LBI Chowderfest 2012

CHOWDER FEST Sept. 29-30      rent Beach House Retreats in Beach Haven Crest, NJ

  I will tell you a little about Chowder Fest if you have never been before. 

All the restaurants compete for the best Red and White Chowder.  They decorate their booths to reflect their business or style or personalities they want to get across, and cook all Sat.night. into the Sun.morning preparing for the thousands that come to taste it and judge it.   You get to vote on each soup, which is the best, and on their booths.  It is amazing how the soups taste so different, and how some stand out to be so much better, you wonder what the others were thinking!!  There are Bands, Beer Trucks, and the Bay Village Stores are hopping with their wares, and discounts. Local real estate agencies giving away bags, pens, magnet, chip clips etc., my kids enjoy gathering these free items.   If you are brave try the clam fudge at the fudge shop! :)  The Bakery's are clearing shelves too!

 It is great fun for adults, my kids enjoy it, but small kids it is tough on due to being so small and strollers are not permitted in soup tent areas, back packed kids are a solid solution.  There is a playground on the bayside of the tents to let the kiddies run loose on when they get the urge to run wild.

The day before tasting on Sat. local shops discount their stock, it is a shoppers dream, cheap tees, sandals, jewelery,sweats, sweaters, and more.  Having the holidays rifght around the corner it is a easy way to "git-r-done"!   The Mod Hatter is a great place to pick up some funny, awesome, costumes for Halloween at a great price, and they sell hats that are a hoot (that show up at night Nardi's and some other local bars).The local bars that close for the season usually have great specials on drinks and food.  The best bands are playing this weekend at the bars, and at the festival.

It is kind of the last hurrah on the Island, traffic lights may be off already, all the stores are pushing Holiday Seashore Type Gifts at great prices, and the weather is usually still in the mid 70's or so.  We have been in the ocean until Nov. some years.  There are no guards, but the ocean can be calm, warm and inviting for bathers and surfing.  I am down the street from the Brighton Beach Surf Shop and they are still giving surf lessons during this time.  It also a nice time to rent bikes, which is at the Acme Surf and Skate at the end of the street .  The Beach Theater next to the Acme is ten blocks and is still open I believe if you want to walk over to see a movie.  And the Ice cream shops are also pushing out ice cream to clear out for the winter. 

This time of year the Monarch Butterflies are hitting the sky in force passing through the Island to get home.  It is a beautiful sight, and some years the dunes are filled with the Halloween Colored Wings of Flight. 

Bring your cameras for the butterfly flights, the sunrises and sunsets are to die for, and the moonrise is really grand after watching the sun do it's tricks...  The ocean  is very picturesque, and it is a nice time to snap off some shots for your Holiday Cards drop them at CVS and be a head of the game.

It is a nice time to get together with friends, and family to share in the tasting experience, grab some bargains, and enjoy the last signs of summer.  For a great place to stay look me up: http://www.lbi-vacation.com