5 GIFs That Perfectly Describe Saying Goodbye to Summer in South Jersey

The chilly fall air and colorful leaves are finally here. While these are the typical signs that fall has arrived, there are many other signs around South Jersey - especially in our shore towns - that locals know as signs of the season.

Check out the 5 GIFs that South Jersey natives can relate to when the autumn weather creeps in and marks summer's end.

Our favorite boardwalk boutiques board up their windows 'Until Next Season'. Local eateries and pizza shops switch to weekend hours until mid-October when they shut down until warmer weather. It is very important to check your go to places for their last day of operation so you aren't left with that final craving through the winter months.

Most shore towns are much like ghost towns...the only people you see are usually locals walking their dog or trekking to the only open grocery store. However you still get the occasional tourist who comes down for a day trip on a warm fall day. We hate to break it to you, but summer is over.

All summer long we complain about how long it takes to travel south. The roads are filled with people from all over the country in loaded cars headed shore bound. Now, we face the opposite effect. Roadways north are jammed Sunday nights and early Monday morning with 'weekend warriors' heading back to reality after a short weekend by the beach.

You might just see a tumbleweed or two when you go basically anywhere that was packed with people the past few months. The boardwalk, the beach, main street shops and arcades are all empty. Kind of eerie once you get used to the crowds.

And of course, locals and tourists alike know the fall marks the painful countdown until Memorial Day Weekend, the 'unofficial' kickoff to a new summer season. Time to bundle up through the cold months ahead with fond memories of the warm sun and salty air to hold us through until next time.

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This blog was written by Nicole Alexander, a freelance writer for Townsquare Media South Jersey.