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WASHINGTON 鈥� With its iconic boardwalk, family-friendly beaches and vibrant night life scene, Ocean City, Maryland, has become a go-to summer destination for Washingtonians.
Whether it鈥檚 your very first time visiting 鈥� or just your first time out this year 鈥� here鈥檚 a quick guide, filled with tips from locals, to help you navigate one of the mid-Atlantic鈥檚 most exciting beach towns.
Sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and the Isle of Wright Bay is Ocean City, home to 7,089 residents and 8 million yearly visitors.听
Ocean City is best known for its wooden boardwalk, which is lined with shops, restaurants, hotels and a small amusement park. A听handful of these boardwalk-based businesses have been operating for 100-plus years.听
Family Fun
There are plenty of places where adults can let loose (, anyone?), but Melanie Pursel, executive director of the ,听says expanding options for family fun has been a recent focus in Ocean City.
There are the obvious choices, such as a visit to the or one of the many mini-golf courses, but there are plenty of free activities to keep little ones also entertained.
- Free movies: Every Wednesday night through Aug. 30, enjoy a at 118th Street. There are also free movies every Monday and Friday evening at 27th Street.
- Ice cream in the park: Have a couple of ice cream lovers in your group? You鈥檒l definitely want to make part of your beach vacation. Every Sunday from July 9 through Sept. 3, enjoy free ice cream sundaes and live entertainment at Northside Park.听This is a destination local resident听Mary Schmidt strongly recommends. 鈥淥cean City has done a phenomenal job with North[side] park. They have all sorts of activities: You can walk, you can crab, they have free family nights for movies. I think they have a huge July Fourth. If you look on the calendar, they have something scheduled almost every day,鈥� Schmidt said.
- Nightly Light Show: New for 2017 is a nightly light show, called , which runs every 20 minutes from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. from May 27 through Sept. 4. will also take place weeknights throughout the summer.
- Competitive castles:听The annual will be held June 27 at 27th Street from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Events include sand castle contests, tug-of-war, relay races and more.
- Wild horses on Assateague: A quick drive to check out the ponies and wildlife on is always a nice outing for little ones and grown-ups, alike.
- A Marine-themed museum:听罢丑别听 is another great option.听鈥淚t does all kinds of neat programs for kids, even for young adults, on beach safety, learning about the aquatic life 鈥� all of the different things that you see when you鈥檙e out on the beach, as well as a little bit of history about Ocean City,鈥� Pursel said.
- Take to the water:are also a big part of the summer lifestyle at Ocean City. Rental shops are sprinkled throughout Ocean City and Delaware, especially along the bay. Read more:
Food
There鈥檚 no shortage of places to find fresh seafood, local crabs, cold beer and homemade ice cream in Ocean City 鈥� and everyone has their favorites. from 草莓传媒 staff on where to find everything from the tastiest burgers to the best bloody marys. 听
Ocean City Restaurant Recommendations
Don鈥檛 Miss
Be sure to check out these activities, recommended by frequent visitors and locals, alike.
- Favorite fries and beachy beverages: No trip to Ocean City is complete without a taste of , a frozen rum cocktail at and a sunset at , complete with the 鈥�1812 Overture.鈥�
- Boats at the beach: Boat fanatics will enjoy a trip to the town鈥檚 commercial harbor, which Pursel says is one of the oldest working harbors on the East Coast.听鈥淲e have boats that are coming in from all over; they鈥檙e unloading here, right at our docks. That鈥檚 why our restaurants have some of the freshest seafood in the mid-Atlantic region,鈥� she said.
- Fresh seafood at Fish Tales: Like to watch the boats and eat? Local resident听John Buono recommends a trip to Fish Tales on Herring Way. “It鈥檚 a working marina. You can go down there and watch the boats come in. They cut the fresh tuna there for the sandwiches, which is one of my absolute favorites. You can sit there all day on an Adirondack chair and watch the boats come out and they’ll bring you your sandwich,鈥� Buono said.
- Best view: Pursel urges visitors to talk a stroll under the pier at the inlet and out to the jetty area, which overlooks Assateague Island. 鈥淎nd very, very often, you will catch glimpses of the wild ponies from Ocean City. So you鈥檝e got the hustle and bustle of Ocean City right there at the downtown area, and then look right over to the inlet and you鈥檝e got the beautiful ponies running on the beach in their natural habitat.鈥�
- Small-town charm: Need a change of scenery? The Maryland towns of and are a short drive away (15 to 30 minutes). Grab lunch, 听or go on an adventure while you’re there.听
- Blue Angels Air Show: The annual Ocean City Air Show with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels returns June 17 and 18.
Rainy Days
Bad weather keeping you from spending the day at the beach? There’s still plenty to do.
- Check out local art: Pursel recommends catching an event or exhibit at .听
- Get out some energy indoors: Take the kids to release some energy at , an indoor facility with a climbing maze and laser tag.
Of course, there are endless options for and , should the rain move in.
鈥淭here鈥檚 plenty to do in Ocean City, even if it鈥檚 not a perfect beach day,鈥� Pursel said.
Getting Around and Parking
Just headed to the beach for a quick trip? Here’s what you need to know about parking:
- Meters: There is plenty of parking in town, and much of it is metered along the main roads.听Pursel recommends downloading the app, so you can refill the meter without giving up your spot on the beach.
- Lots:听 at 809 S. Atlantic Ave. has 1,200 parking spaces and is located close to the boardwalk and beach. Information on additional lots is available .听
- Park & Ride: On busy weekends, such as Memorial Day and Fourth of July, the is recommended. Park your car in West Ocean City and take the shuttle downtown for $3.听
- Bikes: Lots of people get around town on bikes, mopeds, scooters and by foot. are scattered throughout town.
Where to Stay
Lodging at Ocean City is a real mix of hotels and home and condo rentals.
Pursel says those looking to be right in the center of the action might prefer an oceanfront room near the boardwalk or inlet. Visitors looking for more of a quiet escape will find that in the northern part of the town.
offers visitors some tips for finding the perfect place to fit their needs 鈥� from pet-friendly accommodations to bayside bedrooms.
What鈥檚 New?
Ocean City is getting ready for its summer swell, and this year, there are a few new things to check out around town.
鈥淒riving up and down Coastal Highway, there鈥檚 so much activity going on,鈥� Pursel said, adding that about four or five new hotels are opening, along with a handful of new restaurants, including , The Clucking Crab and .
In West Ocean City, a new shopping center, called The Park Place Plaza, is under construction.
