where would you recommend. Virgina Beach or Ocean city

I was wondering about opinions between Virgina Beach and Ocean City Maryland. We are a family of 5 looking for a safe place with a nice beach and a hotel on the ocean. Like to go for walks at night and take the kids for treats. Kids like mini golf, waterparks and some ice cream and different type of treatplaces. Adults some times like to go out for a drink and listen to music at a nice safe type of bar. Where are we more likely to find that.

where would you recommend. Virgina Beach or Ocean city

They%26#39;re both pretty comparable in terms of the activities you%26#39;re interested in. But you%26#39;re asking in the Virginian forum, so I would expect most of your answers here will be for Virginia Beach. ;)

Virginia Beach also has some kind of free concert going on every weekend during the summer on stages along the boardwalk. You might find an interesting event that is going on during the time you%26#39;re planning to be there:

beacheventsfun.com/beachstreetusa_web_site_0…

Also consider transportation. Are you going to fly? Norfolk International is convenient to Virginia Beach (17 miles). BWI looks like it%26#39;s the closest major airport to Ocean City and it%26#39;s 140 miles away.

where would you recommend. Virgina Beach or Ocean city

Thanks for your reply. We are actually driving from Ontario, Canada so Ocean City is about 3 hours closer but if Virginia Beach is alot better I would drive the extra hours. if they are similiar I would go to Ocean City.

Virginia Beach is in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest boardwalk. There are several small stages here and there...specific spots only, all very organized and nice...for nightly entertainment. There%26#39;s Beach Street USA for entertainment up and down the street from 17th up many blocks on Pacific.

The beach is very very wide and in some areas it seems like most of it doesn%26#39;t even get used it%26#39;s so wide.

There are occasional larger concerts on a big stage they set up on the very southern end...some big names.

There seems to be a show or festival nearly every weekend...not overpowering and can be so low key one isn%26#39;t even aware unless one wants to be.

There are also sports events like soccer championships, the East Coast Surfing Championships, a life guard sort of megathon that is interesting, as well as craft shows, art shows, sand scupting, etc.

VB is a very big busy city inland. That%26#39;s one differnce to OC. If you like, you can take the shopping trolley inland to the stores and restaurants. We like to go to the shops and restaurants and movies we don%26#39;t get in our own area when we go there.

In town is also a beautiful Town Center to explore.

VB has lots of natural area as well a historic and cultural and fun too, including baseball nearby.

We used to go to OC/Bethany/Rehoboth, etc. many times during the summer when we lived up that way. I don%26#39;t know how the boardwalk is now in OC. It used to be the spot for the souvenir shops, thsirt shops, sand crabs, hairbraiding, etc. The boardwalk in VB is not like that. The next street off the beach has those shops in some areas.

In VB the boardwalk is wide and white and concrete. It is perfect for moms and baby carriages with those big tires; for skating and bicycles and walking and wheelchairs. People jog on the boardwalk or on the sand. Part of the boardwalk is a two lane area surrounded by sea type plants. In this quaint area one sees the bicycles with those little baby trailers (containing human or canine children), old fashioned bicycles and tandem bicycles, all for rent. This is also where the carriages with the canopy and fringe travel. These carriages are propelled by pedals and can hold two or an entire family.

VB is very family oriented...even to the no-cussing signs and noise ordinance.

Do check on the column on the left here....';Know Before You Go'; ';Virginia Beach Overview';, etc.

Check here for a plethora of other replies to your question:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/SearchForums?ff=62%26amp;geo=28967%26amp;scope=2%26amp;q=ocean+city%26amp;returnTo=%2FShowForum-g28967-Virginia.html%26amp;x=16%26amp;y=6

That entire thing was intended to be highlighted but you can just drag and paste the entire thing to your bar and you%26#39;ll get the info.

Here%26#39;s some more stuff....Family Travel:

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g58277-s401/Virginia-…

Well, I am going to be different and say - Ocean City, Md. I like them both, but I know my kids always have enjoyed OC more.

virginia beach is more for adults. quiet! not much for little children to do here. ocean city is better for children but more crowded. va beach is lovely for these reasons. boardwalk is beautiful but again quiter, depends on your preferance. you have to drive to water parks. my choice at 50 is va. beach

I%26#39;ve never been to either location, but I%26#39;m planning a trip to VB and I could be wrong, but from what I%26#39;ve read so far it seems that VB is geared towards the family vacationers. If end up going to VB you can make a day trip and drive to Bush Gardens in Williamsburg VA, which according to Google maps is only one hour drive each way.

I have vacationed in Virginia Beach twice and went last year in Sept. to Ocean City. They are worlds apart in differences. Hands down Virginia Beach wins.

They are extremely family oriented and have the nicest beach between the two. The boardwalk is much nicer and the bars and restaurants cannot be beat.

I was not in Ocean City in prime time summer months but they say traffic is bumper to bumper in those months. It is also a high traffic area for High-School and College kids - thus more a party atmosphere

Just about every corner in VA Beach has some kind of entertainment going on along with bands playing outdoors on the boardwalk in the evening. Stores are open really late if not all night. To me there is no comparison between the two - I know I would not go to Ocean City again.