By Sarah Fertsch
Staff Writer
Local’s summer, or shoulder season, is in full swing, and travelers want to get in on the action.‘America’s Greatest Family Resort’ has been solidly booking new guests for the fall season.
You may not think of the beach and boardwalk as fall activities, but AirBnB, the top house rental company worldwide, reports that thousands of families are booking short stays on the island, beating out college towns such as Baton Rouge, Ann Arbor, Lexington, and Lubbock.
Michele Gillian, executive director for the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the boom in tourism since 2020 has played a role in this phenomenon. “Typically, we see Saturday to Saturday house rentals in the summer, but as the school year has started, AirBnB allows families to book housing for two or three nights,” she said.
Additionally, Ocean City has been scheduling recreational events and activities in the fall to draw in more crowds. The annual Fall Block Party, the Boardwalk Aerobatic Airshow, the Half Marathon, and Porshe Boardwalk Reunion excite people from Philadelphia and beyond, boosting the local economy beyond the summer.
Young families or people with reduced spending capacity are drawn to AirBnB because it allows for a wide range of rental options, from a guest bedroom to a beachfront mansion. Families can still maintain privacy and enjoy a large space without forking over thousands of dollars.
There’s no question that the Shore has a lot to offer, even in the autumn. As shoulder season becomes more mainstream, businesses may extend their hours and overall season. Parking lots and meters may need to be adjusted according to the new influx of crowds. And hopefully the Ninth Street Bridge will never be backed up until summer rolls around next year.
