<p>We’re trying to cobble together a short beach vacation for the family (mom, dad, 2 teenage D’s) in August. By the time we work around D1’s summer class, D2’s volunteer gig at the hospital, and a trip to Oregon to see DH’s side of the family, we’re left with 4-5 days for vacation. (For some reason, the D’s don’t consider the ten days in OR as vacation…if there’s not a beach, it’s not vacation. )</p>
<p>In the past we have enjoyed the Outer Banks and Myrtle Beach. Growing up in southeast PA, my girls have enjoyed many trips to the Jersey shore, but DH and I prefer to go farther south. This year, since we only have five days, I don’t want to spend 10-12 hours driving to Myrtle Beach. The Outer Banks are closer, but still about a 7-hour drive and finding a rental there for 4-5 nights is problematic.</p>
<p>I’ve found a condo in Ocean City, MD, that will rent to us for the partial week we desire. It’s oceanfront at 77th Ave. Is anyone familiar with the area? Is the beach nice? We tend to be happy with a beach, an umbrella, a chair, and a book…in other words we don’t do much on our beach vacation. We do enjoy swimming in the ocean if it’s not too cold.</p>
<p>Anyone care to rate Ocean City MD vs. the beaches I mentioned?</p>
<p>Our family (much) prefers Bethany Beach, which is a few miles up the road … or Virginia Beach which is an hour south. But it’s really a personal choice. Ocean water temps should be fine for swimming … mid-70s according to:</p>
<p>we are starting to “audition” locales for retirement and visited OC twice in last year -
nice beach, but very close to Assateague Island and the wild ponies - nice for a 1/2 or more visit (within about 30 minute or less drive) and pretty good boardwalk ( I grew up in Jersey so…) </p>
<p>good places to eat :Tuttu Gusti and Oasis Taphouse (in Berlin ?)
more touristy Harrison’s Harbor Watch
great sandwiches to go = Anthony’s around 33rd (?)</p>
<p>great view, ver good food but rushed service - Fresco’s (despite dh having ordered roses delivered to table for anniv. )</p>
<p>The beach in Ocean City is very nice. The strip is jam packed with hotels and condos fronted by a boardwalk (bookended by not one, but two Hooters!). Are you looking for quiet or action?</p>
<p>My sister lives nearby. Full of teens and families, lots of little shops along the boardwalk and sort of honky-tonky. Probably not the place if you are looking for something quiet or ‘genteel’ but lots of people like it.</p>
<p>I also like Bethany Beach better. We were at Fenwick Park a few weeks ago. Beach front condo, but very quiet, which is what we like. Ocean City is noisier, your teenagers may like better. Check out ResortQuest for rental. They rent condos at Bethany Beach. I have been getting a lot of emails from them on discounts.</p>
<p>OC is okay. A little too crowded and hectic for my tastes, but a lot of people around here really enjoy it. Bethany is, as mentioned above, quieter. I like Rehoboth, too. Not as hectic as OC, but still somewhat crowded. Good restaurants and off-beach scene.</p>
<p>I think it will be fine. I think it would be very difficult to get a partial week in Bethany. If you want something a little slower pace then OC, try Rehoboth Beach, DE, about 45 minutes north. Nice boardwalk, stores and beach.</p>
<p>Having experienced both Oregon and OC/Bethany beaches (30 yr ago), they are about as opposite as a beach a ever get. I am fairly certain that the eastern beaches haven’t changed much; I am also positive that the western beaches have changed even less. </p>
<p>77th is a bit lower density than other areas of OC. It has a nice beach. Bus system in OC is pretty good, and depending on your daughter’s ages, they could enjoy a little independence if you are comfortable. OC is pretty family oriented, but there are sketchy people here and there. We like the way the waves break in OC compared to Bethany…Bethany is doing beach replenishment, so you get ‘the cliff’, and not enough body surfing room. OC surf has a better continuous ‘bottom’.</p>
<p>Bethany, Dewey and Rehoboth have different personalities. We love all 4 of these beaches for different reasons. Teenagers tend to love OC, it has the traditional honky tonk, as stated by another poster. Also has better amusements rides than Rehoboth.</p>
<p>Greene turtle on 112th – very popular t-shirt, lacrosse hangout? Macky’s on 54th bayside is popular, Fagers – known for sunsets . Seacrets…have to see it once, sort of hedonistic, good for kids during the day, arrive by land or sea.</p>
<p>Rehoboth Outlet shopping ; ) if it is raining, stay AWAY.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! I’ll look in to some of the other suggestions. For me, the less crowded and quieter, the better. That’s why the Outer Banks is my favorite. The D’s like a little more action, a boardwalk would be nice for them.</p>
<p>LongPrime – You’re not kidding about the Oregon “beaches”. We’re veteran visitors to OR (DH is a native, we have visited once a year for the past 20 years). Our kids joke that the cousins who like to go to “the coast” are seriously deprived (or maybe depraved?), and need to come visit us on the East coast to see what a beach is supposed to look like. Granted, the scenery at the OR coast is beautiful and the chowder at Mo’s always hits the spot, but there’s something wrong about needing a sweatshirt in the middle of the day in August!</p>
<p>If you like quiet, then you won’t be happy in OCMD. </p>
<p>I read someplace once that OC averages 250,000 people on a summer weekend. That makes its population denser than Baltimore’s. Weekdays drop off a bit. But Ocean City is still a CITY in almost every sense of the word.</p>
<p>Our first question at OC was why did the ocean smell like sourkraut?
Our next q was why is that tractor pulling a potato harvester on the beach so late at night?</p>
<p>In north or south bethany, you will get that outer banks experience if that is what you desire…but there are no condos that are rentable, just houses</p>
<p>Longprime, maybe you were close to where they serve boardwalk fries with vinegar. mmmmmm put some old bay on those too</p>
<p>the potato harvester leaves the beach cleaner than you’ll find in Bethany. OC sand is pretty darn clean. Beach replenishment is bringing up some weird stuff.</p>
<p>We really liked the beach at OC. It was wonderful! The area where you’ll be staying is nice. We enjoyed walking on the boardwalk one night (didn’t need to go again, though!), and we ate at some wonderful restaurants. The beach is nice enough to hang out on all day long. No need to worry about things to do … because that beach just invites relaxing!!</p>
<p>I just got back from OC yesterday. As others have mentioned, 77th St is quite a bit away from the boardwalk and should be relatively quiet. Water is cold, but my teens enjoyed it (I don’t go in the water). Although it is a very busy beach town, I found getting around by car to be very easy. If you like mexican food, I recommend a little place at around 130th street called Tequila Mockingbird.</p>
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