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Ocean City

100 Free Things to Do in Ocean City, Maryland

It’s hard to run out of things to do in Ocean City, but in the worst-case scenario, here’s a handy list where you can close your eyes and point your finger at any one of these 100 things to do. Rain or shine, considering the beauty and the abundance of things-to-do on this peninsula, you’ll find something that’s free and fun to occupy part of your family vacation.

  1. Watch the sunrise over the ocean
  2. Collect seashells on the beach 
  3. Dip your toes (or your whole body) into the water
  4. Watch the Ocean City Beach Patrol train (but give them their space!) 
  5. Go for a stroll in Northside Park 
  6. Throw a sandcastle building competition with your friends and family…
  7. Catch a family flick at a Free Movie Night
  8. Make sand angels
  9. Tour the Life-Saving Museum during the Open House
  10. Enjoy the bright, colored lights illuminating the beach on summer nights
  11. Organize a beach-themed scavenger hunt 
  12. Keep your head tilted up during the OC Air Show!
  13. Write us a blog about your Ocean City experiences and memories
  14. Just graduated? Senior Week
  15. Peruse all the Cruisers when they’re on display
  16. Find some shade on a hot day 
  17. Walk around the galleries in the Ocean City Center for the Arts,
  18. And attend one of the Art League’s First Friday receptions
  19. Round up a team for beach volleyball
  20. Eat a Sundae in the Park
  21. Toss a frisbee around
  22. Read up on all the creatures that call Ocean City their home
  23. Celebrate Independence Day with music and fireworks.
  24. Read up on some Ocean City Oddities 
  25. Dance the night away at a Sunset Park Party Night
  26. Count how many horseshoe crab shells you can find on the beach…
  27. …Or how many seagulls sneak french fries in a day (best not to feed them, though)
  28. Watch beach fireworks light up the summer sky
  29. Pretend you’re a local and read one of the free newspapers in town
  30. Take a romantic sunset walk along the Route 50 bridge
  31. Simply lay out on the beach (sunscreen recommended)
  32. Catch a weigh-in at the White Marlin Open (and plenty of other fishing tourneys)
  33. Look out for artists painting OC en plein air
  34. Watch boats come and go from the West Ocean City marinas
  35. Wave at one of the webcams all over town
  36. Try crabbing with a hand line 
  37. Fly a kite!  Kite Loft has lots of options!
  38. Take in the smells of caramel popcorn and Thrasher’s fries on the Boardwalk.
  39. Catch sculptors creating detailed religious sculptures in the sand
  40. And see kites from all over the world at the Kite Festival
  41. Go boogie boarding
  42. Chat up a biker during Bike Week
  43. Gaze upon the Inlet Indian statue 
  44. Get lost in a Beach Maze when Halloween rolls around
  45. And when it’s Howl-o-Ween, watch costumed dogs parade down the Boardwalk
  46. During the winter, enjoy all the lights downtown
  47. …And be sure to see the OC Christmas Parade
  48. Appreciate all the local culture at Art X
  49. If you brought a skateboard, hit the Ocean Bowl Skate Park 
  50. Let your dog frolick in the sands of “Stinky Beach” (AKA Homer Gudelsky Park)
  51. Browse books at the Ocean City library
  52. Branch out, explore historic Berlin, Maryland
  53. Drop a line at the Ninth Street Fishing Pier 
  54. Spot egrets in the wet marshes 
  55. Bring the kids to the beach playground
  56. …Or just let them climb on Wally the Whale
  57. See how many painted utility boxes you can spot downtown 
  58. Window shop at Tanger Outlets
  59. Enjoy the music of local musicians and cover bands at Concerts on the Beach
  60. Birdwatch by the bay
  61. Have a picnic at Isle of Wight Park 
  62. Jog along the Boardwalk (or bike during posted hours, if you packed your bicycle)
  63. You don’t have to be Irish to watch the St. Patrick’s Day parade
  64. Lay on the beach at night and stargaze
  65. See a Shakespearean Drama by the Brown Box Theatre troupe
  66. Head to Salisbury, Maryland and visit the free Salisbury Zoo
  67. Look for dolphins jumping around
  68. Gaze at the fireworks on the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve
  69. Say hello to the White Marlin Statue and Water Fountain
  70. Pick up a few brochures at the Visitor Center, located in the Convention Center
  71. Pick up a game of basketball at Little Salisbury Park 
  72. Take plenty of pictures (including selfies) to build up your vacation albums
  73. Wave at riders on the balcony of the Haunted House
  74. Visit Assateague Island on a fee-free day
  75. Learn about beach safety by reading about it online or striking up a conversation with a lifeguard 
  76. Walk the beach and, if you’re lucky, spot a seal laying out (just keep your distance!) 
  77. Watch the Boardwalk buskers busking
  78. Submit your Ocean City vacation photos to us for a chance to win prizes
  79. Rollerblade on the Boardwalk
  80. Leave only your footprints! (It costs $0 to pick up your trash) 
  81. You can also help out by picking up beach trash in the morning
  82. Dig for sand crabs
  83. See the annual Fireman’s Parade 
  84. Connect with fellow Ocean City lovers on Facebook
  85. Come for Jeep Week and watch them crawl the beach
  86. Browse eclectic wares in the Inlet Village
  87. Vote for your favorite businesses in Ocean City 
  88. Play tic-tac-toe in the sand
  89. Look out over the sea with a pair of binoculars 
  90. Set up shop on a bench and people watch
  91. Keep an eye out for public art projects
  92. Stop by a Spring Arts & Crafts Show
  93. Take in the ornate, decades-old rides at Trimper’s
  94. Run laps around South Gate Pond in Ocean Pines 
  95. Wake up before everyone else and enjoy a peaceful walk along the shoreline
  96. Watch surfers riding the waves
  97. Pretend it’s the 1960s as you walk down Motel Row 
  98. Make summer memories at Sunfest
  99. Play on the playground at the Bayside Park at 3rd Street
  100. End the day with a bayside sunset 
Kristin
Kristinhttp://kristinhelf.tumblr.com
Kristin is a writer and photographer in Ocean City, Maryland, and is the content manager for OceanCity.com and other State Ventures, LLC sites. She loves getting reader-submitted stories and photos, so send her an email anytime. She also works part-time at the Art League of Ocean City and the Ocean City Film Festival and lives just off the peninsula with her dog and fiancé. Her photos can be found on Instagram @oc_kristin.

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