Pokemon Go fanatics flock to the beach
With the sun shining in the past few days in mid-July, the trending Pokemon Go app has hit the beaches.
Vacationers and locals have been taking to the outdoors.
"As if the sand and the sun weren't enough to bring you to Ocean City, we also have plenty of Pokemon to catch," Ocean City spokeswoman Jessica Waters said.
Pokemon Go is an app that uses the camera on a smartphone to put digital Pokemon in real life locations. Users walk around while the app uses the phone's GPS to catch Pokemon.
As the user plays the game, they can stop at Pokegyms and Pokestops to catch more Pokemon and train the ones they already have. Then they battle once the Pokemon has reached level five on the game.
"I wanted the opportunity to play with other people and catch Pokemon in a different environment," said Billy Smith, who came to Ocean City for the week to spend time at the beach with his family. "The ocean provides the perfect scenery to play."
Smith wasn't the only Pokemon Go player to enjoy playing the game by the ocean.
"The ability to play Pokemon Go and be on the beach at the same time is an amazing experience," said Rachel Curtz, who was also down with her family for the week. "I love the beach and I love Pokemon so this is an awesome experience."
But visitors aren't the only ones playing the game down by the ocean.
"I like playing on the boardwalk because the temperature is not bad," said Kadijah Peaclck, who resides in Ocean City.
For the town, they want to keep the players safe.
"We do enjoy seeing people using the new app at the beach," Waters said, "as long as they are doing it safely."
However, the fun is not only limited to the boardwalk. The town of Berlin is also seeing many people use the streets to chase down some Pokemon.
"I am considering ordering a traffic signs saying 'Pokemon hunters at work. Please watch your speed,' to put at Stephen Decatur Park" said Ivy Wells, director of economic and community development for Berlin.
Wells said the park is extremely attractive to Pokemon Go players because players who visit parks in the game get more Pokeballs and there are more Pokemon within the park. Wells said that any type of monument gives users additional Pokèballs, making Stephen Decatur Park extremely popular.
"The anchor statue in the park is particularly popular," Wells said. "And from what I have been told there are many good Pokemon in the park."
Even the Worcester County Library's Berlin branch is getting involved with the game.
"We have had a couple people come in and play the game," said Emily McQuiggan, assisting branch manager at the Worcester County Library's Berlin Branch.
McQuiggan said the branch has put out its Pokemon display for people to look at as they come in as well as different Pokemon crafts within the library.
"Like most of America, I am intrigued by the recent enthusiasm of the game and I am fascinated by the popularity," Waters said.