‘Jersey Week’ Ritual to Florida Continues During NJEA Break
EDITOR’S NOTE: Ashley Ward, a freelance journalist and student at Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester County, writes about her most recent “Jersey Week” vacation to Florida.
BY ASHLEY WARD | For AC JosepH Media
ATLANTIC CITY — The first full week of November is known as “Jersey Week,” for many in Florida, where the New Jersey Education Association has its annual teachers’ convention, and students get to go on mini-vacations with their families, often to the Sunshine State.
The 2025 NJEA Convention was held on Nov. 6-7 at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Keynote speakers included Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai, who spoke on Thursday morning about the universal right to education, and Padma Lakshmi, who addressed immigration, equity, and opportunity on the second day.
On the second day of the convention, the NJEA Convention also hosted its annual George M. Adams Boardwalk Run and Fun Walk for the early birds attending the event.
While the teachers attend the convention, students get to enjoy a few days off from school, and what better way to spend them than with a small family vacation?
Many residents in Florida are familiar with Jersey Week, mainly because Florida is one of the
top states New Jersey families like to visit during the NJEA convention.
Now, just like everyone else, my family and I decided to take a road trip down to Florida for the week. One place where I often meet people from back home is at the one and only Buc-ees, where Northeast coasters nowadays who decide to drive down south end up stopping there at least once.
Buc-ees is a southern chain of large gas station/convenience stores based in Texas, and it has become a road trip landmark. Every time I walk in, I hear familiar accents, see people in Phillies or Eagles gear, and even run into familiar faces.
It is funny how you can be hundreds of miles from home and still feel like you never left. Speaking of feeling like home, there are more than 100 Wawa locations in Florida, so if you’re significantly missing the taste of a Wawa hoagie, there is most likely a Wawa down the street.
Walt Disney World, a popular New Jersey tourist spot, also has its own version of a “Boardwalk,” inspired by Coney Island, in New York, and Atlantic City. You can get there from the back entrance of EPCOT or take a bus from Disney Springs and walk through Disney’s Boardwalk Inn.
Inside the Inn, you’ll be able to spot a small Lucy the Elephant statue towards your left when you enter from the front. The statue is a nod to the historic Lucy the Elephant attraction in Margate, N.J., near Atlantic City. There are movies on the grass, performers on the boardwalk, and many dining options, from multi-course dinners to fun sweets.
So if you’re feeling homesick and don’t want to spend money on park tickets but still want a magical Disney experience, the Boardwalk is a nice place to check out.
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