It is no secret the Maryland and Delaware beach areas have loads of great attractions to offer area vacationers. Thousands of visitors flock to the shorelines, from Baltimore, D.C., Philadelphia and beyond, every week during the summer months to experience the sun and fun in the area. Considering the number of local resort towns, finding the perfect place for your family to stay is a breeze.
As with any resort area, prices can be astronomical when it comes to attractions. While the beach itself is always free, an entire week of sand in your shorts might get a little tedious. Don’t worry — there are great ways to save some cash on “don’t miss attractions” perfect for nearly any family! Here are my top five family-friendly attractions and tips for getting the most out of your money when you visit:
Jolly Roger Amusement Park; Ocean City, MD
Jolly Roger is the largest amusement park on the Maryland and Delaware coastline. There are rides for every age group and suit everyone’s level of excitement. With dozens of kiddie rides up to thrill rides for the young at heart, the whole family will be pleased with a visit here. Within the complex, there is also a large water park with a bids play area and a lazy river ride, as well as exciting speed waterslides for the older bunch. Those who want to experience some speed without getting wet can visit the great go-kart tracks the park offers. Visitors can finish the day with a relaxing game of mini golf at their jungle themed course.
In order to save some money when visiting this park, you should go during the day. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., the park offers wristbands and other packages to save you plenty of cash versus visiting at night, when most everything is individually priced. Wristbands are also good at their pier location on the Ocean City Boardwalk. You can also visit their Web site, www.jollyrogerpark.com for coupons food on wristbands, mini golf and packages.
Talbot St Pier, Ocean City, MD
No matter at what speed your family enjoys life, there is something fun and exciting at the Talbot St. Pier. The O.C. Rocket offers a high-speed ride around the inlet, giving thrills to those aboard when the boat reaches its top speeds. For those who like to take things a bit slower, the Assateague Adventure tour offers rides on a pontoon boat out to the shores of Assateague Island. Here you can get a hands-on tour of local sea life and catch a glimpse of the wild ponies at play on the beach. The Duckaneer boat is a fun-filled pirate tour for all the wanna-be buccaneers in your family. You can also join in on fishing trips and book private charter boats from this location.
You can visit the Pier’s Web site at www.talbotstreetpier.com for money saving coupons on both the O.C. Rocket and Assateague Adventure tours. Additionally, many of the local free papers offer coupons for these attractions. Another key money saving point to remember: children under the age of 4 ride for free on both of these great tours.
Frontier Town, West Ocean City, MD
Frontier Town is a bit off the beaten path, located just outside of Ocean City, on Route 611. This Western-themed amusement park is not your average beach attraction. Instead of fast-moving, mechanical thrill rides, you can have some fun getting a taste of what the Wild West might have been like. With scheduled gunfight shows, authentic stagecoach and train rides, complete with hold-ups, and a chance to pan for gold, everyone can find something they would enjoy. Within the complex is also a waterpark with slides, a kiddie pool and a lazy river, as well as a fun miniature golf course. A recent addition is a small carnival style kiddie ride park located outside the main Frontier town property.
You have a couple of choices when it comes to saving money when visiting this don’t-miss park. You can purchase combo tickets, which will grant you entry to the park, as well as unlimited admission to the waterpark and mini-golf for the day. Additionally, many of the local free papers have money saving coupons for both standard admission and combo tickets.
DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum, Fenwick Island, DE
If you are looking for something fun to do on a bad beach day, and the regular hot spots are just a bit too crowded for your liking, you should check out the DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum. You can see authentic treasure and artifacts, rescued from shipwrecks up and down the Delaware and Maryland coast. Watch short films about the recovery of artifacts and find out interesting facts about local shipwrecks. Once you have completed your tour, you can visit the museum shop or the downstairs souvenir store to take home a great memento of your visit to the museum and the area.
Saving money at the DiscoverSea Museum takes absolutely no effort at all. Admission to the museum is completely free of charge! There is absolutely no better way to spend a fun afternoon than enjoying a free exhibit such as this one!
Jungle Jim’s, Rehoboth Beach, DE
If everyone in your family seems to want to head in a different direction, a day at Jungle Jim’s should satisfy them all. The amusement center here has a waterpark, with mountain slides and a kiddie play area, as well as a go-kart track with your choice of five different speed and skill levels. For those who enjoy more sports-like fun, you can play a round or two of miniature golf, spend some time in the batting cages or climb the rock wall. From the youngest members of the family to the oldest, everyone can find something to do while visiting this amusement park.
While most of the attractions at Jungle Jim’s are individually priced, there are a couple of ways to save money when you visit. By visiting the waterpark after 4 p.m., you can receive a discount on your unlimited admission. Additionally, for those who want to enjoy the rock climb, bumper boats, or go-karts, there are discounted coupon books available for purchase. As always, check out the local free papers for other coupons possibly available for discounts.
With this list of attractions fun for the whole family, plus lots of great money saving tips to boot, there is no reason your own vacation to the Maryland and Delaware beach resorts shouldn’t be a happy one!