The cleanest beaches and town , any time of day/ night, and safest beach boardwalk. I have been on many long walks on the boardwalk past 11pm and approached the surf in near solitide. No one has made me feel uncomfortable or unsafe in the dead of night. Actually while walking with earbuds alone back through town I have passsd many people on their porches and overhangs in the evening without incident. It is a very quiet town at night. It is a dry beach, so no alcohol crowd to be found. The memorial plaques on the boardwalk benches all comfirm a very special sentiment. This is a unique area with a huge impact on those who live here in generational gratitude for the ones that have passed. Having lived on Florida, beaches in the tropics are very different. There is a lot to be said about the lack of bugs here. I wouldnt suggest this place for the party croud at all. This seems to be a completely chill and civilized backdrop to dining and various recreational endeavors. Biking, kiting, swimming, orchestral performances, thrill park rides, mini golf galore indoors and out, car shows etc.. Little kids to full on retirees are well adjusted and I havnt seen a single outburst or confrontation of any sort. You are on vacation here and they know it. Fully expect to pay double except in rare occasions. Prices in shops are dropping now in September but food is crazy. $7.50 for a slice of pizza, 7-10 dollars for any small thing like french fries, a cone or small gelato, pretzel, funnel cake. $20 bucks and up per person to eat on the boardwalk adds up to a couple hundred bucks for 4 in no time. Thats one meal and a snack. Im not rich so 2 weeks of that would bankrupt me. Sorry OC, shop inland and find locat gems when you can. Support the beach culture if you can afford it. They dont need it as much as you think. If you pass a fri shop then spot anther just down the boardwalk and another still further it begins to dawn on you. These family owned businesses running 50 plus years have played monopoly with boardwalk. Some families have multiple candy shops, fri shops, dairy shops, clothe shops, pizza shops etc.. The one shop owner we got great end of season deals on clothes and backpacks exclaimed to us how she put all her kids through medical school and was planning another trip to Hawaii this December. They are not broke but you will become broke if you dont go inland for some meals. God bless OC for its sanity and safety. PS, its a smoke free beach and shops on...
Read moreOcean City Beach in Maryland is a stunning destination with a fantastic boardwalk that runs parallel to the beach. The parking is conveniently located at the beginning of the boardwalk, and if you prefer, a local shuttle can transport you to any point along the beach effortlessly. This beach is not overly crowded, and you can easily find beach umbrellas, lounge chairs, and boogie boards at reasonable prices. While the food prices may be a bit high, the convenience is worth it. Additionally, there are plenty of shops selling clothing, snacks, ice cream, and delicious funnel cakes. The area also offers a variety of nice hotels nearby. In my opinion, this beach is the best on the East Coast. It's always well-monitored by attentive lifeguards. Just keep in mind that the water can be chilly, so make sure to bring an appropriate...
Read moreGreat beach I’ve been missing all my life! We had heard that OC Maryland was much better than OC NJ so we went to MD years ago, hated it, and therefore ignored OC NJ. HUGE MISTAKE! We only went for a day because our expectations were not high. This proved to be a terrible mistake as we absolutely loved it. The beach was super crowded but the boardwalk was insane. Filled with rides for the kids and lots and lots of activities. The gigantic $30 pizza we had was good and we truly did not want to go home but it started raining. Oh, there is also a DOLLAR STORE on the boardwalk!!! Perfect if you have several children, like us, who want snacks! We were thrilled to see that and got everyone whatever they wanted out of there!!! HUGE MONEY SAVER! We will definitely be back and will stay over...
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