Labor Day crowds enjoy one last beach day at the Jersey Shore

OCEAN CITY, N.J. (WPVI) -- Beachgoers flocked to the Jersey Shore on Labor Day, taking advantage of warm weather for one final holiday weekend outing before the unofficial end of summer.

Ocean City drew visitors from across the region as families and friends spent the day on the sand and in the water.

Emily Lopez-Navas of Washington Township said the conditions made the trip worthwhile.

"I'm not gonna lie, the weather is honestly so amazing. The water is so warm, it feels so good. He's having a blast with the sand," Lopez-Navas said.

Others made day trips to the shore after seeing the favorable forecast.

"I was off today, and I looked at the weather, and it was gorgeous, so we decided to come on down," said Brooke Bivona of Gloucester City, who visited with her daughter, Auri.

For some frequent visitors, the holiday provided a fitting conclusion to the summer season.

Lauren Vanaman of Wallingford said the highlight of the summer was, "Having my children down here with me. It's been great."

Not everyone spent the day on the beach. Some visitors chose to begin their trips home early, making one final stop at Manco and Manco's before heading out.

"This is a yearly thing for us, a couple times a year even. The best part was probably just relaxing with the family. Life is so busy, so it was so nice to just unplug and be here for the weekend," said Emily Schmidt of Harrisburg.

The favorable beach weather could affect traffic later in the day if travelers wait until after dinner to begin their drive home.