Down The Shore by Asha Lipman

Those of us who are lucky enough to call Philly home, are very aware of the entangled relationship our residents have with the Jersey Shore come summer months. I myself, who has lived in Philly nearly all my life, cannot recall a summer without the one hour drive with the windows open (Wawa stops along the way) and the feeling of the salty sea air finally hitting my face as we arrived. From the deliciously unhealthy food, to the beautiful ocean, to the overabundance of Eagles merch, the Jersey Shore feels like a home away from home for many Philadelphians. 

I interviewed a fellow journalist and dear friend of mine, Lily Simmons, about her thoughts on the connection between Philly and the shore. Lily has spent every summer of her life on the Jersey Shore, living at her grandmother’s home in Avalon New Jersey, a less tourism focused town on the coast. In addition to living there she works at a local cafe, spending her days serving locals and tourists alike. When she isn’t working, she spends much of her time in the areas much more concentrated with the Philly summer spirit. 

When asked about what she believes draws Philadelphia’s general population to the eclectic sands of the New Jersey area beaches, she replied with this, “Philly, unlike other cities in the U.S, is trashy. The people here are insane and unhinged in a way that I really appreciate. That’s what Jersey Shore is! You cannot get more insane unless you go to Florida. Jersey Shore is Philly crazy.” 

I have to say that hearing it laid out so plainly like that, unlocked something in my brain. She’s right, even though some of us may be ashamed to admit it, Philadelphia and its residents have an almost campy bizarreness that can’t be ignored. From the blood deep sports fandom that drives nearly everyone to violence, to the pure grit it takes to navigate septa some days, you have to have a certain something to you to live here. That is what makes going down the shore for the summer so perfect. You get away from the city which, to quote Lily again, “Smells like hot trash.” But you’re not really without your people. There’s just as many Eagles fans, rivaling Italian restaurants, and teenage biker gangs. You just also happen to be on the beach, and there’s funnel cake nearby. What’s not to love?