Ice cream was just the perfect treat to an unusually warm November day.
By MADDY VITALE
For anyone who headed to Ocean City’s beaches and Boardwalk Saturday, they might forget that it is nearing the holidays.
If the wreaths and bright red bows did not adorn the Music Pier, one might think it was just another sunny, warm fall day.
Families who packed away beach gear, toted towels, shovels, and other items to occupy their kids, while they bask in the mild weather as temperatures reached the mid-70s.
“We like to come down as much as possible. Ocean City is our favorite place,” said Sarah Thompson, of Ambler, Pa.
Sarah Thompson, of Ambler Pa., with sons, Isaac, 10, and 3-year-old Benny, have fun on the beach.
Thompson, along with her husband, Harry, and their children, Benny, 3, and 10-year-old Isaac, took in the sights at the Ninth Street Beach, after a day of Boardwalk strolling and a visit to an amusement park.
“We thought it would be good to get the kids out for a fun trip,” Sarah Thompson said.
The kids enjoyed playing on the beach above everything else on their day’s itinerary, Thompson noted.
“I like the beach so much. I love digging in the sand,” said fourth-grader Isaac.
He starts in-person classes next week after doing classes virtually in the school district in Phoenixville. That, coupled with the beautiful weather, prompted the family to make a short trip down to the shore.
The Thompsons joined crowds of others with the same idea – to take in the last remnants of warm weather before winter rolls around.
Free parking was an added bonus to venturing down in the offseason, visitors added.
From Boardwalk strollers, to bicyclists to shoppers the scene appeared to be reminiscent of a summer day.
Ice cream was just the perfect treat to an unusually warm November day.
People waited in line for pizza, ice cream and other goodies. Mary Schoenberger, of Harleysville, Pa., took her dog, Bentley, for a stroll on the beach.
She said she and her family come during the offseason each year but never expected weather like this.
“Today is like a beautiful fall day,” Schoenberger said. “It is a great weekend. I think it is warmer than when we came down in September.”
Jeanine Corso, of Collingswood, N.J., took her sons, Rocco, 5, and Blaise, 7, to the shore for a beach day.
“It is gorgeous. It feels like summertime,” Corso said.
On a typical year, the Corso family takes frequent daytrips to Ocean City. But this year, amid the pandemic, they stayed away from crowds, she said.
Saturday was a treat for Rocco and Blaise judging by their smiles as they licked their ice cream cones.
And their day didn’t just consist of eating.
By 2:30 p.m., they had already gone to an amusement park, bought candy, and even welcomed a new addition to the family -- a stuffed animal that Rocco proudly displayed.
If you asked them their favorite part of the jam-packed day, they each had a different answer.
“I liked the rollercoaster,” said Blaise of a ride at an amusement park.
“I liked the boat ride,” Rocco said of a kiddie boat ride at the amusement park.
“We had to try and fit the whole summer in in one day,” Corso joked.
Blaise Corso, 7, left, of Collingswood, and 5-year-old Rocco, nibble on their ice cream.
While people came down for the weekend or a day trip, Crystal and Mark Davis, of Phoenixville, Pa., their children, Emily, 10 months, Kayly, 5, and 3-year-old Julia have the best of both worlds.
The Davis family bought a vacation home in Ocean City in March, right before the pandemic, they explained.
Now they can come down whenever they like without worrying about where to stay.
“The girls just love the beach,” Crystal said.
And it seems all three girls have a great interest in playing in the sand.
While Kayly and Julia dug in the sand, with the help of their grandfather, Richie Kimmie, who was visiting from Seattle, Emily also enjoyed the beach.
“Emily definitely loves the beach,” Mark Davis said with a laugh, as Emily scooted across the sand.
From left, Crystal Davis, of Phoenixville, Pa., holds Emily, while Julia plays in the sand. Kayly looks on. Mark Davis is at right and the grandfather, Rich Kimmie, of Seattle, is in the back.
