Carriage rides offer the chance to horse around on the streets of Cape May

THE JERSEY coast boasts a slew of cool public conveyances, from boardwalk trams to jitneys to surrey bikes.

But our vote for the coolest ride (figuratively and sometimes literally) downashore is the Cape May carriage tour.

The 30-minute excursions are the only Shore-based, horse-drawn tours. Conducted daily by Cape May Carriage Company via a fleet of velvet-benched wagons (that comfortably seat four adults), they are a must for fans of Victorian-era architecture as well as those fascinated by Shore history.

On a recent early evening ramble marked by tolerable humidity and a slight breeze, tour guide/driver Patti Hadfield proved to be a font of knowledge about the neighborhoods she navigated with her steed, Willow, a 2,000-pound percheron (a French draft horse).

The tour began with a historical overview of what was America's first oceanside resort town, from its accidental discovery by Dutch sea captain Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, in 1620 (he was actually looking for a northwest passage from the Atlantic Ocean to China), to its 19th-century beginnings as a summer getaway for the rich and famous from Philadelphia, New York and Washington, D.C.

This was all well and good, but the real treasures of the tour (besides the dozens of incredibly well-preserved Victorian-era homes, many of which are now bed-and-breakfast operations) were the far more obscure nuggets of info that Hadfield imparted.

Her spiel covered such topics as a mini-dissertation on Victorian-era swimwear (imagine spending beach-time swathed head-to-toe in wool) to tidbits about the seamier side of late-1800s life in Cape May (two of the buildings on our route were once thriving casinos/brothels). One, Jackson's Club House, on Columbia Avenue, operated directly across the street from a still-in-use Baptist church.

Another who-knew tidbit gleaned from the excursion: An architectural style of the day was known as "steam punk," a term that has found new life among certain segments of the hipsterati, enamored of the fashions of the day.

And yet another: The pink house located at the corner of Columbia and Hughes Street was the model for the Barbie Dream House, which is a scale-model clone of the original.

As Willow slowly clip-clopped his way along the tree-lined residential streets, it wasn't too difficult to imagine what it was like to cruise the town's thoroughfares in the late-19th century, even with the presence of the cars that lined the curbs on every block.

To be sure, the $50-per-adult fee (for the first two passengers) may seem pricey for a mere 30-minute ride. But those who can swing the price will likely find it money well-spent.

A final note: Reservations are recommended; on days with excessive heat and humidity, rides are offered only in the evening.

10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily (weather permitting), $50 per person (first two adults, $10 each for persons 11 and older thereafter), 609-884-4466, capemaycarriage.com.

This summer's presentation at Tropicana Atlantic City is officially billed as "Madame Houdini Enchantress of the Elements." But it could also be dubbed "Magic 101."

That's because the hocus-pocus fest that runs through Aug. 28 is a survey of the tricks, stunts and illusions that have been on display for decades - and, in some cases, centuries.

There is virtually nothing new or cutting edge in the turn by star Hellevi Woodman. Unlike many of her fellow show-biz wizards, she doesn't even try to put any kind of different spin on such bits as bisecting a female assistant, or switching places in the blink of an eye with a dancer.

But this is by no means something that should keep magic fans of all ages from seeing "Madame Houdini." Woodman is a technically impressive sorceress; her illusions, while unoriginal, are nonetheless executed with great flair and are generally crowd pleasers.

Among her most effective bits are the one in which a male assistant is put into a small box with only his waving hand remaining; a quick sequence in which Woodman draws a bowling ball on a sketch pad, then conjures said sphere from thin air; and the illusion that finds her extracting multicolored sand from a bowl of water.

All are staples of the magician's repertoire, but are nonetheless entertaining.

Kudos also go to mono-monikered director-choreographer Mistinguett, a casino-revue vet with decades of experience who drapes the proceedings in old-school flash and sex appeal (it's good to know that she hasn't lost her fondness for putting her leggy female dancers in thigh-high, stiletto-heeled boots).

"Madame Houdini" may be more no-edge than cutting-edge, but it's a fun throwback.

If "Madame Houdini" isn't enough to fulfill your jones for magic, be advised that three performers from The CW's "Masters of Illusion" series - Tommy Wind, Murray SawChuck and Tom Burgoon - will be getting tricky at Harrah's Resort Atlantic City on Thursday evening.