Hey come on, come on, people down south. Have your little spat about whose beaches are better, Virginia Beach or Myrtle Beach (obviously Myrtle), but leave us up here in Jersey out of it. Blog reader Walt Kulik, in the comments section of this blog's last entry, which was a deep and soul-searching ode to the Jersey shore, sends us the words of Virginia Pilot columnist Kerry Dougherty, which were neither deep nor soul searching. Kerry, Kerry, Kerry, why all the hate? In defending Virginia's beaches against an unfortunate advertising attack by Myrtle Beach (chamber of commerce types down south are rough, man), Dougherty rehashes her apparently not-so-great memories of growing up spending summers at the Jersey Shore. Apparently, the water was too cold (Ever try to swim in Maine?). And she can't forget some unfortunate syringe incidents (so 1983, Kerry. Did you ever think that the reason Jersey reports bacteria is because, unlike many other states, we actually test for it?) Ok, so maybe we plead no contest to money-grubbing municipalities and the outrageous tradition of beach tags. And we're like so-so on the whole access thing. But don't smear us with snow-cone stands. We do water ice and Kohr's, here, thank you very much.
« "Who actually likes us..." | Main | Music is my beach house »
Virginia Beach fights off dis from Myrtle Beach by hating on...Jersey
Philly.com discussions are intended to be civil, friendly conversations. Please treat other participants with respect and in a way that you would want to be treated. You are responsible for what you say. And please, stay on topic.
These boards are monitored by Philly.com staff. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us in our sole discretion and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. Personal attacks, especially on other board participants, are not permitted. We reserve the right to permanently block any user who violates these terms and conditions.
Copyright © 2006-2008 Philadelphia Newspapers L.L.C. All Rights Reserved.
Author
The Downashore Team is a group of Philly.com producers. Some of us grew up vacationing at the Jersey Shore, and others came to appreciate it later. Either way, we know our Mack and Manco's from our Prep's Pizza, and we'll do our best to share news, information and musings from up and down the coast. Please do post a comment with your Shore thoughts, or shoot us an e-mail by clicking on the link above. (OK, so we're not really at the beach in this photo, but armed with the power of a good photo editing program, we can dream, right?) We're joined by Inquirer staff writer Amy Rosenberg, who as a year-round Shore resident, knows a thing or two about the scene, and the Shoobies.
Search
About
This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on May 19, 2008 8:44 AM.
The previous post in this blog was "Who actually likes us...".
The next post in this blog is Music is my beach house.
Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.
July 2008
Movable Type 3.35
Comments (8)
Amy, Amy, Amy ... syringe incidents? who said anything about syringes?
Incidentally, I LOVED the Jersey shore growing up.
kerry d.
Posted by kerry dougherty | May 19, 2008 9:51 AM
Posted on May 19, 2008 09:51
My youth memories of the Jersey shore are South Philly provincals (wink, wink) hanging out at the pool all weekend, getting drunk at 11, peeing on the grill at 2, filling up the super-soaker with their own urine and spraying their kids at 4, and Marky Mark wannabe's with their jeans below their butt staring at every 16 year old on the boardwalk at 9.
Posted by Jeff Williams | May 19, 2008 12:03 PM
Posted on May 19, 2008 12:03
ah, the old urine-filled supersoakers at 4 p.m.... jersey shore memories like that brings tears to my eyes, jeff.
Posted by Amy | May 19, 2008 3:40 PM
Posted on May 19, 2008 15:40
I don't care what anyone says, I'll take the Jersey Shore over any beach on the eastern seaboard. I've been to Virginia Beach (with their no cursing signs), and various beaches in Florida in my 27 years, and I'll take Jersey over any of them. Unfortunately, I'll be moving to Florida soon, but I'll pine for Jersey's beaches until the day I make it back.
Posted by Bobby | May 19, 2008 10:39 PM
Posted on May 19, 2008 22:39
All I can say is I have lived in SC (Columbia) and no one in the SC ever goes to Myrtle unless they have to. I have also lived in Richmond VA, and those folks would not be caught dead in VA Beach (they go to the Outer Banks or the Rappahanock River). The best beaches are the ones around Charleston (Isle of Palms, Folly, Edisto, etc). Because you can go to the beach during the day, and actually have something to do at night other than eating at the many crappy tourist-beach-sea food restaurants all over the east coast (or in the case of Myrtle and VA Beach, some southern cafeteria chain that has a fried fish buffet). Moreover, I think the Delaware Beaches are superior to Jersey...they have great state beaches, the dolphins are a plenty and you seldom have to see overweight European types sporting ill-considered speedos. That said, for those who do not already attend these beaches, don't take this a reason to start.
Posted by Bob | May 20, 2008 12:53 PM
Posted on May 20, 2008 12:53
The Jersey shore is Philly with sand. I gave up years on Jersey years ago with beach tags and over croweded beaches with no where to park. Vacations are for relaxing not having to deal with to many people who are sun bathing in a small area.
Go south, I have been going to the outerbanks every other year and love it. For the price of a crumy 2 bed room condo in Ocean City Nj, I can get an 8 bed room, shore side house with its own pool and hot tube. Try finding that in NJ. Plus no beach rules like Nj, Want to have to sit on the beach and night and have a fire in NC, its okay. Want to bring a cooler of beverages and grill on the beach for the day in NC, its okay. Freedom from the stupid NJ laws.
Con to Outbanks NC - its a 10 hr hike. But its worth if for the relaxation.
Posted by Dave | May 20, 2008 1:58 PM
Posted on May 20, 2008 13:58
I spent 26 years going to the Jersey Shore, and 5 living in Virginia Beach. And, sorry, but VA Beach is waaayyy better. The water and beaches are cleaner, parking is never a hassle, and the water temperature is great from mid-May to mid-September. The only reason I go back to N. Wildwood once a year is for Roman's Day at the Bay. And last year when I did that and took a quick dip in the water at the little beach behind where Moore's used to be, I got a painful ear infection.
Posted by park | May 20, 2008 4:25 PM
Posted on May 20, 2008 16:25
To all of the above - please keep going south to Virginia, North and South Carolina and all of those other "redneck riviera" beaches. You'll leave more room for the rest of us. Despite all of its flaws, the Jersey shore is a unique vacation spot. If you've grown up with it, its usually in your blood. I have been to the Outer Banks and the Georgia island beaches,and though very nice spots, will take the Shore.
Posted by Brian | May 20, 2008 5:24 PM
Posted on May 20, 2008 17:24