encountered on LBI are friendly, and the beach is the perfect spot to socialize. WhenI was younger and involved in cheerleading, they would watch me and my sister when we tumbled and did different stunts in.

When the time finally comes that I have had a enough sun, I will go back to my house and take an outdoor shower (they are my absolute favorite!). It is usually around 4 or 4:30. Then I eat dinner and go to work and do it all over again the next day. It really is the life, and I feel so lucky to be able to have spent summers on LBI like this. I have been to beaches in California and Hawaii and nothing really compares.

I think it is safe to say that most beach towns have an iconic symbol that appears on tourist brochures, calendars, postcards, or other souvenirs. At Long Beach Island, NJ, it is the Barnegat Lighthouse, or “Old Barney”, located on the northern tip. It was built in 1835 (obviously renovations have been made too keep it safe), and it is 52 meters tall.  

Right after my sister and I got our licenses, we hopped in our Jeep whenever we could and drove the hour and a half to LBI when we had a day off from school or on a random Saturday or Sunday. We love to go in late March or April right when the winter is ending and it starts to become warmer. Because our house is located in the middle-south there is not much to do and not many people (most people who live on the island all year-round live towards the north), we like to go to the lighthouse instead.

One time we invited our friend Olivia. The drive to LBI from where I live in Bucks County, PA is a very easy drive, for there are only like 3 roads (not really, but it feels like it). When we get there we decide to go to the Barnegat Lighthouse because Olivia wanted to take pictures of us in cool scenery for her school photography project. When we pull into the parking lot at the state park, it is surprisingly busy, and it is nice to see that others appreciate it as much as I do. We cannot walk up to the top like we have in the past, and we are disappointed because the view from up there is so great. (If you do try to walk to the top, I recommend wearing comfortable shoes because there is no elevator and the stairs are very rusty and kind of sketchy.)

Surrounding the lighthouse are the bay, rocks, a sand area, and a walkway path. There are people fishing in the bay, kids running around, others relaxing on the rocks. The overall atmosphere makes me so happy.

Olivia takes pictures of me and my sister at all these different locations. Even though so many people were staring, we were having too good of a time to be bothered. When we are done, we walk along the path until we are too hungry to stay… There’s is no food directly in the park, but there are many good restaurants open all year-round not far at all.

Every time I go to the lighthouse I see and do something different, and every time I go I am genuinely happy. In the summer it can get crowded, but in the fall, winter, and spring, it feels so open and fresh. It really is the feelings I get there that make me love it so much.  

There are so many amazing restaurants on Long Beach Island, and I will discuss more of my favorites in the weeks to follow. The Sandbox Cafe is no exception, but I love it not necessarily for the food but more so for the atmosphere.

As we drive along Long Beach Boulevard, the main road that connects the 18 mile-long island, we catch a glimpse of a small, purple, outside restaurant tucked behind trees and fences. I ask my mom what it is and she tells me she thinks its a breakfast place that is supposedly very good. Being a morning person and lover of all things breakfast, I am surprised she has never been all these years on LBI and ask if her, my sister, and I can try it out  tomorrow morning. Naturally she says but tells us we have to wake up early because she heard it is very busy most days. 

When we arrive the next morning at 7 am (yikes), we have a difficult time finding parking (if there’s none on the side with the cafe, there may be some across the street) and had about a 20

minute wait… it is all worth it though. As we are guided to our seats by the owner who works as the hostess most days, all the decorations are so cute and beachy. It is tiny, which is why there is always a wait, but it all makes for a friendly and fun atmosphere once you are “inside”. You can immediately tell why it is named what it is… I felt like I was eating in a mini garden. 

There were signs with cute sayings, wall decorations, colorful tableware, plants, water fountains, and so much more. It is impossible not to take any pictures while in there.

Aside from the aesthetics, the service and food were also great. I am not much of a breakfast person but my mom and sister got these stuffed pancakes things that their known for, and we were all so full when we left. They have a special everyday, and all their fruit and ingredients are fresh. For the rest of the summer, we continued to go and show our friends and family, and we go at least once every summer as a tradition. My grandmother and cousins also love it!

The owners recently opened an indoor restaurant in the town over that is also fun but does not compare to the original in my opinion (even though it is the same food). That being said, when it is raining, there is only limited covered seating in the outdoor cafe, so if you want to try their food and it is storming, the indoor Sandbox Cafe is sufficient replacement. They also do lunch at both venues, but their breakfast is the best. I highly recommend going to the Sandbox Cafe when on Long Beach Island. I am sure it will be a good experience like it always is for me and my family.  

My sister, Katie, a few years ag

My grandparent’s home was located only one block away from Nardi’s Tavern, a popular bar open all year-round on LBI. When we bought our new house, my parents, aunts, and uncles continued to go there very often but not so much now. My cousins and I were left under the watch of my older cousins who are all in their mid and late twenties now.

It was just another Thursday spent all day on the beach except nobody wanted to cook dinner afterwards. Thankfully, it was Pasta with Sinatra night at our favorite bar — Nardi’s. When my whole family arrived, my cousins and I ran to the buffet where there was an assortment of pastas, pizzas, chickens, breads, and so much more. In the background sang a Frank Sinatra impersonator, and even though I was young, I knew the music and knew this guy (Dave Sodano) was amazing! Others did too, for the place was packed; thankfully we got there early enough to get seating for my big family. As the night progressed, my parents, aunts, and uncles were becoming more and more intoxicated, but we did not mind we were not given as much attention because we were having such a great time eating, dancing, and observing others in the bar. However, we were also getting pretty tired and antsy and wanted to leave soon.

One of the amazing things Nardi’s has is a free pink party bus that will pick you up where you call and tell it to and drive you home after you drink. There is no excuse to drink and drive. I think all bars, especially on a busy vacation island like LBI, should have this.

My cousins and I always wanted to go on this bus but thought we would have to wait until we were 21. That Pasta and Sinatra night, though, was one of the most memorable experiences because the driver offered to drive us kids home, so our parents could stay. We boarded it so proudly, and of course our parents took so many pictures of this moment because they, too, were so shocked. (I sadly cannot find any.) We were the first kids who got driven home on this pink party bus (probably because our parents were such great customers haha and even knew the owner). When we got home, we were filled with excitement and couldn’t wait to tell others like our grandparents.

Nardi’s has had such a prominent role in how I remember LBI to be growing up because it adds that fun, rebellious, late-night vibe to a lot of the days. It is so weird that I am able to go there in 3 summers, but I cannot wait!

Like I mentioned week 2, my grandparents played an important role in why I love LBI so much… Even though it is very expensive, Thundering Surf waterpark, located in Bay Village, was such a fun time and worth a visit, especially when you had a willing person like my grandmother taking you as a child.  

It was a little cloudy and my cousins, my sister, and I were tired of going to the beach. We were all sitting around in the living room complaining how bored we were to our parents when finally my grandmother suggests she take us to Thundering Surf. Immediately our eyes lit up and we began begging and pleading our parents to please give her permission to take us. Since they were tired of our complaints, they said fine and helped us pack a bag with towels, sunscreen, changes of clothes, snacks (I do not know if it is still easy to smuggle snacks in), and anything else that we may need that day.

It really was such a treat to go because it is expensive, busy, and touristy, but that day it really was not that packed because the weather was kind of nasty. After we got our wristbands that dictate how much time we have in the park, we wasted no time and jumped in the first pool we saw. Thundering Surf is a classic, although kind of small, waterpark with many water slides, pools, a wave/flowrider (impossible by the way), other water dunking machines, etc. There are spots within for young kids and pre-teens and teens.

The four of us girls liked going on the waterslides the most, so we did them repetitively. We went down backwards or two and three of us at a time. We would close our eyes and race. It realllyyy was such a great time, especially since we were such water people to begin with. 

When we got hungry, we seeked out our grandmother to get dried off and get a snack. Waterpark snacks are nice when they are clean and fast because we wanted to make the most of our time there. We each ate a pre-packed sandwich, some grapes, and drank lots of water. Drinking water is extremely important — we did not feel thirsty because we were in water all day, but we were still running around and swimming a lot which is tiring.

Another great thing about Thundering Surf is that it is easy to meet friends here because you must communicate with other kids your age to figure out who would go down the slide first or if he or she wanted to race or something like that. That being said, I recommend not going alone not only because it may be boring, but in case something bad happens. The lifeguards are all young teenagers and there are way more children at play than people being paid to watch.

When they called our wristband design over the loudspeakers, signaling our time was up, we creeped back to our grandmother with sad faces because we didn’t want to leave. However, we were so grateful that we just had one of the best days of the summer, and our parents were even more grateful that we were so exhausted when we got home.

Long Beach Island is broken into 6 municipalities: Barnegat Light, Beach Heaven, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Township, Ship Bottom, and Surf City, and each has its own little towns, own police department, beach rules, and yacht clubs. My family’s home is located in North Beach Haven, a few blocks from Beach Haven Park Yacht Club, or BHPYC. 

It is the Fourth of July night in 2013. My large extended family comes together every year at the beach to celebrate with burgers and dogs and fireworks. Usually, we all head down to the bay to watch the fireworks after stuffing our faces, but this year is different – we head to BHPYC, where we learn later that the views are so much better.

Earlier in the spring of that year, my parents were notified that they were accepted into the yacht club. After 5 years of sitting on the waitlist, their time was finally up. It is such a long wait period, because only a certain number of people/couples are allowed, and there are limited circumstances that people are removed, such as if they sell their property, stop paying their dues, or pass away, (so it is important that you put your name in right away when you buy a house if you hope to be on it in the future).

Around 9 pm, my large extended family and I, dogs included, walk excitedly towards the bay that BHPYC sits on. If you were not looking you would miss it because the small club is so tucked away. People that live on the street are gathered at the entrance because they are not allowed into the gates, so we assume this must be a great place to watch fireworks.

Inside there are a small amount of refreshments, but outside is where everyone mingles. My cousins and I make our way up the spiral outdoor staircase and onto the deck that is connected to the roof. Although it is not allowed, we jump onto the roof and join the other kids. The view is spectacular! When we look straight we see boats lined up along the dock with the bay behind it, and when we look to the left we can see fireworks – large, clear, and bright.

In the future, we use this yacht club for not only July 4th night but also for paddle boarding, lunch ins, and sunsets and many more. My parents sometimes go to wine and cheese nights with other adult members, and there is always something going on. All in all, the atmosphere is so great and so beachy. Although it is relatively new to me, I am glad my mother and father are members because we have created so many great memories at this one place. I cannot wait to go back this summer!

When my grandfather and grandmother retired from their jobs, they decided to move to Long Beach Island all year round. However, if you have ever met and had a conversation with my grandmother, and you know how LBI is in the winter time, you can quickly conclude that the solitary, lonesome environment is not for her. After seven years (1998 to 2005), they moved back to Bucks County, where coincidentally, all five of their boys lived, including my father.

My parents loved the island so much that they co-bought a house with my aunt and uncle only a couple years later, and I have spent every summer there since!

Without my grandparents’ expertise and connections on LBI, my summers would have been a lot less eventful. One of my favorite traditions was attending Surflight Theater with my grandmother, sister, and cousins. It truly is a gem of LBI. 

As we approach the door to enter, we are filled with excitement. We are about to watch local teens perform Peter Pan on stage. As we find our seats in the relatively small theater with only one level, it gets crowded, cold, and dark quickly.

The actors and actresses swarm the stage while singing and dancing. Throughout the show, I notice that my grandmother and the other adults laugh at certain things we, as five, six, and seven year olds, do not understand. Nonetheless, I am enamored by how professional the performing, props, and costumes appear; the execution of the plot is comprehensible and fun.

The very best part of every children’s play at Surflight Theater comes about halfway through the performance. Peter Pan mentions as part of his script how it’s Wendy’s birthday and that we, the audience and cast, should sing to her. Instead of remaining in our seats however, they invite all the children onto the stage to sing and dance! My cousin, sister, and I are always too stage-fright to participate. (In hindsight, I wish I had.)

After the astounding performance, we are all extremely chattery, and my grandmother has the biggest smile on her face watching us discuss what we just experienced. We go outside to the warm summer air but don’t leave immediately. Right outside on the patio between the theater and the ice cream shop associated with it, The Showplace Ice Cream Parlour, some of the cast members come outside to sign autographs and take pictures with us. We are giddy to meet the surreal performes, but the lines are always extremely long, and we only get to meet a couple

The whole ordeal is so interactive and fun. I have not been in a while, and it closed down for a bit, but recently, it is back in (show)business! These memories mean so much to me, and I definitely recommend trying to find a show if ever on LBI!

It was just a normal beach day spent on Long Beach Island, my vacation home during the summer of 2012. My 2 cousins (Gia and Devon), my sister (Katie), and I were going through our normal outdoor shower rotation and pestering our parents about dinner. Not one of us expected going to Fantasy Island that night because we rarely ever went.

Located in the heart of Bay Village, probably the most touristy area on LBI, is Fantasy Island. There are two parts: an outdoor section with classic carnival rides and an indoor section with classic arcade games. Although both extremely busy during the summertime at night, the arcade section is a lot less crowded.

When the four of us walked inside, the air conditioning was suffocating. (I recommend bringing a sweatshirt to wear if ever venturing into the arcade. No matter the weather, the thermostat is always set to what feels like 55 degrees fahrenheit.) Nonetheless, we eagerly took the money our parents gave us to the token machine. The crane machines, slot machines, and skee ball lanes quickly consumed all our tokens. Gia was oddly skilled at the crane machines and won a stuffed animal for all of us. In exchange for doing well on the casino-like games, we were rewarded with tickets. After each of us had a satisfactory amount of tickets, aka to the point where our hands could not carry anymore, we migrated outside to the warm summer night. Most people exchange their tickets for a prize, but we always saved ours in a cabinet at my beach house, optimistic that we would be back soon to add to our collection.

Like I mentioned earlier, this section is a lot more hectic so it’s extremely important to find a good meeting spot with the others you came with just in case you or someone else gets lost. No matter how many times I go, I still get overwhelmed. The air condition difference was definitely detectable, however, it’s the aroma that initially consumes us. The small amusement park definitely has a distinct, wonderful, popcorn, cotton candy, bay water smell that words cannot fully describe.

That night, we decided to only go on our two favorite rides. First, the Ferris Wheel. At the very top we thought we could see “the whole island”! (It really does have a great view and worth the ridiculous price they charge to go on it at least once.) Second, the Pirate Ship – a less intense pendulum ride that swings you back and forth. We sat in the middle, because the ends were too scary for us. (There are sooo many other fun attractions outside that I have yet to experience 6 years later.) After the two rides, we were exhausted from the long day and night. We went home, counted all our tickets and begged our parents to let us go back the next day.  

Fantasy Island is definitely a must when vacationing LBI, but it can be overwhelming and get expensive. Nonetheless, my childhood summers would not be as great if it were not for memories here.