Ocean City boasts numerous hotels and condominiums, and prices soar when the mercury rises. Among our favorites are The Hotels at Fager's Island, a secluded hideaway on the city's bayside at 56th Street. You can stay at The Lighthouse Club Hotel ($139-$325) or, for true luxury, book a suite at The Edge ($259-$395). Rooms here feature feather beds, stone bathrooms, and Italian linens.

If you'd rather stay near the Boardwalk, we recommend the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites (toll-free 1-866-627-8483; $149-$319), where each room features a spacious living room, kitchen, and bedroom. For a no-frills option, consider the Cayman Suites Hotel (1-800-546-0042) at 125th Street, where weekend rates go as low as $89 in May.

left: Don't miss Ocean City's coolest attractions--the Carousel Hotel's ice-skating rink, where Olympic champion Dorothy Hamill sometimes skates.