The NDP community is a united one, yet one dividing issue prevails: summer vacation destinations! Two of the most popular beach getaways for Blazers include Ocean City, Maryland and Bethany Beach in Delaware. Both offer scenic views of the Atlantic and provide a backdrop for memories of summer fun, and each boast of their own versions of a summer classic: a boardwalk. Thousands of wooden boards that have been traversed by millions of beach travelers over the decades, bound by salt air and nostalgia. The Ocean City Boardwalk spans an impressive 3 miles, whereas the Bethany Beach Boardwalk is only half a mile. But don’t count the latter out yet; while its boardwalk is small, it is packed with outstanding vendors.
Something each boardwalk features is quality clothing shops. Ocean City has a Quiet Storm location, a franchise that sells garments and accessories sure to leave every customer ready to embrace the seaside aesthetic. As for Bethany Beach, it has Water Lili, a local clothing store with quality bohemian fashion, with flowy staples such as dresses and skirts sure to entice anyone seeking a liberating style. Both boardwalks also offer a classic delicacy- boardwalk fries. Ocean City has Thrasher’s, which serves a crispy fry most often enjoyed smothered in apple cider vinegar and salt. Bethany Beach has Boardwalk Fries, which sells classic steak fries, often enjoyed with ketchup.
Each boardwalk clearly has its staples, but the question of which is better simply lies in personal preference and choices of style and taste. Whether you’re Team Ocean City or Team Bethany Beach, we can all agree on the beauty of a boardwalk.
References
Bethany beach boardwalk. (n.d.). Visit DE Beaches. Retrieved August 25, 2025, from https://www.visitdebeaches.com/bethany-beach-boardwalk/
Boardwalk by the sea at sunrise [Photograph]. (2020, August 8). GettyImages. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/boardwalk-by-the-sea-at-sunrise-royalty-free-image/1264623920?adppopup=true
The ocean city boardwalk guide- best of the boardwalk. (n.d.). OceanCity.com. Retrieved August 25, 2025, from https://www.oceancity.com/boardwalk/