Ocean City boasts beaches, debauchery for all

Ahh, summer -- the long-awaited three months when the drain and drag of college life fades into an oblivion of sun, sand and good times. Yeah, I have heard of those elusive chimeras people refer to as "jobs" which everyone seems to want desperately, and I think students should reflect a little before requisitioning themselves to a sterile, "mole" breeding chem lab or the local Starbucks this summer. As much as good ole Hopkins has beaten into them a resolve to spend the summer working like mindless rats being tested with the latest Xenadrine supplements, students must realize that the time is fast approaching when that's ALL they'll be doing 11 months out of the year. However, I realize that there is a plethora of people who for various reasons will be taking classes and splicing DNA in the Baltimore area, so here are a few places where you can rejuvenate your chi (feng shui) and take the pasty glare off your skin.

Ocean City, Md. doesn't have ivory white beaches or pristine waters, but really, what city in this neck of the northeast does? Besides being the closest water to Baltimore that you can swim in, this little island three hours to the east of us has some entertainment and pseudo-summer amusements to offer. Of course there's a boardwalk along the strip of beach nicknamed "the ocean highway" as well as golf, fishing and sailing outfitters. My source for all info about what's hot and what's not in Maryland and the Mid-East said that Ocean City was a place where college-aged students (such as Hopkinites) need to bring along their self-motivated attitudes in order to have a good time. Apparently, the beaches of Ocean City are veritable magnets for Eminem wannabes sporting low-riders with 10-inch subwoofers. Never fear, there is hope. Students can rent beach houses for relatively little dough (they're roughly $1000 per week.) That price divided amongst a group of six or seven friends makes the cost of a week on the water not-too-shabby by any means. Factor in the extra money for food, booze, sunscreen, a new thong etc., and you'll have a pretty decent beachfront vacation, on a college student's budget.

In the wings for the month of May, Ocean City has a couple of events that might just toot your horn, if you know what I mean. From May 2 to 5 there's an event called Springfest that takes place on the south end of the Boardwalk. It's a four-day festival that includes arts and crafts, live music and good food. I'm guessing that the hoots and hollers - which many young college women get from the aforementioned southern-Pennsylvanian G's - are complimentary entertainment. You'll have to pay to see The Four Tops and Rascal Flats. There's also a boat show during Springfest that features over 100 different commercial boats for your perusal.

Also during the month of May and the beginning of June, there's a thing called Beach Week that involves lots of high school students engaging in several days of heavy inebriation. Some college students find it more fun to visit Ocean City during this time of year, if only for the masses of young people crowding the Boardwalk. A word of warning though - be sure those hotties you're eyeing are old enough to vote, unless of course you like that sort of thing .

If you're not sure you like the sound of Maryland's quaint little sunspot on the water, take your gang somewhere closer. Do I hear praise for Annapolis, anyone? Or how about Rehoboth beach, DE? Rehoboth is a bit further from Baltimore, but it's got its perks as well. When my parents went there for their honeymoon back in the '70s it wasn't quite as touristy or quite as liberal. What I mean is, aside from being almost exactly the same as Ocean City these days, it now has a large gay/lesbian community. That could very well make it cooler than it was when I went there as a sophomore in high school.