oCEAN CITY

[Anonymous]

lOOKING AT staying in Ocean City for a few days with little ones around 3 yrs old. Anything to do there other than sand and sea?

[Anonymous]

um yes. have you used this little thing called google?

there are tons of rides and arcades and games on the end of the boardwalk, and tons of shops and restaurants and places to browse along the length of the boardwalk. i recommend going to marty's playland at the very back, where they still have the claw machines that only cost a dime and your kid can win little toys... i think these machines have been around for half the past century.

there is also a very nice playground, i want to say near the convention center, for little kids.

[Anonymous]

check out Rehoboth Beach

[Anonymous]

Skip Ocean City and do Bethany instead. OC is gross.

[Anonymous]

OC is fine, the boardwalk can get crowded in the evenings and weekends. Just go early. I'd avoid the old/yucky games places and rides there. There's tons of mini-golf places on the main road. Stop at Dumser's ice cream, the original is at/around 74th street I think. Awesome homemade icecream. There's a waterpark on the main strip - Jolly Rogger I think. Never been but your child might like it. If you have others going with you and can watch the little one I'd suggest you and spouse go to Seacrets to chill on the rafts and have some drinks and listen to music. Cover starts at night I think.

[Anonymous]

The OC parks department sponsors free kids movies on the beach several nights a week ... a fun, relaxing end to the day. If you stay at the Holiday Inn at 17th street on the boardwalk, they have a really fun kids pool with a "lazy river" and little water jets and baby slides. Putt Putt is everywhere. Dumsers Ice Cream is wonderful. You can take the short drive to Assateague to see the ponies along the side of the road ... very cute and fun. And Assateague visitor's center/museum has a nice kid's area to touch and play with lots of shells and deer antlers, etc. Lots of family friendly places and things to do for those who are not too good for the place ... just because others choose to have a tatoo does nor require that do so as well, you know.

[Anonymous]

I don't know...OC always seems full of drunk/obnoxious teenage boys when I go. Maybe I just have bad timing though.

[Anonymous]

Fish Tales restaurant. Around 21st bayside. It's an outdoor restaurant with huge kids play area. Nice to hang out while kids enjoy themselves. Food is pretty good too.

[Anonymous]

Go to Frontier Town one day--its perfect for that age group. Its about 15-20 minutes outside of OC but worth the trip.

And don't listen to people who put down OC. Its not perfect but its a lot more fun for kids than some of the other local beach resorts because there is so much to do. Don't get me wrong, I like Bethany too but if you want more than sun and sand, there isn't much else going on. Rehobeth is very nice but again, much more for kids to do in Ocean City.

I agree with Fish Tales--great place for the kids. Just allow plenty of wait time and don't go when the kids are starving. The last time we went, the wait was 1 hour and 45 minutes.

[Anonymous]

i'll be the first to admit that ocean city is dubbed ocean shitty for a reason.... but it was really fun to take my 6yo and rediscover all the fun i used to have there has a child. for little kids, it's just a whole lot of fun. when adults see sun burnt trashy drunks and age old carnie rides that look like they're going to break, little kids see ice cream and candy and fun and excitement.

it's interesting how many of the workers are eastern european youth though.

[Anonymous]

Any hotel recommendations? Alternative stay places.. how to find a condo or something like that .. with water view? or at least quick water access and next to
kids attraction

thx

[Anonymous]

I grew up going to Ocean City, so I have an attachment. My parents just sold their condo last year and I was really bummed! Anyway, be sure to try Tequila Mockingbird if you like Mexican. It's on the bayside close to Fenwick. I disagree with the PP who said to skip it and go to Bethany. I think Bethany's pretty boring unless you're staying at Sea Colony during the in-season.

[Anonymous]

There is a nice, newish Hilton at 32nd Oceanside. I hear they have a kids' program as well. We have a house near there, so I haven't stayed there, but friends have and had good things to say.

Also, if you go to the beach in front of Castle in the Sand, their waitresses will come out and take orders and bring food and drinks out to you. Great to enjoy a margarita out on the sand. They are around 36th or so.