Pull an All-Nighter in Ocean City

Maryland is a small state, but packs in large amounts of fun in its resident beach-encompassed town of Ocean City. Pack a towel and picnic every Monday and Friday and take the family to a free movie on the beach set upon a 16-foot projector. If you’re part of the younger crowd who can still stay up past midnight, head out to one of the OC’s many pubs and nightclubs where dancing, mingling, and some heart-pounding music are in order. Don’t worry, you can sleep it off on the beach in the morning while the crowds are at bay.

Photo Credit: Ocean City, Maryland (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Digital Visual Library/Wikipedia)

Ocean City (MD) or Ocean City (NJ)—Which One's For You?

So...ya wanna go to Ocean City? Or then, maybe you're thinking to head the other direction, go to Ocean City instead.

Confusing? Yeah, for anyone who didn't grow up in the Northeast, it's hard to distinguish these two beach towns—one located in Maryland, one in New Jersey. Both are family-friendly, reasonably priced as far as beach vacations go, and both cater almost exclusively to people from their own and neighboring states. So to be fair, the only people who really should be able to keep the two destinations straight are those from Delaware, the teensy state sandwiched in between—and you, as soon as you memorize our little MD vs. NJ, Ocean City crib sheet. Please see below.

Classic Americana: Gettysburg National Military Park

Site of the Civil War's greatest battle, in July 1863, Gettysburg National Military Park is where Abraham Lincoln delivered his immortal address. The park, which encompasses nearly 6,000 acres, contains over 1,400 monuments, markers, and memorials hidden across its wide expanse. A new multi-million-dollar museum and visitor center, which opened in April 2008, orients visitors to the park and Gettysburg, with historical exhibits and a massive museum collection of Civil War and Gettysburg artifacts, plus the fully restored Gettysburg Cyclorama. Gettysburg lies about 55 miles west of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and about 60 miles northwest of Baltimore, Maryland.

Photo credit: Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania (Photodisc/Getty)

Baltimore Trip Idea: Camden Yards & Orioles Baseball

Baltimore’s atmospheric ballpark, Camden Yards, is only a short walk from the city’s popular Inner Harbor shopping and entertainment district. Home ground for the Baltimore Orioles—the “O’s”—since 1992, Camden Yards is also site of the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame, Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, and 22,000-square-foot Sports Legends Museum. Head there before or after the game for a stroll through the colorful history of this sports-mad town. The Orioles, who play in the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball’s American League, start their 2010 season with a three-game away series at Tampa Bay on April 6-8; their first home game at Camden Yards is on Friday, April 9 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Photo credit: Sports Legends Museum and Camden Yards, Baltimore (Visit Baltimore)

Baltimore's Maritime Heritage

Once a center for maritime commerce, ship building, and an entry point for new immigrants, Fell's Point served as the original Port of Baltimore for over a hundred years. With a splendid collection of 18th and 19th century homes and warehouses and the city's oldest public market, it remains a vibrant waterfront community of unique character that retains a deep sense of its rich past.

Photo credit: Fell's Point, Baltimore, Maryland (Photodisc/Getty)