America's Greatest Family Resort Is Much More Than Just the Beach

Drive two and a half hours south of New York City, and find yourself in “America's Greatest Family Resort” - Ocean City, New Jersey. During the busy summer months, the attraction of Ocean City's beaches, its boardwalk and multitude of family-friendly activities brings over one million visitors to the city.
The most important attraction in Ocean City, of course, is its eight miles of beautiful, white-sand beaches, fully staffed with lifeguards and appointed with first aid stations and emergency personnel. Parents can rest assured that everyone will have a safe, enjoyable vacation. Your family is sure to find lodging that fits your budget and travel plans. Whether you are staying for a few days or a few weeks, the variety of options ensures the right fit for everyone. Campgrounds will allow you to enjoy the wilderness; apartments and guesthouses offer privacy and space; condos and homes can be rented by the week and hotels and motels abound. For all-inclusive treatment, there are even vacation resorts specially catering to families.

After swimming and playing in the sand, kids will enjoy fishing, boating and kayaking. For drier activities, there's the boardwalk, one of the most famous in the world. This boardwalk is special not only for its history, but families can visit a number of miniature golf courses - each one has a different theme. The boardwalk's waterpark is sure to please children of all ages, especially the slides. Parents can relax in the pools or slow-moving river. Don't forget the roller coasters and amusement rides at Jolly Roger Amusement Park, Trimper's Rides and Ocean City Pier Rides. If your head is spinning from all the rides, check out the numerous arcades or Baja Amusements on Ocean Gateway for some exercise on the climbing wall.

Numerous boating outfitters like Bay Cats, FishTale Charters and Pirate Voyages provide jet skiing, kite boarding, windsurfing, fishing and even bumper boats. For indoor entertainment, visit the Ocean City Arts Center for music and dance classes, expositions and even and art camp for kids. Great shopping can be found on the boardwalk and off. Downtown is where you can find more than 100 unique shops. And casinos and nightlife in ocean city will ensure excitement after the day's adventures. Beyond the beach and boardwalk, visitors can find the Atlantic City Aquarium, Red Baron Air Tours, New Jersey Motorsports Park and Jim Thorpe River Adventures all found in Ocean City.
All that fun is sure to work up a hunger. The Downtown area along Asbury Avenue offers delicious restaurants, bakeries, candy shops, ice cream shops and cafes for a meal or a snack any time. Seafood, of course, is a popular option, but you can find cuisine options for every taste from different countries all over the world. Ocean City has become a premier destination for weddings and group vacations - it's much more than just a beach. A number of businesses offer all the services needed to create a memorable experience. And if you find yourself in Ocean City during the winter holidays, you won't be disappointed by the city's First Night celebration with parties and fireworks to celebrate in style.

Ocean City Beach was originally used by whaleman John Peck as a depot where the caught whales had been stored and the town was built up around this industry. And in 1879 four Methodist priests purchased the beach, which had come to be known as Peck's Beach- a seaside resort and Christian campus area. One of the genuine doctrines put in place by the founding four is still in place - the public drinking is prohibited throughout Ocean City, one more reason families enjoy the safety of this vacation spot.