LOTRHP

Hi All,
Interested in learning your thoughts about Ocean City, Maryland. What's it like? I'm looking for a pretty, relaxing, yet fun place on the water. An area where I can easily look out on the water and yet later do some fun shopping/dining in the area as well.
Definately NOT looking for seedy, rowdy, boring or 'too rural' locations.

I've been toying with a few places (Lake George, Montauk, Rehoboth (sp), and now Ocean City, Maryland.... I haven't been to any of these places, but Ocean City struck me as a huge possibility. I am looking for a nice weekend trip for a big Birthday that my Mom is having, and all us adults are going (4 or 5). I live in the NYC area so I was looking for a place that's no more than 5 hours away. Basically a 'Virginia Beach' type (gorgeous wide beach, beautiful water, fun stuff to do, relaxing hotel with view...) would be great.

Is Ocean City, Maryland the place? If so, please recommend some good hotels.

Thanks for your feedback. Really appreciate you sharing your expert advice.

lizziea06

In all honesty, I can't stand Ocean City. IMO, it was kind of trashy, and there were definite seedy areas. Maybe someone has a better opinion than this, but I couldn't wait to get out of there.
If you are heading down the shore in that direction, I would absolutely recommend either Dewey Beach or Rehoboth on the Delaware shore. They are really nice towns with fun bars and restaurants.

Sid

I agree. I would look at the Delaware beaches over Ocean City. I agree with the previous poster...it is extremely crowded, a bit trashy and very commercial. Lewes, Dewey and Rehoboth are all better option, IMO.

Melrose

Personally we like OC Md., as long as you stay further up like 125th st. and up, it is great! Some hotels, housing gets a little poricey, but just search around. There is a lot to do there that is why we like it, and the beach is in good shape,and nice and wide. Good luck! (Fenwick Island, is good too. )

handmaiden

Here's another vote that Ocean City, MD is "trashy." The beaches are so packed in July and August that you can't move. The prices from food and alcohol are OUTRAGEOUS! And the atmosphere is very high school and college party time. (My nephew and his friends went there last year for a week after graduating from high school. He was arrested that same week for DUI and underage drinking!)

I would look at Rehoboth, Delaware. A lot of gays go there for the summer so it is "up scale."

Handmaiden

lizziea06

I guess I should add that I was one of those college kids on senior week in Ocean City, and I still couldn't wait to get out of there. By the end of the week, we had a new nickname for that place, and it rhymed with "city"
I can't say enough good things about the Delaware shore points and also the south Jersey shore. You might also look at Stone Harbor as well.

lisettemac

As I posted on your other thread, I agree with the posters here. It's more for college kids -- lots of rowdy bars, cheesy roadside motels, strip malls and mini-golf. Not family-oriented at all. I'd go with Bethany or Rehoboth over Ocean City.

Rachel

I'm a fan of OC. This is the first summer in many that we are not spending a week there. I find it to be honky tonky, not trashy. We always stay in the northern end and we always go in August (the 3rd or 4th week) and find it's less crowded than July. We like the northern end because it is less crowded. The beach is beautiful and less crowded. We also like Bethany Beach, but not the huge resort there (sea colony) as that part of the beach is way too crowded. We love the Delaware beaches also, but always stay in OC because it seems to be more affordable. Rehoboth is nice, but we also found accomodations there very expensive. Its the best for shopping though-several outlet malls and no sales tax. Rehoboth has a nice boardwalk and main drag with lots of shops and restaurants.

Edye

Delaware beaches are much nicer, and hotels and rentals are more expensive than OC. You get what you pay for IMO. I avoid OC for all reasons stated above. If you must choose OC, you should stay above 115th St as suggested by others.

LOTRHP

Thanks for everyone for the helpful feedback.

I was interested to see that some of you highly prefer staying pretty far away from the 'boardwalk area'. I had actually been given advice by someone to stay in the 'boardwalk area (no further than 27 street) because otherwise past that there it was too quiet with nothing around except a strip mall here and there and of course the beach.

I would love to learn more about your preference for that northern area as opposed to the downtown area. I definately want to be near where there would be stuff to do. Would there be enough to do uptown? Is downtown too raucous? I'm hoping not to have to drive everywhere once I'm in town.

Looking forward to your insights on this.

kgh8m

Seriously, OC is trashy. Think Myrtle Beach before it cleaned itself up (a little). I think it is the worst beach I've been to - because of the atmosphere. All that sticks out in my head is one junky t-shirt store after another, and absolutely no charm. I honestly can't fathom why people around me in DC will drive the hours and wait at the Bridge for hours to go there.

You'd be much better off at the Delaware beaches. I also hear that the southern Jersey beaches are nice.

Stephanie

LOT:

I'd highly suggest Rehoboth, plenty of outlet shopping and more shopping just off the boardwalk on Rehoboth Avenue. check out the Sea Shell Shop while there - neat nautical items. I don't have anything against OC MD its has shopping but it is way too big and overcrowded.

Stephanie

LOT:

if you want to stay away from the boardwalk go to Cape Henlopen State Park. Very pretty with pines right in back of the beach. nice contrast. also a state beach between rehoboth and dewey that was very uncrowded.

MrsKiss

I don't consider OCM trashy! I've always found a lot of variety there. We have many fond memories of the boardwalk food, places like the "Kiteloft", and the dolphins in the distant surf. And, we are usually at a five to six Apple...(Apple Vacation) resort in the Caribbean. I'd go back to OCM in a heartbeat. Wildwood, NJ, now that is trash!!! Seedy, Sleezy boardwalk, and a total 70s look to everything.

kaudrey

We stayed around 130th St and liked it. There are plenty of restaurants and bars and shopping nearby, but it's not mobbed like down by the boardwalk. I would not consider the boardwalk area "relaxing", but where we were, it felt that way.

I also like Bethany or Rehobeth, but would NOT suggest Dewey for your group. Dewey is full of young people from DC who rent houses for the summer and basically drink themselves silly every weekend. (Not to disparage that, as I did it for several years myself - lots of fun, but probably not ideal for Mom). Now, in my mid-30s, I feel too "old" for Dewey.

karameli

Ocean City MD does have decent beaches, but I don't remember ever shopping there -- and I'm a shopaholic. How about Cape May, NJ? Beautiful beaches, quiet town, great food and cute boutiques.

GeorgeW

Ocean City is great in the Fall but it is overcrowded in the summer. In the summer, it is often very difficult to get space on the beach after 10 AM, especially along condo row in the north end. Ocean City attracts the middle class adults and youths from both Baltimore and Washington, saturating what is a rather thin strip of land. It can be very tacky, especially the further south one goes in the town. I do not recommend Ocean City for a vacation. I have several friends who still vacation at Ocean City in the summer and I still don't understand why. Comparing Ocean City to the beaches I prefer in North Carolina is like comparing Baltic Avenue to Park Place in Monopoly.

Birdie

Add my opinion to the OC "trashy" list. We are in that area every summer for golf tournaments and visited the boardwalk once. Won't go back. The only shopping was the Outlet Mall which isn't a very good one.

Liz2005

I'm going to second Cape May, NJ. I love Cape May. Nice beach, a small boardwalk, beautfiul town with charming shops.

I've only been to Ocean City, MD for a day once so I can't really comment on it.

f8photo

I live in MD and I agree with all the other replies. Ocean City during the summer is like college night and .25c beer nights but everyday. It's not what you're looking for.

And VA beach is nasty IMO.