Ocean City, MD is the first place I saw the ocean (in 1999). Someday, I will own a home or condo there.

Captain Bob's is an excellent seafood restaurant. And yes, you have places like Seacrets and Scandals, which I try to avoid. When we were down there, we bought some beer, chilled it up, and sat on our motel's patio, right along the boardwalk at 23rd St. Nice.
My parents have friends that live right across from Portsmouth in York, ME. Really nice place from what I hear...right along the beach.