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Ocean City and Assateague Island draw millions of visitors. <\/p>\n
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Mary Ann Treger, Special for USA TODAY 7:54 a.m. ET June 23, 2017 <\/p>\n
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The long wooden boardwalk is Ocean City's iconic gathering place, lined with vintage arcades for games and rides, souvenir shops, and all the deliciously fried food you can eat.(Photo: Getty Images\/iStockphoto) <\/p>\n
Marylanders don't go to the beach. Instead, they head \"down-y ocean,\" more precisely, to Ocean City, with its 10 miles of free sandy beaches and historic 3-mile-long Boardwalk. Founded on July 4, 1875, when the original Atlantic Hotel opened for business, Ocean City has been attracting vacationers ever since, many of whom return year after year with succeeding generations of their own families. The long wooden boardwalk is Ocean City's iconic gathering place, lined with vintage arcades for games and rides, souvenir shops, and all the deliciously fried food you can eat (for many, a walk on the Boardwalk goes hand-in-hand with a bucket of Thrasher's fries). <\/p>\n
Part state park and part national seashore, the 37-mile Assateague Island National Seashore was established in 1962. Assateague (meaning \"a marshy place across\") is not only visited by more than 2 million people a year who come to enjoy its pristine beaches and unsullied environment but the island is also home to more than 320 species of birds and more than 300 wild ponies. <\/p>\n
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Read or Share this story: https:\/\/usat.ly\/2t27KZq<\/a> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Originally posted here: <\/p>\n Photo tour: The best beaches in Maryland - USA TODAY<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 6 Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about Ocean City and Assateague Island draw millions of visitors. Try Another Audio CAPTCHA Image CAPTCHA Help CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address Continue reading