Ocean Pines

We've owned in this resort since Mothers' Day 1985 and bought directly from the developer. It is impossible to locate a resort with this many amenities and this location unless you are willing to travel and pay a great deal more. The owners have kept annual fees low, although the exterior was completely rehabbed a few years ago with extra funds paid by owners for the enjoyment of all, and interiors must be updated due to use and abuse. Having owned a single family oceanfront home, I can attest to the expense involved with the pleasure of owning on the ocean. Insurance was only available through Lloyd's of London for mine. Taxes are also the responsibility of the owners. Thank you to the managers who work to maintain an older property. Our family was happy to not pay the equivalent of a year in college to vacation here!

I've been coming to Ocean Pines for nearly 20 years each April. It's a small community of condos on a property that stretches from the ocean to the sound. There's an extra indoor pool that's really basic. There's a small playground. The resort is beachfront but not every building is on the beach.

The non-beachfront units are large and have a reverse floorplan. The top floor is the great room with the kitchen in the middle, flanked by the living area dining areas. There's a deck off the living room.

One floor down are the two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The rooms are small but manageable. The master bedroom is the largest and has an en suite bath with a jetted tub.

The hall bathroom is tight. The guest bedroom has two twin beds and has very little space to move around. The closet doors are completely blocked by one of the beds.

Parking for two cars is under the raised building and there's a laundry closet with a stacked washer and dryer off of the parking area.

This is a very laid back place. There are no scheduled activities. There are no meetings with high-pressure sales pitches. The location is north of the business district of Duck. The closest full grocery store is around seven miles north.