Ocean City

It's known as OC, but on the opposite side of the mainland United States as you might suspect. This OC isn't the popular Orange County, California, but rather the popular Ocean City, Maryland. It is a slice of the Mid-Atlantic eastern seaboard of the United States of America, and has played host to millions of visitors through the busy summer months since the mid-1800s. Known for its clean beaches, affordable lodging and wealth of activities, Ocean City, Maryland, continues to grow in popularity as more and more families and individuals discover its potential for fun on a yearly basis.

Ocean City - A Brief History

Once commonly known as a part of Fenwick Island, Ocean City, MD, has become legendary in its own right. It has been a popular tourist destination since the late 1860s, when the first beachfront cottage was opened with rooms available to rent. It didn't take entrepreneurs very long to see that there was a vast marketability to this strip of land, and by 1875, the Atlantic Hotel became the first to open its doors to what is now known as Ocean City. Offering an impressive 400 guest rooms, the hotel struck gold and created a new trend by offering social activities to its patrons.

With the advent of new bridges and tunnels over the next 100 years, Ocean City became more and more accessible to people in the general vicinity. By the 1970s, property developers had broken ground on thousands of beach front condominium units, as well as beach houses and hotels. Over the past 30 years, Ocean City has become one of the most popular east coast destinations for travelers from the geographic region, as well as enjoying a growth in popularity within the tourism market of the United States.

Ocean City Geography

Located in southeast Maryland, Ocean City offers gorgeous views of the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Isle of Wright Bay. If viewed on a map, you can find Ocean City just south of the Delaware border on Maryland's eastern most strip of land - more commonly known as a barrier spit. The growth of Ocean City, MD, has pushed the city limits right up to the beautiful neighboring towns of Berlin, MD, and Ocean Pines, MD - two cities that have enjoyed economical benefits of Ocean City's popularity.

Ocean City Climate

Ocean City, MD, falls in the range of what is consider to be the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, where the temperatures range from cold to mild in the winter months and warm to hot in the summer months. It is classified as a subtropical climate, meaning that there is always a high level of humidity in the air, resulting in wet winters and muggy summer days. Although the humidity remains high throughout the summer, the entire city benefits from the strong ocean breeze. Ocean City rarely experiences the wrath of tropical storms and hurricanes due to the natural barrier to south, the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Some of the Ocean City Fun

By simply walking out the front door of Ocean City hotels or beach houses, any and every visitor will find that there are countless activities available to be experienced; however, there are a few things that qualify as "uniquely Ocean City," and should be experienced. The Ocean City boardwalk is nearly impossible to miss, as it covers three miles of the Ocean City shoreline. Here, locals and visitors can enjoy the shopping, surf shops, bike rentals, phenomenal Ocean City restaurants and fresh salt water taffy that will give Atlantic City vendors a run for their money! About eight miles from Ocean City is Assateague Island -- a haven for those interested in wildlife. It's worth the trip just to see the wild ponies who roam freely.

Overall, Ocean City is exactly what a traveler looks for when considering an easy, breezy seaside destination. With lots of fun and sun for beach dwellers old and young, consider hitting this east coast bright spot on your next sand-seeking trip.

The quickest way to discount airline tickets, great hotel deals and affordable car rentals by far is to book with AOL Travel. We focus on bringing you a huge selection of affordable flights, hotel rates and rent a car options to suit your fancy, and your pocketbook. You ll find great deals on flights, unforgettable hotels, and car rentals for every occasion. Looking for discount flights on the web? You ll find fantastic prices on flights no matter if you re leaving next month or next weekend. Want to book your next family vacation for less? Take advantage of our partner discounts for airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, cruises and ideas on the hottest destinations. And if you re ready for a quick last-minute travel getaway, search for last-minute deals that offer discount airline tickets, rental cars and hotels in the places you want to go.

Don t set out on your next vacation without doing your destination homework. We have compiled a huge database of destination guides and traveling advice to make your next trip smooth sailing. And when you can t get out and see the sights for yourself, watch AOL Travel correspondent Peter Greenberg s video articles on fabulous places all over the world. You just might be inspired to book airline tickets to the featured destination. Regardless if you need flights for exotic international locales, or are cruising just around the corner, AOL Travel has the discount airline tickets, great hotel deals, unforgettable cruises and car rentals to get you there for less.

Portions copyright 2009 wCities, DiscoverOurTown.com and Northstar Travel Media LLC.