Autumn Weekend on Ocean Avenue
The colors, scents, and aura of the beach front truly do bring me an unspeakable sense of ease. Another long-awaited autumn weekend by the sea has come and gone, and although this year feels a little different, I feel so grateful to have been able to enjoy the undeniable relaxation that this stretch of beach brings. To be able to wake up there, doused in unobstructed beachy sunlight, swathed in the mist of the sea, all under a soothing film of autumn air is every ounce a luxury. To leave is a mixture of disappointment, and determination to make it back next year.
As I get older, it feels like having the dream of my own beach house is more and more unattainable, whether it is due to financial constrictions or the fears of climate change and gale-force hurricanes. That is why this weekend means more and more to me. It is time with my dearest people, in one of the most beautiful settings that feels so familiar and even, just a bit, mine. Going on a short getaway in the midst of Covid was odd, but this was the first time in over half a year that we relaxed a bit as a family and enjoy new (old) scenery. I can certainly say that the relaxed state of how everyone felt was contagious and so, so, so nourishing for the soul. We love this weekend. This house might have become our favorite autumn tradition. We’ve gone since 2013, and I have posts from almost every year for the last five years!
Joys from our weekend: 9-25-2020
Walks along the historic Beach Haven hotels such as the Engleside, wondering what life must have been like in the late 1800s. I also kept eyeing the beautiful gardens and lanterns of The Gables, a place where I have been wanting to stay for such a long time. I have always been fascinated by the wrecks that have crashed upon the shores of LBI, and I wish I could see what the island used to look like. So different, yet, still the same natural wonder it is today.
Multiple stops for my favorite coffee, although it never seems to be enough. We bought home 3 lbs of coffee! Pumpkin, Rocket Fuel, and Banana Nut!
The house we stay in is a paradise - it is big, tall, and offers the most perfect panorama of the beach, bay, bridge, everything. We were pleasantly surprised to see that the entire kitchen and lower level had been renovated! For the times we were inside, it was lovely to enjoy the new appliances and fixtures! The owners did such a great job redesigning the main floor.
We found such joy in walking! S and my brother and I found ourselves one night meandering around for ice cream, and it was so nice to be able to poke around within walking distance. We found our ice cream, and also explored a brand new massive candy store where S and R splurged on throwback candy favorites like Warheads and gummies. After, we popped into Sandtrap for an impromptu round of mini golf! It was infuriatingly difficult and no one got a hole-in-one, but it was so fun to do something spontaneous like that.
Adoring the quaint, autumn-inspired decor of storefronts and gardens - pumpkins, mums, and hay bales with a coastal flair! I even picked up some colorful pumpkins and gourds on the way home.
Popping into boutiques and surf shops! It’s so fun - there was a surf shop, Faria’s, only a short five minute walk from the house. Browsing through surf shops and feeling my inner adolsescent excitement over surf boards, casual beachy clothes, and the smell of surfboard wax! Ahhh. Also, I delved (a bit too much) into some pure inspiration and retail therapy from some of my favorite shops, including Wink and Reynolds. It’s almost a tradition to peruse these shops, even if they are a bit pretentious or exorbitantly expensive.
What the beach brings me is a joyful whitewashing of all of my worries, complaints, and fears. It is as close to pressing the “reset” button as it gets for me!
Explore past autumn trips: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019
ciao, xo