Travel Guides > Ocean City, MD

Ocean City Travel

Nothing is more American than walking down a seaside Boardwalk, smelling the salty ocean, licking an ice cream cone, or enjoying a ride on the Scrambler. In Ocean City, Maryland, visitors can still experience the best of an old-fashioned seashore town, complete with all the above.

Ocean City, despite its relatively small size, attracts thousands upon thousands of vacationers each year who come to enjoy the not quite 10 miles of sandy beach and surf located here in the northernmost reaches of Maryland. The beaches can get crowded, the Boardwalk is often busy, but Marylanders and a large number of Washington D.C. residents travel here annually to spend their down time at the beach or, as they say, "down the shore."

Aside from swimming in the Atlantic, Ocean City's Boardwalk is probably the favorite attraction of most visitors, young and old. Boardwalk cuisine is the best! Try a tempting Italian sausage sandwich, grab a custard (soft ice cream), sip a fresh-squeezed lemonade, or nibble on a corn dog. What could be better!

While you're at it, stop at one of Ocean City's famous amusement piers, like Timper's Rides and Amusement Park. Here you'll find at least 100 rides, both indoor and out, including an elegant hand-carved turn-of-the-century carousel. Similarly, Jolly Roger's offers rides, a waterpark, miniature golf, and a fun go-kart speedway.

For a small town, Ocean City certainly boasts a number of terrific golf courses. With nearly a dozen from which to choose, golfers of all ability levels will feel welcome in this beach town.

Fishing, of course, is another favorite activity in Ocean City, Maryland. The Gulf Stream is just a short distance from the shores of the city and can be reached in no time at all. Once you're there, you'll be in the midst of yellow fin tuna, mako, dolphin, bigeye, and an abundant amount of white and blue marlin.

If you choose, rent a boat for a leisure cruise through the bays, canals, rivers of the area, or out into the Atlantic Ocean. A number of sightseeing cruises and eco-tours are offered as well, many traveling to nearby Assateague Island where guests can search for wild ponies, dig for clams, or do a little birdwatching.

At the end of the day, you'll have a huge choice of restaurants for your evening meal, ranging from pizza joints on the Boardwalk to fine full-service restaurants located up and down the Coastal Highway. Don't miss a chance to taste famous Maryland crabcakes, a specialty at many area restaurants.