Ah, autumn at the beach

September and October have always been my favorite times for the beach. The crowds are gone, you can find plenty of free, convenient parking (in many towns) and you don't have to worry about staying in the sun too long. It's hard to beat a beautiful autumn day at the Jersey Shore. Yesterday, the family and I hung out at Ocean Grove. It was close to idyllic - for the infants in strollers, the young kids, the elderly and everyone in between. It was also ideal for the dogs, who are allowed to prance around on the beach and socialize with other dogs after Oct. 1. They had a blast. So did my 3-year-old son, who was petting and getting licked by just about everyone one of them.