Tips for when the sun sets on the summer season...

Unfortunately, every summer comes to an end. Personally, I am a huge shopper. Every summer is always put to an end early with the “back to school” sales. It’s annoying to see them at the end of June! They do however catch my eye at the end of August when it is time to get new clothes and stock up the apartment (dorm or locker) with new accessories. So what are some “must haves”?

First, if you are in high-school and have a locker, it is important to have a mirror. That is what everyone will tell you. On the other hand, I suggest a brand new memory card for your digital camera. As cliché as it sounds, high school is the quickest four years of your life. You might as well catch the memories while you can.

Maybe you’re entering your first year of college. Do you have a dorm? Don’t forget a decent alarm clock. Don’t rely on your cell phone alarm clock! You’ll be so busy texting new friends your battery will die very fast. Get an old fashioned plug-in-the-wall alarm clock!

Have a new apartment? Are you an upper-classman now? Make sure you have some good cooking utensils. When you live with roommates, dishes can stock up pretty fast.  It’s good to have non-stick skillet. It makes washing the dishes easier. You’re a college student, not yet a housewife or the husband of a housewife. You’re most likely going to be cooking a lot of skillet meals, ramen noodles, and eggs. Investing in cookware is a good idea.

So, while I haven’t mentioned all of the items you are going to need on your checklist, these are some you may not have thought of. Good luck!

Vans Warped Tour

Not a country fan or a rock fan? The Philadelphia area still offers you an outlet to have fun this summer. Try out the annual Vans Warped Tour. This tour is not exclusive to the Philadelphia area. In fact, the tour makes forty-four stops across the United States between June and August! The tour starts June 24^th, 2011 in Dallas, Texas and wraps up on August 14^th, 2011 in Hillsboro, Oregon. It makes a stop here in Camden, New Jersey at the Susquehanna Bank Center on Thursday, July 21^st, 2011. All tickets are general admission and cost a total of $43.85 (taxes, fees, and all other pointless charges included.) You can purchase tickets here.

Offering a variety of alternative punk music, this year the tour hosts bands such as Gym Class Heros, The Devil Wears Prada, Against Me!, and over fifty more. An entire list of the bands can be found here. The featured band is August Burns Red, who is a local to our Philadelphia area, stemming from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

A picture of the crowds from the 2006 Warped Tour in Camden, NJ.

In the past, the Vans Warped Tour has made headlines for its large crowds and overheated fans. In 2005, it was reported that 20,000 to 25,000 attended the concert. As temperatures hit 95 degrees the day the concert was in Camden, New Jersey, fifty-one people were hospitalized. Over two-hundred and twenty people required some medical attention. If you are planning to attend, make sure to dress lightly and keep hydrated!

93.3 MMR-BQ

Saliva performing at the 2009 MMR-BQ

Okay, so maybe you aren’t into country. Country is not the only genre of music that throws some great summer concerts. In 2007, Philadelphia’s rock radio station, 93.3 WMMR ,started an annual “MMR-BQ” – a concert in mid-May to kick off the summer season. It is held at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, New Jersey. In the past, the concert has hosted bands such as Evanescence, Saliva, Velvet Revolver, ZZ Top, Papa Roach, Puddle of Mudd, and many more successful artists. This year, the event will take place on May 22ⁿ at 1pm and will feature 3 Doors Down, Seether, Papa Roach, Alter Bridge, Apocalyptica, Finger Eleven, Sick Puppies, and Rev Theory.

Unfortunately, this show is not free. Tickets start at $49.50 for the lawn area. Pit tickets are $75.00. However, for the first four bands performances, the event is general admission and you can get as close as you want. After the fourth band, security empties the area and only allows in those with specific tickets. You can buy tickets here.

The crowd at the 2009 MMR-BQ with the
Ben Franklin Bridge and a beautiful sunset in the background.

WMMR is home to many well-known disc jockeys and on-air talent in the Philadelphia area. You can expect to see special appearances by Preston and Steve, Pierre Robert, Matt Cord, Jaxon, and Jacky Bam Bam!

92.5 XTU

A packed crowd at the 25th Annual Anniversary Show in Camden, NJ.

Are you not much of a traveler? Maybe you prefer some music instead. Summer is a great opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the music. My preferred genre is country and country stars throw some giant parties during the summer months. When I hear country music, I think summer. One of the biggest concerts of the year, in the Philadelphia area, is the 27th 92.5 WXTU’s free anniversary show. It is an annual event and an all day festival on a Saturday. This year the concert takes place Saturday, June 4^th, 2011 at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, New Jersey.

Jason Aldean is headlining this year’s show. Five of his singles have reached number one positions on the Hot Country Songs chart. He debuted in 2005 with his self-titled album “Jason Aldean”. He is headlining his own tour this summer, with dates available across the United States, but you won’t see him anywhere else for free, except at XTU!

The tickets are free, but you have to win them. 92.5 WXTU hosts “Ticket Runs” and “X-Stops” at various locations around the Delaware Valley. Each participant is given a raffle ticket and tickets are drawn for “Party Seats” (lawn seats) or “Reserved Seats” (seats inside the Susquehanna Bank Center). It is a fair raffle where everyone has an equal chance to win. A complete list of locations and rules can be found here.

A ticket to this years's concert.

Other guests at this year’s show include Chris Young, Janedear Girls, Thompson Square, Steel Magnolia, Casey James,  and Aaron Lewis.

Ocean City, NJ

The Jersey Shore has made quite a reputation on MTV. However, this reputation is not representative of the entire coast along New Jersey. Ocean City, New Jersey is known as America’s Greatest Family Resort and New Jersey's #1 Beach. It is a dry-town, so there are no “juice-head gorillas” in the clubs and bars “fist-pumping”. It’s a small seven-mile coast of beach and amusements. The two-and-a-half mile boardwalk is home to Gillian’s Wonderland Pier which hosts a 140-foot Ferris wheel and the Canyon Falls Log Flume. The Music Pier is located at 8^th street and the boardwalk. During the summer season, concerts from all genres and arts and crafts festivals. T-shirt stores and arcades offer time to shop and time play.

If you get too tired from shopping on the boardwalk, stop in at Mac-n-Manco’s pizza. The prices are a bit steep, but it is well worth it. The crust is so thin and delicious. The staff is friendly and you see the same faces every year. There are three locations on the boardwalk, and neither are far from a Kohr Brother’s custard stand for dessert! If you want to take something home for later, stop into Shriver’s Salt Water Taffy at 8^th street and the boardwalk. Their fudge and salt-water taffy is home-made and one of a kind!

The ocean coast is not the only place where the city is alive. Along the bay is beautiful and offers the opportunity for water sports, such as wave-runner rentals and parasailing. It gives you the experience of action sports on the water! Parasailing is especially fun because it is a two-for-one deal. You get the speed-boat ride out to sea, and then you can go 500 feet in the air and have a bird’s eye view of the entire island. 

Myrtle Beach

Moving a bit north in our destination of great vacation spots is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The beautiful 60-mile coast known as The Grand Strand offers plenty of beach and shopping. With the House of Blues, Broadway at the Beach, and Barefoot Landing, even a rainy day can be eventful. The House of Blues offers music and a dining experience. Broadway at the Beach is a 350-acre collection of dining, movie theaters, shops, nigh-clubs, miniature golf, fireworks displays and more. It houses such attractions as Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, Ripley’s Aquarium, a 3D IMAX Theater, and more. Barefoot Landing is a smaller, 27-acre location with a similar crowd that is out to experience fine dining and shopping. It is home of the Alabama Theater and Alligator Adventure.

         

Myrtle Beach also offers an array of shows. A show I would recommend is the Dixie Stampede. It offers a four-course meal and a live show, similar to that of Medieval Times, but with a country twist. However, it has recently changed to a pirate themed show. It is still an opportunity for a great night out with the family.

As I have done in earlier blogs, I love to mention great places to eat. The Golden Griddle is a small little pancake house that offers a meal for a great price. The owners are friendly and the crowd is welcoming. It offers a very comfortable atmosphere where you will feel right at home. One of the best places to have dinner is Carolina Roadhouse. Their chicken fingers will melt in your mouth. They are so tender!

 

If you’re a fan of golf, Myrtle Beach is one of the best destinations for golfing. There are over one hundred golf courses, some of which are designed by world-famous architects. In May 2010, Golf Digest rated The Dunes G. & Beach Club in Myrtle Beach as the 2^nd best golf resort out of sixty others!

Whether you’re looking for a beach vacation, a night out to see a show, or a quiet golf get-away weekend, Myrtle Beach is great spot for all kinds of vacationers! Looking to stay? Coastal Carolina University is located in Conway, South Carolina; just minutes from Myrtle Beach! 

Key West

Now that the spring break season is coming to an end, it is time to fly down south before the later months of the summer bring torture with scorching heat and humidity. Looking to get away early in the summer season? The best times to go to the far south of the United States is between the end of April and early June. If you wait for the middle to the end of summer, you are at risk for uncomfortable heat and humidity. Also, hurricane season begins and that weather can ruin your vacation.

One of my favorite and most preferred spots in Florida is Key West. There are a multitude of attractions and history in the city. The city is small enough that you will not feel overwhelmed with an array of need-to-be-seen places, but large enough to gain your attention and enjoyment. Since spring break has passed, I will focus on the family attractions rather than the clubs and bars.

A great historic place to see is the home of Ernest Hemingway. The tours run from 9:00am to 5:00pm daily and admission is $12 for adults and $6 for children. The tour guides have great knowledge of the house and the famous author who resided there. It is a beautiful property.

Are you looking for a place to eat? A delicious and unique dining experience is Blue Heaven. They serve breakfast and brunch in a comfortable outdoor setting. The eccentric atmosphere with roosters and chickens make it a place you won’t be quick to forget.

The next place that is fun to visit is the southern-most point of the continental United States. It is a large buoy-like monument which is stationed at the furthest south tip of Key West, just 90 miles from Cuba. It is a fun photo opportunity. You most likely will never be able to say you traveled to the top of Mount Everest, but you can easily brag about being at the southern-most point in the continental United States. 

Key West has great activities to enjoy, but it is also a beautiful place to sit back and relax. The scenery is breath-taking, the breeze is comforting, and the locals are welcoming. Whether you like to sight-see or just want to lie out in the sun and meet new friends, Key West is the place to be.

Spring Break - Destination: Miami

It's almost that time of year again. Summer is just a couple months away and now is the time to start planning that long-awaited summer vacation. Whether you’re going with a group of friends or your family, I have places to tell you about. 

However, before summer is spring and that's the time of year college students like to get away from the everyday norm of college life and vacate to a sunny beach. There's still some time left to catch a great spring break deal. So let's start this off with a great location for spring break: Miami.

As Will Smith proudly sang, Miami is the place people "party in the city where the heat is on" and spend their time "all night on the beach till the break of dawn". Miami has plenty to offer to college students looking to have fun. First, the beaches are free (unlike if you are from up north and visit Jersey beaches). The sun is hot and there is even the option to sunbathe nude. Second, South Beach is the place to be for the nightlife scene. Wet Willies is a great bar that exclusively offers slushies. They are loaded with alcohol, of course. The smallest cup is $10 and it’s plenty to give you a nice buzz before making your way to the night club. 

Down the way is Mangos Tropical Café which offers food and an array of drinks. That’s not all Mangos has to offer. The large dance floor allows you to let loose and have a good time. The stage offers a show of belly dancers, cabaret, salsa, and an occasional Michael Jackson tribute routine. 

Looking to pick-up a souvenir for your friends or family at home? Wings is a beachwear store and the one-stop place to shop. You can get t-shirts, magnets, postcards, shot-glasses, towels, and plenty more. Almost everything is below $15.

So if you’re looking to get away for a week during the semester, I highly recommend Miami. Take a break from the books and spend some time in the sun. Need some help on the expenses? Tell your parents your skin needs some Vitamin D and ask them to lend you some cash. Good luck and stay warm!