OCEAN CITY, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — It is Labor Day, and for many people in the Philadelphia area, that means being at the Shore to close out their summer. Gas prices are down, which makes sitting on the Atlantic City Expressway a little easier to take.
It's going to be a busy travel day later on, as people begin to head home. This is the busiest Labor Day seen for travel since the pandemic. AAA says bookings for car rentals, air travel, cruises and hotels for this past weekend were up about 22% over last year.
With the sun breaking through the clouds, a lot of people got onto the boardwalk and the beach for some Instagram-worthy photos. The weather is expected to co-operate with beachgoers Monday, with temperatures in the 80s, and rain holding off until Tuesday.
For those like Mona from Delaware County, the last few months flew by.
“Oh this summer went really, really fast," she said. But she said she is soaking in the moments.
Mona says she has been coming to Ocean City since she was a kid, and now.
“I see my son and my daughter chasing after their kids like I chased after them," she said. "It’s fun; it’s just really fun."
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People were taking in the usual Shore activities: biking, miniature golf, pizza. The big event for Labor Day in Ocean City today is 31st annual Labor Day race. That's a five-miler on the beach.
But there was an added attraction for beachgoers: A sailboat got stuck on the beach, not far from the music pier. The captain, who was going from New York to the Chesapeake, says his autopilot malfunctioned and he drifted ashore. He was waiting for a tow or high tide to shove off again.
The holiday marks the unofficial end of summer, and Ocean City officials say it has been a successful one. Another busy summer is needed to help make up for what was lost during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic. A lot of businesses have been doing their best to manage with pandemic-related challenges such as staffing shortages and supply chain delays. And inflation has had people watching what they spend more than in previous years.
Ocean City officials say a lot of people came out this summer and home rentals were very strong — and they are looking to build off that success in the coming months. Airbnb is showing Ocean City as one of the top trending destinations for the fall.
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