Well, winter has been acting like…winter! We just can’t wait for warmer weather, but here at the beginning of February we can anticipate Valentine’s Day and look forward to a Leap year celebration of monumental proportions. It’s a Charlie Brown kind of thing.

   Like Linus anticipating the Great Pumpkin, we’ll wait for that extra day (February 29) that only comes around once every four years, and proclaim, “Can spring be far away?”

   We thank you for your readership – and we ask you to share this newsletter with everyone you know for two reasons: (1) It’s FREE!  (2) It can help people choose the place they’ll spend their vacation, and help them discover all those other things that are necessary – like where to take the family to dinner, where to shop, the best places to go fishing, really fun things to do, recreational activities, water sports, attractions, historic sites, museums, cultural centers, aquariums, zoos, boardwalks, amusement and water parks, beaches for swimming, surfing and fishing, entertainment and much, much more.

   Above this introduction you’ll see categories of things to do. Simply click on them and you’ll find a lot more information – and links to still more points of interest, as well.

   We’ve simplified the process of using the newsletter, and greatly increased the amount of important data available through the Great Vacation E-Newsletter, and we now cover all the shore and bay towns in the state of New Jersey so you can visit places where you haven’t been, see things you haven’t seen, and have a great time with family and friends.

   You can check out our sister site: www.GreatVacationShoreRentals.com for more places to stay, and read historical and other information about all the shore and bay towns at the bottom of this home page. (It’s just a click away).

   Continue to send in your favorite shore photos for this year’s photo contest. At the end of this year we’ll have another judging by readers of the best photos, and the winners will receive some great prizes!

Welcome to February! Can spring be far behind?

Vacationers! Searching For Your Weekly Rental?
   The time has come to change the world for vacation property owners and vacationers.
Our service is called, appropriately enough,  GreatVacationShoreRentals.com  and it provides all you need to find the perfect vacation rentals!   How are we different from other listing services? We’re VERY different, but you’ll need to log on now to discover what makes us unique. Log on now and learn why we refer to ourselves as”…your Direct Connection.”  Our site offers Great Vacation Newsletters loaded with Great Vacation tips and our sister site GreatVacationGuide.com  provides you all of the tools you will need to plan every detail of your next Great Vacation!

2008 Photo Contest
Please join our Photo Contest for 2008! Send us copies of your favorite photos from “…down the shore.” Include your name, address and phone number so we can properly identify your photo if it’s featured. We’re running a special contest featuring photos that are shown in the newsletter during the year, and the best photos chosen by Great Vacation newsletter readers will be in the final competition. Winners will receive wonderful prizes, and the best photos will appear in the newsletter, and also in 2009 Great Vacation in-room guides!
Send all photos here info@greatvacationguide.com
All photos must be no larger than 640 pixels wide and 72 dpi ( formats can be .jpg - . jpeg - .gif )
All photos submitted and/or used become the property of Successful Seasons and Great Vacation enterprises.  Proper credit/acknowledgement will be given to those who have taken the photos.

East Lynne Theater Company
   Give the gift of entertainment!  Get East Lynne Theater Company's 2008 Season Tickets now. One size fits all and the recipient can choose what days to attend – and even bring friends! Purchase by Feb. 14, 2008 and take advantage of "The Sweetheart Deal:" $84 for 7 tickets. If purchased between Feb. 15 and July 1, the price is $75 for 5 tickets.  Either way, this is a considerable savings. Prices in 2008 are $25 for general admission; $20 for senior citizens; and $10 for full-time students.
For 2008 Season Tickets, mail a check to the office at 121 Fourth Ave., West Cape May, NJ 08204, and tickets will be mailed to you.  For information and reservations, call East Lynne at 609-884-5898 for more info... (click here)

February 2008
Avalon
Nothing to report at this time

Cape May
16...Kids Can Rock – Geology & Fossils, 11:00 a.m. Nature Center of Cape May. Information: 609-898-8848.
18...President’s Day Roller Skating Party: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. – Convention Hall Information: 609-884-9565.
24...Kids Can Expo: Convention Hall – Nature Center of Cape May. Information: 609-884-8848.
TBA...Youth Arts Program – Center for Community Arts: 609-884-7525.

Ocean City
15, 16...Fifth Annual Ocean City Talent Show: Music Pier – Moorlyn Terrace and the Boardwalk. Benefits Ocean City Fine Arts League and Ocean City Special Events. Information: 609-814-0308 and 609-525-9300.

Sea Isle City
15...Polar Bear Queen Contest: Information: 609-263-8687.
16...Fourteenth Annual Polar bear Plunge: Forty-First Street beach Costume Party – 12:00 Noon Plunge: 2:00 p.m.           Post-Plunge-Party: 2:30 p.m. Awards: 3:00 p.m. Information: 609-263-8687.
24...Table Tennis Tournament: Community Lodge, 300 JFK Boulevard: 12:00 Noon. Information: 609-263-0050.

Stone Harbor
Nothing to report at this time

The Wildwoods
2, 3...Boardwalk Kennel Club Dog Show: Wildwoods Convention Center:
Saturday: 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Information: 856-456-2598
7,8,9...USAW Middle School National Duels: Wildwoods Convention Center
Elementary & Middle School Wrestling Tournament (Note – High School
Wrestling added on Saturday, February 8 only)
Friday: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Information: 856-697-5510

Surf Shack Surf Shop

   Service, selection, value - the words mean a great deal at Surf Shack Surf Shop in Ship Bottom because the dedicated staff understand the importance of building loyal customers, and they do so by their hardworking attitude, and by being involved in the community through programs that are designed to promote safety with the best equipment, and proper use of it. When it comes to surfing, skating, skimming, snow gear, clothing and sports-specific apparel, Surf Shack Surf Shop is your one-stop headquarters.

   Right now you’ll find new arrivals - including Spy Goggles, Analog Outwear, IPath clothing and shoes, Syndrome skimboards, Globe clothing and shoes, Rome snowboards, Ride snowboards, O-Matic Snowboards and DC Snow gear. There’s a lot of winter weather remaining, and the winter sport gear and clothing in their line-up of great products will help make your winter fun even better!

For more information: (click here)

Freedom Surf Shop Salon and Day Spa

   Freedom Surf Shop Salon and Day Spa is the only complete spa facility on beautiful Long Beach Island, New Jersey. In their soothing environment you’ll experience relaxing massages, facials and body treatments in their individual treatment rooms. They also feature manicure and pedicure stations. 

   Massages include hot stone, aromatherapy, reflexology, deep tissue and traditional Swedish; their signature body treatments include the Exfoliating Sea Polish Scrub combining a massage and body scrub in one luxurious treatment.

   There are special Valentine’s Day packages available now for February 10 and 11, 14, 17 and 18 while supplies last. Give your special someone a super Valentine gift - and pamper them with all that Freedom Surf Shop Salon and Day Spa has to offer. Call for details, or for more information: (click here).

Old Barracks Museum
The Old Barracks Museum in Trenton, New Jersey is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5. See this outstanding place that commemorates the First Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776, a key battle in the American Revolution. (click here)