Off Season Fun at the Shore

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Summer is winding down which means the shores will soon be empty of tourists and travelers. Shores like Wildwood, Ocean City, Long Beach Island, and many others often end their summer season around the teens in September. It’s a week after Labor Day, so naturally families will utilize that weekend to squeeze out the very last of summer.

However, just because the summer season comes to a close doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the shore. Here are some things you can do during the off season at the shore.

5. Shop

Take note of the shops. Most shops stay open for a week more after the off season to snag some last summer deals. Usually stores promoting summer wares and food are closed, but others may still remain open. For example, Ocean City NJ has a Christmas shop and a few arcades on the boardwalk that are open year round.

4. Snag Some Sales

Speaking of shops, since it is the off season you can score some great deals. You can get clothes for $10 and under as well as other accessories like purses. Even some arcades that offer a specific point amount for prizes reduce their points as a part of ‘end of summer sale’.

3. Do a Photoshoot

Want to do an uninterrupted photoshoot on the beach? Go during the off season. You’ll still get sun, experience the sand, and be at peace with no gawking onlookers or photo bombers.

2. Get Exercise

While it is good to exercise any time during the year, the shore during the off season is a good place for working out. You can run up and down the boardwalk and/or the sand, you can bike along the boards, do yoga on the beach next to the sound of waves, and don’t have to worry about the crowds getting in your way.

1.Experience the Local Culture

You can always take in the local culture. Each beach town has its own quirks. For example, Long Beach Island is more laid back and quiet as to where Wildwood is a haven for teenagers. While their boardwalk shops may be closed, you can still enjoy the local eateries, the small businesses, and try something new.

Thanks for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, critique, share, and subscribe.

So tell me, do you like to go to the shore during the off season?

It Runs in the Family

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have a confession to make. I am a coaster junkie aka a lover of thrill rides, namely roller coasters.

When I was a child, my father introduced me to my first roller coaster which was basically a knock off version of Disney’s Big Thunder Mountain. We were staying at a hotel in Wildwood, New Jersey for the weekend when he took me aboard the attraction. The wheels clicked in perfect time as they carried us past cowboys having shoot outs, a mine filled with shady prospects, and donkeys roaming about. As we reached the top the car took us around a corner, before dropping us into an exploding mine. A week later I went back with my friends only to find that the coaster had been taken down for unknown reasons.

As I grew up, I began to tackle more challenging coasters, including the famous King da Ka. King da Ka holds the record for the world’s tallest coaster and is situated in Six Flags Jacksonville, New Jersey. It’s powered by a hydraulic system that launches riders up a top hat tower of 456 feet.  If the hydraulic system fails to propel the riders forward or crest them over the top of the tower, they come falling back down.

Sounds insane, right?

Let me explain to you how much crazier this ride became.

King da Ka looks something like this:

nj.com

It’s a lean, green thrill machine waiting to hear you scream.  Now look in particular at its support structure holding the main tower up. You will notice that yes, in that extremely important frame, there is another ride.

This new attraction is entitled Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom and drops you 415 feet . This attraction will claim the title for being the world’s fastest and tallest drop ride. There are three drop towers that riders board and ascend, while hearing the shrieks of King da Ka literally over their heads.

Basically, we’re dealing with ride-ception to the extreme and since Father’s Day happens to be this Sunday, I’d like to thank my dad for introducing me to something I love. He’s been keeping up with the crazy coasters I go on, watching me board them, and praying that none of them malfunction during my ride.

So, are you a coaster junkie? What’s your favorite attraction and what influenced into being a thrill seeker?