Any opinions on Ocean City, MD for a family vacation?

I have to tell you that the opinions that I have heard about Ocean City, MD have not been very positive when I was looking into going there.

I love OC! I have a daughter who lives less than an hour from there and when we visit we always go. I live on the left coast and was surprised at how warm the water was there. Check out Tequila Mockingbird on the coastal highway for some good Mexican food.
Let me know if you spot the Ocean City Elvis walking around the boardwalk. I’m curious if he’s still there.

Oh, yeah. If you’ll be driving there via Highway 50 look out for the speed trap near Salisbury.

I went there for multiple summer vacations and absolutely loved it :)

I haven’t been to Myrtle Beach but Ocean City is very crowded, and very commercialized and very “boardwalky.” I wouldn’t want to vacation there. You might want to look into some of the Delaware beaches further north, like Fenwick Island, Bethany or Lewes. They’re a smaller and cleaner but still fun and if you want to go to Ocean City for the day, it’s pretty close.

I second @AstroChuck‘s suggestion for Tequila Mockingbird. Also get some Polish Water Ice on the boardwalk. Aside from that, I’d say that Myrtle is definitely cleaner and less crowded. There’s lots to see and do at OC, but Myrtle’s beach is nicer.

It’s one of my favorite places and a great place for a family to vacation in summer. The two Holiday Inn’s offer pretty good deals and the northern one, while not on the boardwalk, has by far the best restaurant. Just be prepared for a 3 hour journey from Baltimore to OC if you fly into Balt. You are also not far from the northern Delaware beaches and towns that each have their own cool vibe. I say 3 thumbs up for an OC vacation. Oh and when the kiddies are asleep, hire a hotel baby sitter and head over to Seacrets for a very, very fun experience.

It’s great fun! We went there this past Labor Day Weekend, and we’re going this summer for summer vacation as well! The boardwalk is a blast! Phillip’s is a great seafood and steakhouse to go to for a delicious meal as well. And the waves are much bigger, and jellyfish-free!

Take it from someone who’s been stung multiple times in Virginia Beach. Not fun! :(

Ocean City is not to my taste. Too many multi-story hotels. Too much too close together. It’s also harder to find a good restaurant there, unless you love crab houses. I’m not sure about the family atmosphere, either. It seems full of college kids to me, and all the Russian kids they bring in to run the rides in the amusement park.

If you want family, I’d suggest a little further up in Delaware—Fenwick, Bethany Beach and places near there.