GENERATIONS OF FOLKS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE have crossed the Ninth Street Bridge over the years with the same thing in mind: the ultimate family vacation.

The island boasts eight miles of oceanfront beaches and a 2.5-mile boardwalk (a perfect 5-mile round-trip for all you joggers and cyclists). The Ocean City Boardwalk features enough amusement rides, miniature golf courses, water slides, shops and junk food to make it magical for kids of all ages.

The resort was founded in 1879 as a Christian retreat and from the outset the manufacture and sale of liquor has been prohibited. That means no beer, wine or liquor can be purchased anywhere, not even in island restaurants.

The modern-day prohibition has helped spare Ocean City the transplanted frat houses that can keep visitors in other shore towns up all night. Supermarket-sized liquor stores stand sentinel over two of the causeways on the way into town and attest to the fact that while the town is dry, visitors can stay wet.

Ocean City is the kind of place where the city's beloved public relations director comes up with shameless promotions like the Doodah Parade, Weird Contest Week, and a Groundhog Day-like search for Martin Z. Mollusk’s shadow — and people actually love them.

Ocean City holds as much magic for folks like Philadelphia 76ers owner Pat Croce as it does for your basic seven-year-old scarfing pizza at Mack and Manco's. The resort is home to prominent authors, actors and businessmen.

Two of the best-kept secrets of Ocean City are the months of September and October — when the water and the weather stay warm and most stores and attractions remain open.

The town has 20 public tennis courts, a 12-hole golf course, a handful of playgrounds, and an arts center and historic museum.

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