Off Season Fun at the Shore

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Summer is winding down which means the shores will soon be empty of tourists and travelers. Shores like Wildwood, Ocean City, Long Beach Island, and many others often end their summer season around the teens in September. It’s a week after Labor Day, so naturally families will utilize that weekend to squeeze out the very last of summer.

However, just because the summer season comes to a close doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the shore. Here are some things you can do during the off season at the shore.

5. Shop

Take note of the shops. Most shops stay open for a week more after the off season to snag some last summer deals. Usually stores promoting summer wares and food are closed, but others may still remain open. For example, Ocean City NJ has a Christmas shop and a few arcades on the boardwalk that are open year round.

4. Snag Some Sales

Speaking of shops, since it is the off season you can score some great deals. You can get clothes for $10 and under as well as other accessories like purses. Even some arcades that offer a specific point amount for prizes reduce their points as a part of ‘end of summer sale’.

3. Do a Photoshoot

Want to do an uninterrupted photoshoot on the beach? Go during the off season. You’ll still get sun, experience the sand, and be at peace with no gawking onlookers or photo bombers.

2. Get Exercise

While it is good to exercise any time during the year, the shore during the off season is a good place for working out. You can run up and down the boardwalk and/or the sand, you can bike along the boards, do yoga on the beach next to the sound of waves, and don’t have to worry about the crowds getting in your way.

1.Experience the Local Culture

You can always take in the local culture. Each beach town has its own quirks. For example, Long Beach Island is more laid back and quiet as to where Wildwood is a haven for teenagers. While their boardwalk shops may be closed, you can still enjoy the local eateries, the small businesses, and try something new.

Thanks for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, critique, share, and subscribe.

So tell me, do you like to go to the shore during the off season?

An Outbreak of Perseids : 2016

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

With the end of summer just around the corner, now is the perfect time to enjoy the Perseid meteor shower. The Perseids will be hailing the Northern Hemisphere skies tomorrow between midnight and dawn into August 12^th. However, you can still sneak a peek at the meteor shower in the evening.

This Perseid meteor shower won’t just be any meteor shower though. This Perseid performance is expected to be a Perseid outburst. Meaning that the amount of meteors we’ll see will be doubled. This means there will be double the chance to wish on shooting stars, snap some pictures, and have an excellent Perseids viewing party.  The last time a Perseid outburst erupted was only in 2009.

Be sure to go where there’s little to no moonlight in the northeast. There you will see the sky be dazzled with meteors from the depths of the cosmos.

Thank you for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to share, subscribe, comment, and critique.

So tell me, do you have celestial viewing parties?

It's Time to Get Wet 'n Wild

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Summer is the time of year where water parks are pumping as well as other water based activities. So if you’re ready to cool down, here’s my top five water slides.

5. Toboggan – Hotel Citta del Mare, Italy

Have I mentioned we Italians are a crazy bunch? Sure, most places with water slides send you into a chlorine filled pool, but with this slide you’re getting a face full of sea water. Situated at the Hotel Citta del Mare, this slide is open to guests of the establishment. It’s a racing slide which takes you past three scenic views and pools before dropping you into the Gulf of Castellamare.

4. Dangerous Flits – Tikibad Duinrell, Netherlands

Want to feel like a speeding bullet? Look no further. Resting in the Tikibad Duinrell waterpark, this single rider slide will make you feel like you’re flying through the water with no sign of stopping. As you barrel down the first, steep drop you’ll notice that the ride offers a glimpse of the slow, stagnant outside world.  Only then is that precious daylight snatched away by your gaining speed and the imminent darkness of the tunnels before you. You’ll be thankful when you reach the end of this mortifying masterpiece of a slide.

3. L2 – Worgl, Austria

You like your water slides like you like your roller coasters: without logic and filled with loops. Austria has created the world’s first inverted double looping waterslide, a feat so extraordinary that it causes the human body to be like Elphaba and defy gravity.  Climbing into the capsule, you cross your arms as the countdown to the thrill of a lifetime begins. The floor gives way and you are rocket launched into the slide, followed by two loops, and a final race to a miniature pool that welcomes you back to reality.

2. Tantrum Alley – Wild Wadi Water Park, Dubai

One funnel on a water slide is insane, but three funnels? That’s about as crazy and wild as a runaway convict riding a blazing Harley Davidson motorcycle. Dubai does not disappoint with this water slide, its towering presence often frightens riders while encouraging others.  Its three funnels determine park goers to give this terrifying ride a whirl, but if the three funnel slide is too much to handle there is another slide to this attraction with two bowls that spin you around until they decide to spit you out.

1.Verruckt – Schlitterbahn, US

There are things that should not be tampered with in life. Oujia boards, fate, Furbies to name a few, but now to this collection we can add Verruckt. Standing taller than Niagara Falls and Lady Liberty herself, this water slide is a beast. It is the slide to end all slides as you rocket through the attraction at a terrifying speed of fifty five miles per hour. Verruckt is German for ‘insane’ and after tearing through this slide, you’ll understand why it was given that title.

Thank you for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, share, subscribe, and critique.

So tell me, what’s your favorite water slide?

Roller Coasters to Thrill Your Summer

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Summer’s here which means theme parks are open for business. Some of you are coaster junkies like myself and enjoy the rushing sensation of the wind in your hair while screaming for your life.  Others simply enjoy watching coasters speed through the air which is an art in itself. The fluidity of the track, the unexpected drops, it’s a feast for all the senses.

Here are the top coasters of the summer:

5.  Cu’ Chulainn – Tayto Park, Ireland

So you are a plain Jane/Joe type of rider, looking for something with thrill, but nothing too extreme. Look no further than this wooden beast of a coaster situated in Ireland.  Cu’ Chulainn is actually the name of a medieval Irish warrior who defended the province of Ulster against an incredulous army and bore wondrous strength. Needless to say, he was not to be trifled with combat and this coaster is not meant to be trifled with either. Boasting the title of Europe’s largest coaster with an inversion, this ride will have you holding on as you tear through the tracks like a powerful hero.

4.  Black Mamba – Phantasialand, Germany

So you’re looking for a hanging coaster with tight turns and smooth drops? Black Mamba has just what you need. Black Mamba is an inverted steel coaster named after a lethal, ebony snake that shares the same name.  Power packed with 4Gs, this ride will have you nearly missing walls, giving you the notion that you just may not survive this ride. With a wild, African flare this roller coaster will spiral you into the jungle searching for a means of escape.

3. Takashiba – Fuji-Q Highland, Japan

A recent holder of the world record of the world’s steepest coaster, this ride puts the thrill in ‘Thriller’. Bearing a drop angle of 121 degrees and standing at a staggering 141 feet, this coaster doesn’t mess around. Even its name translates to “high fly car” in kanji and “domineering”  in English. Packed with inversions and loops, this coaster will take you on the ride of your life.

2. Goliath – Six Flags Great America, Illinois

Smashing three of the world’s records for steepest, fastest, and tallest roller coaster, Goliath is a monster to behold. Towering at 165 feet, this beast tears through steel tracks and surrounds you in tight loops. At one point it even has that audacity to slowly stop you in mid air, only to pick up the pace more powerful than before.

1.  Batman: The Ride – Six Flags Fiesta, Texas

Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “The only thing we should fear is fear itself.” This coaster is the definition of fear. Strapping into a car on this monstrous B roll formation coaster, this ride will have you rolling with no end in sight. Just when you think you’ve stopped flipping and rising, you couldn’t be more wrong. This roller coaster is so intense that even watching footage of it makes me stop the video in fear of losing my lunch.

Thanks for reading today’s entry. If you liked it, feel free to share, comment, and critique.

So tell me, what is your favorite roller coaster?

In the Summer Time

Good evening everyone and welcome to a late night edition of The Magical Mystery Blog.

This past week Spring sprung all over America and held the nation in a warm embrace. Like any other person who has been sick of the snow and sleet, people revved up their engines and took to the outdoors. Within hours roads were filled with Spring rejoicing drivers and passengers. And as I wound my way down to the shore, I realized why I’ve loved Summer all my life.

3. The Weather

Most people I know hate the Summer weather. The heat drives them insane, the humidity makes them dry as sand, and the sweat caused from it all is disgusting. As for myself, I love the heat; the hotter, the better – just like my spices. While I’m not too fond of the sweat or the humidity at times, I always love the heat. Some of my greatest Summer memories are days spent down in Florida at 113 degrees. I loved those insanely hot days because I wanted to do more outdoors than I would inside during the Winter.

2. More to do, Than Can Ever be Done

The beaches are open, the boardwalks are open, the shops are slowly opening their doors, pretty much any attraction that was frozen by Winter is now ready for business. While the crowds are tame at best for now, the Summer will drive more people to come out, and experience the things they couldn’t during the Winter.

1. The Spirit

There’s something about Summer that liberates one’s mind unlike the other seasons. It’s the spirit of the season that encourages you to be adventurous, to take spontaneous road trips into the great unknown, to do something you never thought of doing, or taking a risk on a small, yet broadening event. It’s the time of the year to throw caution to the wind and rise above the world.

Feel free to reblog and comment, and as always feedback and followers are welcomed. Tonight’s question is:

What do you love about the Summer?

The Jersey Shore's Bad Luck

Happy Friday the 13th everyone!

Today is to be wary of black cats, avoid shattering mirrors, and to stray away from bad luck.

Speaking of bad luck, the Jersey Shore has once again been struck with an unfortunate event.  Last year the Garden State’s shoreline was attacked by Hurricane Sandy. This horrific super storm tore through beach towns, scattered sand, swallowed homes, and flooded streets. To this day, there people living in disaster sections because of her.

However, New Jersey refused to admit defeat to this powerful hurricane. In a matter of months, campaigns were launched, claiming that we were "stronger than the storm." Boardwalks were rebuilt, businesses were reconstructed, houses were repaired, and hope started to surface along the Jersey Shore.

By summer of 2013, most of the locations hit by Sandy were restored. The Ocean City boardwalk was running and even receiving new rides, the Barnegat docks were able to host their annual 4^th of July fireworks spectacular, and even Long Beach Island’s Fantasy Island was working properly.  As for Seaside Heights and Park, their boardwalk, shops, arcades, and food stands were back and better than ever. However, they were still in the process of replacing rides lost in the super storm.

Beneath the scorching summer sun, the boardwalks thrived greatly. No sooner the summer season was completed did bad luck strike one of the newly constructed tourist attractions.

On September 12^th, 2013 Seaside Heights and Park, New Jersey fell victim to a fire started at the Kohrs ice cream stand.  The blazing wall of flames started at 2:30 pm and was considered a six (now ten) alarm fire. Within hours, the boardwalk from North Ocean Ave to Ocean Terrace was destroyed.

abcnews.com

Famous places like The Sawmill, The Beach Bar, and others were turned to ash. Even the Carousel Arcade which housed a historic merry-go-round didn't survive the destruction. Thankfully, no lives were taken in the ruin of Seaside’s boardwalk and the fire was contained. However, fire fighters and other officials have been injured. So far, no one knows the cause of the flames.

For many, watching the Funtown Pier slowly being consumed by the roaring blazes was heartbreaking. With every rumor of what was being exterminated, my heart sank lower and lower until it reached the soles of my feet.

Last summer Seaside Heights embraced me in its Jersey Shore boards and unveiled fantastic memories.  It was a great privilege to walk this almost endless stretch of beach and boards before the storm and fire.

I remember everything about this place; the scents of deep fried deliciousness, the chime of the carousel, the music tumbling out of stores, and arcades. It was a place that combined the old traditions and appearances with modern day culture.

I have only ventured to Seaside Heights four to five times. I regret not roaming there more as I have done with Long Beach Island and Ocean City. But the times I have visited there I was greeted with a special ambiance that couldn't be found at other locations. Seaside had its own unique flare of the past that seeped through the Kayne West raps and I Mustache You a Question shirts. The present seemed to house the past, like Carousel Arcade – astounding wondering eyes with modern video games while holding a 100 year old carousel.

Through the rebuilding process, the present even seemed to hold the future. On my last trip there, workers were putting up rides like a whale version of the Swashbuckler and a few others. This pier held the future of entertainment and enjoyment. However, no one could foretell the tragedy Seaside would suffer.

While the Seaside I have come to know and love rests in ashes, there is still hope for the burned down boardwalk. Like a phoenix rising from the debris, New Jersey's Governor Chris Christie vows to rebuild Seaside and make it better than it ever was.

How long the second rebuilding of Seaside will take no one knows but it can be estimated in about a year or more. Christie believes that we are more ferocious than the fire and refuses to let Seaside Heights and Park fade away.

                                                                  

Do You Believe in Magic?

Aloha everyone and welcome to this week’s Magical Mystery Blog. This week’s entry is a bit magical and focuses on one of my favorite beach towns of the Garden State. Today’s entry is about a magical perspective of Ocean City, New Jersey.

rivertonhistory.com

When I was a child, I discovered summer magic at Ocean City, NJ. 

Ocean City is a beach town full of summer winds and sea salt kisses. Located in Cape May County, it’s a seaside town that sparks summer magic when the night awakens and turns on the boardwalk’s lights. Since I was a child, my dad would load up the Buick and take us on a day trip to this beach town. I often shared the back seat with an umbrella, a beach bag, and a few foldable chairs. My excitement overwhelmed the space stealing silent passengers. We’d often visit during the most popular times of the year: Spring Break and the summer. These two specific times were the most crowded but I heavily enjoyed them.

Tourists usually flock to this beach town for the uniqueness of the Jersey Shore. I admit there’s some magic in the rides’ lights at dusk and the ferris wheel peaking over the bridge as though welcoming you to Ocean City. It’s what widens the eyes and smiles of children and adults who visit this place and breathe in the salty air. Some people can’t sense the wonder of this boardwalk for reasons I’ll never understand. Yet at the age of twenty two, I still see the mysticism, and have discovered a new type of magic.

Last July was the first time I had shown someone my nostalgic Ocean City and what I received in return was something far from what I expected.  In the summer winds down by the sea, I introduced my boyfriend to my nostalgic grounds. The sun did not burn the boardwalk which made it the perfect day for exploration. Even the humidity wasn't irritating or sweat inducing, like an unneeded layer of clothing.

With every step, he took in the sights as the shops burst before him like kernels of caramel popcorn. Each shop advertised some specialty like the best smoothie or henna art which drew curious eyes to their storefronts. However, the refreshing idea of Dippin Dots attracted our sun kissed bodies. The cooling sensation of frozen ice cream turned our gums to ice and numbed our brains. It was perfect for a day like this.

After spending a few hours at Jilly’s Arcade and Three Brothers’ Pizza, we strolled down the boardwalk. The smells of Johnson’s caramel popcorn and funnel cake give our senses a brief vacation. Breathing in the nostalgia, I had hoped he would enjoy this place as much as I did. From how it appeared he seemed to like it, but I could have been fooled by his smile.

When the twilight emerged, the lights of the boardwalk slowly came on. One by one they illuminated the wooden planks and revealed a new side to Ocean City. The warm wind was replaced by a cool breeze that came and left every so often like a passerby in the shadows. Even the sea grew darker with the setting sun. The carnival music seemed to grow louder as the groups of tourists, locals, and visitors combined and grew rapidly.

By nightfall Ocean City had transformed into a new world that often captivated me as a child. The dazzling lights made the store fronts shimmer like diamond constructed houses. In the distance, Gillian’s and Playland’s ferris wheels popped with color and pierced the sky with their luminescence.  The tinkling organ music of carousels seemed to harmonize and spark the inner child. Sounds of joyful screams and cheers rose from the glowing amusement parks.

The moon danced above the ocean as my boyfriend and I walked side by side on the sand. The waves seemed to slow time and overwhelm the scent of chocolate covered bacon. Sea foam caressed my bare toes as the sand massaged my soles, gradually pulling them into the world below. While this calmed me some, I couldn't help but to wonder what was on my boyfriend’s mind.

“So, what do you think,” I asked, anxiety jiggling my vocal chords.

 “I like it,” content filled his voice which eased my nervousness, as well as a moonlight kiss.

“I've never been here before and I definitely like it.”

That was all I needed. I could be at ease now, knowing that someone I had grown close to enjoyed my nostalgic seaside town.

“I missed the magic of summer and there’s just somethin bout this place. The lights go on, everything’s all color and light, there’s just something magical about it.”

That made my night even better and even shocked me a bit. I did not expect him to see the magic I could and understand the beauty of this beach town. No sooner those words left his mouth, my heart turned into a thousand super novas. Each one exploding with elation and enjoyment, knowing that he could understand why I loved this place so much. It was my second home, my home away from home, my home by the sea.  

Then it appeared before me like the moon. There was another magic in the air that had been given life by his words. It was the magic of love. It was the ignition that made my heart burn for him more than what it already had. How he could understand the magic of summer and the mysticism of Ocean City meant everything to me and made me love him more than what I already did.

Leaving that night with wind tousled hair and a bag of Shriver’s treats, I held my boyfriend's hand as he drove.  With the dancing lights of ferris wheels behind us, we knew we would return to Ocean City. There was summer magic to be experienced on that boardwalk with every smile, every heartbeat, and every kiss. 

I Never Had a S'more.

Happy belated Fourth of July everyone!

I can imagine most of you this weekend are grilling it up, boozing it up, and taking part in other summer fun activities.  At barbecues, you have the usual food of hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, corn, pork chops, and other delicious delights.  As for dessert, most of you may stick to the popsicles or ice cream. However, some may venture to create and indulge in a dessert I had only ever tasted this summer: a s’more.

Twenty two years old and I just had my first s’more this summer. Most of you who have had a s’more when you were a child, might find this awkward, and even strange. I believe the same thing.

You see, I was brought up in an Italian family where pasta was our main dietary staple (next to fish but after watching The Little Mermaid at a young age, I decided to never eat any seafood for the rest of my life). In this Italia household, we never had such delicacies as s’mores. We had desserts like biscotti, tiramisu, rum cake, and tons of other treats to clog your arteries.

WARNING: Even looking at it will cause your arteries to swell.

This is not to say I hated my Italian sweets (except biscotti which to me is dry bread). Honestly, I loved them but they could not compare to the deliciousness the television showed me. Every time a Hershey’s summer commercial came on, time slowed, and revealed a glorious new world. This unknown planet included teenagers laughing and prancing around a bonfire on the beach and eating those warm, gooey sugar rushes. Alongside wanting to be a writer, a model, an astronaut, and a ballerina, I wanted to fit in with that s’mores lovin crowd.

Of course, I tried to get my parents to make me a s’more. To this day, I’ll never understand why they didn't. I don’t know if it was anti-s’mores aliens persuading them not to or the fact that s’mores are not an Italian dessert.  So, naturally, I attempted to see what a s’more tasted like by buying s’mores flavored foods. Pop tarts, candies, bars, nothing compared to what the television depicted, and I feared my s’mores-sweet tooth would never be satisfied.

Years had passed and every time I told someone I never had a smores, I was always met with the same reactions: Are you crazy!? What’s wrong with you?! Why!? Who are you!? Why are you in my house!?

I had gotten used to the responses and even my boyfriends asked the same questions. Eventually my quest for s’mores had been buried beneath the responsibilities of work, the expectations of college, and life in general.  It wasn't until the start of this past June that my s’mores sweet tooth reared its sugar coated crown and rejuvenated my want for the treat.

Thankfully, my boyfriend had planned a barbecue dinner, and while shopping for the ingredients, I suggested the idea of s’mores. He happily agreed we should make some because I never had one before and it had been a while since he had one. 

After a simple barbecue dinner of hot dogs and pork chops, the preparation of s’mores commenced. Goosebumps rose up my arms despite the warmth of the charcoal as we roasted our marshmallows. The lifelong childhood desires were slowly being fulfilled with every passing second. The puffy cloud on the silver skewer began to brown, wisps of smoke arising from the circular tip. It was time.

Sliding the toasted fluff between a stick of chocolate and two graham crackers, the anticipation neared its peak. Pressing down on the crackers, the marshmallow spilled out onto the sides. The heat traveled through the toasted fluff and pushed against the crackers, tearing through the chocolate stick. Without hesitation, I took the treat between my hands, and bit into it like a starved man left to die in the Sahara Desert.

Never had I bitten into something so simply delicious.

Behold the ultimate dessert! Gaze upon it as you drool with wonder and hunger!

An explosion of euphoria tumbled onto my mouth, releasing a smoky sweetness that soothed my sweet tooth. The heat from the charcoal swirled about the treat and coated my cheeks in a pleasant warmth.  The cracker crumbled beneath the trampling of my teeth as the chocolate slipped in. The harmony of marshmallow, graham cracker, and chocolate created a symphony of deliciousness in my mouth. Each bite released another note of flavor that I adored and enticed me to continue eating.

With every bite, I sadly watched my childhood desire fade but at the same time, I greatly enjoyed it. My s’more sweet tooth was calmed with the final bite, as a summer time smile crept across my face. At last my s’more quest had come to an end and even though there was no beach or bonfire, I couldn't have been happier.

To those who have had a s'more as a child, treasure that moment and continue to devour s'mores whenever they are present. For there may be those who have never had a s'more like me and are still choking back artificial s'more flavored treats. If you know someone who is s'more deprived, teach them how to make this little treat or make one for them. Their smile will be the best reward you can ever obtain.