By Sarah Fertsch
Staff Writer
This past weekend, I hosted a couple friends from Central Pennsylvania and showed them the best spots around our area. We hit the Wildwood boardwalk on Friday night, taking turns riding the roller coasters, exploring the arcades, and eating delicious seafood. On Saturday, we hit the beach, then walked the Ocean City boardwalk and got a taste of the thrills at Playland’s Castaway Cove. Then, we grabbed dinner at EHT Vagabond and headed home.
As I drove my friends around and between islands, I found our means of transportation, well, boring and basic. I drive a Honda Accord, and we ended up spending hours in the car (traveling from Wildwood, to Ocean City, to EHT) listening to music and telling stories. But I asked myself, “How can getting around be a part of the vacation?”
Here are some fun transportation options to level-up your shore town trip:
Golf Cart, Orange Moose Adventures
You’ve probably seen these little cruisers buzzing around the islands. These fancy carts can reach speeds of up to 35 miles per hour compared to the average golf cart’s max speed of 15 mph. Unlike traditional cars, these carts offer panoramic views and allow riders to enjoy the ocean breeze, feeling completely unencumbered. Worried about getting sand in your Mercedes? No problem in a golf cart! You can rent a golf cart for your vacation for around $120 per day, not including insurance or a deposit.
Pros:
- Cool, speedy
- Enjoy the outdoors longer
- Small to maneuver sharp turns
Cons:
- Expensive
- Limited seating
- Limited speed
- Traditional vehicle parking
Electric Bike, Pedego OCNJ
For the experience of a bike and speed of a golf cart, consider renting or purchasing an electric bike. The engine revs up in conjunction with your effort, so the faster you pedal, the faster you’ll travel. Regular bikes reach speeds of 15 miles per hour, but electric bikes can go almost 30 mph. You can rent an electric bike for about $300 for the week at most bike shops.
Pros:
- Small and speedy
- No gasoline required
- Can simply lock at a bike rack rather than park
Cons:
- Only one person per bike
- Potentially regulated by the city ordinances
Electric Scooter, Ocean City Bicycle Center
Speaking of electric transportation, electric scooters offer all the benefits of electric bikes, but without the clunkiness. You don’t have to pedal; you can just hop on and go. These scooters have become very popular in cities like Washington DC because they are easy to store and fairly inexpensive. They have high torque, so you can weave between parking meters and other cyclists and get where you need to go, fast (reaching speeds between 15 and 30 mph).
Pros:
- Sustainable
- Easy storage
- Easy parking
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Only one person per scooter
- Low speeds
Surrey, Bob’s Bike and Surrey Rentals
For those more interested in classics, try a surrey. These icons of the shore can carry up to six adults and two little ones in the front baskets. There is no engine, so you can only travel as fast as your group can pedal. If you split the cost of the surrey rental between your group, this option is pretty cheap. It can be pretty difficult to maneuver a surrey especially making sharp turns, so you may be limited to specific low-speed roadways and the boardwalk (only in the morning).
Pros:
- Carry a lot of people
- No need for gasoline
- Great photo opportunities
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Limited to certain roadways
- Low speed with a lot of effort
If none of these options suit your fancy, you can always drive a traditional car on the islands, or even rent a sports vehicle for high speeds and awesome looks. If you are interested in something less expensive, consider riding your bike. Or if you are sick of land, take a boat out to sea of on the bay! However you travel, make sure it’s a great experience.
