Anna's Awesome Adventures!!!: Eastern Trip -- Day 6

Today was another wonderful day full of fun times and memories to cherish!

I was grateful to sleep in until 8:20 today, very much needed after a rigorous hike and late night yesterday. We had essentially unpacked our entire car to reorganize everything, so it took a little longer this morning to regroup and repack everything. Breakfast was delicious -- cereal, strawberry yogurt, a small cinnamon roll, an apple, and milk.
Our next destination was Sandy Hook Lighthouse in New Jersey. The drive to get there took us past New York City (and technically even through part of it...the Bronx!) and Newark, so we got to see tons of industry, a bustling airport (Newark), the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, the George Washington Bridge, and more iconic spots of the east coast. Once we got close to the peninsula that the lighthouse sits on, the vibe was very much "small town beach," with quaint little shops and homes. We got to tour the lighthouse, which was built in 1764 and is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the United States -- all 95 steps on the spiral staircase! Recent rain in New Jersey worked to our favor, since the heat and humidity had not had time to ramp up, so we were able to see 19 miles across the bay to New York City, Staten Island, and Coney Island! The keeper's house, built in 1883, houses a small museum with more information and history. Sandy Hook Lighthouse has seen many a storm and prevented many a collision of ships with land, including the devastating Hurricane Sandy in 2012, yet it continues to stand boldly and solidly. Tours and the museum are free, but it does cost to get into the Gateway National Recreation Area, which the lighthouse sits in.
Since we were out on a peninsula, surrounded by sandy beaches, and the temperature was in the mid-80s with sunshine, we decided to spend the afternoon at the beach! After a quick lunch (tuna wrap, Pringles, water) in the beach parking lot, we changed and traipsed out through the soft, warm sand. My dad, Matthew, and I (my mom just waded) had a blast splashing, swimming, body-surfing, and getting soaked by the crashing waves and salty Atlantic Ocean water. We spent about two-and-a-half hours having so much fun, I can't even express how great it was. Sometimes some lighthearted, relaxing, carefree time at the beach is just what you need after climbing a 6,288-foot mountain!
Swimming made us hungry, so ice cream was in order from Gracie and the Dude's Homemade Ice Cream in Long Branch, New Jersey. I had mint chocolate chip in a chocolate-dipped and sprinkle cone.
Finally, we reached our Hawthorn Suites in Fogelsville, Pennsylvania, to spend the night. The hills/mountains of Pennsylvania were beautiful in the sunset light! Just a brief walk from our hotel was the Mediterranean Cafe and Grill, an adorable and delicious stop for supper. Falafel patties (made from fava beans, chickpeas, and spices), rice, a salad, and water with lemon made for a lovely meal. All of the staff were super friendly, too. I highly recommend it if you're ever in the area!