It's amazing how much people love the shore. When Memorial Day comes, all you have to do is turn on the local news to see flocks of people crowding the AC Expressway. When you think about it, however, the shore is just a relaxed seaside town with restaurants and shops. Granted some of the towns boast beautiful views of the ocean and breathtaking sunsets. But, for the price of a week in Ocean City, NJ, a family could see the Leaning Tower of Pisa or take a tour of the Mediterranean. But not us. We want our Mack and Manco's and our Kohr Brother's.

This Phillyist thinks it's because when you visit the shore, you automatically step back in time—when neighbors talked to each other about their day, when cars stopped to let you cross the street, when you started a conversation with another patron sitting at the corner bar that started a life-long friendship. The shore brings us back to happy, simpler times. While we all love our demanding jobs, Blackberry's, and fancy dinners at Stephen Starr-type restaurants, nothing is better than our shore traditions: watching a sunset on the beach in Cape May, dinner with grandma's handmade raviolis, building sand castles on the beach, nights out at the local bar, suntans, reading your favorite book on the beach, and so much more.

Phillyist hopes you had a great summer. And don't forget that there are plenty of shore happenings in September. There's the Irish Festival in North Wildwood starting on September 18, and tons of concerts and events all year long in AC. Make sure to check back often to see what's going on down the shore.

Fireworks in Wildwood.

Rock & Roll Collectibles Show in Wildwood all weekend.

Avalon beaches reopened yesterday.

Happenings in AC: Foreigner is at Trump on Saturday. Smashmouth is at the House of Blues on Saturday. Carlos Mencia is at the Borgata on Sunday.

There's a photography show in Ocean City on Friday.

Labor Day Arts & Crafts Fair on Saturday, also in Ocean City.

Interesting article about Bay Beaches.

The Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor has lots to do for nature lovers.

Image Credit: Flickr user nick_knouse