Our Pilgrimage to the Jersey Shore

I am interrupting reporting on our chronological journey because we are enjoying some long needed vacation time. We are on our annual pilgrimage to the Jersey Shore, so I thought I’d republish a post from three years ago.

Reading it now, I realized that that was our last visit with my dear, amazing Aunt Rhoda, or RhoRho, as she was widely known. She passed shortly after our visit. We miss her everyday. Aunt Rhoda was a truly remarkable woman.

So while Steve and I enjoy a few relaxing days with family and old friends, enjoy reading about the Jersey Shore!

Originally published in 2020:

Growing up in Philadelphia PA, Steve and I spent all of our summers “down the shore”. So our summer pilgrimage to the Jersey Shore is a traditional we keep as often as possible.

Our Pilgrimage to the Jersey Shore

We were so excited to be able to spend two weeks visiting with family and friends in south Jersey while staying in Port Republic at the Atlantic Blueberry RV Park. It was a great location as Smithville was nearby and it was only about 15 minutes to Atlantic City. As soon as we were completely set up after our drive from the Delaware Seashore State Park we drove to visit Hal and Marcy, Steve’s brother and his wife, who live in Ventnor.It was a joyful but brief reunion, but we knew we could spend more time together while we were in the area.

First stop – a visit with family

The Cambridge Villa

Next stop was more of a drive-by really. Steve knows that I always have to drive past my grandparents summer home at 2 N. Cambridge Avenue in Ventnor. It was there there, my parents told me, that I was conceived. I also took my first steps in that house. My Zeyda used to refer to it as the Cambridge Villa and I was the princess. He proudly pushed me in a lovely wicker stroller.

It was also in that home that, as a toddler, I was told to keep clean for photos. I went into the bathroom to wash my face, but I was too small to reach the sink so I used the toilet water. Bubie thought it was a bit too quiet and came to find me. She screamed. I calmly told her “Bubie, go in the kitchen and make chicken soup”!

One of my favorite memories of the Cambridge Villa was of my grandfather’s mother who used to spend summers with us. Baba did not speak English. She only spoke Yiddish and Russian. I was about 3 years old when Mommy taught me to say “kim essen Baba” – come eat great grandmother. She was so proud of me and I was so thrilled to be able to communicate with her.

They finally sold that beautiful house when I was about 12. It just got to be too much for my Bubie. Unfortunately my grandfather’s siblings would arrive on the doorstep, with suitcases, and say “we were taking a drive (all the way from Philly) and look where we ended up. Bubie was cooking and cleaning and had not time to relax. Enough was enough!

I could probably write an entire book about summers at the Cambridge Villa!

White House Subs, a Jersey Shore landmark

From there we made our traditional “first day down the shore visit” to the White House Sub Shop. Yes. The same place that Brian and Steve had made the long trip to just a week before. I told you we would be there as often as we could. Unfortunately they still were not open for dine-in, so we had to wait for those amazing cheese steaks. But we suffered though cold White House Specials and even ordered Tuna Subs for our lunch the next day!

There is just something so special about White House hoagies. They use the best meats, cheese, fresh crisp lettuce, local ripe tomatoes and plenty of it all. But it’s the bread that makes it the best ever anywhere. The bread has a nice crust with a chewy inside. And the bread is made especially for the White House by a bakery down the street from the sub shop. The loaves are so long that a half of a White House hoagie is the size of most full sandwiches everywhere else.

We returned to the White House a few days later for our dine-in experience and those cheese steaks. Steve ordered his with just sauce, but I love their Pepper Cheesesteak with Sauce and Fried Onions. It is over the top amazing. And a half with have you stuffed, guaranteed!

Visiting RhoRho

Surprisingly we did not go to the beach or walk the boardwalk during our time. We just had too many people that we wanted to spend time with. For several years we had been going to Atlantic City for a week at the end of the summer. However, due to COVID, it had been at least two years since we were able to visit family and friends in NJ. We were making up for lost time.

Our second family visit was the day after we arrived, to spend time with my beloved Aunt Rhoda of RhoRho’s Brownies fame, and her youngest daughter my cousin Ilyse. We feel so truly blessed to have been able to share a couple of precious hours with Aunt Rhoda. Sadly we knew that it would probably be our last. She was 97, and although mentally sharp as a tack, her health was failing. And if you have been following us for a while, you know that she passed about a month later! I cherish every second I have shared with her.

Dinner at home with Hal and Marcy

The next evening Hal and Marcy came out to Ladybug for dinner. All we did was grill some burgers but it was being together that made it a special evening. We reminisced and laughed a lot. To me it’s those shared memories that make being with family so important.

I actually met Hal way back in 4th grade and we became instant friends. When we were teenagers he used to introduce me as his sister Sandy and I called him my brother Harold (Hal became his nickname later). As an only child it was awesome for me to have a “brother”. Neither of us could have predicted that I would meet his brother Steve and fall in love. Steve and I were engaged 3 weeks after meeting and married 8 months later. That was 52 years ago!!!

When Hal married Marcy I was so happy because it meant I not only had a brother, but a sister too. So you can see why we love spending time together whenever we can.

Our days and evenings on our pilgrimage to the Jersey shore were spent visiting as many cousins, nieces and classmates as we possibly could. We sure did cram in quite a lot of fabulous family and friends time. Too much for one post. So this tale of our Our Pilgrimage to the Jersey Shore will be continued!