As it happens, there are still some places in the world where you can satisfy your child-like…read morefascination with big boats and big trucks all in one place, and the ferry between Langeland and Lolland is probably one of the most practical, especially if you happen to be vacationing in Denmark. The ferry is massive, and handles both commercial trucks as well as regular cars, motorcycles and the occasional scooter, so you'll see a bit of everything at the dock. Depending on when you go, the ferry will arrive from Lolland first and unload everyone, before opening up for the return trip, at which point you drive in and park, then proceed upstairs and into the lounge for the duration of the crossing. You'd be forgiven for thinking you were on anything but a ferry once you get to the upper deck and wander inside, as it's actually pretty nice. Ample seating, air conditioning, gift shop combined with a cafe and top notch restrooms. When we traveled to Lolland during the holidays, they even had a decorated Christmas tree in the lobby. Not too shabby. Your inner child will appreciate the size and scale of the entire operation, from the moment you park your car in the belly of the beast to when you get upstairs and wander inside. If you need further indulgence, there are ample opportunities to step outside and grab photos to your heart's content, before and during the entire voyage (although, they do ask you to get back to your car right before they arrive). The entire trip takes about 45 minutes, depending on the conditions of the sea, so it's just about perfect for getting some photos and then coming back inside the cafe to buy a French hotdog and cozy up in a comfy booth for the remainder of the trip. Whenever we need to get to Lolland, we make it a point to take the ferry. There's not really anything quite like it state side, and riding the big boat and watching it swallow cars and semi trucks, only to spit them out on the other side, never seems to get old either.

The island of Ærø can only be reached via ferry service, offered by Ærøfærgerne. There are three…read morelines, this one running to the Ærø town of Ærøskøbing, and two others connecting to the town of Søby. The Ærøfærgerne to Ærøskøbing departs from Svendborg harbor (within a 10 minute walk from the train station or bus depot), almost every hour from very early morning to evening, with times varying based on season. The boats seem to be fairly timely, and take about 45 minutes to reach Ærøskøbing, dropping off very close to the commercial town center. These ferries carry vehicular traffic on a lower level, with marked lanes to line up for entry through the aft, when the ferry docks. Pedestrians can proceed directly to a loading ramp on the side, taking either stairs or a lift to the midlevel indoor deck. Most seats are in the fore and aft, some on the sides; lots are with fixed tables, others are comfortable fixed seats akin to those on trains or airplanes (or similar ferries). A prepared meal and snack area is located centrally, near restrooms. The sundeck is another flight of stairs up and a great way to see the view while outdoors. This deck is filled with fixed wooden short benches and tables. It's quite a nice place to enjoy the ride but can be very windy, at least until closer to Ærø. Tickets for the ferry can be purchased ahead of time, including from their app. It's probably better for vehicles to do it but for pedestrians, a ticket agent comes around during the ride so a purchase can be made then. Anyone who wants to visit Ærø is going to have to take one of their ferries, but it's a perfectly fine experience and reliable.