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Best suggestion I have is to just drive to Ocean City. There is plenty of parking at the inlet parking lot or on side streets.  And if you're looking to just go to the boardwalk, you can park anywhere around 27th St. and ride the Boardwalk Tram to the southern end where the rides and games are. The tram runs from 10 a.m to 10 p.m. and later on weekends. It's a small fee each way, but well worth it.

The best and safest parking is the municipal lot on 100th St, behind the Public Library.  The cost is $10 per day or $50 per week.  There is a kiosk that accepts credit/debit cards.  After payment, print a recipt and place in the bag provided and attach to the trailer hitch.  We use this lot for our boat trailer often.  Trailers cannot be parked in any other public lot or on the street.  They WILL be towed.

Access to the beach is provided at certain locations along the beach and is designated by a blue sign on street entrances along Coastal Highway.
The following is a list of Beach Access locations and where beach wheel chairs are available (noted *)

Inlet Beach/Lot *                  40th St.*                120th St.*
Somerset St.                          48th St.*                130th St.*
Talbot St.                              59th St.*                139th St.*
N. Division St.                       70th St.*                145th St.*
12th St                                   81st St*                 7th St.
5th St.                                  89th St.*                 27th St.
35th St.                                 94th St.*                 30th St.
37th St.                                  107th St*

Beach wheelchairs are provided on the beach at certain locations by the Town of Ocean City from Memorial Day through Labor Day, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Wheelchairs must be used within one block of where the chair is assigned and kept.
Available on a first come/first served basis from the attending Beach Patrol and must be returned by 5 p.m.

They are also available through the Ocean City Police Dept. on 65th St./Coastal Highway and the Ocean City Visitor Center in the Convention Center on 40th St. for one or multi days by advance reservation. Beach wheelchairs are not to be taken into the water and are to be used only on the beach.

Each season in Ocean City has it's special moments.  For me, it starts in the Spring with Saint Patricks Day celebrations including the annual parade.  The there's Spring Fest.  On many spring days the boardwalk is filled with people and on the warmer days, the beach is filled with people.  After the Spring, Summer is filled with everything Ocean City has to offer.  The shoulder season starts after Labor Day and in the month of September, most everything is still o[en daily with the exception of some of the rides, jet skis, parasailing, and the water park on 28th St.  On the weekends, many of those places open up to the annual very popular welcome to Fall event called Sunfest.  October brings many fun events also and it's one of our favorite times to be in Ocean City besides the summer.  Starting in Novemberm the Winterfest Light festival opens with a spectacular show of lights at Northside Park.  January and February are much slower but theres still much to do as many hotels, clubs, and restaurants are still open.  The amazing sunrises and sunsets are still free and there is plenty to do like indoor mini golf and shopping.  12 months out of the year, Ocean City MD is always happening!

Your best bet is look through my links, call some business and talk to a manager directly to set up some interviews as soon as you arrive in OC.

I have seen children with life vests playing by the water before, but even with life vests those who are not strong swimmers still need adult supervision. Also be sure to check in with the lifeguards and see what kind of surf the ocean is providing that day....there was one year I was there when the lifeguards kept everyone out of the ocean due to strong undertows.   OC town ordinances can be found at the following site:

http://ococean.com/helpful-info/town-ordinances

I do not believe there is a bus, but you can take a taxi. A list of taxi services can be found here.

Interesting people can be found in Northside Park at all times of the day; I am not sure if there is anything organized like that, but it can't hurt to drop by and scope out the scene.

It is 2.5 miles, which is about 4 minutes driving, 12 minutes on the bus, or 50 minutes walking.

The total tax is 10.5% - 6% Maryland State Sales Tax 4.5% County Sales (Lodging) Tax.