The wide swath of sand that stretches along Maryland’s Atlantic coastline remains mostly undeveloped and dotted with tiny villages, with one exception: Ocean City.
Its evolution from sleepy beach town to bustling metropolis began a century ago, after Ocean City’s Boardwalk was built in 1900. Once those cedar boards were erected, amusement parks and souvenir stores set up shop. The festive feeling of the place began to attract visitors, and ever since, generations of vacationers have made a trip to Ocean City their enduring summer tradition.
OC’s strip of land is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, two bays, and a harbor. With all that water, it’s no wonder the first travelers came for the fishing and crabbing. In fact, Ocean City is known as the White Marlin capital of the world and is famous for harvesting blue crabs.
After the Chesapeake Bay Bridge opened in 1952, Virginia and Maryland residents had easier access, and Ocean City grew. Soon, modern hotels and high-rise condos were built on the northern section, contrasting with the cottages and midcentury-modern motels on the southern streets near the OC Fishing Pier. This OC landmark extends 748 feet into the Atlantic Ocean, with a tackle shop that sells all you need to catch bluefish, croakers, and Maryland’s favorite crustaceans.
Located at the southern inlet of the 2.45-mile-long Boardwalk is Jolly Roger at the Pier Amusement Park, with its Ferris wheel and Looping Star Roller Coaster. The Jolly Roger houses OC’s quirkiest museum, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, where kids squeal at the shrunken-head exhibit and Marvelous Mirror Maze.
Seafood is the order of the day, every day, in Ocean City. Sunset Grille is the place to watch gorgeous sunsets while enjoying OC’s classics—crush cocktail and a crabcake po’boy, anyone? When in season, the Original Crabcake Factory dumps bushels of steaming-hot crabs on your table accompanied by bloody marys crowned with crabmeat.
Nowhere, other than Las Vegas, has a nightclub like Seacrets Jamaica USA, the largest on the East Coast. OC’s legendary music venue is sprawled across a private island, with 18 different palm-tree-adorned bars. The newest addition to the complex is Seacrets Distilling Company, the producer of award-winning small-batch spirits. Learn about the distilling process on a distillery tour, followed by a tasting session.
You don’t have to own a motorboat to enjoy a day on the shore. Get a group together and board Tipsy Tikis, a new floating bar bobbing on calm waters accompanied by frosty cocktails. Prefer an adrenaline-charged spin? Book an OC Banana Boat Ride, a speeding vessel pulling an inflatable raft named Jaws. Chill out on a sandy beach between kayak, sailboat, or stand-up paddleboard expeditions at 48th St. Watersports. The water here is only 4 feet deep, making learning to paddle safe for all ages.
Ocean City offers sun, sand, and surf, but unlike other beach destinations, most vacationers come for the exhilarating activities and celebrated seafood.
NEW THIS YEAR
The Ocean City Performing Arts Center opened its doors at the OC Convention Center to rave reviews. The new venue’s first season debuted two Broadway
STAY
Aloft Ocean City is located in midtown near the Convention Center. This 120-room upscale boutique hotel has a pool and tiki bar overlooking the bay and caters to families with fur babies. Looking to try OC’s famous “crush” drinks? Aloft’s bar has a crush of the month on tap. The interiors feature bright white and blue furnishings that emulate the beauty of the hotel’s stunning views. Sure, you’ll have to cross the Coastal Highway to get to the beach, but the views of the bay make it worth it.
EAT
Liquid Assets is not your typical beach restaurant. Located inside a liquor store, it doesn’t have an ocean view, but what arrives on the plates is all you’ll care to see—namely, two sugared doughnuts filled with God Bless the Queen ice cream. But before you go there, sample the scratch-made, locally sourced entrées. Particularly notable: the flounder Rockefeller, a nostalgic dish featuring what locals call “flatties” (flounder); scallops in cream sauce; and a muffaletta-and-Caesar sub that will transport fans of NOLA. With so many kinds of spirits, the cocktail-and-wine program is another highlight.
Feature image courtesy Ocean City, MD
This story originally ran in our May issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to our monthly magazine.
