The Ides of March – good news for those who realize that the official start of spring is just about a week away, and bad news for Julius Caesar. In fact, it was his worst day ever thanks to his buddy Brutus. That’s an old literary joke that should take you back to High School Daze, uh, Days, that is. Anyone? Anyone?

   So, with spring just around the corner, we invite you to send this newsletter to your greater world. As we always point out, it’s FREE – and it provides a tremendous resource of good information for anyone who wants to plan their vacation this year.

   We should also point out that if you’re going to have a vacation, it might as well be a GREAT one! Hence, our name: Great Vacation.

   Click on the words above this introduction for all sorts of information, check out our Great Vacation Things to Do, and read about great accommodations, fantastic restaurants, super shopping, entertainment, headliners coming to Atlantic City, fishing reports, fun attractions and points of interest, and our featured businesses. If you want to have a fantastic time, and help support the economy in the bargain, you’ve come to the right place.

   Read about our photo contest, check  our sister website: www.GreatVacationShoresRentals.com and still more. March is half gone – can spring be far away? (Hint: NO, IT’S NOT! WHOOPEE!) Sorry, we were overcome by exuberance!

   You’ll have to forgive us but we’re primed and ready for spring, and we bet you are, too!

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

   Whoops! Whoa! Please…wait just a moment. Some folks have been slightly confused by what to submit for our photo contest, and that’s probably our fault for not clearly describing what it is that qualifies for entry in the 2008 contest. Your photos should be SHORE photos. Yes, it’s perfectly all right to have people, pets, etc. in your photos, but the photos should have been made AT THE SHORE on your vacations or weekend getaways!  That means shore photos taken on the beach, or in a beach town, or by a well-known shore attraction, etc. Nice folks have been sending us pictures of grandchildren and other great pictures – clearly not taken at the shore – and we do need to get back to the basic idea that all photos submitted for the contest should have been made at the shore! So, having said this…

Send all photos here info@greatvacationguide.com

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!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! If purchased between now 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)

A Very Special Announcement

   New Jersey's tall ship, the AJ MEERWALD, begins her 2008 sailing season in April and there are many opportunities available for people who want to get involved. If you enjoy being on the water, consider becoming a shipboard volunteer this year. Shipboard volunteers help with many aspects of operating the tall ship, help present programs to students and passengers, conduct dockside tours and so much more.

   Shipboard Volunteer training sessions will be held at the Bayshore Discovery Project office on March 29th and April 5th. All four sessions are required for new volunteers who want to sail aboard the MEERWALD. You'll learn traditional boating skills, ship safety, regional history, and the environmental and historical programs presented on education sails.

   Weather permitting, there will be a training sail on the final day. There is no charge for training - the only requirements are BDP membership and a minimum volunteer commitment of 20 hours (non-sailing) plus 5 sails during the April-Oct season. Teens 14-17 may volunteer only if accompanied by an adult. There is no upper age limit for volunteers.

For more information on volunteering or internships, or to sign up for training, call  856-785-2060 or email info@bayshorediscovery.or,  or (click here)

March 2008
Avalon
22...Easter Egg Hunt: 10 a.m. at the Recreation Fields Eight and Tenth Streets.
30...Ocean Drive Marathon: Cape May to Sea Isle City.

Cape May
7,14,21,28...Mommy & Me Children’s Program: Nature Center of Cape May – 10:30 a.m. 609-898-8848
7–8...Sherlock Holmes’ Adventure of the Speckled Band: East Lynne Theater, Cape May. 609-884-5898
15...Kids Can Investigate: Nature Center of Cape May – 11:00 a.m., 609-898-8848
18–20...Spring Crafts for Families: Open House – Nature Center of Cape May, 609-898-8848
25–27...Spring Crafts for Families: Open House – Nature Center of Cape May, 609-898-8848
22...Easter Egg Hunt: Cape May Elementary Fields: 10 a.m. 609-884-8888
22...How to Identify Birds: 1:00 p.m. – Nature Center of Cape May: 609-898-8848
30...Ocean Drive Marathon: 9:00 a.m.: 609-523-0880
TBA...Youth Arts Program: Center for Community Arts – 609-884-7525
April 2008
4,11,18,25...Mommy & Me Children’s Program – Nature Center of Cape May: 10:30 a.m. 609-898-8848
6...Fishing Flea Market: Convention Hall. 609-660-7650
12...Craft Show: Convention Hall – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 609-884-9565
12... The Natural Garden Landscape Design Workshop: Nature Center of Cape May, 609-898-8848
12...Possum & The Peepers Children’s Program: Nature Center of Cape May, 609-898-8848

Ocean City
15 and 22...Breakfast with Easter Bunny. The Chatterbox, Ninth and Central: 9:00 a.m. to Noon.
Information: 609-399-2269
22...Woofin’ Paws Pet Fashion Show. Dress your pets in their Easter Best. Carey Stadium off of Boardwalk. 11:00 a.m. 609-525-9300
22...Great Egg Hunt: 2:30 pm. Eleventh through Fourteenth Street beaches: 609-398-4662.
23...Sunrise Service (Non-denominational) Music Pier, 6:30 a.m. – 609-525-9300.
23...East Fashion Promenade: Music Pier: 1:00 p.m., 609-525-9300.
26...Red Cross Blood Drive: 1-7pm., St. John's Luthern Church, 10th and Central
April 2008
11 – 12...Women’s Conference
11-12...Ocean City Free Public Library Book Sale

Sea Isle City
22 – 23...Easter Weekend
22...Skate Jam: 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Skate Park - Dealy Field. Information: 609-263-8463
April 2008
2,7,14,21,28...Pre-school Story Time at the Sea Isle City Library

Stone Harbor
Nothing to report at this time.

The Wildwoods
15...St. Patrick’s Day Celebration & Parade: Atlantic Avenue, Ninth to Second Avenues, North Wildwood. 609-522-7722
17...Harlem Globetrotters: 6:00 p.m. Wildwoods Convention Center. 609-465-7181
20–23War at the Jersey Shore Wrestling. Wildwoods Convention Center.
22...Elks Annual Easter Egg Hunt – Beach, Seventeenth Avenue, North Wildwood, 12 Noon. 609-729-2170
Greater Wildwood Jaycees Easter Egg Hunt – Lincoln Avenue, Wildwood, Noon. 609-729-5501
23...Easter Opening Day Celebration: Morey’s Piers. 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 609-522-3900.
Easter Sunday Egg Hunt: Boardwalk at Twenty-third Avenue, North Wildwood. 12:30–2:00 p.m. 609-729-3223.
Easter Worship: Wildwoods Convention Center: Starlite Ballroom. 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Open to the public.
25–27...Wildwood Wholesale Gift Show: Wildwoods Convention Center.
29...Ocean Drive Run Club Health and Fitness Expo: Wildwoods Convention Center. 10 to 5. 1-610-247-2254.
29–30...Special Olympics of New Jersey Spring Sports Festival: Wildwoods Convention Center.
30...Ocean Drive Marathon: Cape May to Sea Isle City. 609-523-0880.
April 2008
4,5,6...Wildwoods Boat & Fishing Show: Wildwoods Convention Center. 609-729-4000
5...Second Annual Candlelight Dinner & Fashion Show: Wildwoods Convention Center’s
5...Starlight Ballroom. 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. 609-889-2699 or 609-231-3109
12...County Healthcare Resource Day – Health Screenings: Wildwoods Convention Center, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
13...Beast of the East Cheerleading Championship: Wildwoods Convention Center: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. 1-866-52 CHEER (24337)

Coliseum Ocean Resort

   Wildwood Crest’s newest resort directly on the beach offers gorgeous ocean views, relaxing sundecks, an oceanfront swimming pool, barbecues, a game room, pizzeria/café, and much more – all in a family-style atmosphere that’s the ideal place for your vacation!

   Coliseum Ocean Resort offers five different types of accommodations, including one-room efficiencies, as well as direct oceanfront suites, recessed oceanfront suites, and two-room efficiency suites, and four of the five types of rooms/suites will sleep up to six people.

   The Coliseum has free parking, daily maid service, cable TV, private beach entrances, and special packages and rates from May through September. They also offer guests discount passes to amusements, and Gold Key discounts for restaurants.

   The Coliseum Ocean Resort in Wildwood Crest is just a mile from Cape May, and easily accessible to all the attractions in The Wildwoods. Your vacation is waiting – and The Coliseum Ocean Resort will help you make it a great one! (click here)

   Welcome to the Granada…”Your oceanfront resort at the southern tip of the Jersey shore!” Nestled between Victorian Cape May and all the attractions of The Wildwoods, the Granada Ocean Resort has everything to help you have the perfect vacation.

   Granada Ocean Resort is a family beach resort with spacious suites with king size beds, fully equipped efficiency suites, an oceanfront pool and Jacuzzi, a beachfront barbecue and patio area, HBO and Disney channels, daily maid service, and laundry facilities.

   The Granada provides you with access to historic Cape May, the world famous boardwalk with more rides than Disney World, Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, the Cape May County Zoo, and much, much more. The list of great attractions and things to do is almost endless.

   Oh, did we mention that the Wildwoods are home to over a hundred nightclubs, including a comedy club…? The point is simply this: when you add it all up – your vacation at the Granada Ocean Resort will be as relaxing, as fun-filled, as fascinating, as…well, you get the picture!  For still more information…(click here)

Noyes Museum of Art

The Noyes Museum of Art in Oceanville, New Jersey showcases exhibitions, permanent collections, special events, their gift shop, and educational programs and activities for students, children and adults. (click here)