Ocean City MD. I don't get the appeal???? (Baltimore, California: where to stay, 2013)

[psurangers11]

Come on now... you went Labor Day weekend... the last unofficial weekend of summer.. and it's an exteded weekend... aka probably one of the BUSIEST weekends to go... so what are you complaining about? You should have known the traffic would potentially be bad. Not sure what you were expecting either? I doubt people raved about how quiet the town was... it's a tourist destination so the heavy amounts of strip malls and gas stations and so forth are needed. As for east coast beaches it's definitely the #1 preferable on my list... go to one of the jersey shore beaches and I bet you'll be singing a different tune about OCMD.

[BigCityDreamer]

Originally Posted by bande1102

Rule no 1: don't go over Labor Day weekend or any other holiday. Heck, don't go on weekends. I go during the week and it's a totally different experience.

This is true. Most people go to Ocean City all during the wrong times - and then comment about how bad it is. lol.

[that412]

Originally Posted by DaveinMtAiry

Those who say they don't get the appeal may want to read this post again.

The thing is, though, you can do all of those things in much more walkable, less sprawly-feeling beach towns. Even if you visit OC at the absolute quietest, least inundated with drunk teenagers part of the "beach season," it still doesn't get around the fact that I don't feel that there's any there there. It's just an endless string of high-rises, chintzy boardwalk stuff, and car-oriented dining, retail, and attractions. There are hundreds of other beach towns that just feel more like a real place to me, and that's why I personally do not get the appeal of OCMD or Myrtle Beach, et al., beyond the fact that it's possible to do those kinds of places on a much smaller budget.

[bande1102]

Originally Posted by that412

The thing is, though, you can do all of those things in much more walkable, less sprawly-feeling beach towns. Even if you visit OC at the absolute quietest, least inundated with drunk teenagers part of the "beach season," it still doesn't get around the fact that I don't feel that there's any there there. It's just an endless string of high-rises, chintzy boardwalk stuff, and car-oriented dining, retail, and attractions. There are hundreds of other beach towns that just feel more like a real place to me, and that's why I personally do not get the appeal of OCMD or Myrtle Beach, et al., beyond the fact that it's possible to do those kinds of places on a much smaller budget.

Just curious, but what are your favorite beach towns that feel like a "real place"?

[that412]

Originally Posted by bande1102

Just curious, but what are your favorite beach towns that feel like a "real place"?

Stone Harbor, NJ; Cannon Beach, OR; Tybee Island, GA; Villefranche-sur-Mer, France; Tarifa, Spain; Cascais, Portugal; just to name a few. At the other end of the scale spectrum, I'm also fond of Venice Beach, "The Beach" neighborhood of Toronto, and Barceloneta, as far as the urban beach experience goes. All radically different from one another, but none overwhelmed by the placeless, car-centric high-rise mania of OCMD, Atlantic City, Virginia Beach, Myrtle, etc.

[DaveinMtAiry]

Originally Posted by that412

Stone Harbor, NJ; Cannon Beach, OR; Tybee Island, GA; Villefranche-sur-Mer, France; Tarifa, Spain; Cascais, Portugal; just to name a few. At the other end of the scale spectrum, I'm also fond of Venice Beach, "The Beach" neighborhood of Toronto, and Barceloneta, as far as the urban beach experience goes. All radically different from one another, but none overwhelmed by the placeless, car-centric high-rise mania of OCMD, Atlantic City, Virginia Beach, Myrtle, etc.

Come on now, be fair. Again comparing Ocean City to beaches in France, Spain or Portugal is not a lot different than complaining about the traffic on Labor Day or saying a hamburger is not as good as a lobster.

It's 2.5 hours away from 2 major cities and a room can be had for under $100. As I said I totally understand it's lack of charm, and I get it that it's ugly. But as you have seen from other posters there is still a lot to offer even if it's not your thing. Again you have to evaluate it for what it is. And what it is is an inexpensive opportunity to go to the beach, a place you can get to before lunch even with a late start. France is neither of these things.

[BigCityDreamer]

Personally, I'm not much a beach person. I feel kind of funny saying this because I've actually been to beaches up and down the east coast, the west coast and outside the U.S. But I'm not really "drawn" to them in a significant way.

This is why somewhere like Ocean City outside of peak season or Assateague is enough for me. Just take a dip, catch some waves, have some seafood and I'm good. I don't care about it much more than that. If I want somewhere walkable or whatever, then there are plenty of large cities on the east coast for that. lol.

[childofaaco]

Nostalgia and loyalty.

So many things around here survive on little more than that. It's like eating blue crabs, if you weren't raised doing it, chances are you probably won't understand the following it has among the locals.

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by Noble Savage

I'm not much of a beach person, I prefer the mountains. I don't go to OC very much, some in the off season. I think Atlantic City is worse..

That's an understatement. On the other hand, Atlantic City isn't even remotely considered a family beach destination.

[e30is]

Originally Posted by childofaaco

Nostalgia and loyalty.

So many things around here survive on little more than that. It's like eating blue crabs, if you weren't raised doing it, chances are you probably won't understand the following it has among the locals.

This