Ocean City

On Saturday night we took a drive to Ocean City, NJ. It's a popular seaside resort along the Atlantic Ocean in southern New Jersey. Also a barrier island with it's western side facing the Great Egg Harbor. Called Peck's Beach many, many years ago, it was named for the whaler John Peck. The Somers family were the original landowners here. The land was used by NJ residents who occasionally went over by boat for hunting or picnicing. Also, it was a grazing land for cattle driven away from the mainland as well as a summer fishing camp for Indians in the local area.

Ocean City was founded in 1879. To this day, alcohol sales are prohibited. The first school was built in 1881, the first bridge in 1883, and a railroad built shortly after. The boardwalk has been relocated a few times.

The ship 'Sindia' was shipwrecked on December 15, 1901 while sailing to New York city from Kobe, Japan. It sank below the sand and the last unsuccessful salvage attempt was back in the 70's. Now, in the general area, is a miniature golf course and this was a picture I got while the boys took turns in their competition. It was a beautiful cool, clear night and we really enjoyed the sounds and smells of the ocean. Not to mention the aromas of all the food. We had funnel cake and cotton candy, lemonade and boardwalk fries. The golf course sits next to a shop that grills different foods and while on the upper deck we kept getting wafts of what they were cooking below. Needless to say, we got cheeseburgers after the golf game. Saturday night was alot of fun. Of course it's crowded anywhere at the Jersey shore on weekends in the summer, but Ocean City is a nice family-oriented town and you don't feel the stress of the crowds so much like in other places. Maybe it's just seeing the ocean and feeling the intensity of being connected to such a powerful force of nature. Or just watching the faces of children eating ice cream or sleeping in strollers. For me, it was just nice to be with my boys. We only went into a couple shops.... they were probably dreading the Christmas Shop. But for some reason, I didn't feel like going in that night. I did buy one Christmas gift elsewhere though, a t-shirt for my grandson that says "Lock Up Your Daughters". I couldn't resist. He's that cute!