What to expect: Adjacent to Ocean City beach, the 22-story Carousel Resort Hotel & Condominiums attracts families and leisure travelers with its recreation facilities and beachfront location. Ocean City's popular boardwalk and the Jolly Roger Amusement Park are five miles away.

Insider tip: Eight miles away, Chincoteague Island is the setting for the children’s book Misty of Chincoteague. Misty, a young foal, is a fictional character, but a centuries-old band of wild ponies still roams freely on two islands: Assateague and Chincoteague. Every summer, the ponies swim between the islands in a much-ballyhooed event.

What to expect: Located on a private stretch of beach five miles from the Ocean City Boardwalk, Clarion Resort Fontainebleau is popular with families and leisure travelers in summer. The hotel's extensive meeting and event facilities attract business travelers and conventioneers year-round.

Amenity highlights: Dining options include an oceanfront restaurant that becomes a nightclub in late evening, a casual pub, and a seasonal bar and grill located on the beach. For recreation, guests enjoy an indoor splash pool, small video arcade (surcharge), and well-equipped health club (surcharge).

Insider tip: Legend has it that Ocean City got its start in 1869, when Isaac Coffin built a cabin on the beach and started receiving paying guests. People came to the shore by stagecoach and ferry until 1881, when a railroad line was completed. Rapid expansion of the area took place in the 20th century, and it is now a thriving ocean resort town.