Bay-Front Hotel Steps from Atlantic Ocean

Dating back to 1902, the Ocean City Boardwalk packs candy shops, art galleries, restaurants, gift stores, an amusement park, and even a 1912 carousel along a 2.5-mile stretch of Atlantic Ocean beachfront. While hundreds of thousands converge on the skinny stretch of eastern Maryland shore during the summer, the boardwalk has a more subdued charm during the spring, when visitors play games at several arcades, check out the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum, and snack on classic festival grub at the annual Springfest (May 3–6). Sitting near the Isle of Wight Bay just a few miles north, The Coconut Malorie Resort makes for an excellent home base for exploring Ocean City’s signature coastline.

Beyond the resort's lobby, which welcomes with marble floors, a waterfall, and a chandelier, The Coconut Malorie Resort's guest rooms come furnished with new bedspreads, curtains, and artwork. For a romantic evening, the hotel recommends staying in a studio suite for its expansive bay-front views, and those looking for extra privacy might prefer the one-bedroom suite. At the top of the five-story hotel, a tower provides sensational views of the Atlantic Ocean just two blocks east. A footbridge connects the resort to Fager's Island's entertainment complex, where DJs, live bands, and octogenarian dance troupes perform on the weekends, and diners can sample surf 'n' turf at Fager's fine-dining restaurant.

Ocean City: Quiet Marshes and Bustling Boardwalk next to Atlantic

Located on Maryland’s eastern shore, Ocean City draws crowds to its wooden 2.5-mile long boardwalk, named on a list of the "10 great places to have some fun on a boardwalk" by USA Today. There, local fisheries bring in fresh scallops, lobster, and crab, and candy shops craft creamy fudge and molasses taffy. Kids can ride the ferris wheel and play the antique clown-head water-balloon race game at Trimper's Amusement Park, which has brightened the coastline for more than 100 years.

Escape the crowds at Assateague Island Natural Seashore, a 37-mile stretch that runs from Ocean City down into Virginia. There, salt marshes and seaside forests create a scenic setting for bird watching and hiking. Since horseback riding is not permitted on the island from May 15 to October 8, the early spring is the most opportune time to see the beach from the saddle of a horse or a mobile mechanical bull.