After an extensive and expensive school year, summer is finally in sight and students are looking for inexpensive ways to have fun over the break. Fear not, for there are plenty of things to do when you are short on funds.
If you find yourself short on cash, but in the mood for a ball game, there is no need to waste your coveted time and money by driving into the city for an expensive Yankees game. You can just as easily take the Garden State Parkway to Lakewood, at exit 89, and enjoy a night at First Energy Park, home to the Lakewood Blue Claws. A front-row ticket on the third-base line will only run you $9, and if you want more relaxing surroundings you can purchase a lawn seat for $6.
The Blue Claws, a Class-A rookie league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, have been very competitive over the past few seasons, finishing over .500 last season and winning the South Atlantic League Championship in 2006.
Current Phillies' all-stars that have passed through Lakewood en route to the big leagues include Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Cole Hamels. Fans of the Phillies should take this economic voyage to witness the future of their favorite franchise.
If you are not a fan of America's favorite pastime but are still looking for some cheap thrills, take a few roads less traveled and go on a Weird New Jersey tour. If you have ever read the magazine Weird New Jersey, or its two hardcover book spin-offs, you know our great state is filled with its fair share of peculiar, creepy and just plain weird landmarks. Do some research, pick out a handful of your favorite sights, and investigate this outlandish state.
If you would like to see a giant evil clown, then Middletown, N.J., is where you need to be. Maybe haunted houses tickle your fancy? Then check out the Thomas P. Hunt House in Sussex County. Does the name Devil's Tower intrigue you? Then take a trip to Alpine, N.J., and get a close look. Get out there and bask in the weirdness this state has to offer.
"If I didn't have much money, I'd probably go to the beach . I'd drive out to Sandy Hook," Sarah Lynch, freshman early childhood education and women's and gender studies major, said.
Taking a trip to any one of the Jersey Shore's many beaches is a perfect solution for a fun time when you are short on funds. Besides the sand and surf, Seaside Heights offers a long stretch boardwalk and includes great games, food and music.
Another New Jersey vacation spot whose fame has grown over the years is Long Beach Island. The beaches and cool refreshing ocean associated with this prominent vacation sight draw summer travelers by the droves. It is an extraordinary place to enjoy your break.
The aforementioned Sandy Hook is yet another area on the shore that offers a number of great beaches and is rich in history. After a fun day in the sun, one can enjoy a meal at the beachside restaurants in the nearby coastal town of Sea Bright.
For a better look at the Hook, you can travel to the Twin Lights Lighthouse and museum located just up the road in Atlantic Highlands. The historical landmark, no longer operational, allows those in search of a sight to climb up into the lighthouse and look over the entire peninsula.
