Ocean City Beach

Fifteen kilometres of wide, fine-sand Atlantic beach, the only ocean-front beach in Maryland and the engine of the town's entire economy. In summer the resident population of roughly 6,900 swells past 345,000, briefly making Ocean City the second most populous place in the state, and the police department expands to more than 1,000 officers to match. The southern end near the boardwalk is the busiest; walk north past the high-rise blocks and the crowds thin out considerably.

The beach has been eroding since the 1990s and is renourished at a cost of millions of dollars on a recurring basis. Shark sightings offshore have become more frequent in recent years.

Good to know:

• Beach access points and street-end showers run the length of the island
• Lifeguards are on duty in summer during daytime hours only
• Free beach access; the cost is parking