Ocean City, Maryland
By Jim Hunt for the News and Journal
While I have never been a “beach” person, my work often lands me in an oceanfront
room overlooking an ocean and I usually take an evening stroll on the beach before
heading home. I was recently in Ocean City for the Maryland Municipal League’s
Annual Conference, and it turned into a wonderful visit that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The city has a population of only around 7,000 residents but on summer weekends, hosts
between 320,000 and 345,000 vacationers and up to eight million visitors annually. It is
remarkably clean and well-maintained, with amenities that include public parks and a
boardwalk. I was surprised, that well into the summer season, the streets did not feel
overly crowded, and the restaurants had short waits or none at all.
The drive to Ocean City is pleasant and I did not encounter any traffic jams. Many
people told me to be ready for an extended wait at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, but
traffic was flowing nicely. The Bay Bridge is quite a structure, and it seems to reach the
clouds as you drive over the water. There are many stories about drivers panicking as
they approach the bridge, and the bridge authority even provides a group of drivers who
will drive the car of reluctant drivers.
While it didn’t bother me, I could imagine fog or rain being a white-knuckle experience. I drove about four hours to Columbia, Maryland, and stayed at the home of my work colleague overnight before finishing the trip with a nice two-and-a-half-hour drive the next day.
Our day did not begin at the conference till about ten o’clock in the morning which gave
us time for a nice breakfast at our hotel each day. The Princess Royale Beach Hotel is
located between 91 st and 92 nd Street and has been extensively remodeled since I stayed
there twenty years ago.
The palm trees swaying in the breeze and the sunrise coming through the window give you a lift that carries through the day. After breakfast, we would head to the Ocean City Conference Center and visit with city officials from throughout the state. While it was a long day of standing on concrete floors and talking till my voice wore out, I always enjoy these conferences and the people I meet.
We sampled several great restaurants, including the Sunset Grille and Sello’s Italian
Oven and Bar, and enjoyed the sunsets over the bay as we dined on Maryland crab and
Italian favorites. The service was also excellent, and it made the evening relaxing as we
prepared for the next day.
Ocean City has a lot of activities for families and the young kids on the beach seemed
to be having a great time. My son and daughter-in-law are heading to Ocean City in a
few weeks with our granddaughter and I’m sure they will create some fun memories that
will last a lifetime. If you want to get away for a fun weekend or a long vacation, Ocean
City is a safe, clean destination that should meet your needs. Maybe I am becoming a
“Beach” person!