With 10 miles of soft sand along its free public beach, waters perfect for surfing and boating, and buckets of coastal charm, Ocean City, Maryland, has long been a top choice for summer vacation rentals. The wooden boardwalk offers quintessential coastal fun, no matter your age: classic fairground rides, retro arcade games, and spectacular views from the Ferris wheel never get old. Watch the sunset as you stroll along, frozen custard in hand. Crack open crab legs, brought in straight from the sea. End the night listening to live music as fireworks burst and crackle over the ocean. Nearby, explore enchanting wilderness on Assateague Island, where wild ponies graze. With a warm, friendly atmosphere, this small town offers plenty to do for young families, groups of friends, and couples alike.

Ocean City comes alive in summer. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, families flock into town for the sun, beautiful beach, and a lively atmosphere that includes live music every night, weekly fireworks, free movies on the beach, and, best of all, the peak of crab season. Keep in mind that it will be busy, so be sure to secure your Ocean City house rental in advance. Come at the end of September for the city’s biggest festival, where you’ll find live music, food stalls, art, hayrides, and kid-friendly activities. The weather will be cooler, but still pleasant enough to spend time walking around outside, hiking, or boating (though maybe not swimming).

Ocean City quiets down over the winter, and many shops as well as boardwalk activities close their doors. The festive season from mid-November to New Year’s sees the town turn into a winter wonderland. Things start to slowly pick back up in April, when the first warm rays of sun signal the return of beach weather.

Eat crab

Crab is a fixture of just about every menu in Maryland, and Ocean City does this crustacean particularly well. Boiled, fried, steamed, or cooked into a cake, there are multiple ways to enjoy it — and no shortage of places around town to get it fresh from the ocean. Even better: All-you-can-eat seafood buffets are something of a hallmark around here.

Assateague Island

Assateague Island, with its seemingly endless coast, feels like the tip of the world. Spend the day here exploring the untouched wilderness. But what really makes this spot magical is that it’s home to herds of wild ponies — and has remained so by being diligent about the conservation of their habitat. You can’t get too close, but seeing them gallop across the horizon and graze in the fields is pretty incredible.

Ayer’s Creek

Ayer’s Creek is a short jaunt outside of town, and is well worth it for a day of paddle boating or kayaking through salt marshes and forested wetlands. The sunsets here are pretty spectacular, as is paddling under the light of the full moon, which you can organize with tour operators on the ground.