Impromptu Day at the Beach

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I love going on quick trips to nowhere. Our family does so well when it comes to road trips, that sometimes we just like to go on a voyage to anywhere and everywhere. We find new favorite restaurants, playgrounds and secret spots all over the shore by just getting in the car and driving. So why didn’t I realize this when I tried to make plans for us last weekend? I blame it on “Mom brain” but thank goodness, karma got the best of me and set me straight.

My goal was simple: to get the whole family to a free jazz concert in Long Branch, NJ. Each summer, New Jersey is treated with the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Festival. Each week, a new shore town hosts a free show featuring some of the state’s greatest blues and jazz bands. They have all day concerts a few times in the summer, but they also offer weekly concerts in different towns. This past weekend, Long Branch was the host. So off we went in a beautiful 2013 Chevy Sonic.

chevy sonic review

chevy sonic, speedometer

The Chevy Sonic was perfect for an impromptu day at the beach and the festival. It’s compact but roomy enough inside for our family of four, it does very well with gas mileage, and you go fast in it. Really fast. Luckily the speedometer is very large, because I was speeding a bit on the parkway and immediately cut out that mess as soon as I looked down. Oops. On a positive note, we did get to Long Branch in record time. Silver lining for the win!

We were so excited to get to the festival early, since that meant we could pick our spot near the front and scope out where the bathrooms were. There was only one problem: the concert didn’t start until 7pm and we arrived at 4. I had no idea the concert would be that late. The kids go to bed at 7:30, so there was no way we’d be staying that long. But, we were already there so we did what any jersey shore family would do; we hit the beach!

Jersey shore beach day

jersey shore beach day

jersey shore beach day

jersey shore beach day

jersey shore beach day

jersey shore beach day

After a few hours relaxing at the beach, there was only one thing left to do. Eat! We grabbed some hot dogs and the kids took advantage of the trunk space in the Chevy Sonic. Also, check out the Duchess’s wardrobe change below. She decided to run straight into the ocean and scare us half to death, but that’s another story.

Chevy Sonic trunk space

Have you ever made summer weekends plans and had to change them mid-voyage? What was your plan B?

Disclosure: I was offered the Chevy Sonic for review but was not offered any monetary compensation. All opinions are my own.

About Amiyrah

My name is Amiyrah and I'm an an African American fashion & lifestyle blogger based in Ohio.

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14 Comments

  1. 6.18.13
    Brandi said:

    Impromptu trips are my absolute favorite kinds of trips! My favorite was actually to the Jersey Shore with my then 2 year old. We hopped on the bus from Philadelphia with a couple of changes of clothes, and I booked our hotel on the way there! We were going to stay for 2 nights, but we ended up staying for 4 because we were having such a good time! I’ll never forget it. 🙂

    • 6.18.13
      Amiyrah said:

      That is such a wonderful memory! And look at how fancy you are: staying for 4 days instead of 2. Lucky girls 😉

  2. 6.18.13

    I love impromptu trips! We used to make them all the time when we lived in Germany. But haven’t done much of them since. I miss them. They truly are a lot of fun. I’d love to take an impromptu trip to Yellowstone. It’s only 2 hours away. I need to just do it!

    • 6.18.13
      Amiyrah said:

      Yes, just do it Amber! I hope you can get that trip in this summer. I’ve always wanted to see Yellowstone, so if you go I can see it through your eyes in a blog post. Ha!

  3. 6.18.13

    It looks like you guys had a great time. Sometimes the unexpected trips, turn out to be the ones that make the best memories.

    • 6.18.13
      Amiyrah said:

      That’s so true, Randa. We definitely made a few during this trip.

  4. 6.18.13
    Michelle said:

    Looks like fun! 🙂

  5. 6.18.13
    Cyn said:

    Love impromptu days! Looks like you had a great time and that’s a sweet little car.

    • 6.18.13
      Amiyrah said:

      We had a blast, Cyn. The Chevy Sonic has quite a bit of zip in it. It was a great car for a mini road trip right in our own state.

  6. 6.18.13

    I love a good trip be it a mini one or a long one and the beach is my favorite place on earth . Great photos thanks for sharing your fun day.

  7. 6.18.13

    Good for you to make the best of it with a super fun alternative idea!

  8. 6.18.13
    Kira said:

    Too bad the concert starts late, but glad you made the best of the trip. The kids looked like they were having fun though. The sonic looks like a sweet ride. Was duchess and her brother in a car seat or booster seat? Trying to figure out just how roomy its is in the back.

    • 6.18.13
      Amiyrah said:

      My son has a small booster and my daughter has a very large (too large) car seat. A regular size car seat would have worked just fine in the back.

  9. 6.18.13
    Courtney G. said:

    I will have to keep that in mind. I didnt realize they played Jazz in Long Branch. We are right down the road a few exits!