By Alan Kirk
Vacationing in Ocean City, Maryland, during the summer is a tradition for families in the
Baltimore and Washington, D.C., areas. Ocean City also draws guests from as far away as
Canada to enjoy its large
beaches that have plenty of sand and a gradual slope into the ocean. The hotels on the boardwalk allow guests to be close to both dining and entertainment. There are amusement rides, arcade games, snacks, restaurants, shopping and small bars located along the length of Ocean City coastline. Peak travel season is from Memorial Day until Labor Day, with rates being most expensive during those months.
Rideau Motor Inn
The Rideau Motor Inn is the hotel in Ocean City closest to the inlet section that has all the rides and games on the boardwalk. The Rideau Motor Inn is located just a block away from all the rides. There is shopping surrounding the hotel, as it's located on top of a row of shops. It's an older hotel, but does offer a lot of convenience in location. Each room has a color television, heat and air conditioning and a shower. Some rooms have a balcony overlooking the boardwalk, and some overlook the pool.
Rideau Motor Inn
Boardwalk & North 1st Street
P.O. Box 220
Ocean City, MD 21842
(410) 289-7221
Park Place Hotel
The Park Place Hotel has plenty to offer families. It is for smaller families with a limit of four adults and two children in the largest of the rooms. Located at Third Street, it is within walking distance of the amusement rides on the boardwalk, and there is plenty of shopping nearby. The hotel offers rooms with views of the boardwalk, as well as views of the pool on the opposite side of the hotel. The beach here is popular and crowded, but still large enough to give children plenty of room to play.
Park Place Hotel
3rd Street & Boardwalk
Ocean City, MD 21842
(410) 689-6440
Shoreham Hotel
The Shoreham Hotel is located at 4th Street on the boardwalk. It's along a large area of the beach and only a five-block walk down to the amusement rides. There are volleyball nets nearby. The hotel rooms include air conditioning and a television. While there is not a pool at the Shoreham, it does have a very popular restaurant and bar called Shenanigan's. The rooms are older here, but the location is a good option for those that want to be close to the action without as much noise as the hotels closer to the inlet on the boardwalk.
Shoreham Hotel
4th Street & Boardwalk
Ocean City, MD 21842
(410) 289-7872
Tidelands Caribbean Hotel & Suites
The Tidelands Caribbean Hotel & Suites, located on the boardwalk, has 133 rooms. All of the rooms have free wireless Internet access, one of the few boardwalk hotels in Ocean City that has this amenity and is also within reasonable walking distance to the inlet amusement area. The rooms all have DVD players, and the deluxe units have newly renovated kitchenettes as well. There are two pools, including one on the rooftop. There is also the Bluefin Bar & Grill for dining and entertainment.
Tidelands Caribbean Hotel & Suites
5th Street & Boardwalk
Ocean City, MD 21842
(410) 289-9455
Plim Plaza Hotel
The Plim Plaza Hotel is an Ocean City landmark. It offers a large porch where guests can sit and people-watch. The rooms are older and on the small side, but it does offer connecting rooms for larger families. There is a pool in the back of the hotel, along with a small outdoor tiki bar for relaxing and enjoying a beverage. The Plim Plaza Hotel also has the Paul Revere All You Can Eat Buffet restaurant located in front of it. This is a very popular restaurant and lines start forming down the boardwalk as early as 5:00 p.m. during the summer season.
Plim Plaza Hotel
2nd Street & Boardwalk
Ocean City, MD 21842
(410) 289-6181
Paradise Plaza Inn
The Paradise Plaza Inn is a hotel in Ocean City that stands out from the older hotels in the area. It is located further away from the inlet area on the boardwalk, almost a 12-block walk to the entertainment. The hotel has amenities that makes it stand out. The hotel has a clock radio in each room with an iPod docking station, toiletries are from Bath & Body Works, terrycloth robes are in the room for your use, and refrigerators and microwaves are in each room, along with wireless Internet access. There is a pool and meeting facilities as well. The Paradise Plaza Inn is located away from the noise of the boardwalks that are south of Third Street on the boardwalk, but still convenient enough that entertainment and dining are within convenient walking distance.
Paradise Plaza Inn
9th Street and Boardwalk
Ocean City, MD 21842
(410) 289-1303
About the Author:
Alan Kirk has been writing for online publications since 2006. He has more than 15 years' experience in catering, management and government relations. Kirk has a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Maryland.