EDITOR鈥橲 NOTE: For more beach news, traffic and weather, visit 草莓传媒鈥檚 Summer Beach Guide section.
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.
This year in Ocean City, it鈥檚 all about new additions.
鈥淚t is bustling in Ocean City right now. If you ride up and down the highway, there鈥檚 new construction, new businesses opening,鈥� said Melanie Pursel, executive director of the .
鈥淚鈥檝e been here at the Chamber for 11 years, and this is by far the most new development, renovations, new businesses that I鈥檝e seen in one year, so it鈥檚 going to be an exciting season in Ocean City for 2018, for sure.鈥�
Family Fun
There are plenty of places where adults can let loose (, anyone?), but Pursel said 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 also free activities to keep families of all ages entertained.
鈥淭hroughout the entire summer, there鈥檚 always something to do,鈥� Pursel said.
- Ride the renovated Ferris wheel: The Ferris wheel at the Jolly Roger Amusement Park 鈥� 鈥淚t鈥檚 that iconic Ferris wheel you see in so many images and photographs of Ocean City,鈥� Pursel said 鈥� got a little TLC over the winter. It will be back and ready for rides by Memorial Day.
- Free movies: June 25 through Aug. 17, catch free movies on the beach Monday and Friday nights at 27th Street and the beach.
- 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 June 17 through Sept. 2, enjoy free ice cream sundaes and live entertainment at Northside Park.
- Camp: Every summer the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department offers more than 30 different summer camps that appeal to a wide variety of interests.聽 Most of them run Monday through Thursday, typically from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. .
- Nightly light show: Back for its second year is a nightly light show, called , which runs every 20 minutes from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. The show is free.
- Free fireworks displays: You鈥檒l find fireworks at North Division Street on the beach Monday and Tuesday nights at 10 p.m., and at Northside Park (125th Street and Bay) Sunday nights after the Sundaes in the Park concert.
- Dance party: Every Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Ocean City鈥檚 Caroline Street Stage on the beach (July 3 through Aug. 28), dance fans can let loose to live entertainment. Pack your beach chair and a blanket for the free event.
- Sunset Park Party Nights: Also back (and free) for 2018 is the Thursday evening 鈥淧arty Nights鈥� at Sunset Park, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., July 5 through Aug. 30.
- Competitive castles: The annual will be held June 26 through Aug. 14 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 Assateague Island is always a nice outing for little ones and grown-ups, alike.
- A Marine-themed museum: The Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum is another great option. 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: Kayaking, paddleboarding, surfing and other water sports 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.
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 his favorites.
Ocean City Restaurant Recommendations
Check out these recommendations from 草莓传媒 staff on where to find everything from the tastiest burgers to the best bloody marys.
Keep your eyes peeled for a few new additions for the 2018 season. On the commercial fishing harbor in West Ocean City, the old Captain鈥檚 Galley building is , a surf and turf spot with breathtaking views, Pursel said.
The Park Place Plaza, just before you get into town, will bring some new options to the area.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to have the new Park Place Jewelers, Dolle鈥檚 Candy 鈥� and then Tequila Mockingbird, which has been up north; they鈥檙e doing a second location right there,鈥� Pursel said.
Annapolis-based and opened over the winter.
鈥淭hose have been very exciting 鈥� really beautiful, unique and eclectic,鈥� Pursel added.
鈥淎nd then right there on 15th Street, they are renovating the old English鈥檚 building and it鈥檚 going to be a second location for . And you can鈥檛 miss that because they鈥檝e got that massive crab that kind of welcomes you into the restaurant.鈥�
closed and reopened as , and a Starbucks will open in the northern part of the city, Pursel said.
Don’t 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 french fries from聽, 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 said is one of the oldest working harbors on the East Coast. 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 John Buono recommends a trip to on Herring Way. 鈥淚t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鈥檒l bring you your sandwich,鈥� Buono said.
- Best view: Pursel urges visitors to take 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, or go on an while you鈥檙e there. And be sure to check out Berlin鈥檚 farmers market on Friday, Pursel said.
- OC Air Show: The annual Ocean City Air Show, featuring the U. S. Air Force Thunderbirds, returns June 16 and 17.
- ArtX: Aug. 25 and 26, catch music, art and film at the free art show, .
Rainy Days聽
Bad weather keeping you from spending the day at the beach? There鈥檚 still plenty to do.
- Check out local art: Pursel recommends catching an event or exhibit at .
- 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 eating, 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聽
Just headed to the beach for a quick trip? Here鈥檚 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. Pursel recommends downloading the , so you can refill the meter without giving up your spot on the beach.
- Lots: The 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 .
- 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.
- 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 said 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.
There are several new hotels coming online for the 2018 season. Visitors traveling in on Route 90 will see a newly renovated Residence Inn, and a Country Inn and Suites just opened on 123 Street.
Pursel said the Quality Inn on 33rd Street is now a Double Tree.
“And the famous Marlin Moon Restaurant that was in West Ocean City for so many years at the Francis Scott Key is coming back to that location,鈥� she added.
A new Hyatt Place replaced the old Seascape hotel on 15th Street, and a new Hampton Inn is being built in West Ocean City.
With so many new hotels, Pursel said it鈥檚 easy to get a deal, especially with the city鈥檚 .
鈥淐oming down Sunday through Thursday is the way to go. You can get great deals on hotels, golf, amusements, so that鈥檚 another little secret,鈥� she said.
Another great resource: offers visitors tips for finding the perfect place to fit their needs 鈥� from pet-friendly accommodations to bay-side bedrooms.
鈥淥ur season isn鈥檛 just Memorial Day to Labor Day, there鈥檚 stuff going on every weekend. 鈥� It鈥檚 just a vibrant and exciting place to be, here in Ocean City,鈥� Pursel said.
