Fishing in OC Jetty or no Jetty?

I am coming down to OC on august 11th and am looking for decent spots to fish for bass blues and fluke. Anyone have any decent areas to fish at?

Thanks!

Chris

Fishing in OC Jetty or no Jetty?

Where to start?!! Do you have surf gear? If you do the beaches in OC will probably be too busy for much of that and there are regs regarding times for that. There is a bulkhead with plenty of free fishing space on the bay side starting at 2nd st and going up to 4th st. It can be very snaggy, but there are sea bass and taug to be caught. The Indian river inlet in Delaware provides some great fishing with some good flounder and striper fishing and the state parks have some great surf fishing for blues, skates, sharks and the occasional flounder. I found that the best bet for info and gear is to visit oysterbaytackle.com. The folks there are super friendly and know the area so well and are always ready to offer info. We check that site often and Sue, the owner, puts out a weekly update on conditions, what%26#39;s biting and she also gets feedback from other bait shops and captains in the area! If you%26#39;re into great natural surf, go to Assateague Island! You can get a weekly pass to the National Seashore for $10 and if you are really into it they have a yearly pass that allows you access to beach driving and fishing away from it all. Do a search for Assateague and the gov%26#39;t site will provide the info for that. We bought that last Sept. and it%26#39;s still good to the end of this Sept when we%26#39;ll be back down trying our luck! Bottom line... Lotsa fishing to be had besides just at the jetty!!! Hope this helps!

Fishing in OC Jetty or no Jetty?

Just to let you know, that fish I%26#39;m holding in my avatar, is a 47 inch long red drum, caught in the Assateague surf last Sept!

Thanks alot! I do have korkers, a surf casting rod and a trolling rod. I have a bunch of rapala xraps and some poppers up top. I know that bass season is pretty much over and will prob catch mostly blues. Just need a decent spot to have a beer with a buddy and try to catch some fish. Also, are there any regulations on crabbing?

Crabbing regs are 5 inch point to point and the particulars of traps and such are available from the Maryland DNR web site. There is a link to that also on the oyster bay site. We do some recreational hand-lining down at Assateague on the bay, but nothing very serious. Crab Alley in west OC has them AYCE and beer too!!! We had some fun at the inlet jetty with X Raps last fall when a blue fish and mullet blitz was on! My first love is still to surf cast and the snapper blues almost always provide action! There is a small area on the other side of the rte 50 bridge called Gudelsky Park. The locals call it ';stinky beach'; and it is a popular spot for shore fishing. My wife caught a keeper flounder there on one of our fall trips. Parking is tight there. If you cross the rte. 90 bridge, you will see a fishing pier on the isle of Wight. Flounder is possible there as well as snapper blues and it is a decent crabbing spot. If you are heading west on 90, there is a light at the intersection and you turn left and follow the road to the end. You have to park and schlep equipment out to the pier, but it is a nice spot to fish. You may also run into some spot and croaker there too. Good luck!

21 on a tuesday

Hey all, I%26#39;m relatively new to baltimore and I am turning 21 in a few weeks on a tuesday. I want to celebrate as most 21 year olds do but I can%26#39;t find any places that are open on tuesday! On top of that I know nil about baltimore nightlife

Can anyone give me some advice on what to do/where to go? I was hoping to find a group of bars/clubs close together so I could walk in between them and taxi home without cutting through bad parts of the city at night on foot.

Thanks a ton!

21 on a tuesday

Visit either Fells Point or Canton Square....Probably better off with Canton Square....that is where the locals go.

21 on a tuesday

Both great suggestions also there is power plant live down the harbor.

also being in the towson area there is a group of restaurants/bars around the area of towson common movies that are all in walking distance.

Federal Hill also has a lot of bars all in one area. Many people like Ropewalk (for the lif of me I can%26#39;t figure out why, but it is absurdly popular). Happy Birthday!

Power Plant Live is the best place for someone in your age group to go:

http://www.powerplantlive.com/

Best parks for labor day big family picnic/BBQ

I am trying to figure out which parks are closest to B-more and have nice picnic/BBQ facilities (tables, grills, pavilions if possible) for about 30 people for Sat of Labor Day weekend. I don%26#39;t want to make people drive more than 15-20 mins from B-more. Anyone have thoughts on the best options? Ideally, in addition to being convenient, it would also be a pretty setting :-).

Thanks!

DCM

Best parks for labor day big family picnic/BBQ

Not sure of this is what you are looking for: Oregon Ridge, which is a straight shot up 83 North of the city is nice and has a great playground. There is also swimming, but I can%26#39;t reccomend it. If you want something closer to DC, there is Patapsco State Park with lots of little offshoots around Ellicott City and Mariottsville. Google the MD DNR site for more details. I remeber a really good playground at one of those near UMBC.

Best parks for labor day big family picnic/BBQ

Centennial Park in Ellicott City is a very large park that offers grills, pavillions, tennis and basketball courts, walking paths, a man made lake, playground equipment. In the past you needed to reserve pavillions in advance through Howard County Parks and Rec. I do not know if that has changed or not. The park is located very close to Columbia off of Route 29, 108 and Centennial Lane.

Thanks - very helpful! Will check both of these out.

baseball question

Last year I went to a game in Cleveland and there was one gate that opened before the others (left field). Does anyone know if there is a gate in Baltimore and what time it opens. What time to all gates open also. Thanks

baseball question

The Orioles have an area in center field that opens for ';bull pen'; parties, but it isn%26#39;t for everyone. You need a ticket and a party pass.

All gates open 1 1/2 hours before first pitch.

baseball question

If u r a season tix holder u can get in 2 hrs. before gametime..

6 of us will be attending games on 9/6 and 9/7. Does anyone know if I can get my hands on party passes? Any help would be appreciated.

The Eutaw Street gates open two hours before game time; all others open 90 minutes before.

jolly roger amusements

I will be going to OC the monday-friday of August 27th. It is our first time there with our 3 kids ages 6, 4, and 2. Does anyone know if the amusement place (Jolly Roger) offers a wide selection on kiddie rides. We are still at the not so fast and roundy roundy type of rides. Also does anyone know how much the rides are? I%26#39;ve been to their website but it just mentions points you may buy. How many points would a kiddie ride be? I am trying to gauge how much I think I may be spending and when the best time to go would be. I am staying at a condo on 137th street so I know it a ride to the amusements but any guesses on how long it would take?

jolly roger amusements

Hi,

My boys are 4 and 6 and Jolly Rogers is mostly a kiddie type park with mainly a kiddie land and a few adult rides. Not sure what you consider expensive, but to me Jolly Rogers is a bit pricey. With those ';point cards'; you have to buy a minimum number of points and it%26#39;s hard to even tell how much a ';point'; costs. Each ride was I think 4 or 5 points. I%26#39;m not sure what the exact prices are, but I can tell you that two years ago we rode the Jolly Roger ';pier rides'; on the boardwalk--which are owned by the same company and are the same price, and it was over $20 for 3 or us to ride the ferris wheel and for the 3 of us to ride the carousel, plus one more kiddie ride on the pier. I thought that $20 was rather expensive for 3 rides. Personally, we prefer Trimpers Rides (at the end of the boardwalk, on the street side). You can still buy tickets for the rides, and it%26#39;s $.50 a ticket, and most of the kiddie rides were 2 or 3 tickets. You can also buy a ride all day wristbad for a discounted price during the afternoon. They have an antique carousel and a ton of vintage kiddie rides in their inside, covered part of the park, and a nice selection of family rides (along with some crazy teenage rides) on their outside attractions. Because you are staying towards the end of the peak vacation season and during the week, I would guess that traffic would not be too bad for you to drive down to Jolly Rogers or to Trimper%26#39;s rides at any time of day. I would guess about a half hour or so from your condo--but we don%26#39;t stay up at that end, so maybe someone else has a better idea of the drive time... have a nice trip!

jolly roger amusements

Thank you so much for the info. I will check out Trimpers. It sounds a little less costly. May I ask where you usually stay? It is my first time in OC. A friend recommended staying above 90th. She stated it was qiueter and more family oriented then closer to the boardwalk. However, I am completely clueless about OC to begin with. Any other suggestions for what to do with small kids (especially if it rains) while we are there.

Thanks Again

We actually stay on the far end of the Boardwalk at 19th Street, but I have stayed in the condo high rises near where you are staying. Both are nice, and there is plenty to do no matter where you are staying in Ocean City. My parents (who travel with us) actually prefer to be near the boardwalk and crowds. For things to do, we always hit miniature golf one day, and take a ride on one of the speedboats (I think the Sea Rocket is free for kids 12 and under), and drive to Assateague Island to see the wild ponies right on the beach. If it rains, there is the Ocean City Lifesaving Museum at the end of the Boardwalk. It is only a few dollars to get in, and there are fish tanks and displays about the history of Ocean City. A nice diversion. This year we are going to try the Ripley%26#39;s Believe it or Not Museum (also on the Boardwalk). They are supposed to have all kinds of weird exhibits that I%26#39;m sure my 6 year old will enjoy. Oh, there is also the indoor ice skating rink in the Carousel (I think on 118th Street) which we have driven to on rainy days. You can watch people skate, and there is an arcade and an ice cream and coffee shop in the hotel. It%26#39;s not huge, but it%26#39;s better than being stuck in the condo with little kids on a rainy day!!

Thanks I appreciate your input and I am planning on having a great trip!

On the boardwalk at the Inlet (south end) there is Trimper%26#39;s rides that gear towards younger kids 4 - 10. Jolly Rogers is for more of the teen age kids with bumber boats and large water slides and so forth. I%26#39;ve been taking my 5 year old every year to Trimpers and she loves it. Each night she wants to go back and spend more of my $$. I spend about $20 bucks a night for the rides but you have two kids, so your going to spend a little more than that.

The best time to go is at dusk and it should take you about a 10-15 minute ride from 137 st.

HI We are headed down the week before you. I have a daughter who just turned 6. We always go to the rides at Jolly Roger, (28th Street )they are right by where we stay and it is a tradition! They have TONS of little kid rides ,that is what most of them are actually. And they have a special from 2pm - 6pm that is a wristband for $15.99 for unlimited rides. It is great, the kids can get on the rides as many times as they like. We get there right at 2 to take advantage of it...we only stay for a couple of hours, but we get our money%26#39;s worth:)

Have fun!

I didn%26#39;t know that beachgirl, I %26#39;ll have to take my daughter next week when I%26#39;m down there..

Thanks for the update...

Staying at Parrot Lagoon Aug 2-Aug 8

Hey guys!!!

I am coming to OC for the first time and needed a cheap place to stay with 3 of my crazy friends. The best price seemed to be Parrot Lagoon with a 1 bedroom apt and a kitchen..the price seemed pretty good. After reading some reviews now I can see why...not so good...but I figured, it%26#39;s a place to sleep...plan on being out most every day and night...and it didn%26#39;t seem like a bad location.(5th and St. Louis)

This looks to be about 3 blocks from the Boardwalk---does anyone know if that is a bad walk (distance wise???) What street does the bus go down? and does it go down to 5th street? (to go out at night to the bars further down)

Also...if anyone has ever stayed at the Parrot Lagoon or knows anything about it, I would love to hear from you! (Not too worried about loudness or partiers...cause I plan on being one of them!)

Thanks!!

Kimber

Staying at Parrot Lagoon Aug 2-Aug 8

Short walk to the boardwalk

The bus runs the length of the island - inlet to 145th street - $2 to ride all day. You definitely don%26#39;t want to drink %26amp; drive down there - not worth it.

One of the buses even goes over to west OC

Staying at Parrot Lagoon Aug 2-Aug 8

Thanks terps!!!

I was just reading my post..and it sounded kinda bad..I don%26#39;t plan on being a loud partier!!! I just plan on having fun..and don%26#39;t mind if people around me are loud!! Man I%26#39;m in my 30%26#39;s...think I may have gotten over that crazy party phase :) But I do plan on going to some bars and having a drink or two! I am really interested in Seacrets..looks like a lot of fun, and from the reviews on here it seems like the place to visit! I am really interested in lying on a float and having a drink brought to me by waitresses...what%26#39;s the best time to get there in order to get one of those floats????

Thanks for your advice!

Kimber

Seacrets opens at 11 AM. You don%26#39;t have to be there then to get a float, but the earlier the better.

Parrot Lagoon is a really great place to stay at. These are older buildings that have been remodeled and themed like the Old Key West. We are at a perfect location - less than 5 min walking distance to the beach and couple of min away from the bay and the Ocean City skate park.

Places are kept clean and we offer a limited maid service!!No other condos in Ocean City offer all linens and towel service throughout your stay!!

Another advantage that we have is that we accept pets in some of our units!

And the reason why we are very AFFORDABLE is because we feel that everybody else in town is overpriced and we feel that you do not have to spend a fortune to be able to come to the beach and enjoy the summer!

If you want to come and be loud and party in your rental unit...THIS IS NOT the place you want to be. We do not tolerate that %26amp; would ask you to leave immediately.

As for the other reviews, you have to remember that mostly those who have negative comments want to share...we have SOOOOO many happy guests, but of course no body is perfect and sometimes we slip as well.

I welcome you to come and stay at Parrot Lagoon yourself, and would you find anything wrong during your stay, please come and see managment %26amp; we will take care of any concerns that you might have!

mac rvd

Best Restaurants near Inner Harbor

We have reservations at Henderson%26#39;s Wharf for our anniversary so now all i need is two or three great restaurant recommendations and I%26#39;ll be good to go. Looking for special occasion type places with outstanding food, service and ambiance. Prefer continental or italian altho open to other suggestions. Don%26#39;t worry about the price - like I said, it%26#39;s our anniversary! Thanks as always!!

Best Restaurants near Inner Harbor

My favorite special occasion place is Kali%26#39;s Court. It is on Thames Street in Fells Point. It has great service, not too stuffy, the food is seafood with a Mediterranean touch. You will need reservations. Web sit is kaliscourt.com. Enjoy and Happy Anniversary.

Best Restaurants near Inner Harbor

While it is not Continental or Italian, in fact it could be the opposite, my wife and I love Roy%26#39;s over near the Marriott Waterfront. It is an Asian-Fusion restaurant with lots of Hawaiian influences. We have never had a bad meal there, and they have excellent chocolate souffle.

www.roysrestaurant.com

dctravel

Well, if you really want to splurge you should go to Charleston.

Pazo is good, sort of Meditteranean.

For Italian, I like Boccaccio in Little Italy.

Internet points / Wi-fi?

I won%26#39;t bore you all with the reasons, but I need to bring my laptop with me on vacation next week in order to stay in contact with ';the office.'; Where may I find internet points or free wi-fi in Ocean City?

(thanks in advance)

Internet points / Wi-fi?

Plantation Coffee has wifi as does Waterfront Market. You may actually be able to pick someones free wifi at where you are staying.

Internet points / Wi-fi?

dee dee dee..... ignore my post. I thought I was back in the Key West forum lol!

Thanks, flattop, in spirit anyways. :-) One day I%26#39;ll go to Key West. I %26lt;3 conch fritters. :-)

I%26#39;m staying in OC at my folks%26#39; place and they don%26#39;t have internet access.

Inside and outside the library on 14th St

The ';Cafee Cafe'; in Gold Coat Mall at 115th St

So many people in OC have unprotected networks, the whole town is practically a hot spot. If you are in a condo, I would just try to pick up a signal and borrow some bandwith.

The ';official'; free wi-fi, along Somerset St. downtown:

http://town.ocean-city.md.us/wifi.pdf

Buffet help

Hi all. Does anyone have info on these buffets like English%26#39;s or Embers and Jonah and the Whale. I am coming in 2 weeks by bus. I have been to Phillips so I know how nice that is. I am curious how long the lines are and what is the best time to go to the buffets. If you know the prices and locations that will be helpful too. I hope all your summer dreams come true and vacation dreams. Thanks.

Buffet help

We like the Bonfire buffet. They are one of the nicer atmospheres to enjoy dinner in. Lots of folks really like Embers. We were there on one of our first rips several years ago, and were not impressed and have not gone back, but if you read the posts here, people rate it above Phillips. I think the Phillips buffet is good, but not great. Avoid the Paul Revere buffet!!! Cheap and inedible!

Buffet help

Avoid Jonah and the Whale unless you are into large quantities of really bad food.

Also the same for Paul Revere.

But some people even after reading the bad reviews of places like this go anyway because of the price.

Amazing but true.

All depends on what type of food you are used to eating.

Phillips in my opinion is a tourist trap. The crabs they serve are not Maryland Blue crabs but rather come from southeast Asia where they have a processing plant.

Popular with tourists who settle for less.

Phillips is the best hands down for seafood buffet. I don%26#39;t care if the get their crabs from Montana as long as they have them. Besides, every buffet imports their food, they have too, to keep up with the demand

We have been to Halls years ago, wasn%26#39;t overly impressed, but have been going to Bonfire each year for the past 5 years. You have to be REALLY hungry to get your money%26#39;s worth, but for a buffett, I really think it is one of the better ones. It gets super crowded and isn%26#39;t cheap, but again, go hungy and get your $%26#39;s worth!! Bonfire had a good variety of food, seafood and carving stations, I believe it is one of the larger buffetts.

Bingo,

Whole crabs from Phillips are domestic blue crabs which come from the same places most of the other crab places get them--Maryland, the Carolinas, Florida, Louisiana, Texas. It all depends on availability at any particular moment in time. Crab*meat* used in recipes (cakes, imperial, dip) usually comes from their plants in Asia--and that%26#39;s not only at Phillips, but at other restaurants as well which use the Phillips product.

Unless an item at any restaurant specifies that it%26#39;s made with blue crab, you can pretty much assume it%26#39;s made with the Asian product.

Just got back from OC. The only buffet I ate at was recommended on this forum--

Horizon%26#39;s at the OC Clarion. It%26#39;s all the way up around 100th St., but taking the bus is easy in OC (stops on every couple of blocks--ride all day for $2)

They did not have Blue Crabs, but did have snow crab legs and claws, raw bar with oysters, clams and shrimp, crab soup, seafood newburg, several other fish dishes, prime rib, ham, veggies, rice, potatoes, nice salad bar, kid friendly fare (mac N cheese, chicken nuggets, ect), and a wonderful dessert bar. Also includes non alcoholic ceverages--sodas, ice teas, coffees.

If you like wine--BIG PLUS--Cakebread Chardonnay at only $8 a glass (WOW)

All in all a very good buffet for a great price.

Bonfire all the way!

I%26#39;ve been to many all you can eat places in OC and you can%26#39;t go wrong with many of the spots as long as the food is fresh and hot.

Phillips is my favorite but had good experience at Halls and Embers.

One spot I would stay away from and thats Pual Revears Smorgasboard. It is the cheapest $9.99 but the food was cold and looked like it was out all day, very bad. To make matters worse is that the place is in the basement of Plim Plaza...

...

Correction: The beer stores are privately owned. The liquor is controlled by the county, so visit a ';Liquor Mart'; those will always be the cheapest. There are a few other privately owned liquor stores, but they%26#39;re really expensive because they mark up above the county, since that is who they have to buy from. Luckily there is a Liquor Mart %26amp; The Village Market RIGHT in front of your hotel. Not to mention several bars within walking distance, I think you are set!

...

Oops. Meant to reply to the ';liquor stores'; thread, ah well!

Help/advice for hotel

We are a family of 5 and need a suite type hotel that is reasonably priced. Noticed the Tremont but have really read some mixed reviews. Does anyone out there know anything about this place ? Or can you recommend something ?

Thank you!

Help/advice for hotel

When are you visiting, and what do you consider ';reasonably priced';?

Help/advice for hotel

We are thinking of Labor Day Weekend (8/30-9/2) I would prefer to keep it under $200/night. I like the suite idea beacause of the 3 kids. 2 could share the sofa bed and the baby can sleep in her stroller or a pack and play. Any adivce is greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!!

Boutique Hotels Downtown

Attending conference at Sheraton Baltimore City Center and Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore. I enjoy non conference boutique hotels (example Kimpton Properties) want to stay not too far but not afraid to walk or use public transportation to the conference hotels Would be nice if had a breakfast or wine/beer hour.

Any other Baltimore insider tips would be great.

Thanks

JB

Boutique Hotels Downtown

The Brookshire is near the Lord Baltimore:

harbormagic.com/Boutique_Hotels/boutique_hot鈥?/a>

Boutique Hotels Downtown

If you like the Kimpton properties, not sure you%26#39;d love the Brookshire (it%26#39;s fine, but I don%26#39;t think it%26#39;s particularly charming or interesting).

think the Pier Five hotel is nicer than the Brookshire (it is part of the same ';Harbor Magic'; company). www.harbormagic.com/Pier5/pier5_default.asp

If you aren%26#39;t afraid to walk and don%26#39;t need a gym/etc, you could try the Scarborough B and B, which gets rave reviews and is in a nice neighborhood that is a 10 min. walk from Sheraton. tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60811-d77469-R鈥?/a>

Some insider tips:

the food in the Inner Harbor tends to be overpriced and bad - go to neighborhood restaurants for dinner instead. Top picks:

1) John Stevens restaurant - Fells Point (take a water taxi over from the Harbor). This is a great historic neighborhood to walk around in post or pre dinner as well.

2) Cross Street Market - in Federal Hill, just a 10 min. walk from Inner Harbor. Excellent for lunch, dinner, breakfast - lots of personality. Good for real crabs/crab cakes/B-more seafood.

3) The Helmand - if you are feeling really adventuresome, go to the Helman in Mt. Vernon - fantastic Afghan food and the owner is Afghan president%26#39;s Hamid Karzi%26#39;s brother!

4) Pazzo - middle eastern tapas in Fells Point

5) Crabs - For the ultimate B-more crab experience, LP Steamers in Federal Hill is a good choice - esp. if you go on their roofdeck. Canton dockside is also okay or Nick%26#39;s Fish House.

All sound great , thanks for taking the time to respond......

is it silly to look at staying at Fells and commute to the conference? Was looking at Henderson%26#39;s Wharf or Admiral Inn at Fells

Thanks

PT

The Henderson Wharf is a great hotel. Admiral Fell Inn is also very cute, but you should ask for an interior room since it can get noisy in Fells Point at night b/c of the bars (esp. if you are going to be there on a Thurs/Fri/Sat).

You could walk from Fells Point to downtown, but it%26#39;s not reccomended (it%26#39;s a long way number one and number two, you have to walk through some fairly sketchy areas).

the other option is the water taxi, which is very quaint, but don%26#39;t know if you want to rely on that for your daily transportation.

there are cabs around (although it%26#39;s not like NYC or Washington, DC where you can always easily find one on the street). You could cab it back and forth, but you might have to call cabs as opposed to just walk out and find them.

I have no idea about bus routes - that certainly might be an option.

All in all, it would be a bit inconvenient - but it depends on what your conference schedule is like. If it%26#39;s packed, I think you do better staying in Federal Hill or Pier Five and spending your nights in Fells Point. If it is pretty relaxed, you will have time to get from place to place.

Here are some more places to stay in Fells Point:

Celie%26#39;s B%26amp;B:

http://www.celieswaterfront.com/

and a couple of entire houses that you can rent by the day, week or month:

http://www.baltimore-rental.com/

Henderson%26#39;s Wharf is a fabulous property - one of the best I have ever had the pleasure to stay at anywhere in this world. The reviews really are on-target. Nice rooms, great beds and a deluxe continental breakfast included. Free parking as well. Go and eat at John Stevens Ltd in Fells Point as well, you won%26#39;t be disappointed. If you can swing it in terms of making it work regarding the location to your conference, I can confidently say that there is no nicer place in Baltimore.

Suzanne

The Inn at 2920 is a great B%26amp;B. In the Canton neighborhood on Elliott St. - very well-appointed %26amp; modern, great bkfst. Also not as expensive as many of the chain hotels in the Inner Harbor.

mac rvd

Springhill suites to Inner Harbor???

Can anyone tell me just how close or how far this hotel (says 1 mile from airport) to the inner harbor is? Or if anyone has any other ides for a suite ( 2 adults 4 kids) nearer the inner harbor? Thanks!

Springhill suites to Inner Harbor???

also came across Hampton Inn at the airport...would need 2 rooms ( they are cheaper here)....which would be closer?

Springhill suites to Inner Harbor???

Both hotels are within 1/3rd mile of each other. Springhill Suites is slightly closer--8.2 miles to the IH (driving), 15 minutes.

Also, both hotels are within one mile of the light rail, which will take you to the Harbor area in 26 minutes for $1.60.

liquor stores

Hi. I stayed in Ocean City a year ago and there was a state store by 18th street. Is that still there? Does anyone know the name? I am staying at the Spinnaker. Thanks Enjoy your Ocean City Dreams. P.S it was a small store with a big selection of beer and wine but they had sodas and teas and lemonades as well and milk and eggs and I think there was a Dunkin Donuts in the same section.

liquor stores

Yes it is still there. Bussiness is good there...

liquor stores

All alcohol stores in MD r private owned, not like in PA.. HINT..buy stuff before u get to OC, like in Cambridge/S-bury alot cheaper..

The store is called the village market

I find the cheapest place to buy liquor, wine and beer to be in West Fenwick Island, DELAWARE. I usually buy all my supplies at the Bayville Package Store (http://www.bayvillede.com/shopping/) located in the same shopping center as Smitty McGee%26#39;s.

Anyway, obviously by my avatar I%26#39;m a Captain Morgan fan. As an example of how prices are cheaper at this place, the last time I checked you can still get a 1.75L bottle for 21.99 (no taxes in DE). Go anywhere else in the OC area and you are looking at 25.99 or even higher.

thanks all so much for the great tips enjoy your summer and beach dreams

Finding a hotel room next week

What are the odds that I can find a room Aug 2 to 4, under $150/night?

Finding a hotel room next week

I would say pretty good - use some of the OC sites and shop around - We were down there last week, and I was surprised to see the number of vacancy signs all over - previous years, everything was full.

Finding a hotel room next week

'; I was surprised to see the number of vacancy signs all over - previous years, everything was full';

Those vacancy are most likey ther top dollar rooms.

But to answer the question you can find a room but it will be bayside or ocean block. You wont get ocean front rooms for $150..

Actually, Tfunky, vacancy signs were everywhere - On Parrot Lagoon, Flamingo, Tides, etc... from low end places to high end places. So, even if they were the more expensive rooms, rooms were still available at some of the more reasonable hotels. In fact, Parrott Lagoon was advertising a stay two night get one free special.

I agree,you can find rooms even during the bussiest times of the summer. I looked at the Parrot Lagoon, I%26#39;m not sold on it yet as a place I want to stay at.

I%26#39;m in the same boat as ';Work2Vacation.'; A friend of mine just told me we are going to OC from the 2-5 and he has no hotel. He thought we would just show up and find a cheap one. I have looked on line and there is nothing under $200 a night. We dont mind to stay a few blocks off the beach (dont need beach front). Any ideas of good places to check out that are budget friendly and wont be sold out when we show up on thursday the 1st.

Thanks in advance,

G Man

the Islander hotel has rates in your price range and at a good bayside location...

update on what I found: H.I. at 66th St. was booked, they said. I found a deal at Sea Bay Hotel at 60th St., room is under $150 night, but not by much

I%26#39;m here right now and have seen a few vacancies, not many.

Hey, I work %26amp; live in OC and I can tell you that the best place for informaiton is the hotel association web site. It%26#39;s www.ocvisitor.com Almost all the hotels big and mom %26amp; pop are linked there. Good luck.

which condo??

My family (with 3 kids ages 6-9) will be making our 1st trip to OC in late August for a week, renting a condo. I think we%26#39;ve narrowed it down to The Carousel, the Sea Watch, the Quay or the Antiqua (the prices were similar among them all). I%26#39;ve read what few reviews I could find on them, but was hoping for help deciding. If anyone has pros or cons between them, we would appreciate it!

which condo??

I am going to say the carousel b/c if it rains then there is plenty to do right in your resort, ice skating and very nice pools an arcade and finally and ice cram shop.

which condo??

Golden Sands is nice and has plenty to do.

Is it required to stay on the beach side?

Hotel/motel for overnight before fishing

I%26#39;m going fishing out of the Ocean City Fishing Center on Monday, Aug. 13th.

Does anyone know of a good, clean, inexpensive place to stay nearby?

Thanks

Hotel/motel for overnight before fishing

Comfort Suites and the Francis Scott Key Motel are both decent and located within a half mile of the Ocean City Fishing center in West Ocean City. Whatever you do do not stay at The Alamo!!! You will be better off just sleeping in your car.

If you don%26#39;t mind me asking, what%26#39;s the name of the boat you are going out on? I%26#39;m heading out on Fish Bonz on Saturday which is also docked at the Ocean City Fishing Center.

Hotel/motel for overnight before fishing

I%26#39;m going out on the Morningstar.

I heard about The Oceanic, but the reviews on TA vary widely from good to horrible.

Thanks

jk,stay at the sea hawk motel on 124th street,very clean and very low rates.wonderful place.

124th St. is no where near the Ocean City Fishing Center which is located across the Rt. 50 bridge in West Ocean City.

No point in staying up on the North side unless you mind the drive, I am up here and travel down there (sunset, OC fishing center) every few days. Drive can really vary on the day and time, but coming back you are sure to hit some traffic in the late afternoon. Try the Francis Scott key, there are plenty of places to eat and grab something in the morning.

Have a good trip.

Thanks everyone!

Just made a reservation at the FSK.

Now, I just have to catch some fish!

Good choice!

I just reread my original reply and it sounds like I%26#39;m going out on Fish Bonz this Saturday. Actually, it%26#39;s that Saturday before you, August 11th. The White Marlin Open is August 6th thru 10th. I hope those guys don%26#39;t catch everything and leave nothing for us!

We%26#39;re going after black sea bass.

Yummy fish!

Good luck when you go out!!!

Coming to Camden Yards from D.C.

We will be heading to Camden Yards on the MTA (train) from D.C. for an evening baseball game and I want to make sure it is as easy to get back to DC on the MTA (bus) as described on the website. Thanks

Coming to Camden Yards from D.C.

I live in Baltimore so I don%26#39;t know about the bus service to DC, but I know people take the MARC to games and they must get back somehow. The only thing I would advise is checking out where the bus leaves from when you get there. If the bus leaves 20 minutes after the game, you don%26#39;t want to be wandering around looking for it. The trains arrive behind the warehouse that%26#39;s part of the stadium. There%26#39;s a booth at the MARC stop. I%26#39;m not sure if it%26#39;s attended for games but someone should be able to tell you where to catch the bus.

Coming to Camden Yards from D.C.

Not sure the website to which you referred, but the MTA website is www.mtamaryland.com. You can also catch Amtrak from Penn Station; trains run all night.

mac rvd

any secret places with a good view, bayside or ocean?

Would love to catch a sunset on the bay for dinner or ocean side any time, with my 6 yr. old. Any suggestions for during this week mayba secret places or just not so crowded, Thanks from Youngblood and Dad :) :)

any secret places with a good view, bayside or ocean?

just wanted to add, we are staying at 80th, would love to find something away from the south end, thanks,

ps i know I ask alot :)

any secret places with a good view, bayside or ocean?

that is a tough one. BJ%26#39;S on the Water is on about 74th street and the bay. Good seafood, sandwhiches and apps. Fagers Isalnd is just south of the RT 90 bridge and has upscale and casual dining on the bay with an awesome view and they are known for their sunsets. Both places should have websites, have a great trip!

THe new Boathouse is not so crowded for the sunset, however don%26#39;t get too excited about the menu, typical bar food. But the view is great!!!!!! Seen lots of families there too.

Fresco%26#39;s at 82nd Bayside is one of our favorites %26amp; they take reservations. What 6 yr. old wouldn%26#39;t like a plate of spaghetti?

If you can break sunset watching and dinner into two separate events, you won%26#39;t get a better view and relative seclusion than what you%26#39;ll find at the end of the walkway over the water at Northside Park. Then pop over to one of the many nearby restaurants (Wharf, Blue Ox, J/R%26#39;s) for your dinner.

will agree w/ ocandhappy on this...BJ%26#39;s

but do not agree with thier team choice.. GO RAVENS

Hotel near Johns Hopkins University

The Collanade is full and I need 3 rooms with parking for 1 car for Labor Day weekend (arrive Aug 30, leaving Sept. 4). Any bright ideas?

Hotel near Johns Hopkins University

I cannot vouch fo this place since I%26#39;ve never been there, but it is right next to JHU:

Hopkins Inn

http://www.hopkinsinnbaltimore.com/

Tel: 410-235-8600

3404 St. Paul St.

Hotel near Johns Hopkins University

another option would be to stay someplace mid-town and just drive up to Hopkins (any reason you must be within walking distance of it). I would look for places in Mt. Vernon, which is far enough away from the Harbor that you won%26#39;t have to battle game/rush hour/Inner Harbor traffic every day. Probably a 5-10 minute drive to JHU. Mt. Vernon also has some nice restaurants (including the Helmand, one of the most interesting and best restaurants in the city). I would try:

-4 East Madison Bed and Breakfast (trip advisor page links below)

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60811-d313947-鈥?/a>

-Peabody Court (Clarion)

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60811-d89365-R鈥?/a>

Hotel convenient to MICA

Hi,

We%26#39;re sending our daughter off to college at MICA in a few weeks. Any suggestions for where to stay the night before orientation (Aug. 22)? We have to be at her dorm at 8AM Aug. 23 o start the move in process. Thanks for your help.

Hotel convenient to MICA

I will confess my ignorance: What is ';MICA'; and where is it?

Hotel convenient to MICA

Maryland Institute College of Art

The closest hotels that I know of would probably be in the Mt Vernon area. Here is a list. I%26#39;d mapquest them to see which is the closest to the campus:

http://www.mvcd.org/places_to_stay.aspx

Could also stay in one of the Inner Harbor hotels. Very short cab ride away.

OHTrip,

For neighborhood convenience, the Peabody Court is the choice...On the edge of Mt. Vernon Square...it is the best hotel in the neighborhood.

The downtown/inner harbor hotels are about a mile south...a little bit more...and that too is walkable, especially on Charles St. Also...the light rail runs from the western edge of downtown, on Howard St. directly to MICA...The new Hampton Inn at Camden Yards and the Hyatt Inner Harbor are quite close to the light rail...

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. I will check them out.

Maryland side of Assateague

We%26#39;ll be in Chincoteague VA in July, and we want to go to the Maryland side of Assateague as a day trip. I%26#39;m looking for the best route, and info on anything in the way of food or drink there or on the way. Any help will be appreciated!

Maryland side of Assateague

i think there%26#39;s really only one way. i%26#39;m looking at a map right now %26amp; the route numbers seem to change confusingly...but you take the only road out of chicoteague (175) %26amp; make a left just past wallops towards snow hill...proceed on 113 toward berlin. find 376 north to 611 %26amp; go east. i%26#39;d suggest mapquest for better directions but i think that%26#39;s the only way, really. can%26#39;t help with food %26amp; drink but there should be something in berlin.

the map i was looking at was one picked up at the refuge.

seems funny that you can%26#39;t drive directly from one to the other, but you can%26#39;t...even on the beach. there%26#39;s a fence on the beach at the state border...to keep the pony herds separate.

Maryland side of Assateague

Thanks! That%26#39;s kind of what I thought - just wasn%26#39;t sure.

We%26#39;ve generally taken the backroads. If I followed the directions correctly, you%26#39;d be going up 13 to Pocomoke and 113 to Snow Hill.

We normally turn right in Wattsville onto Route 679 VA / Route 2 MD towards Snow Hill. From there take 113 towards Berlin and follow the signs to Assateague.

Its a good bit shorted but I don%26#39;t really know if its quicker. There%26#39;s nothing wrong with the roads and you can make good time.

Our trip to the Assateague National Seashore was a highlight of the week. We took 175 out of Chincoteague, picked up 679/12 near Wallops, 113 at Snow Hill, 376 at Berlin, and then 611 to the site. Coming back, we picked up 113 at Berlin, and then US 13 at Pocomoke City. On the way home, we stopped at Berlin at a place called Boomers Family Restaurant for a late lunch. Good food, prices, and service.

We enjoyed the ocean view and the ponies! They were not skittish and didn%26#39;t seem afraid of the humans. We just stood and watched them at the beach. We%26#39;ll probably go back again, it was just a good experience.

condo rental advice

were trying to book a condo week of 8-12-07

ocean side a must

have looked at the carousel ???

any help appreciated

condo rental advice

You can go to Coldwell Banker web site, it will tell you what is available on the date you are requesting and prices.

bar help please

hello my husband and i are traveling from oc md to annapolis and are looking for help finding must see bars. we are staying downtown and will be walking. good happy hours, unique locations ect..whatever help would be great. thanks

bar help please

ocandhappy,

Well...the good news is Annapolis has lots of bars...so you have lots of choices.

Middleton%26#39;s is the oldest bar in town...one of those Revolutionary War places...I suppose it%26#39;s sort of a must see, but I neither like the bar or their food very much. McGarvey%26#39;s is next to Middleton%26#39;s on Market Place and is famous for things like oyster shooters. I believe Walter Cronkite is a regular...The bar is decent...but it isn%26#39;t a real old place.

A few other spots line Market Place...a nice small bar is in Maria%26#39;s...and The Federal House...a new restaurant (formerly Griffin';s) does have a spectacular old wooden bar...one of the finest I%26#39;ve ever seen. I can%26#39;t speak to the food in the restaurant...

Buddy%26#39;s Crabs and Ribs has a bar...and while I%26#39;ve gone to the occasional brunch buffet in the restaurant (not highly recommended...I%26#39;ve been dragged by groups...it%26#39;s OK)...I%26#39;ve never gone in for a drink. It is on the second level and has a view of the dock...

Across from Buddy%26#39;s you%26#39;ve got the premier meat market bar, O%26#39;Brien%26#39;s. To me...this is the greatest mystery in Annapolis...but hey...I%26#39;m not a kid...but this type place didn%26#39;t appeal to me when I was.

A few more spots as you climb Main St...but nothing especially noteworthy...the little Irish pub I%26#39;ve never managed to walk into...or the very small bar at Piccolo Roma.

A lot of ';local'; action occurs up around Church Circle...on the first few blocks of West St...the Ram%26#39;s Head...with the classic little down bar...and the big upstairs bar...and the outside sitting area and the food specials and happy hours and the nightclub...is rather popular. The rest of West St. has lots of options...the cozy atmosphere of 49 West Jazz and Wine Bar/Cafe (they have a full liquor menu...but no bar)...the hi-tech shimmer and sushi of Tsunami...and a bit down the block, Metropolitan%26#39;s glitzy rooftop bar...

Now...these are just some of the bars in this stretch...then you have Harry Browne%26#39;s and Galway Bay over near the State House...and Armadillo%26#39;s and a few others on the other side of the dock from Middleton%26#39;s....

Bottom line...you%26#39;ll be stumbling home happy.

bar help please

Don%26#39;t know where you are staying but you cannot miss ';Pusser%26#39;s'; the bar/restaurant in the Marriott waterfront. Get a table outside right next to ';Ego Alley'; the small waterway where local and visiting boats go into to show off and have a look around. Order a ';pain killer'; and you will be off to a good start.

Also the Chart House Restaurant, across the small bridge in Eastport (still Annapolis, and yes walking distance, or take a water taxi from the City Dock). Beautiful bar with awesome water and town views. A nice sophisticated place for a before dinner drink.

Ram%26#39;s Head has the best happy hour in town. $2 micro brew drafts and free munchies. It it 4-7, but try to get there before 5 for a good table. If it is nice outside, try sit out back in the beer garden.

I would also recommend going to Davis%26#39;s pub in Eastport for a more local experience.

The recommendations by the others were also great. Not a bad bar in the bunch.

mac rvd

Tobacco Prices

Any smokers know the average price for a pack of smokes in OC?

Marlboro%26#39;s here in WV are $3.35/ pk%26lt;--not complaining!

I%26#39;ll be in OC next week and need to know if it would benefit me to buy a carton here and take it down or buy them there. Thanks!

Tobacco Prices

bring em with you...you r going to pay resort prices...

Tobacco Prices

Hi Mixie424, I am from Wheeling and going down in September. Where are you staying and which route will you be driving. I have never been to OC before..

take %26#39;em with you , they%26#39;re expensive in maryland.

if you run out %26amp; want to buy a carton, it might be worth it to drive across the delaware line, MUCH cheaper!

tazlady-

we%26#39;re taking 68 to 70 to the bay bridge...thats the way we normally go. the yahoo maps/directions are pretty accurate.

We were in OC and bought Marlboro%26#39;s from our Condo%26#39;s mini market and paid a little over $5 a pack.

Thanks LStump and Everybody!

I%26#39;m off to Ocean City for a week on Sunday!! : )

Golf courses in OC

Hubby LOVES golf, so this one%26#39;s for all you golfers out there! Which courses are the best in ways of fun and challenging. Are they still open the first of October? How much does golf run around there? I know he doesn%26#39;t like to pay $100 or more for courses--if possible he prefers courses that are cheaper. However, if it%26#39;s really really special - - - . About how much do the courses run?

Golf courses in OC

I haven%26#39;t personally played any of the golf courses in this area, so I can%26#39;t offer any first hand experience, but here is a great website that lists all the courses in this area.

http://www.oceancitygolf.com/golf_courses.php

Costs can range from $30 to $125 per round. The closer the course is to the beach the more expensive and generally more difficult with narrow fairways, very rough rough and challenging greens. Lighthouse Sound, Bayside, Rum Pointe, and River Run are all very nice and challenging courses from what I hear.

Golf courses in OC

They have some nice courses down there - unfortunately Sept/October is considered the high season for golf and it is very expensive - you will have trouble finding much for less than $80.

Light house sound is the fanciest course - but it will be a least $150 on a weekend

I would recommend Baywood greens outside of rehobeth - further away - but it is worth the drive - I think it will cost around $100

Eagles landing is probably the least expensive decent course - it is owned by the city.

I think there are ways to play Ocean pines these days - it has traditionally been private - If your huisband belongs to a club at home - I think they let him on the course.

There is a new public course on Rt 50 Glen riddle - that I haven%26#39;t played yet but have heard that it is very nice

Good luck

Many thanks to both of you for the great information! That%26#39;s exactly what I was looking for--hubby is quite thrifty (and I%26#39;m the one with Scots blood! Wonder which he got his thirftyness from: Apaches or Irish %26lt;g%26gt;) I hope I can get him to play at least one nice course even if it%26#39;s around $150. Then he can play the less costly ones afterwards. Thanks again!

Baywood greens is definitely the best value. It is beautifully landscaped.

check it out

www.baywoodgreens.com

check out the pictures - it really does look like that

Bayside Links in Fenwick Isle, DE Best Golf

spinnaker

HAsanyone stayed at the Spinnaker. Which building is better. Is it clean. Any info would be appreciated Thank you

spinnaker

Going to do my best to try to help you here.......I stayed at Spinnaker for Ocean City Senior week, 1994.....At that time, it was dirty and there was a bunch of us partying at all hours. The location was good though and hopefully it is not still the same. Put it this way, I would not stay there over the age of 21. I am going to OC in 3 weeks and wouldnt even consider staying there again. I have recently stayed at Tidelands Carribean hotel and that was wonderful!!

Jenn

spinnaker

Stayed at the Spinnaker this week (July 26-30). I thought it was a nice hotel with a great location. It is a little outdated, but for the most part it was clean and the staff was friendly. The beds were comfortable, but the sofa sleepers are not. Take an air matress to lay on top of those. I had 2 adults and 3 kids in the room and it was ok. The building I was in was on the North side and I had a good ocean view from the balcony. The other side may not have as good of a view because there is a huge Holiday Inn in the way. The pool and pool deck were very nice. All in all for the price ( i compared a lot of rates) it was a good deal for being right next to the Boardwalk.

Hope this helps.

JDC

Hi. We stay at the Spinnaker every year. A lot of families and adults are usually there in July, August and September. I never had a problem I am going back next week August 12 for a week. The staff is nice. It is clean. The Cafe and their staff are wonderful. The pool is about the best in Ocean City. I can%26#39;t wait for next week. It is a block away from a huge CVS with a food mart in it. A Dunkin Donuts and a liquor store a block behind it. It is in a great location and the balconies have a nice view. It is also close to Phillips Buffet, Embers and Da VInci by the Sea Restaurant. The staff is friendly. I like it there better that some other more expensive places I stayed in other years. Enjoy your Ocean City dreams.

dog friendly annapolis?

we%26#39;re visiting annapolis for the labor day weekend with our 2 super friendly labrador retrievers. we%26#39;re going to be staying at westin annapolis (they have $159 weekend rate! plus u get 3000 starwood points as its an introductory rate for the new hotel). i%26#39;ve been to annapolis a few years back, so i%26#39;m not sure where the westin is. if i%26#39;m not mistaken is further away from the loews on west street? anyway, we need recommendation of dog friendly outdoor dining within walking distance from the westin. we%26#39;re new yorkers, so the dogs and u are used to walking for a couple of miles. your help would be appreciated!

dog friendly annapolis?

The Westin is further ';out of town'; on West Street than the Loews.

Your closest and best bet for outside dining with your dogs would be Lemongrass, which is an outstanding Thai restaurant on West Street about a block from the Westin. It is not that expensive the food is wonderful.

Your other options would be the outdoor tables on the street at many restaurants on Main Street, which is walkable from your hotel, and a couple of others. Ram%26#39;s Head on West Street also has outside dining, I have never seen a dog in their beer garden in the back, but the tables in front along West Street would probably be dog friendly (car fumes may be an issue though). You might also want to try lunch at Harry Browne%26#39;s on State Circle, which has some tables outside in front.

Since you are from New York, I don%26#39;t think that you will notice but the walk on West Street from the Westin to Main Street and the Harbor is a little rough, not really unsafe, but a few rough characters now and then.

dog friendly annapolis?

I also should have mentioned that the Westin is going to be part of the Park Place Center, which when complete will be a good thing. However, right now, there is a TON of construction going on ... I am not sure how the Westin in coping with the noise, dust, and trucks, but hopefully it will not interfere with your stay.

I have seen dogs at Rams Head Beer Garden. Good Food great place and they have water out back for the puppies.

oops sorry, Sly Fox Pub at Reynolds Tavern...Very dog friendly

We live in Annapolis and always go downtown with our chocolate lab. All the restaurants mentioned plus others with outside seating usually allow your pups to dine along side you (Middleton Tavern being the exception). By the way, many of the eateries of which there are many, do offer outside seating so there is a great selection. Keep in mind though, local laws require food to be purchased at all outdoor venues not just drink, although there are some great neighbourly places that often let you slide.

There is also a great pet shop on State Street Circle called Paws where they sell natural treats, including frozen yogurt, and have some nice pet stuff including Annapolis based items. Some stores also allow pets, Helly Hansen and Fawcett%26#39;s to name a few. Many establishments have dog bowls with fresh water out and dog treats. The neighborhood pups start salivating a couple of blocks before the store since they already know what%26#39;s to come..............

thanks you guys for the info! i have a couple of more questions actually, does annapolis get very busy during labor day weekend? and is there a crabhouse in or around annapolis with an outdoor seating/dining that would allow dogs? thanks again!

I have not noticed Labor Day being more busy than most other weekends. I would however make reservations in advance if you plan to dine anywhere more upscale.

Two nearby crabhouses nearby have outside dining (not sure about dogs though, but you can call and check). They both are a few miles out of town. Cantler%26#39;s is probably the better of the two, but it is also harder to find. Mike%26#39;s Crabhouse is the other choice.

I know for sure that Mikes does not allow dogs on their deck (we tried). I am pretty sure that Cantler%26#39;s does not either, but you may want to give them a call.

Just in annapolis yesterday for a day trip. Great dog store called Paws pet boutique. www.pawsannapolis.com. Got our boys new leashes and collars, they have plenty for the big dogs!

Where to Go Crabbing ??

Anyone know of any hot-spots to go crabbing from a pier? I don%26#39;t have a specific destination in mind, so anywhere in MD is fine.

I%26#39;m planning on doing a quick weekend trip to include crabbing and dinner at an All-You-Can-Eat Crab Shack. So if you can think of those two things nearby each other, it would be perfect.

Where to Go Crabbing ??

years ago I could go down near Talbot st and bayside and crab of a pier but you might want to scope it out before you head down there to crab to make sure it is still okay.

Where to Go Crabbing ??

If you are going to go crabbing with the idea of catching any it is best to be out before the sunrise. As the day goes on your chances of catching any goes down. I do not know of any hot spots off a pier, we have a small boat we take out when we try. Crabbing off a pier with hand lines would take patience. All you can eat crabs...I would say Captins Galley in West Ocean City. We went there last weekend and they were heavy with good flavor. Have fun!

Higgins is a good spot for all-you-can-eat. There are others you could try that have a little of everything

Halls

Embers

Johana

Phillips

best ice cream shops

We like home made ice cream no chains. Anything like that there?

best ice cream shops

Try Dumser%26#39;s Dairyland-various locations THROUGHOUT OC. It is a small chain within Ocean City, they make excellent shakes, and there ice cream is made in-store. Highly recommended!!!

Ice Cream Castle-can%26#39;t remember where it is, but they serve there ice cream in a sand bucket and you eat it with a shovel.

Marble Slab Creamery-never been there but it is on the north end on the boardwalk, very similar to Cold Stone Creamery, but Marble Slab is not a chain.

I know there is more homemade ice-cream places but I just can%26#39;t remember them all, these were the ones that came off the top of my head.

Hope this helps!

best ice cream shops

Thankx

Love Kohr Bro. on the boardwalk at the inlet. I love the consistency of their soft serve, but it%26#39;s a chain, sorry!

I love Kohr Bro. But it is custard technically and rare. They have it at the Jersey shore too, but I break my no chain for them because it is custard and we don%26#39;t have custard in NYC. Thanks for letitng me know!

I love Kohr Bros. too!! But, there a chain.

Try Beach Moose Ice Cream Parlor off of Coastal Hwy at Philadelphia Ave { I think}

There is none better than Dumsers. There are several locations, but the location up on 120th makes the ice cream on site. The place is busy during the summer, mainly because the ice cream is that good. Good breakfast and home style family dinners as well.

I can%26#39;t remember the name of the place, but it is located either under a hotel or a building and you have to walk downstairs to get to it. It is hard ice cream, and it%26#39;s great. I had a coconut with almond cone and haven%26#39;t found anything even remotely close to it anywhere.

I think I know where you mean. It%26#39;s around 13th st and also a coffee shop I do believe.

I think it starts w/ a E ???

Very good ice cream and ice cream treats

mac rvd

Food, Nightlife and things to do in general in Baltimore

I will be traveling to Baltimore on Friday, August 10 and will be there until the 13. I am visiting to see some baseball and was wondering if anyone could give me a few opinions on things to see in the area.

I am 26 and will be there with friends of the same age so we are looking for fun, but also maybe some historical/educational activities. We also want a place to visit for good eats! Any places where the food is under $25 or $30 a person would be great. We plan on spending our evenings out so if you could suggest any bars/clubs that would appeal to a group in their early to mid 20%26#39;s. It would also be nice to know where the locals go to party and eat!

I think we are staying at the 4 Points by Sheraton so any suggestions closer to this location, the better. Thanks for the help.

ps - Is Pickles Pub or Looney%26#39;s Pub good for a pre or post game rendezvous? Any suggestions for a nearby place to get a bite and a beer before or after the game would be helpful.

Food, Nightlife and things to do in general in Baltimore

Fells Point for nightlife and try Canton area

Pickles for game drinks

Food, Nightlife and things to do in general in Baltimore

historical/educational activities:

There is the Maritime Museum int he Inner Harbor Area- it%26#39;s made of a bunch of boats and other stuff that you can visit and tour:

http://www.baltomaritimemuseum.org/

The USS Constellation in the Inner Habor. You can%26#39;t miss it! They give tours of the ship.

http://www.constellation.org/

The Fells Point GhostWalk (this givesa good history of the neighborhood, plus it%26#39;s fun):

http://www.fellspointghost.com/

Frederick Douglass Isaac Myers Maritime Park: This is in Fells Point as well- it%26#39;s a new museum that has just opened!

http://www.douglassmyers.org/

Cheap food- there are LOTS big chains like Chipotle in the Inner Harbor, but I wouldn%26#39;t go to those.

I%26#39;d try:

Jimmy%26#39;s (diner in Fells Point that is a local institution.It%26#39;s super-cheap too!).

…metromix.com/restaurants/…7071616.story

Kooper%26#39;s tavern inn Fells Point:

http://www.koopers.com/

Burritos En Fuego:

http://www.burritosenfuego.com/

The cheapest eats are at the food markets - I would go to the Cross Street Market in Federal HIll neighborhood (walking distance from Camden Yards), pick up some eats and then have a picnic in Federal Hill Park, which has the best view of the Inner Harbor.

If you like art, the park is also right next to the American Visionary Arts Museum, which is kind of like ';Art Gone Wild'; - www.avam.org

Federal Hill also has some good bars like Mothers or Ropewalk, but Fells Point is definitely the neigbhorhood for a full-on pub crawl.

John Stevens in Fells Point is good for seafood and also has a nice nneighborhood bar that would be a good place to start off a night of pubbing.

Go to Canton one night and have dinner at Nacho Mama%26#39;s, very fun, try a Natty Boh or hub cap margarita. You can party there after. If is is nice, you can go to a great Friday HH at Bay Cafe by the water off od Boston Street in Canton.

Fed Hill is the other side of the party scene for your age group.

The Visionary Arts Museum is cool.

If you are eating in Little Italy, Amici%26#39;s bar is low key with good Italian and go to VACARRO%26#39;s for dessert in Little Italy or Canton.

First, don%26#39;t forget Fort McHenry as far as historical stuff goes. It%26#39;s worth seeing.

Second, the show ';Menopause: the Musical'; will be playing at the Hippodrome during the time you%26#39;ll be here. I don%26#39;t know if it%26#39;s any good but, if you want to see a live show, it might be worth checking out. There is also Toby%26#39;s Dinner Theater. I don%26#39;t know what they%26#39;ll be playing during the time of your visit but, it might be worth checking out. I went to the one in Columbia to see ';Beauty and the Beast'; and they did a great job. They had an excellent buffet and the show was super.

I am around your age, and would suggest going to Federal Hill for nightlife. Canton, on the other side of the harbor, also boasts a vibrant nightlife. The crowd, however, is a bit older.

I would not get talked into going to Power Plant Live. It%26#39;s an area with lots of clubs, just very college-ish crowds.

Public transit/MARC to aquarium or cheap parking?

We visited the aquarium and were shocked to spend about $38 on parking! This was for a visit on a Sunday from about 3 to 8 p.m. Are there any good deals on parking near the aquarium? As an alternative, can I take MARC from Union Station DC to Camden Yards and walk? Is it safe? I would be alone (I%26#39;m a woman) with a 5-year-old and a baby. Is this okay or a bad idea? I know there is bad crime in parts of Baltimore.

Public transit/MARC to aquarium or cheap parking?

Everything in that area- around Camden Yards and the Inner Harbor is safe- tons of people. You won%26#39;t have a problem, and it%26#39;s not a long walk.

There is no cheap parking near the aquarium- if you can take the MARC conveniently, then you should!

Public transit/MARC to aquarium or cheap parking?

Note that MARC only runs Monday-Friday, with the Camden line only running during the morning and afternoon rush hours.

There is cheap parking to be had on the fringes of Little Italy, a 10-minute walk to the aquarium---unmanned surface lots charging $7-$8 in the block bounded by President St., Eastern Ave. %26amp; Albemarle St. (two blocks down from the big garage at Pratt/President, which I believe charges ~$14). But get there early and bring exact change to stuff into the box.

http://tinyurl.com/2appsc

If you want to save money, you might want to use the Light Rail line from Cromwell Station in Glen Burnie to Camden Yards. Parking is free there and an Adult round-trip ticket is $3.50. Trains leave every 30 minutes. On Sundays, they start running at 10:30 a.m. and go till 9 p.m.

There is also free parking just north of Little Italy in the new townhome development. It%26#39;s right across President Street. Just be sure to leave by dark!

marriott waterfront or renaiaaance harborplace hotel?

which hotel is nicer (cleaner, newer) and which is in a better location. which should i stay at

marriott waterfront or renaiaaance harborplace hotel?

I haven%26#39;t heard of any cleanliness issues at either property - have your checked the reviews here on TA?

Marriott Waterfront is newer, but I would prefer the ';right in the middle of things'; location for the Renaissance over the ';still near everything but not quite in the middle of things'; location of the Waterfront. Just my opinion. I don%26#39;t think you can go wrong with either place.

marriott waterfront or renaiaaance harborplace hotel?

The Renassiance just underwent a $15 million renovation. Marriott Waterfront would probably still be my hotel of choice.

Hotels on O'Connell Street

My family and I will be visiting Baltimore and will be staying at a hotel on O%26#39;Connoll St. . Can anyone tell me if this is a safe area? I am concerned. I Have been hearing that outside of the Inner harbor it is not that safe.

Hotels on O'Connell Street

I%26#39;m assuming you%26#39;re staying at the Best Western. Now it%26#39;s not a place I would recommend at all, not the neighborhood. It%26#39;s in a truck stop, with public housing up the street.

But having said that, Johns Hopkins Hospital apparently recommends it for their patients and visitors and at least one person posted here a couple of months back that it was ok.

Whether or not you want to take you family on vacation to a hotel in a truck stop with a bus station in the lobby is up to you. Check out the reviews here on TA to come to a decision.

Hotels on O'Connell Street

thank you for your reply about the Best Western. They make it look so nice on the their site. Although, that answer is exactly what I needed to know (the surroundings). A truck stop.. Oh no way! My family is not staying there. Do you personally know of any hotels that are nice in that area but will not break the bank!!!! Thank you.

Tell us a little about your visit - are you coming to Baltimore to be near something specific, or is this for general sightseeing and you%26#39;re trying to avoid the high prices of the downtown hotels?

We have always gone to Baltimore every year but the last stop was about 9 years ago. We stayed at the Innercontinental every year. Although, I have been told that it is getting a little ';seedy'; outside the harbor.. I only want to go and do stuff with the kids inside the Harbor (sightseeing). Although, I do not want to pay $200 for a hotel.. Best Western is $122.00 a night. There must be some good areas and nicer hotels less than that outside the Harbor.. Or, maybe not?

Hi Irish Fan! Well, we didn%26#39;t stay at the Best Western on O%26#39;COnnell Street. Let me tell you I am soooo glad we didn%26#39;t after driving by it. We stayed at the Sheraton Inner Harbor (yes, we paid a lot more) but it was well worth it! Just to know that we could walk to the Inner Harbor by feet and not car was a piece of mind for our family. We had a beautiful view of the harbor from our room. The Best Western was surrounded by cemetary%26#39;s and a lot of industry.. It was very far from the Harbor. I would of not been happy if we stayed there. I am not saying that it is not a safe hotel or anything like that. It just is not what I thought I booked.. Glad we changed our minds. It was a nice few days just hot and very crowded.

Travel from Owings Mills to Inner Harbor and/or Camden Yards

I will be a visitor to Maryland traveling for work purposes and staying in the Owings Mills area. Arriving at the hotel early to mid afternoon the day before my commitments for work, I would like to explore the Inner Harbor area even for a short time and be back at the hotel before nightfall. This may be the only time I can travel about the city during day hours till I leave for home, so would like to take advantage of the few hours I have the day I arrive in Baltimore. I am not familiar with the area, but have a pamphlet that indicates the Metro Subway rides from Owings Mills to Charles Center, which seems to be the closest to the Harbor. I have been advised not to stop at Lexington Market due to the roughness of the area. I do not even know the travel time between areas. Is this a doable excursion, albeit short? Any suggestions or words of wisdom?

Travel from Owings Mills to Inner Harbor and/or Camden Yards

It%26#39;s a 25-minute ride from Owings Mills to Charles Center, the trains run fairly frequently (no fewer than four every hour), and you can%26#39;t beat it for $1.60. You will want to use Charles Center as it is closest to most of what you%26#39;ll likely want to see at the Harbor.

The Lexington Market area is not all that bad--well, not to the extent that you should feel uncomfortable there during the daytime (which seems to be when you%26#39;ll be making your trip into town). But the only reason to stop there is for the market itself. If you have no interest in a classic, big municipal market--or are traveling on a Sunday, when it%26#39;s closed--it%26#39;s a non-issue.

The Metro line does go through some not-so-great areas, but there%26#39;d be no reason for you to be getting off at any of them. Enjoy your excursion.

Travel from Owings Mills to Inner Harbor and/or Camden Yards

Tubman, thanks so much for the info. Very helpful and encouraging. I do not want to miss some of the sites of Baltimore. The training I am attending lasts till 5 p.m. each day so does not leave much daylight hours for sightseeing.

The one reason that I would have stopped at the Lexington Market would be to stop at Faidley%26#39;s, where there is supposedly good fish and seafood served to the public. I want to see the sights at Inner Harbor just as much, so may make the choice for Inner Harbor.

Again, thanks for your assistance.

oc groceries scam

A couple of weeks ago I posted asking if anyone knew of a grocery delivery service available in Ocean City. I knew other%26#39;s who had done it at other resorts and loved it. Someone did a Google search and came up with www.ocgroceries.com. He took the site down last night. It looked legit and was a secure site so I ordered groceries to be delivered the day I arrived in OC to my rental. They charged my credit card 4 days before my arrival but never delivered the groceries. I spent a huge amount of my vacation last week on the phone and visiting with my bank and the police. I was informed by Worcester County Sheriff%26#39;s Dept. that there were also several other victims. If this has happened to anyone here I have all of the information you need to pursue getting your money back from this man including a name, business and home address, and phone numbers. I will be glad to share this info to anyone who was also victimized by this guy. This was the first time in my life I was scammed and it%26#39;s not a good feeling.

oc groceries scam

Well, the good news is their website seems to be dead at the moment, so it looks like you can%26#39;t order through them if you wanted to. And since it%26#39;s credit card based, non-delivery of goods for those who already have ordered is a pretty solid case for getting a chargeback from your credit card carrier.

oc groceries scam

';They charged my credit card 4 days before my arrival but never delivered the groceries. I spent a huge amount of my vacation last week on the phone and visiting with my bank and the police. ';

Next time (hopefully there won%26#39;t BE a next time, this advice is really for others!) just dispute the charge with your credit card company, no need to spend precious vacation time with police or your bank. Just dispute the charge.

Yes, I think I am protected by my credit card company but that%26#39;s not the whole issue. This guy shouldn%26#39;t be able to get away with this. I also filed civil charges and am willing to make another trip down to O.C. for the hearing so he understands that. He was given the chance by the deputy to make amends and chose not to. If he would have shown some kind of remorse or willingness to make it right I would have left it go. He%26#39;s obviously a creep. There definitely won%26#39;t be another time, hopefully for him either.

The website is back up. Please do not order anything from this website.

thanks for the info, but maybe next time bring your on food or go to the store personaly.

I think I already figured that one out. I already feel pretty stupid but have heard other%26#39;s who have used these kind of services and they worked out very nicely. All I was getting was enough for breakfast and lunch the next day so we wouldn%26#39;t have to run right out when we got there after a very long drive. I didn%26#39;t have room in my vehicle to bring them with me. Thanks for the tip though. I%26#39;m sure I will do it your way the next time.

don%26#39;t feel stupid, I%26#39;ve also heard of other people who ordered groceries on vac. not in OC. I looked at web site and almost did it my self

Just curious tanbec, when you discovered your groceries were not delivered to your rental, and I am assuming you called to find out where they were; what was the response as to why they had not been delivered?

I called the business several times and there was no answer. The voicemail picked up and said the mailbox was full. It was full until the day I left which was about 5 days that I tried. I managed to get his cell phone number and he denied being the owner of OC Groceries.

Thanks JR. I do a lot of online shopping and this has never happened before. I made sure it was a secure site but learned later that doesn%26#39;t mean anything. I just dealt with a very dishonest business that steals from innocent people. It does make me feel stupid that I could be so naive but appreciate you trying to make me feel better. If nothing else comes of this I hope people on this forum will see this and pass the word around so he can%26#39;t steal from anyone else. I do however intend to come back to OC to follow through on the charges I filed.

mac rvd

annapolis beaches?

We will be spending a few days in Annapolis and my partner wants to spend a few hours on a beach. Are there any good beaches close to Annapolis? We will be staying at the Marriott Waterfront.

annapolis beaches?

Annapolis is a port town as opposed to a beach town. So there are not allot of beach options.

The only real public beach is Sandy Point State Park, which is about 15 or 20 minutes away (however, it is close to the Bay Bridge and eastbound traffic can be very bad at afternoon rush hour, when ocean beach traffic is heavy, or if there is accident on the bridge). Sandy Point State Park is on the Chesapeake Bay so there are no waves, plus you have to worry about jelly fish at times. However, it is relatively large area and you have a cool view of the Bay and the Bay Bridge.

To get to an ocean beach, it is a 2 to 3 hour drive to Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany, or Ocean City. However, beach traffic can double the driving time if you go at a peak time and there are back-ups.

penthouse or terrace suite at HI

I am wondering if anyone knows of a penthouse suite or a terrace suite with private outside hottub at the HI and suites on 17th. My sister and I are looking for a luxury suite for New Years Eve for us and our husbands(no kids).

I have looked at their website and there is no mention of them and I called the hotel and a lady sent me a brochure and it does not say anything either. I don%26#39;t think she understood what I was saying. She may have been very busy at the time.

Also as far as I understand is the Hilton completely non smoking? I have info on their terrace suite but we need a smoking room or at least be able to smoke on the balcony.

Any info would be great. Thanks

penthouse or terrace suite at HI

I ran into the same thing at HI. From what I remember only a manager can rent the special Penthouse. They would not give me any info on it on over the phone. When I was there last year I asked about it but the manager wasn%26#39;t around to help me. I%26#39;m not too sure why all the hush hush about it but I know I%26#39;ll never stay in it.

penthouse or terrace suite at HI

Thanks flattop,

it does seem sorta strange. I guess we will go with the Hilton which looks a little nicer and the lady I talked to there gave me all kinds of info on their specialty suites.

The new Hilton Suites on 33rd has the rooms you are looking for.

Thanks Sunlver we have in fact booked a regular suite and a terrace suite at the Hilton. Should be lots of fun. I don%26#39;t want summer to be over but we are now counting the days untill New Years!!!!!

Have a great time sailorgirl. We booked a regular suite for Sept1-5 hoping to get an upgrade upon arrival to a corner suite...keep your fingers crossed.

Highlights of our 2007 OC vacation

We just got home Friday night from an enjoyable week at Ocean City. I%26#39;m still on a high from the great week we had and wanted to share some highlights with the forum. I also would like to hear about everyone else%26#39;s summer visit to OC this year.

This was the 7th time in OC for my wife and I, the 6th for our daughter, and the very first time for our daughter%26#39;s best friend. Our 22 year old son did not make this trip, as he is in college and working away from home this summer.

Outside of a couple storm scares, the weather was perfect ... the sun was bright and hot, and the breeze on the beach always kept it fairly comfortable. We stayed at the Grand Hotel at 21st/Boardwalk and were very pleased with the positive changes that have been made since our last stay in 2003. The workout room and game room are much improved, and all the shops, lounge, pizzeria, and ice cream store keep the boardwalk area pretty busy until late at night.

Our dining highlights included our all-time favorite Phillips Crab House, Shenanigans, Dumser%26#39;s, and Brass Balls, as well as first-time visits to Tony%26#39;s Pizza, Seacrets, and DaVinci%26#39;s. We went to DaVinci%26#39;s because of the recommendations I had read on this forum, and we were certainly not disappointed. Although we have always enjoyed the Phillips buffet, it seemed to be even better this year. I had read some critical comments on the forum, but in our opinions, Phillips is better than ever!

But the most memorable moments of our trip had to be our first parasailing experience! My wife rode along as an observer, but my daughter, her friend, and I all flew high over the Atlantic for the first time. It was unbelievable! I have always wanted to do it and decided this was going to be the year. I didn%26#39;t know until later, but my daughter and I both had parasailing on our ';Things to do before I die'; lists. Hopefully, we will both get to experience it a few more times while we are on the planet!

I am also hoping that it won%26#39;t be another 4 years before we return to this special place. I%26#39;d like to go back next week!

Highlights of our 2007 OC vacation

tkop

Thanks for taking the time to post your trip report.

Glad to hear all went well.

Sounds like you had a great time from staret to finish.

And to add the parasailing well good for you both!

I love when a story has a happy ending glad to hear your family and friend had a safe and enjoyable time.

Don%26#39;t wait 4 years life is to short for that and the years fly by much to quickly.

Enjoy the rest of the Summer and again thanks for sharing.

Highlights of our 2007 OC vacation

so, where do you parasail? what was the name of the company you used and where is it located?

We went to OC Bayside Rentals at Dorchester St. and the bay right next to the Marina Deck restaurant. There are a few other companies in that area that offer parasailing, but OC Bayside had the best prices and a very nice boat and equipment. Based on our experience, I would highly recommend them.

Where to stay late Sept?

Hi,

I%26#39;m planning a trip down to Ocean CIty Sept 29-Oct 1%26#39;s. (we%26#39;re hitting an Orioles game on the 28th). We%26#39;d like a hotel with an indoor %26amp; outdoor pool (incase its too cold to swim). We%26#39;d also like to be on or very close to the boardwalk with an ocean front room. This will be our first trip down so we are really not sure which is the best hotel/ cleanest hotel/ nicest hotel around. Any suggestions would be great. Oh and not that money is not a concern but during our travel dates everything seems to be pretty reasonable.

Thanks- kim

Where to stay late Sept?

Kim...

We%26#39;re staying at the Hilton Suites on 33rd Street the first week of Sept. It%26#39;s looks really nice and hasn%26#39;t gotten very good reviews. They have all the requirements you are asking for.

Where to stay late Sept?

We are staying at the Hilton Suites the 3rd week of September. A friend has stayed there in the summer so I am hoping it is nice for mid September. I did do some research and it seems that many things are closed at this time: the Jolly Roger park, Pier rides.

If anyone has any comments on what there is to do with little kids in mid September in Ocean City, MD, I would really appreciate it.

Anywhere to go if it rains? other ideas?

Kids are 4 and 19 months old. Thank you !!

The Commader Hotel on 14th and boardwalk is a great hotel with a nice size indoor pool.

Check out the Holiday Inn on 17th street, very nice newer hotel with nice indoor pool.

Thanks everyone- I took your advice and booked the Hilton. :) thanks for all your help!

beach suggestions?

I realize that this is not the appropriate forum for my question (I%26#39;d welcome referrals to other forums), but I%26#39;ve been on here for the last few months gathering info. for our recent stay in OC and appreciate the knowledge and helpfulness of those who post here.

Next summer I would like to go to a beach in a more southern location. I want to avoid someplace huge (such as Myrtle Beach or VA Beach). I%26#39;d also prefer something smaller than OC - more on the order of the size of Dewey/Rehobeth. It doesn%26#39;t matter if there is a boardwalk. I just want a nice clean beach and good (not necessarily expensive) places to eat.

Have any of you gone to a beach such as this, or had a friend who raved about a place they visited? TIA for your anticipated suggestions!

beach suggestions?

I always liked Clearwater Beach,FL. It is small, not as packed as OC.

beach suggestions?

Not sure how far south you%26#39;re looking to go but I just came back from Treasure Island, Florida. It was BEAUTIFUL!!!

I wholeheartedly sp? agree with the last 2 posters. Clearwater to Treasure Island to St. Pete is great! If you can fly from Philly--airfare is always cheap. Car rental (which you need) is cheap too. Hotels or condos cheaper than OC. To me -- much nicer beaches and water that you can swim in! Hardly any waves. AND IT IS WARM! Not freezing like OC. Now this entire area is not a party place like OC. There are only a few areas of this whole entire part of the Gulf Coast that you can walk to bars and restaurants. Clearwater Beach, Treasure Island and St Pete Beach. And Indian Rocks to an extent. Clearwater to Indian Rocks is my fave. Google like crazy. PM me if you need help. I know it can be confusing.

Thank you all for your replies.

I%26#39;m looking for some ideas that would be a little closer north (somewhere between MD and SC). I guess that leaves VA and NC. I probably should have expressed that in my original post. I apologize.

Your suggestions sound great, and I%26#39;ll keep those in mind for when I retire (!) and can go before summer really starts! The last time we went to FL, it was in early June and extremely hot. (Much like it is in PA right now!) Jumping in the pool provided NO relief because it was like bath water. We ended up cutting our vacation short because we were just so miserable. It just makes me a little leery of going to FL in the summer!

atlantic beach NC--quiet wide beaches we stayed at Peppertree, now called Atlantic beach villas I believe. Very peaceful

atlantic beach NC--quiet wide beaches we stayed at Peppertree, now called Atlantic beach villas I believe. Very peaceful

A great place that we just love is Avon NC. The beaches are very rarely crowed. Also having a beach house right on the beach is so nice and calming. Some days we actually never move off the deck. Just watch the waves roll in one after the other.

Avon is nothing like Ocean City or the other beach towns further up in NC. Avon is located on Hatteras Island. There are not t-shirt shops on every corner or putt putt for that matter. It%26#39;s a place to go to to get away from everything.... a true relaxing vacation.

come to Maine....either Old Orchard Beach or Ogunquit. MAINE IS BEAUTIFUL IN THE SUMMER!!! Come in August...great weather!

How about the beaches in North Carolina:

-Kure Beach

-Carolina Beach

-Wrightsville Beach

-Topsail Island

-Topsail Beach

-Sunset Beach

Those are all pretty nice. They are clean, not crowded (in comparison to MB, VA Beach and OC) The beaches that are closer to Wilmington will be better for more dining options. Kure beach is great because of the Aquarium there if you have kids and then the Battleship is near there and several other attractions.

The water is a lot more calm in NC beaches than OC as well. The sand is flatter without many dunes like in MB similar to VA beach but even more firm.

Hope this can assist you.

playinthesun - You won%26#39;t get any argument from me! I love the New England area (especially Maine). My daughter goes to college in Mass. though, and after heading north 2 to 3 times a year, I really feel the need to change direction for the summer! Also, I%26#39;d like to go on this vacation in early summer, and have already had the experience of shivering on a Maine beach in June!!!

To everyone else - Thank you for your helpful suggestions. I will put them on my possibility list for further research.