Ocean City (house, neighborhood, restaurant)

[kericolleen]

Ocean City is not one of my favorite beaches to be honest. I have 2 children myself and OC just doesn't do it for us. The water temp is a bit too cold unless you plan on going in August, and I still think it is a bit chilly. The crowded beach is a turn off for me. I cannot relax because I am too busy keeping track of my kids among all the people. With all the people on the beach we have had problems with other kids taking our stuff too. Like shovels or buckets. If u leave your stuff and go into the water it may be gone when u get back. Not so much fun either.

We have been going a bit more south and have been much happier. We love Ocean Isle beach in NC. It is a very much less crowded beach community that consists mostly of beach houses and is not so commercialized. We get an oceanfront home with our own pool. The ocean water temp is great even in early June. You can sit and relax and let the kids go. The beach is very wide and very uncrowded. Myrtle Beach is 30 minutes away and we go there twice during our stay in the late afternoon for activities. We put our stuff on the beach and set up a covered sitting area. We leave this on the beach for the entire week and it goes untouched. We leave everything under it. Toys, chairs, etc. This is the perfect place for families with small children.

Another great place is Garden City Beach SC. This cute beach just a hop south of Myrtle is a great family beach. It does not have to crowds of Myrtle or the long lines waiting to eat or shop. It is just a few minute drive north to all the action. There is a pavillion arcade and a pier plus several shops and resturants. Murrells inlet is just a short drive south and has tons of seafood resturants. We stayed at the surfmaster and it was very clean and had a great view.

I am from Ohio and even though Ocean City is a bit closer I still think it is well worth it to go further south. The water at OC reminds me of Lake Erie. Cold, murky, and dark. The OBX is cold, murky, and dark too. We tried that last year in June and the water was so cold it actually hurt even to just put my feet in. I will say that nobody was swimming in the water either. It was freezing. This was in Duck and in June.

I haven't been to Virginia Beach in Years. I have heard though that there is a very high crime rate there and always people getting arrested on the streets.

[kericolleen]

My relatives just got back from the OC and said it was beyond cold!!!! They said hardly anyone went in the water. They said it hurt. I went to the OBX last year and was upset and had a bad experience b/c we couldn't swim due to the cold water. Make sure you check online for water temps before making a wasted trip and wasted gas.

[NYMD67]

hmmm... well it is true that the Atlantic in general is a little colder than say of course the gulf ? We were JUST there last Thursday for the day and it was a little chilly getting in at first, but there were many people swimming and having a good time.
No one stealing other people's sand toys, no one seemed to be complaining, just a bunch of families having fun together.
We have been to the OBX as well, it is beautiful there, but honestly,not much difference in the clarity of the water or the temp.
I guess if "we" as Americans don't have something to complain about,we wouldn't have anything to talk about-apparently!
It is a fun place to take your family. They look forward to going to the ridiculous 5&10 stores that are on the boardwalk with all their tacky little things,but you find that anywhere. The kids love it! Give them some Thrashers fries,some Fishers popcorn and Candy Kitchen fudge and you have a Summer memory!

[Tim Rankin]

Originally Posted by NYMD67

hmmm... well it is true that the Atlantic in general is a little colder than say of course the gulf ? We were JUST there last Thursday for the day and it was a little chilly getting in at first, but there were many people swimming and having a good time.
No one stealing other people's sand toys, no one seemed to be complaining, just a bunch of families having fun together.

I have to concur with NYMD's comments.

Yes, it was a tad chilly at first but once you got in the water it was comfortable. Lots of adults and kids in the water, having fun. Honestly I don't understand how people can complain about the water temps! I guess we Americans are such a pampered & decadent bunch that if the water is not like the perfectly regulated temps of the jet tubs in our remodeled bathrooms, it's "too cold."

We left our stuff on the beach for about 2 hrs while we strolled on the boardwalk and had nothing taken. Not that theft doesn't happen at all, but it didn't seem to be a major problem to us.

[Mom21]

I like visiting Ocean City, but I also think the water is too cold. My kids think so too. They much prefer Myrtle Beach to both Ocean City and VA Beach. We all absolutely LOVED Miami Beach. The water and sand were BEAUTIFUL. I have to admit that after my first visit there in 1999, I haven't been in the water at beaches further North since then, including Myrtle Beach.

[CityGrrl77]

Well, the hotel was booked two weeks ago. And, honestly, I could care less about wasting gas because I make enough $$ not to have to worry about it.

Im really looking forward to this trip and I really doubt there will be any problems. As far as the water temps - I used to swim in 70 degree pool water when I was little (no patience to wait for the water to warm up). You get used to it. The bf doesnt like to swim in the ocean, and as for the kid - there are 2 pools at the hotel we are staying at.

I dont know what the huge concern is with the water. If someone wants to go on vacation at a beach and have the main attraction be the pretty little fishies in the sea, then that is what the Bahamas and Cancun are for.
The beach is crowded - of course it is - its a tourist destination with a beach on the ocean. ???

Aside from that - why do some people have to complain about every.single.thing.? Crime is everywhere, beaches will always be crowded, and beach toys are cheap and easy to replace. If all parents watched their children, maybe they wouldn't be stealing other peoples' things? Or, ya know, whatever....

[CityGrrl77]

Don't get me wrong - I'm not trying to be a 'you know what' but seriously, the water might be cold (expected), it might be crowded (of course), and the water probably won't be clear (who cares?).

The point is is that its a vacation and its supposed to be fun. But being a crying, whiny baby about stuff isn't going to help anything. So, yeah if the water is cold and its crowded and some random child steals our sand shovel - oh well. S**t happens. Not everything is perfect and shiny and without dislike. You just deal with it.
And if you dont like Ocean City and its water or the people that visit, then, uh, don't go there.

Sounds logical, right? Right.

You just enjoy your time off of work, leave the 'cry baby duck' routine at home, experience something new and have fun. And that's how it's done.

In the words of Maxwell on 100.7 WMMS - Aaaaannd PUNT. (end of discussion)

[bunky3301]

Originally Posted by CityGrrl77

Don't get me wrong - I'm not trying to be a 'you know what' but seriously, the water might be cold (expected), it might be crowded (of course), and the water probably won't be clear (who cares?).

The point is is that its a vacation and its supposed to be fun. But being a crying, whiny baby about stuff isn't going to help anything. So, yeah if the water is cold and its crowded and some random child steals our sand shovel - oh well. S**t happens. Not everything is perfect and shiny and without dislike. You just deal with it.
And if you dont like Ocean City and its water or the people that visit, then, uh, don't go there.

Sounds logical, right? Right.

You just enjoy your time off of work, leave the 'cry baby duck' routine at home, experience something new and have fun. And that's how it's done.

In the words of Maxwell on 100.7 WMMS - Aaaaannd PUNT. (end of discussion)

Couldn't have said it better....hope your vacation is a great OC memory for you !!!!

[CityGrrl77]

Thanks bunky3301!

[Mom21]

Any feedback would be great!

Obviously not "any" feedback would be great -- just the feedback you wanted to hear! Anyway, enjoy your vacation. I'm sure you will have a lovely time. I have enjoyed every trip I've made to Ocean City.