Ocean City, Maryland - Tales From An Untamed Soul

Welcome to the best Ocean City, Maryland travel guide

Who doesn’t love a day at the beach? Grab your swimsuit and sunscreen, pack some snacks and water for the day, and head on down to the beautiful sandy beaches of Ocean City, Maryland. Ocean City is an exceptional sea-side summer-fun destination with splashes of delicious dining, ocean view accommodations, wild horses running on the beach, water sports, and an old-fashioned boardwalk and midway. Choices for sand, romance, fun and family time seem endless here and time suspended. Our travel guide helps you to make the most of what Ocean City, Maryland, offers.

Things To See in Ocean City, Maryland

Ocean City, MD, has so many memory making activities from outdoor water sports, strolling on the old-fashioned boardwalk, or playing on the midway until the ocean waves fade into the black of night. Many of these activities are a great way to stay active and have fun.

The Boardwalk– Stroll the 3-mile wooden boardwalk with the setting sun streaming across the white sand beach, walking past shops and restaurants, toward the midway with sparkling and dancing lights from the rides.

– Spend your days and nights playing on the beach and swimming in the surf
–Jolly Roger at the Pier– Ample rides and games for ages 6+
-Movie, drone show, sunset parties, concerts, games, and ice cream nights make summer beach-nights shimmer
–Renting bikes lets you see the boardwalk by surrey, fun cycle or in style with the bike chopper
– Jet ski, parasailing, boat rental

Seacrets Distilling Company– One of the most unusual distillery exteriors I’ve seen, Seacrets Distilling Company is a sexy speakeasy room, and unique award-winning flavors to sample like Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Spiced Rum or Passion Fruit Vodka. The tour includes 3 tastings of your choice.
Assateague National Park and Assateague State Park– Assateague National and State parks are your opportunity to see wild horses on or near the beach or marsh.

-The Island is separated into two parts by two states, Maryland and Virginia, however, there is not a road that goes from one end of the Island to the other, the middle part of the Island remains inaccessible so you can only access each part from the north and south entry points (over an hour away from each other)
-There are fees associated with entry to both parks, and certain areas, for camping and beach parking, require additional permits and fees which should be researched in advance
– If you are camping, it is imperative that you secure your food otherwise, it’s well documented that wildlife will eat your food, which is just bad for you both
-Hike in the National Park, which offers multiple short hiking options
– Rent bikes, paddleboards, canoes, kayaks or even take a tour for a different vantage point of the horses with Assateague Outfitters
-Walk or bike ride over the pedestrian bridge from the mainland to Assateague Island (you can park at the National Park Visitor’s Center lot just before the bridge)
– Take a ranger-led tour

we make money if you buy from the ad below

Places to Eat in Ocean City, Maryland

Beach food is everywhere and the chain restaurants in Ocean City, MD, could sweep away you. My selections offer delicious casual dining and a break from the places you normally go.

Brass Balls Saloon– Breakfast, lunch or dinner at the Brass Balls Saloon has an all-American menu with unique adult beverages. It’s located right on the boardwalk, so you don’t have to go far from your beach towel.

Hooked– Award-winning seafood dishes and daily happy hour make Hooked a great vacation eatery.

Longboard Café– Longboard Cafe redefines good food in a casual setting, offering a wide range of pallet temptations, but their award-winning wings are a must-try.

Places to stay in Ocean City, Maryland

When choosing accommodations in Ocean City, MD, determine what is important to you. Do you want the noise of the boardwalk or the convenience of stepping outside your door to the beach? How much time you will stay in the room? Do you prefer quiet downtime to recuperate from months of stress at work?

The Edge Hotel– Water views, creative room styles, pool, and free parking make The Edge Hotel a desired location. Two blocks from a beach offers respite and minimal driving to get to the beach.

Francis Scott Key Family Resort– Simple rooms, but the Francis Scott Key Family Resort’s amenities, including the indoor heated pool, movie theatre, arcade, Shipwreck Cove an outdoor Pirate themed pool experience, Peg Leg Putt Putt, and Pirate Ship Sprayground, “Arrr amazing”. I crack myself up!

3 Bedroom Vacation Rental– Grab your towel and head to the sand with a 3 bedroom with 3 bath vacation rental that’s also a corner unit overlooking the beach and boardwalk.

Seasonal things to see and do in Ocean City, Maryland

All Year Long

Ocean City Events

How to Work to Travel

Everything you need to know about traveling

Best In Show

If you’re on vacation, what’s the one thing that you want most? More time! It always seems to go so fast. I try to stay as present as possible in the moment to eat up the experience. Of all the activities, I hope you get the pleasure of seeing the wild horses. It was so meaningful to me to see them on the beach.

Accommodation – Francis Scott Key Family Resort – For kids and grandkids, it’s hard to pass up the fun that can be had at the Francis Scott Key Family Resort. Everyone will enjoy the indoor heated pool, movie theatre, arcade, Shipwreck Cove, an outdoor Pirate themed pool experience, Peg Leg Putt Putt, and Pirate Ship Sprayground which “Arrr amazing”.

Food – Hooked – When at the ocean, eat seafood, so why not eat the award-winning dishes at Hooked! If Spirits were considered food, I’d opt for Seacrets Distilling!

Things to Do – Assateague National Park – I hope you have an amazing experience at Assateague National park. For me, it was a dream to see wild horses up close (respectfully) in a beautiful beach setting. It was one of my favorite life experiences! The rangers are serious about making sure distance is kept between visitors and horses.

Alise’s Favorites and Suggestions –

Parking on the boardwalk is a bit difficult in the evenings and weekends; make sure you check if your space is free or requires a pay-by-app, or check out the Ocean City Park and Ride
Restrooms on the boardwalk were surprisingly clean
You can access the beach all along the boardwalk
EV Charging stations are available for a fee
On the Assateague Island the rangers are serious about the rules, so be aware of signage and your proximity to wildlife. They will ticket and/or remove you for not following the regulations; obey all signs as you enter the Island that state no parking or idling
Depending on where you are driving from, take note that you may cross the Chesapeake bridge to reach Ocean City, MD, which has been called by many a formidable bridge crossing; check weather conditions here before you travel and view the video of the crossing here
- due to potentially high levels of wind, there may be Recreational Vehicle restrictions including, but not limited to, RVs trailers, anything towed, motorcycles campers, and more which should be researched prior to traveling
- If you prefer to have someone drive your car over the bridge for any reason, contact Kent Island Express

Day Trips

Frederick, Maryland Explore

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia Explore

Martinsburg, West Virginia Explore

1

Frederick, MD About 30 minutes to Harper’s Ferry or an hour to Washington, DC, Frederick is a historic town bustling with a variety of things to do for the whole family, so many in fact it’s one of my favorite small-big towns. The architecture along the downtown streets is highlighted by gas lights flickering at dusk. Frederick offers tantalizing sweets to savory bites and plates in cafes or elegant dining rooms. There is so much to see and experience in this Maryland small town. We hope our Frederick, MD travel guide will help you to do just that.

2

Harpers Ferry, WV Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, close to DC, Virginia, and Maryland, has multiple pieces of the civil war puzzle of the area from the battle field to the actual town existing today, much as it did in the late 1800’s telling the story of abolitionist John Brown who raided Harpers Ferry in attempts to end slavery. Make the most of your visit to this fascinating town with our Harpers Ferry travel guide.

3

Martinsburg, WV Away from the noise of big cities, this small town lightly impacted by the pandemic, that has so much to do, and needs people to visit and revitalize their economy. Why not use our Martinsburg WV travel guide to help! Quaint downtown, outdoor hiking and cycling, and down-on-the-farm activities.

MANY OF THE LINKS ON THIS PAGE ARE AFFILIATE LINKS AND WE MAY RECEIVE COMMISSIONS FOR PURCHASES MADE THROUGH LINKS ON THIS PAGE. WE INDEPENDENTLY OWN THIS BUSINESS AND SITE, AND THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE OUR OWN. The information provided through this website is for informational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any illness or disease. It is not professional advice, nor is it intended to create any type of relationship between us. You should not act on any of the information on this website without seeking professional legal, financial, medical, mental health, travel, or other professional advice or care. By accessing or using this website, you agree to abide by the Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Affiliate Policy. Content may not be reproduced in any form.