Girlfriend and I want to take a weekend beach trip to Ocean City, Maryland, or nearby beaches such as Dewey or Rehobeth, in that general area. We probably won’t be able to get away until late August or early September - I figure September would be best anyway – kids back in school. We want a motel/hotel with a pool (a hot tub would be nice, but not a requirement), and some nightlife. The nightlife aspect is where we really need advice. I’ve been to Seacrets in O.C. twice and wasn’t impressed. We want (I think) a more, oh, upscale, shall we say, place where we can drink, dance, and have fun. We’re in our 40’s and aren’t interested in partying hardy with 20-somethings, but we’re not ready for the geezer crowd either. Ideas?
Dear Sycorax –
I don’t know if I can answer your specific needs (post 20-something, pre-geezer dancing), but I can give you some general advice, and you can take it or leave it. 
FYI, I’m 32, so I’m in that range of what I think you’re looking for.
I’ve heard (not personally experienced) that Dewey Beach is largely dominated by 20-somethings. Rehoboth (I’ve only been once) seems more family oriented, but I’ve never checked out the night life there, so my impression could be wrong.
I have much more experience with Ocean City, MD, though not for a couple years. I really liked Bad Ass Cafe and its sister bar, Big Peckers. These are very laid back, not inundated by youngsters. An older crowd, but not yet geezers. The Green Turtle is a good mix, perhaps younger than the first two. One bar I really liked was an Irish bar on the boardwalk (can’t remember the name), down near 9th st. This Irish bar had a good mix of ages, and frequently has live Irish music – it’s a lot of fun. don’t forget to have a “yard” if you go there (beer served in a really tall glass, don’t spill!! ).
Another great thing about Ocean City is the bus that runs all day and well into the night up and down the main street. It’s only a buck (maybe a little more now), and you can ride all day and get pretty much anywhere, so you can drink as much as you want without worrying about driving.
I’m afraid I can’t offer any advice on lodgings as we always stayed at a friend’s condo.
Have fun!!
Paks
That bar is called Shennanigan’s. A fun little outdoor patio - right in the middle of all the downtown boardwalk action. VERY good food and beer.
Another singles hotspot is Seacrets - a really beautiful bar/club that’s made to look like a Jamaican resort with sand floors and opens up to the bay where during the day you can float on a raft while they bring drinks to you. They play regular dance and reggae music. A VERY hot place for meeting folks. Don’t miss this, especially on a beautiful, warm summer night.
The Purple Moose Saloon is a bar/nightclub on the boardwalk that plays a lot of ‘rowdy, rootin’ tootin’-type music.’ Last time I was there the band covered tunes from Lynrynd Skynrynd, Marshall Tucker Band, Alabama, Deep Purple, you get the pictures. Always entertaining, it is.
Have a good time. OC is the source of many wonderful summer memories from my early 20s
I think it’s on 5th street.
There is a bar you have to walk up a flight of stairs to get to. It is on the roof of I think Paul Revere’s Smorgasborg, You will see the stairs by the one Tikki Torch lighting the way. The stairs are on the side of the building. Anyway, they have a live band up there and a nice big oval bar. There is a pool up there too, but only members of the hotel can swim. It’s a great rooftop bar to start the night out in. I usually go there on my way to Secret’s. Secret’s has expanded; I was there last month. They added a whole new building to the back of the first one. The bar back there is huge, live bands.
The 95th street Holiday Inn has a pool and a pool bar. Usually they have entertainment poolside starting at noon.
Now if you can afford to go Ritzy, The Carousel is the place to stay, not only is there a pool but also an ice-skating rink in the hotel.
You can always visit me in Rehoboth.
Reho is very gay and family oriented. Many of the bars are quite gay. I don’t know so much about the nightlife, really.
Dewey is a very young and very drunk crowd. I’d say avoid it on general principle.
Very Gay AND family oriented…not often you hear those two descriptions put together.
Pat Robertson is spinnin in his grave…too bad he ain’t dead yet