By Maddy Vitale
Brian and Lynne Marsh packed up their car Saturday morning and headed with their sons, Brian, 3, and twin 5-year-old boys, Garrett and Joseph, to Ocean City.
They only had a 20-minute drive from their Galloway Township home but still stayed over through Sunday to enjoy the beach, rides and attractions.
“The kids love the Boardwalk and Gillian’s Wonderland Pier,” Brian Marsh said. “There are just so much family-friendly things to do here.”
Like the Marsh family, other people enjoyed the family-oriented activities throughout the Fourth of July week. They strolled along the Boardwalk. Kids enjoyed rides and amusements. Beachgoers lounged on chairs under umbrellas, while children made sand castles and swam.
“Whenever I think of Ocean City, I think of happiness. I grew up coming here,” Lynne Marsh recalled. “And now I live 20 minutes away and bring my kids here.”
Ed Lincoln, of Haddon Township, and his friend, Tina Phillips, of Sicklerville, made a day of it on the Ocean City Boardwalk.
They munched on pizza and enjoyed a walk, some shopping at Boardwalk stores and a bit of sightseeing.
And they left behind clouds and a bit of rain in their hometowns, they joked.
“We come to Ocean City all the time and it seems like it is always sunny here,” Lincoln said with a laugh.
“We’re just enjoying the day,” added Phillips as they looked out at the beach.
While some people sat in their beach chairs, plenty of others swam and then there were friends, Maggie Garvey, 13, and Catherine Repkoe, 13, both of Millersville, Pa., who had a friendly game of volleyball.
The two came down for the holiday week with their families.
“We love the beach, and this was a great beach weekend,” Maggie said.
“I like how the water is so warm,” added Catherine.
Michele Gillian, executive director of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, called this Fourth of July celebration a “blockbuster.”
“Over the last week our beaches, Boardwalk, bay and downtown have been packed with guests from all over. We are so excited to see that people love spending their holidays in Ocean City,” Gillian said.
She continued, “The weather has been good, and people have enjoyed the many activities going on throughout the town.”
As with everything in Ocean City, the fun does not stop at the end of a holiday, Gillian said.
The next event, Night in Venice, which features a boat parade and homes along the bayfront decorated in a variety of themes, will delight the crowds on July 13 starting at 5:30 p.m.
“We are now getting ready for our famous Night in Venice boat parade and hope this momentum carries throughout the rest of the season,” Gillian said.
