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Ocean City, Maryland


stuvian

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3 minutes ago, stuvian said:

Beach with cool side trips when we've had too much sun

 

Delaware was mentioned as it’s generally nicer, less crowded and consequently, more expensive. However, if you don’t expect too much, don’t mind some crowds, don’t want to spend a fortune and would like activities, Ocean City could work. 

 

Beaches are good, a nice variety of restaurants (upscale like Liquid Assets to cheap eats) and many fun bars (Mackys, Ropewalk, Fishtails, Seacrets - which is an experience day, night and late night). Every place can get very crowded and reservations are rare, so try to avoid  peak times or you’ll wait at while. Arcades, boardwalk, amusement park is decent, lots of mini golf, etc. evolution Brewery in Salisbury, visit Town of Berlin, see the wild ponies down in Assatauge (which is cool). Lots of nice golf courses (Rum Point, Lighthouse, Eagles Landing, etc).  Many other things you’d expect in a tourist area. 

 

OC has cabs, Uber and a free drunk bus that runs the length of the city. Try not to drive, especially if drinking. 

 

Hotels run run from pretty crappy to OK, as they are what you’d expect for hundreds of people tracking in sand day and night . Hilton and a few others are “nice” but expensive. Otherwise, Airbnb is a bet but they fill up fast. 

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My father had a time share there and we'd go once a year for a week there over the summer.  If you like boogie boarding go there.  My kids had a lot of fun there when they were younger.  A lot of nice golf courses there and mini golf courses for the kids.  Restaurants aren't anything special.  It's worth going there at least once.

Edited by Doc Brown
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I've been going there on and off since I was a young kid. It depends what kind of vacation you want. OC MD has is a little more "high strung" than some of the beaches around.  The night life is good, Seacrets is a hell of a  beach bar/club with boat landings and the whole 9. If you want action I'd  recommend OC MD. If you want to relax and hang out in a well maintained town with respectable people I'd recommend Rehoboth beach DE. Its about an hour  North. There's a nice boardwalk and a ton of restaurants. It's more laid back than OC, but still has things to do. If you have kids I'd recommend Rehoboth if you want to cut loose I'd say OC.

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I've been to OC, MD many times as a kid, but less as an adult.  It has changed a lot, especially toward the boardwalk; which used to be nicer years ago.  To keep it simple, don't go to the boardwalk area at night if you have small children.  The crowd the lower number street areas, including the boardwalk, is let's just say undesirable.  Stay in the northern parts (higher street numbers) where the high rise condos are.  There are shops for souvenirs in the strip malls across the street as well as numerous restaurants.  Or go to Rehoboth Beach, DE as the previous posters mentioned for a lower key atmosphere; same type water, waves, and beach.

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OC is a tourist trap but fun. The beach is nice, the water warm and the people watching is top notch. There's some cool bars, be sure to have an orange crush or three.

 

There's a casino nearby, Assateague island is a great place to spend a day, plenty of charter fishing, parasailing etc ...

 

It has been awhile since I've been there, about 8 years, but I'd go back.

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Went there once in the 90's. The part I saw I didn't care for. Rows of hi-rises along the beach and the main drag that looks like Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls, Canada.

 

My favorite beach vacation town is Carolina Beach, NC. Just enough going on restaurant and bar-wise but small enough to be relaxing. And lovely Wilmington, NC just 20 minutes away. You can rent a typical oceanfront condo (2 BR) for $1500-2400/wk. Water temp is mid-80's in summer and clean. 

 

https://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/carolina-beach/

 

Emerald Isle, NC is nice too but a lot less going on in the area. Very sleepy.

Edited by PromoTheRobot
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I lived in Delaware for 17 years and had a condo in OC.

 

I never cared for Rehoboth. Its a very small beach, and very congested. The best Delaware beach is probably Dewey. 

 

If I were you, Id go to OC. Much bigger and longer stretch of beach. It would be a bit easier to find your own spot. Check out Trimpers Rides. I know the family who owns it and they are very nice people. OC also has Jolly Rogers water park which is cool. And as someone mentioned, there are plenty of minigolf courses. 

 

Get pizza from Lombardi's --- top 3 pizza I ever had. 

 

ahhh I miss OC

 

 

 

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8 hours ago, mead107 said:

Go to Delaware.  Lot of neat beaches. 

Dogfish head for you. 

https://vacationidea.com/ideas/best-beaches-in-delaware.html

 

lewes And Rehoboth both awesome. 

https://www.visitdelaware.com/beaches/

 

Agreed, delaware beaches FAR better than OCMD.

 

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Virginia Beach is similar, but I think much nicer than OC. Depending on where you are coming from. could be close to 2 1/2 longer drive. Great Aquarium...Busch Gardens, Water Country and Williamsburg all about 40 minutes away( at non rush hour). Clean as can be and 100% focused on family.

 

If you looking for more of a secluded, non-boardwalk beach vacation.Sandbridge feels like the Outerbanks(it is, but access from VA) , much closer. and easier to get to   5 miles from VA beach and all it offers. An underrated part of the East Coast beach options.

2 hours ago, GETTOTHE50 said:

I

 

I never cared for Rehoboth. Its a very small beach, and very congested. The best Delaware beach is probably Dewey. 

 

 

 

 

1

Dewey with a family???? Unless you got 8-year-olds that like bloody's at 10 AM and lots of skin, stay far far away from Dewey with a family.

 

Man, do i miss those weekends at Dewey where I would never see the beach!!!!

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15 minutes ago, plenzmd1 said:

Virginia Beach is similar, but I think much nicer than OC. Depending on where you are coming from. could be close to 2 1/2 longer drive. Great Aquarium...Busch Gardens, Water Country and Williamsburg all about 40 minutes away( at non rush hour). Clean as can be and 100% focused on family.

 

If you looking for more of a secluded, non-boardwalk beach vacation.Sandbridge feels like the Outerbanks(it is, but access from VA) , much closer. and easier to get to   5 miles from VA beach and all it offers. An underrated part of the East Coast beach options.

Dewey with a family???? Unless you got 8-year-olds that like bloody's at 10 AM and lots of skin, stay far far away from Dewey with a family.

 

Man, do i miss those weekends at Dewey where I would never see the beach!!!!

 

Bethany DEFINITELY with a family.

 

 

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10 hours ago, mead107 said:

Go to Delaware.  Lot of neat beaches. 

Dogfish head for you. 

https://vacationidea.com/ideas/best-beaches-in-delaware.html

 

lewes And Rehoboth both awesome. 

https://www.visitdelaware.com/beaches/

We’ve been going to Cape May, NJ for the past 20 years. There’s a car ferry between it and Lewes. Lots of nice beaches in southern NJ.

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Just got back from OC last week.  We've been going for more than a dozen years now with the kids.  Beaches are well maintained and lots of good family restaurants on the bay side.  Try Mackey's and Fish Tails, but go before 5:30 or you're waiting a bit.  For ice cream, Justine's on the north end is the spot.  OCM Crabs is the best place for crabs.  As mentioned earlier, a side trip to Assateague to see wild horses is a good diversion, or there's a tacky, but good for kids, amusement park called Jolly Rogers, which you can get a pass to ride all afternoon (thankfully my kids have outgrown that).  The Boardwalk is nothing special, we've haven't been in a few years and don't miss it.

4 hours ago, GETTOTHE50 said:

Get pizza from Lombardi's --- top 3 pizza I ever had. 

We're partial to Pino's but have wanted to try Lombardi's...next year for sure.

Edited by Ned Flanders
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