By MADDY VITALE
On the first day of spring Sunday, crowds enjoyed Ocean City’s beaches and the Boardwalk.
And despite cool breezes and temperatures hovering in the low 60s at the shore, visitors set down towels on the sand, headed to the water’s edge to stick their toes in and strolled along the Boardwalk.
Some kids made sandcastles, some flew kites and others rode bikes. Some Boardwalk strollers ate ice cream, some even wore shorts.
“We love the beach. You can’t go wrong. It is a natural playground,” said Tim Bromhead, of Marmora.
Bromhead, who grew up in Ocean City, and his wife, Amy, planned ahead for a day of fun with their 6-year-old son, Ben, and 3-year-old daughter, Ruthie.
“The kids kept asking us since yesterday when they could go to the beach,” Amy said. “Our son wanted to bring his boogie boards, play in the sand and eat pizza.”
Ben dressed for swimming, too.
“My son wore his bathing suit and T-shirt,” Amy said with a laugh. “I think he really expected it to be 80 degrees.”
While the Bromheads were fulfilling their day of fun in Ocean City, Erin Scanlon, of Pennsauken, N.J., brought her niece, Lucy Giebel, 6, to teach her how to fly a kite.
With the help of Scanlon’s friend, Minh Pham, also of Pennsauken, the trio held on tightly to the kites as the wind whipped. Sometimes the kites soared in the air. Other times they zig-zagged and dropped to the sand.
“We both had off today and love the beach. It was a nice day to show Lucy how to fly a kite,” Scanlon said as she and Pham helped the little girl maneuver the kite.
“It’s really fun!” Lucy exclaimed.
Up on the Boardwalk, a flutist played as people gathered on benches to eat pizza and other treats.
Others did some shopping and walked with bags in hand.
Lisa and David DiBello, of Philadelphia, brought their daughters, Mia, 8, and 6-year-old Ava down for the day to shop, eat and check out the beach.
“The girls got Pokemon cards and stretchy aliens,” Lisa DiBello said of their shopping trip. “We have had so much fun. We ate lunch and we did some shopping. Before we leave, we will get pizza.”
The weather made for a topic of laughter for the couple.
Lisa was bundled up for a cool day, while David wore shorts and flip-flops.
“I wore my UGGs. I don’t like to be cold,” Lisa said of her boots while also wearing a winter coat.
“I have dressed like this since January,” David said with a laugh of his shorts and flip-flops.
No matter what people wore, winter or spring clothing, no matter what the temperature, people on the Boardwalk and on the beach were taking in the sights and sounds of the first day of spring.
