Cape May/Lewis Ferry (home, tax, price)

[tahiti]

Has anyone taken this? I'm thinking we'd ride the ferry on our way back from the Outer Banks next month, my kids and niece would probably get a kick out of it. However, it's pricey - $65 + tax one way, not sure it's worth the cost.


thoughts?

tia

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by tahiti

Has anyone taken this? I'm thinking we'd ride the ferry on our way back from the Outer Banks next month, my kids and niece would probably get a kick out of it. However, it's pricey - $65 + tax one way, not sure it's worth the cost.


thoughts?

tia

It takes about an hour and 15 minutes, Tahiti. You can see both land masses when you in between, which is pretty cool, having that perspective. Otherwise, it's kind of nondescript. I would do it one time. I wouldn't do it a second time though. The bridge/tunnel combination from Delmarva into Norfolk is much more visually appealing IMO.

I am editing this, because I just thought of something you should do, if you can spare a half a day. Go to Tangier Island, Virginia. That is more fascinating than the Cape May-Lewes ferry and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel put together. Because of its isolation, the local people here speak in a dialect that more closely resembles 17th century England. You have to drive to Crisfield MD to access the ferry. Here is the link: Tangier Island Virginia: A Chesapeake Bay Island

You'll thank me when you return.

[Lusitan]

We have taken the ferry before, for practical reasons (we were visiting South Jersey beaches during the day, and wanted to make it to DC that evening). It was pretty cool. In our case, it saved us time so the expense was worth it, but I'm not sure whether I would go out of my way to take the ferry. Then again, if you're doing a long drive with the kids it can be a nice opportunity to take a break from driving and to give the kids a chance to get out of the car and stretch their legs a bit and experience something new if they've never been on a ferry like that before.

OK yeah - do it :-)

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by mike0421

It takes about an hour and 15 minutes, Tahiti. You can see both land masses when you in between, which is pretty cool, having that perspective. Otherwise, it's kind of nondescript. I would do it one time. I wouldn't do it a second time though. The bridge/tunnel combination from Delmarva into Norfolk is much more visually appealing IMO.

I am editing this, because I just thought of something you should do, if you can spare a half a day. Go to Tangier Island, Virginia. That is more fascinating than the Cape May-Lewes ferry and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel put together. Because of its isolation, the local people here speak in a dialect that more closely resembles 17th century England. You have to drive to Crisfield MD to access the ferry. Here is the link: Tangier Island Virginia: A Chesapeake Bay Island

You'll thank me when you return.

mike - thanks, that really looks great, however, after doing some searching i don't think we'll have the time. the ferry to the island only runs once a day each way, and we'd have to leave OBX way too early, and we wouldn't get home until 11pm-midnight (have to drop my niece home). i am going to keep it in the back of my mind though, because I'd love to go there someday.

I've done the chesapeake bay/bridge (it's been about 25 yrs though) - and my kids are really looking forward to seeing it (we've shown them pix on the web). I thought the ferry would cap off the whole journey home - something to look forward to other than 9 hrs in the car, KWIM?

thanks!

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by Lusitan

We have taken the ferry before, for practical reasons (we were visiting South Jersey beaches during the day, and wanted to make it to DC that evening). It was pretty cool. In our case, it saved us time so the expense was worth it, but I'm not sure whether I would go out of my way to take the ferry. Then again, if you're doing a long drive with the kids it can be a nice opportunity to take a break from driving and to give the kids a chance to get out of the car and stretch their legs a bit and experience something new if they've never been on a ferry like that before.
OK yeah - do it :-)

that was exactly my thought! and it's really not out of the way per se - it's actually more direct (going due north rather than going west to go east again), but of course, we're adding time to the trip.

i'm leaning towards doing it - we'll check the weather while we're down in OBX and make our reservations a day or two prior if it appears we won't be rained out.

thanks!