The Hamptons and
Nantucket may offer
beachside glamour,
but for those looking
for classic summer
Americana, nothing
beats the lure of the
Jersey Shore
It’s a perfect summer night and you’re
in one of the best places on New Jersey’s coast, swaying in the uppermost
car of the giant Ferris wheel at Gillian’s
Wonderland Pier in Ocean City. The
boardwalk, 140 feet below you, is congested with contented strolling families
and teens in the throes of summer love.
To the north you glimpse Atlantic
City, its hulking casinos glittering with
promises of wealth and winnings. To
the west is block after block of modest
homes and summer rentals, damp beach
towels flapping from the porches. Look
south and imagine you can see all the
way to Cape May, the state’s subdued,
gas-lit Victorian summer enclave.
Before the wheel begins its descent,
glance east at the Atlantic Ocean. A cool
breeze blows off the surf. The beach
is deserted, but the seaside towns are
bustling with sun-kissed crowds.
Bostonians flee to Nantucket to beat
the heat, and Manhattan’s elite throng
heads to the Hamptons. Virginia Beach
provides a welcome retreat from the
capital’s oppressive humidity. But for
generations of Pennsylvania, New Jersey
and Delaware residents, “going down the
shore” is what summer’s all about.
“To me, the shore is the amusement
sounds—not just the ocean, but the
Jersey Shore collage: Coppertone and
peanuts and a little grease from the
