Sometimes you need to take a Monday off and go “down the shore” (the regionally accepted way to say you’re going to one of the beach towns of South Jersey). My girlfriend, Brena, and I and three of our friends all took a Monday off a few weeks ago (which was much-needed after being at our Wines on the Wing wine survey event all day Sunday!) and headed from Philadelphia to Ocean City, New Jersey, for a little daytrip. One of our friends was staying at her family’s beach house for the week, so we met up with her once we got there and were able to use the bathroom and raid her fridge for snacks before heading to the beach together.

It was a nearly perfect beach day, with temperatures hot enough to enjoy a swim but not so scorching that lying out in the sand was unbearable. With our double umbrella setup, I was perfectly comfortable. I usually complain about how the ocean is too cold to swim in, but that was not the case this time. And because we were there on a Monday, it wasn’t too crowded, either.

I got some quality time with my current read, Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, the latest installment in the Hunger Games series — this one is being read by everyone and their mother, so I joined in. While I have definitely aged out of the Young Adult genre, getting in on the nostalgia has been fun, and I’m enjoying the book for the most part. As a bookworm, my favorite part of a day on the beach is how it’s finally socially acceptable to read while hanging out with people.

After several hours in the sun (and some burns to show for it), I drove everyone home. We stopped at Cold Cow Creamery for ice cream on the way (delicious), and Brena and I miraculously made it back home in time for Monday night trivia at Stogie Joe’s with our other friends. A practically perfect day!

— Hannah Gruen, advertising & events coordinator