Top Five Summer Hangouts

Lindsey Golotko, Editor

With summer winding down and school starting up, the long days in the sun seem to be coming to a close. This summer was filled with so many laughs, adventures, and memories. These fun-filled times were often at unique places that one’s wildest imagination couldn’t even imagine. The Patriot Press is here to countdown the five most distinctive and exciting places of the summer:

 

5. Playa Bowls 6358795752675833051488900364_ejrwkjrwerwew

Playa Bowls is one of the newest stores to come to Monmouth and Ocean County. Primarily they serve fruit bowls which consist of a base, often acai mixed with other fruits, and a topping of fresh fruit, granola, and peanut butter/Nutella. Playa Bowls is located in Belmar, Pier Village, Manasquan, and Bay Head. Many people enjoy this healthy alternative as opposed to the normal beach day snacks. The line is always out the door, so get there before the rush. Because Playa Bowls is visited by so many people a day, the turnover is great and the fruit is always fresh. All in all, Playa Bowls is a new craze that hopefully won’t go out of style.

 

download4. Great Adventure

Great Adventure is a theme park located in Jackson, New Jersey home to rides of all different types. If one enjoys channeling their inner daredevil, the park boasts some of the most thrilling rollercoasters in the world: Kingda Ka, El Toro, Zumanjaro, and Bizzaro. If one is more reserved, however, there are multiple attractions suited to them such as aquatic shows, the Safari, and much much more. One great thing about Great Adventure is that the fun doesn’t end in the summer. This amusement park opens up during holiday times to give patrons an experience like no there. Fright Fest is the park’s scary Halloween adventure, while Holiday in the Parks opens around Christmas and is one way to get in the wintery spirit. Great Adventure is something anyone will love no matter how young or old.

 

3. Coney Waffle 635973660499524405-CONEYWAFFLE0427D

Coney Waffle is a relatively new ice cream shop that is serving up sugary sweets with a giant twist. Located in Belmar, New Jersey, Coney Waffle is famous for their enormous milkshakes topped with ice cream cones, lollipops, cotton candy, and so much more. While some have the attitude of “go big or go home” when at this decadent shop, for the ones that are more reserved there are plenty of yummy treats available. Coney waffle offers ice cream cones, waffles and ice cream, and waffles and cannoli cream, the latter of the two is what originally got this company started. While one of their famous shakes is a steep eighteen dollars, the price of this sweet delight is nothing compared to the amazing taste (and pictures to post on social media).

 

2438.15262. Grounds for Sculpture

Grounds for Sculpture is an interactive, outdoor museum where works of art become bigger than life. At Grounds for Sculpture, patrons are encouraged to touch the masterpieces and take photos that are enviable by many.  There are many exhibitions which one can visit, the most famous being the giant Marilyn Monroe statue and the “Unconditional Surrender,’’ which depicts the famous image of a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square. One thing to note about the park is that some pieces of art are not always there, so check the website before going. This place is a great way to spend time with family and friends on a beautiful day. Grounds for Sculpture is a nice alternative to the average stroll in the park.

 

1. The Beachinterior_image_10010

Nothing screams New Jersey more than a trip to the shore. People flock from all over to take a dip in the crisp waters of New Jersey. Famed by the show “The Jersey Shore,” the beaches have become a destination like no other. Even if one does not enjoy the water, the boardwalks offer plenty of entertainment, rides, and games galore. If you are lucky enough, you might even see dolphins swimming through the water gracefully. The only drawback to this wonderful day is the seagulls, but these pesky creatures can be avoided by not bringing food on to the beach. There is no better way to spend a day in the sun than on the beach.