When the summer rolls around, head to the Ocean City Beach for sun, sand and surf. Running along the entire 10-mile-long east coast of the island, you're sure to find the perfect spot to spread your towel. If you're looking for a rowdier atmosphere, recent travelers recommend sticking to the southern end of Ocean City, where the neighboring Boardwalk makes for great people watching and seafront dining. For a quieter, family-friendly beach, head north past the Boardwalk; although there are fewer amenities here, you won't have to deal with the hustle and bustle of passersby.

"Rehoboth and the Jersey beaches just can't touch Ocean City for beauty, safety, and cleanliness, and the city itself is also great: lots of free parking, friendly people, and excellent restaurants," raves one TripAdvisor user. The beaches are free and open to the public between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.; lifeguards patrol the beaches between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. You can find easily accessible public restrooms nearby along the Boardwalk.

Even if you're only passing through Ocean City, you can't help but spend time on the boardwalk. This kitschy three-mile long pedestrian route is flanked by soft sand and the Atlantic on one side and a mish-mash of hotels, eateries, souvenir shops, bars and rides on the other. Most of the area's popular sites can be found here, including Ripley's Believe it or Not!, the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum and Trimper's Rides and Amusements.

Recent visitors praise the Boardwalk as an idyllic vacation spot for kids, citing the arcade games and amusement park rides as particular highlights. Many also said it's a great place for people-watching and suggest grabbing an ice cream and finding a bench to relax on. So whether you're looking to nosh on famous Maryland blue crabs, see a shrunken head, ride a roller-coaster or party the night away, this is the place to go. Those with pets should note animals are prohibited from the Boardwalk from the beginning of May until the end of September. For more information, check out the Boardwalk website.

If the Boardwalk doesn't satisfy your yen for spending, the Ocean City Factory Outlets should do the trick. Located on the mainland just north of the Ocean Gateway, this sprawling outdoor shopping center boasts popular stores such as Aéropostale, Gap, Nautica, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Pac Sun. There are also plenty of places to eat here, making it easy to spend several hours perusing and purchasing.

The outlets open their doors from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. The outlets hours vary during the winter months. For more information, check out the official website.