We're thinking about going down there mid-week to mid-week. It's about 6 hours away. Has anyone been there, and can give advice about where to stay, where to eat, and just some general info? Beachfront $$$$$ or Bayfront $$ ? Thanks.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

It's a commercial beach area full of bars, nightclubs and loud music. The drunks wandering the streets at night are an especially fun attraction. Beachfront prices are going to be very high and if you haven't made reservations, you probably won't get one. A few miles north on the beach road is Bethany Beach, DE and a few miles north of that is Rehoboth Beach, DE. Both are quieter and more family oriented. I can recommend the Sea Colony condos in Bethany Beach. My family and I spent a few nice vacations at Sea Colony. If you want to take the kids to the boardwalk, there is (was) a nice small one in Rehoboth Beach. If you want to go to Ocean City, it's just a short jaunt south.

Russ

I've lived in Maryland all my life, and I know Ocean City all too well. I can second all of Russ' comments.

Personally, I wouldn't go to Ocean City on a bet. It is far too vulgar, too expensive, and too crowded. If you are a teenager or a twenty-something partier it's probably a fun place to go: lots of bars and nightclubs, etc. If you are over 40, or if you have small children, it's probably not someplace you would want to go on a family vacation.

You could go to Europe (yes, literally) for what it costs to rent an Ocean City beachfront condo for a week during the summer. Bayside rentals aren't much cheaper. Traffic is horrendous in the summer, virtually 24/7. Petty crime is a given, and every year there seems to be one or two homicides, and a number of aggravated assaults, mostly related to alcohol. (The OCPD -- a mostly part-time force -- is notable mainly for their aggressive enforcement of traffic laws and parking regulations.)

Yes, the beach in OC is beautiful in places, and there are many recreational things to do (jet-skiing, parasailing, etc.), but overall, if I really wanted to spend a week at an Atlantic Ocean beach town, I would go to Rehobeth or Bethany Beach in Delaware, as Russ recommended. Both are very quiet and comparatively laid-back. I can also recommend several towns in New Jersey: Cape May, Ocean City, and Seaside Heights, specifically.

I hope this helps. Feel free to send me your phone number via Private Message and I will be happy to speak with you personally.

I was sailing down the East Coast once, early '80s, and I recall tacking out to sea to get past Ocean City, and then tacking back toward the coast only to find, 24 hour later, that we were right back at Ocean City.

Made me contemplate the virtues of a motorboat.

I lived in Maryland all my life. I owned a place on the water at the north end near Fenwick Del., spent EVERY weekend there and I have to heartily disagree with posters #2 and #3. True it's not the "family only" resort it used to be, but it's no where nearly as bad as they make it out to be. C'mon guys what beach isn't expensive in the summer on any continent? Just stay away from the bars and nightclubs and it's quiet. The south end along the boardwalk is more expensive, just find a place north of there to the Delaware line and you will be okay. After Labor Day it's dirt cheap there. Lot's of great seafood places, Phillip's as an example if you like Maryland crabs, just pick one and you won't be disappointed. I would take kids there without a qualm. Go and enjoy!

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Dick

Travel a couple of more hours and the Outer Banks, NC is a peaceful, reasonably priced vacation spot for beach lovers with enough dining available and the option to rent a place and eat in a few nights. No nightime activities though. I live 20 minutes from Virginia Beach and would not go there during the season and once the sun goes down it gets crazy. Like others said the Deleware beaches are family oriented.

I've spent a vacation or two at Emerald Island N.C......southern tip of island. Beautiful place and it was never overcrowded.
Have not been in quite a while though.

As a vacation spot....I've often referred to it as Americas' best kept secret on the east coast.


Russ

Why you live just a few miles from the Hamptons... what's wrong with staying there?? You can also travel the same distance the other direction and spend a week in Chappaquiddick with the Kennedy's or Kennebunkport ME with the Bush's. The possibilities are endless.

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

Having lived in MD for 35yrs, I can say this about Ocean City - overcrowded, overpriced, and over-rated. Go to Delaware.

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Martin Co,FLA(finally made it)

Do try to ignore the anti-social naysayers most of whom likely have never set foot in Ocean City. You will have a grand time.

The town has great restaurants, fabulous golfing, cool bars, and a wonderful beach.

Traffic can be a bit of a problem; pay attention to pedestrian and vehicle signals. Not smart to walk/run across a busy thoroughfare "against" traffic...whilst ignoring common sense and any survival instincts you may have. Not YOU personally, of course.

You might find the northern end...say above 80th Street... a bit more "refined" and quiet, but fun is available everywhere in Ocean City, MD.

Safe travels.

TBD

You are entitled to your opinion of Ocean City, sir, but I take exception to your statement that those of us with different experiences than your own "likely have never set foot in Ocean City".

I am not anti-social, nor am I a liar, and the observations I made in my previous post -- most of which have either been unrefuted or actually confirmed by the comments of those who would defend the town -- are just that: observations, based on having visited Ocean City, and other Atlantic beach towns, many times over the years.

Is it truly necessary to insult fellow Forum members in order to express your affection for Ocean City???

Another one here who had been going to Ocean City as a boy but since I've owned property near Bethany Beach, DE for the last 25 years the only reason I go to Ocean City is a really nice free party each July 4th at my friend's house there. Outside of that I avoid it like the plaque.

I think you are probably not going to find anything mid week to mid week. You need to be contacting a rental agent immediately and I suspect the pickings will be slim at this point in time. You might find something a couple miles inland but everything is going to be Sunday to Sunday or Sat to Sat. Would you be interested in renting a house? There are many housing developments in Delaware within 3 or 4 miles of the beach and a lot of owners rent them out by the week during the season. Some of these are handled by realtors and are on the internet. Many are just word of mouth or posted at the club house. If you are interested in more info send me an e-mail and I will send you info where you can rent a 3 BR house for just under $2000 a week Sat to Sat. It is in Fenwick, De.

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Dennis
He's got a gun!

I used to live in Ocean City, and this time of year is traditionally the worst time to go. Unless things have changed, this is "June Bug Month" with all the high school grads coming in from MD, VA and PA. They are out of control and dominate the town for most of the month. After the 4th of July things quiet down a lot. If I was going to visit there and had a family or planned to stay generally sober, I would go North as other posters said. Get me above 100th Street all the way into Delaware.

Ladder, I'm an older guy. If you have young kids the action is at Ocean City. They would enjoy the honky tonk atmosphere at the end of the boardwalk. If you are a little older head for DE.

I spend a week or two in the Vineyard every year. I made my July 1st ferry reservations on February 13th and I was put on the wait list; the wait list reservation was fulfilled on March 27th. It's like that every year. The summer reservations open in mid-January but I was a bit late. Otherwise, we (my family and I) love the Island. I surf fish from the beach on Chappy and I go over the "E. M. Kennedy Bridge" to get there. Each time, I say a prayer for Mary Jo.

I still stand by what I said about Ocean City, MD. It's crass, commerialized and, as someone said, vulgar. I also second what was said about the Outer Banks but lodging may be a bit pricey and had to get in season. If you have an RV, there are some RV campgrounds down near Rodanthe. We try to get the the OB every year but we go in October when the weather is still good but the crowds and the prices are down. We live in Raleigh but it's still a three plus hour trip.

Russ

Delmarva Peninsula - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The DelMarVa area has a lot to offer. But I like the little ponies the best.

I live just a bit over one hour away, just over the border as a Citizen in the free state of Virginia, and I feel for my gun loving brothers who are subjects of the Benevolent Demokratic People's Republik of Maryland. That said OC just flat blows, if I make it there once every two years, I've screwed up and gone too often... I grew up in Havre De Grace, when Maryland was not completely a Communist state, back in the 60's/70's.
R/
OMC

I live about 20 minutes from Havre de Grace, and go there often. It's a wonderful town!

For those who don't know, Havre de Grace, Maryland, is situated at the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay, where the Bay meets the Susquehanna River. It's a charming place, with antique shops, nice restaurants, beautiful old Victorian homes (many of which are now B&Bs), and a majestic view of the Chesapeake. Just wonderful! :-)

And don't forget the US Army Ordnance Museum at APG, just up Rt 40 a bit...

Well, the Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen Proving Ground was indeed a nice place to visit...but it's in the process of being moved to Ft. Lee, Virginian. The building at APG is closed, and many of the exhibits there are gone now. :-(

WHAT!!!!!

Loud, overcrowded, vulgar, expensive, drunks, etc etc...heck I grew up in NYC, I'm used to that stuff. Heading down there middle of September.

We spent a week in OC on vacation one summer. Best I remember, the beach was nice and the good thing was the local bus, cheap ticket get you anywhere on the strip you want to go, and it did seem the food was pretty good. If it is like VA Beach, in September it should be much quieter, and easier to get around when most of the tourists leave.
Have fun.

I almost forgot, we had a great time in OC.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.