Ocean City is a popular beach town on the East Coast and a great place to visit year-round. The three-mile boardwalk is filled with souvenir shops and beachside eateries, perfect for those craving French fries or funnel cake. Arcades, carousels, restaurants, and vacation activities such as fishing or flying kites on the beach provide plenty of fun for the whole family.
Ocean City Beach
With ten miles of family-friendly beaches, Ocean City is renowned for beachside fun. Visitors and Marylanders flock to the warm sands for a fun-filled day of swimming, sunning, and surfing; two beaches are reserved daily specifically for surfing and rotate depending on the weather and waves. Those looking for a thrilling water adventure can also spend their time fishing, kayaking, or canoeing. The Ocean City Beach boardwalk is one of America's favorites and is filled with a variety of stores and arcades - it's perfect to explore on a bike ride, roller skates, or a skateboard.
During the summer there are free family activities such as movies, concerts, and beach Olympics scheduled most nights. Map
Northside Park
Northside Park, one of the largest and most popular parks in Ocean City is a 58-acre complex with a lighted soccer field, three lighted baseball/softball fields, a multipurpose field, a footbridge, a fishing lagoon, two piers, two playgrounds, picnic areas, concession stands, a gazebo, and a walking/jogging path.
There is a 21,000 square foot multi-sport sports arena as well as a 14,200 square foot building housing a gymnasium, community room, conference room, sitting areas, kitchen, and a patio.
Families are invited to spend the day at the park taking part in one of many sports, enjoying a walk through the well-preserved grounds, or relaxing by the waters.
Northside Park, 125th St, Ocean City, MD 21842
Ocean City Boardwalk
Dating back to 1902, Ocean City Boardwalk, officially known as Atlantic Avenue, is recognized as one of the best boardwalks in the state and country.
Other than lodgings and casual eateries, there are fine dining restaurants, amusements such as museums, and a thriving nightlife on the 2 ½ mile length promenade.
The Boardwalk blends culture and history in the many businesses that can be found there - for example the Inlet Indian sculpture of the Assateague Indian carved out of 100-year old oak can be found alongside the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum and the United States Coast Guard Tower.
No visit to the boardwalk is complete without visiting one of the oldest fixtures, Trimper's Carousel. Map
Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum
The former home of the Ocean City Life-Saving station, the building now houses the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum. The actual life-saving station has moved inland, but visitors can explore the original structure which dates back to 1878 - including the original color scheme of white walls, red roof, and green trim, which date back to when the building was operated by the Coast Guard.
Exhibits at the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum take visitors back in time with stories and artifacts of the heroic surfers of Ocean City, while an entire wing is dedicated to genealogy, where visitors can look up their ancestral history.
Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum, 813 S. Atlantic Avenue, Ocean City, Maryland 21843, Phone: 410-289-4991
Art League of Ocean City
The Art League of Ocean City is a non-profit organization that was created for people to appreciate, create, and be inspired by art. Visitors can explore the two-story gallery which exhibits works from local and regional artists. The exhibits are updated with newer work monthly and each new exhibit kicks off with a reception on the first Friday of each month - these are open to the public.
Those who wish to get crafty themselves can schedule some time in the pottery studio, take an art class by one of the many artists, or work in peace in one of the five working artist studios. There are also workshops, art camp programs, and community events for people of all ages and skill levels.
Art League of Ocean City, 502 94th Street, Ocean City, MD 21843, Phone: 410-524-9433
Trimper's Rides
Trimper's Amusement Park and rides is a historic part of Ocean City. It has been owned and operated by the same family for over 100 years and offers a carnival-like atmosphere with fun rides, dazzling lights, and concession stands selling treats such as cotton candy, popcorn, funnel cake, and everything else you would expect at a boardwalk.
For most people, it's tradition to spend a day at Trimper's when visiting Ocean City. Trimper's includes two hotels, a theater, and of course, the amusement park - the significant site offers a guaranteed fun time for the entire family.
Trimper's Rides, S. First Street and The Boardwalk, Ocean City, MD 21842
Jolly Roger Amusement Park
Jolly Roger Amusement Park is a combination of four separate parks filled with waterslides, rides, games, amusements, and more. Visitors can visit just one park or all four - the entire family will love sliding down the waterslides at Splash Mountain but they'll also enjoy the exhilaration of speeding around the go-kart tracks at Speedworld.
Other activities include mini golf, a petting zoo, relaxing on the pier, or enjoying the numerous other rides and attractions. Families can reenergize themselves with a meal from the many on-site restaurants or concession stands, including the classic Thrasher's French Fries at this Ocean City landmark.
Jolly Roger Amusement Park, 2901 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842, Phone: 410-289-3477
Fractured Prune
Fractured Prune Donuts, established in 1976, has Ocean City covered. With six stores in Ocean City, guests have a half dozen choices when it comes to creating their ideal donut. Whether you're on the way to the beach or on the way home, it's a great idea to stop for a treat.
In their stories, Fractured Prune offers 19 glazes: blackberry, banana, caramel, blueberry, cherry, honey, chocolate, lemon, key lime, maple, mocha, marshmallow, mint, orange, mixed berry, peach, strawberry, raspberry, and vanilla. Additionally, they offer 13 toppings: cinnamon and sugar, chocolate sprinkles, cookie crumbs, graham crackers, crumbled bacon, granulated sugar, mini candy-coated chocolates, mini chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, rainbow sprinkles, powdered sugar, vanilla wafers, and sea salt. You can pick and choose whatever combinations you like.
Fractured Prune, 127th Street, Ocean City, MD 21842, Phone: 410-250-4400, plus 5 other locations
Paradise Watersports
Visitors of Paradise Watersports should prepare themselves for an unforgettable Ocean City-style parasailing and jet skiing experience. The adrenaline rush is indescribable as locals and visitors rent and ride the super-fast Sea-Doo jet skis - guaranteed to go speeds which will thrill the entire family no matter how old (or young) they are.
The parasailing experience offered by Paradise Watersports is breathtaking as visitors fly over the wild ponies of Assateague, gorgeous sea turtles, and dolphins in the distance, while getting a bird's-eye view of Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware.
Paradise Watersports, 12913 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City, MD 21842, Phone: 410-213-SOAR
Lost Treasure Golf
Adventurous families are invited to join Expedition Guides to follow the trek of Professor Ephraim A. Hacker, in his search for gold and diamonds. A famous archaeologist, explorer, anthropologist, part-time taxidermist, and paleontologist, Professor Duffer A. Hacker headed two expeditions in the 1930's to the Fogclift Islands off the coast of South America.
His purpose there was to uncover ancient diamond and gold mines said to be hidden on the Islands. The golf course encourages you to follow in the footsteps of Professor Hacker to putt-putt your way through one of his adventurous expeditions - complete with caves, mountains, and waterfalls - to find the hidden treasures.
Lost Treasure Golf, 13903 Coastal HWY, Ocean City, MD 21842, Phone: 410-250-5678
Candy Kitchen
With 11 locations in Ocean City, Candy Kitchen is the place to visit for treats such as taffies, fudge, chocolates, gummies, truffles, pretzels, and novelty items. Candy Kitchen has been creating creamy fudge, salt water taffy, and mouth-watering hand-dipped chocolates since 1937. Candy Kitchen is still a family owned business that relies on quality, fresh ingredients and long-standing recipes.
When families want a little something sweet to take along to beach, Candy Kitchen is there to satisfy their desires. All items are also available online. Packaging for the holidays and gift baskets are also available.
Candy Kitchen , 53rd Street Flagship Store, 5301 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842, Phone: 410-524-6002
Old Time Photos
When vacationing in Ocean City, customers can choose from three Flashback Old Time Photos locations for fine antique portraits and classic antique-style frames.
The company has been providing these novelties for 35 years.
Subjects may pose in fanciful costumes that cover the periods from the 1840s to the 1930s with all of the props needed to complete the look. Visitors may become a saloon girl, cowboy, Civil War general, Victorian lady and gentleman, southern belle, southern gentleman, pirate, hillbilly, French maid, gangster, Keystone Cop, flapper, or just about anyone else they can imagine from the old days.
Flashback Old Time Photos specializes in family portraits, large groups, and children's photos and will have your photographs ready in minutes - so stop in on your way to or from the beach for some great family fun.
Old Time Photos, 120th Street & Coastal Hwy., Ocean City Square Shopping Center, Phone: 410-524-2446 | Somerset Street on the Boardwalk: 410-289-2598 | North 1st Street on the Boardwalk: 410-289-4256
Carousel Ice Skating Rink
Need a break from the hot sun and surf? Then head to the Carousel Oceanfront Hotel and Condos for an afternoon of ice skating on the oceanfront. If you're in the mood to party, catch the live ice show nightly at 6:30 PM, featuring the Next Ice Age skaters. Performances are offered only during June, July, and August, but there are no performances on July 7th and 8th. Admission is free.
If there's a birthday party in your future, the Carousel ice skating rink is the perfect place to host it. Parties are offered mostly from October to May for two-hour time slots on Fridays or Sundays. Call the hotel for details and availability. Map
Carousel Ice Skating Rink, 118th Street on the Ocean, 11700 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842, Phone: 800-641-0011
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Ripley's Believe It or Not! has three attractions in Ocean City. There is the original Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium - the only place in town to see 12-foot tall Transformer car parts, a shrunken head, unique artwork, two-headed animals, and the world's rarest egg. In Ripley's Marvelous Mirror Maze, guests will come face to face: with themselves while they try to find their way out of the maze of LED lights and mirrors.
At Ripley's Impossible Laser Race, guests are invited to make their way through another labyrinth - this time, moving under and over lasers as quickly as possible to get to the end of the maze. Just beyond the final laser, guests will press a stop button to complete the challenge - and to get a score and time.
Ripley's Believe It or Not!, Pier Building on the Boardwalk, 401 S. Atlantic Avenue, Ocean City, MD 21842, Phone: 410-289-5600
Seacrets
To enjoy the best of Ocean City’s nightlife, head on over to Seacrets. Known for their lively parties, amazing live performances, and pumped-up DJ performances, Seacrets delivers on three crucial aspects of a great night out - food, drinks, and entertainment. Seacrets has a Tiki Stage, a Beach Stage, a Pier Stage, and a Nite Club to enjoy, as well as an extensive bar menu thanks to the Seacrets Distilling Company.
Try any of the company’s award-winning spirits while enjoying the company of your friends and the live entertainment. Don’t forget to pair your drinks with any of Seacret’s delectable menu offerings like the Tuna Steak, the Seafood Trio, or the Steak Chesapeake.
Seacrets , 117 49th Street, Ocean City, Maryland 21842, Phone: 410-524-4900
The Kite Loft
There’s just something about flying a kite that brings pure joy and delight to the faces of kids and adults alike. When it comes to kite flying in Ocean City, The Kite Loft immediately comes to mind. With a 45-year history of kite-making and retailing kit accessories, banners, aerial toys, and the like, The Kite Loft is the local community’s go-to for beautiful kites and even kite exhibitions.
The Kite Loft even regularly hosts events and competitions, with enthusiasts from all over the nation coming to show off their kite-flying tricks and skills to the public. If you want to catch the best that The Kite Loft has to offer, time your visit for any of their two International Kite Festivals, which are held annually in April and the third weekend after Labor Day.
The Kite Loft, 511 Boardwalk, Ocean City, Maryland 21842, Phone: 410-289-7855
Baja Amusements
When it comes to Ocean City traditions, look no further than Baja Amusements . Visitors have been coming to Baja Amusements from near and far since it first opened its doors in 1981. With ten incredible acres of activities to enjoy, Baja Amusements is best known for its Go-Kart races as the park has a whopping eight tracks to choose from.
The fun doesn’t stop at Go-Karts though, as Baja Amusements also has a mini-golf course, two climbing walls, and even double-seater karts to enjoy on their Family Tracks. Want more? Well, what’s an amusement park with amusement rides, right? Baja also has awesome kiddie rides for youngsters to enjoy like the Wacky Worm Roller Coaster and the Frog Hopper.
Baja Amusements, 12639 Ocean Gateway, West Ocean City, Maryland, Phone: 410-213-2252
Ropewalk Ocean City
At Ropewalk Ocean City, the goal is simple: providing extraordinary service to guests, in a relaxing and comfortable setting, while providing delicious dishes with only the freshest ingredients that the restaurant can get their hands on. Guests at Ropewalk Ocean City can choose to dine indoors, at the outdoor bayfront deck, or by the fire pit tables out on the sand. No matter what spot, however, guests are sure to find spectacular dishes to feast as Ropewalk specializes in seafood dishes that are simply to die for. Try starters like the Crab Cake Egg Rolls or the Seared Ahi Tuna, then dig into outstanding entrees like the Day Boat Scallops, the Atlantic Salmon, or, for the meat lovers, the Patric Henry Fillet Mignon.
Ropewalk Ocean City, 8203 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, Maryland 21842, Phone: 410-524-1009
