One of my cousins, ever the optimist, is getting married for the second (and hopefully final) time in late September. I’m hoping to go, but the logistics here could get a bit complicated. Because, see, in his infinite wisdom, he is getting married at my aunt’s beach house on Long Beach Island.
It’s a lovely spot, or at least I remember it that way, because I haven’t been there since I was a kid. I’m sure it will help my cousin keep wedding costs down and all. However, it is a pain in the rear to get to Long Beach Island from NY (my logical departure point, since my dad lives there and all) without a car. (I should explain that my dad’s side of the family doesn’t communicate very well, at least not with me; Dad has been known not to pass along things like invitations to holiday gatherings with my aunt and cousins. I’ve tried telling my aunt to contact me directly, but with mixed success.) I’m told it’s about a 4-hour drive each way, which means that unless I want to leave at the crack of dawn and spend 8 hours driving, 4 of it after the reception, I’ll have to spend at least one night down there somewhere.
(I should explain that my dad has a car, but my stepmother’s health hasn’t been the greatest lately. They’re hoping to go, but there’s a not insignificant chance that she will get sick at the last minute and be unable to go, and I’ll need a Plan B. Plus the idea of spending 4 hours making small talk with my stepmom in the car doesn’t exactly excite me. I’ll see if I can catch a ride with my aunt or other cousins in the NY area, but I have no idea when they are traveling, and will probably need to spend the night at some point anyway.) I suppose I could just rent a car, but it seems to be twice as expensive to do that in NY as anywhere else in the country, plus then I have to drive in NY, which also doesn’t thrill me. I’m told the family will be sending some travel info with the invitations, but well, let’s just say that for the most part that side of the family isn’t terribly cost-conscious, and I’d rather not spend as much for a night’s lodging as I did for the plane ticket from Chicago.
So does anyone have any travel advice? Places to stay down there? How much stuff is open at that time of year, as it’s primarily a summer resort area? Creative transportation if none of the rides pan out? Is there any way to get around down there other than car or feet?