Elizabeth

I am planning a vacation to Ocean City, Maryland this month. I read everyone's postings to Pete, and am now a bit concerned, as we are a young family with two young boys, under the age of ten. We booked a room at the Princess Bayside, which I was assured is a family-type hotel. Anyone had any experiences there that could speak to this?? It's at 48th street on the bayside. I'm also wondering about how clean/nice the hotel is...Thanks in advance for everyone's help!

XXX

The hotel is nice and it is clean. It's approximately at 48th st. Do you know what type of room you booked cause last time we were there we had booked a room on the bay and after calling to confirm the same - we arrived and they gave us a regular room. We balked and insisted on our calls, then finally asked for the manager. Well the manager must have been having a really rough day cause she screamed and carried on. The place is comfortable - but wow what a reservations and managerial staff!!

Elizabeth

Thank you so much for your response! I was starting to panic after reading some of the other comments about Ocean City. Were you there as a single or with a family? We are really looking for a place that's family-oriented. What was the area around the hotel like? Any recommendations for what to do in the area?

Nikki

Hi again

If you've never been to Ocean City - you have a treat or a surprise waiting for you.

First it is a family environment - there are two or three amusement parks there. And the Jolly Roger is probably 15 blocks south of you. Once you park your car you can take public transportation (pretty cheap) to get places. There's really just one main road. The boardwalk itself is down in about the first 25 blocks along the ocean - that gets a little tacky but most of the kids love it. Very close to Bayside Princess is a restaurant called Seacrets and it's known for being able to lounge in big tubes in the water and order a cool drink (high test or no test)

A good breakfast place (and I hear that it's also good for dinner now too) is Bayside Skillet and that's probably up around 85th St. Bull on the beach is good too, especially with kids. Actually I'm mentioning kid-friendly places. Oh up a couple doors is everyone's favorite ice cream place Dumser's - your kids will love their soft ice cream cones.

You can take boat trips out on the bay or on the ocean and you can also do one of the para-sailing chutes on the bay side.

Too many other restaurants to critique - people will clue you in while you're there. Have a great time!!

Nikki

Hi again

We go to secreats in the afternoon and when we go in the evening it's without the kids. There's also a lot of miniature golf places - there's also Assateague Island further down from OC. You're not getting into anything sleazy. Ocean City is where Md, DC, and VA families take their kids in the summer. Rehoboth Beach is a lovely beach further north and most of that would be cottages (family owned). It has had a a gay following there but I doubt if it's anything like Provincetown Ma.

Elizabeth

Thank you so much for all the great information!