Family Goes Viral for Showcasing How They Fit 40 People in Their Beach House Every Summer (Exclusive)
Alexa Caradimitropoulo shared a video on TikTok of her family's beach house in New Jersey, and the content went viral
Alexa recounts to PEOPLE how as many as 50 people at once have stayed at the shore house, making it the de facto gathering place for family and friends every summer
Alexa's mom, Cathy, also shares how thankful she is to have a home as big as hers to shareSummers are for family for one woman who has gone viral for sharing scenes from her parents' beautiful shore home and the community around it.
Alexa Caradimitropoulo, on TikTok @alexacaradi, started sharing glimpses of her life at the family's Jersey Shore home.
"I really started sharing last August. I first did a video, and was like, 'How many beds does my parents' shore house sleep?' "
The answer is well over 30, with as many as 50 guests some weekends. While Alexa has always been aware she's got a "big Italian and Greek family," she never imagined how many people would be intrigued by the setup.
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"That video kind of went crazy. And then from there, I kind of just was replying to comments and posting more of the house. So in the last year, it happened, and this summer, I've been posting. People are engaging and really like the shore content."
The family's experience with the shore house began in 2007, when they found the perfect spot in Mantoloking, N.J.
"It kicks off Memorial Day weekend. Our immediate family goes down the Tuesday or Wednesday before to get the house set up," she explains. "It's a seasonal house, so we do have to bring the food, our clothes, everything. We move back in, and slowly, we could expect everyone — boyfriends, husbands, kids, cousins, friends of friends. Anyone you can imagine is welcome."
"Weekends are when the influx of people come in, but a lot of people do stay and work remotely during the week," she continues. "On an average week, there's still probably about 10 or so of us living in the house and working from the house. Then on the weekends, it's upward of 30 to 40 people."
Having that many people under one roof can be a lot for many families. Alexa is proud that the group keeps "really good energy" about their gatherings.
"In the New York area, it gets so cold in the winter. Everyone's really looking forward to being at the shore — good weather, good vibes," she says. "We're always making a new meal for dinner or a new cocktail. My parents are super, super warm and welcoming, so it feels like home for everyone there."
Everyone is so comfortable going about their business that "it doesn't feel like hosting 40 people. Rather, it's just like living among all those people."
For Alexa, it's special getting to spend time with family members in that way, as "people, especially as adults, don't get this time together."
"It really kicked off in 2020, the first COVID summer. This was just a weekend house, and then everything became remote, and that's the first summer we could all be together," she recalls. "Everyone stayed down there, and it's kept going every summer since. It's such a blessing to enjoy this time together, especially now that we have new babies in the family. It's time I wouldn't have gotten otherwise, so it's special."
"People realize what this is all about. It's not about having a big summer home. It's really about family," she says of her viral videos. "I love how people are getting that from my content. We're a super-close family and genuinely love each other. The positivity about it has been so kind."
Alexa's mom, Cathy Caradimitropoulo, tells PEOPLE, "God blessed us with this happy home and we are blessed to share it with others."
Read the original article on People
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