Pick the Perfect Hotel

Ocean City, Maryland has the best accommodations a vacation spot can offer. From ocean front views to bayside sunsets, there is something for everyone. We highly recommend the ocean front Double Tree by Hilton and Courtyard by Marriott right on the boardwalk. 

Plan Ahead for Dinner

There are several bayside restaurants to watch the sunset. But also several secret restaurants hidden amongst the hotels. The Captain’s Table, a popular seafood restaurant, serves top of the line entrees including lobster stir fry and a delicious photo worthy crab cake (that is also gluten free!) . In addition to the great food, they have live piano music at the bar on weekends. Make sure to call ahead to see if reservations are required. And don’t forget that most restaurants will only allow seating once the entire party has arrived. Other notable restaurants are Marlin Moon, Vista Rooftop,  and the newly renovated Wedge Bar.

Download the Oceancity.com App

Looking for a brewery? Want to see when the steamed crab specials are available at The Shrimp Boat? Our Oceancity.com app has all of the important information that you need to find right at your fingertips. Go the “your app” store and search for oceancity.com.

Reserve Your Water Sport Activities Ahead of Time

Taking the view of Ocean City by water is always a great way to see the city from a different angle. Call ahead to reserve a pontoon boat or jet ski from Odyssea Watersports, which moved to their new location at 52nd street at the bay. Or maybe relaxing on a sunset cruise on the 87’ catamaran, The Alyosha, sounds more your style. The Alyosha sets sail several times a day from west Ocean City next to Pier 23. There are several options from sunset sails to learn to sail options. 

Fishing Charters

The Angler, a 65’ fiberglass deep sea fishing boat departs just by the Route 50 Bridge. With several trips to choose from, captain and first mate alike are extremely knowledgeable and aim to set their anglers on some fish! Most often The Angler comes in with their limit and even more fish stories for you to share with your family and friends. 

Don’t Forget to Have Fun!

There are a variety of ways to play like a kid in Ocean City, Maryland. Playing games at Trimpers or riding the ferris wheel at Jolly Roger are always great options. But there’s more! Drive outside the Route 50 bridge for go karts! Several options include Baha Amusements, Grand Prix Amusements, and Pro Track.

Family Friendly Activities 

Grab a cup of coffee from the Java Beach Cafe on the boardwalk underneath The Grand Hotel. Visit The Kite Loft and grab some Thrashers (vinegar recommended). Rent a surrey from Bike World and take in the morning sunrise. And if you’re coming in the summer, visit Oceancity.com for our family photo and sand castle contest. 

Fresh Seafood

If you’re coming to the beach, having fresh seafood is probably at the top of your list. Blu on 23rd street serves some monster steamed crabs along with tables that show off the nightly sunsets. If you’re looking for fresh oysters, Marlin Moon has a noteworthy raw bar that serves several types of oysters. Sweet or briny? They’ve got an oyster for you. 

Breakfast With a View

Breakfast seems to always be a vacation tradition. The Angler Restaurant opens for breakfast daily and shows off some of the best views of the Route 50 bridge, west Ocean City, and even some glimpses of Assateague Island. New renovations are in the works. Check out our Facebook Page for updated photos. 

Research Popular Events 

There are several annual events that Ocean City, Maryland is known for. Beginning in the winter, Fe”brew”ary shows off several popular breweries including newer The Other One settled on the bayside at 23rd street. Serving up flights of bayside blonde, sofa king sexy, and return of the brew guy, The Other One has an atmosphere of a laid back summer night. Spring begins in March with The Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and 5k hosted by Shenanigans, an Irish restaurant on 4th street and the boardwalk. Done your shamrocks and kilts to get in the spirit. Continuing the festivities with Spring Fest, Berlin’s Easter Egg Hunt and Bonnet Parade, 4th of July Fireworks, The Ocean City Air Show, The White Marlin Open, Sunfest, and the new Ocean’s Calling Festival.

Plan to Treat Yourself

Vacation is a time to treat yourself to something special. And we have the best recommendations.  Wine and dine yourself with a tapas style dinner at Spain Wine bar at the top of The Cambria hotel. Signature cocktails, elegant views of the bay, and paella stirred and served by the best wait staff in all of Ocean City. If you’re looking for a view of the Ocean City inlet and Assateague Island, head to Harrison’s Harbour Watch to watch the boats coming in and out of the infamous inlet. Try their oyster stew, made right in front of you at the raw bar in the center of the lowered bar. Or try their locally fresh caught seafood such as rockfish and clams. 

Check Out the Best of Ocean City for the Best Places to Visit in Ocean City

We asked and you responded. The Best of Ocean City is voted on by locals and vacationers alike. Here you will find the best of everything you can image from the best steamed crabs, seafood, view, sushi, and more. You can use these award winning places as guidelines for your epic Ocean City vacation experience.

Some may consider them mundane but they are so important, and often not talked about – alleys.  Specifically, those in downtown Ocean City, Maryland, south of 15^th Street; this is the oldest section of town. 

Some may refer to these pathways by other names: backstreets, passages, secondary roads, little streets, mews, etc. but the commonly used term is “alleys.”  In the Town of Ocean City they are often referred to as “lanes.” Typically, they do not have the characteristics of regular streets, which may have wide travel lanes, on street parking, curb and gutter, storm drainage, lighting, and sidewalks.  The alleys in downtown Ocean City often have narrow traffic lanes (approximately 14 feet to 20 feet wide) with asphalt covering their full widths, with little other amenities.  They are utilitarian in purpose.

Ocean City Alleys

Ocean City’s downtown is served by several alleys that generally run in a north/south orientation.  Reviewing these alleys from east to west below, as well as a short description of each, if not familiar.  Each of these public ways have their own personality.

Washington Lane found between the Ocean City Boardwalk (Atlantic Avenue) and Baltimore Avenue.  This alley starts on its south end at 2^nd Street and continues northwards to 15^th Street with a break between 7^th and 8^th Street; where Surf Avenue is located in perpendicular orientation to the Boardwalk. Washington Lane, then continues further, beyond 15^th Street; especially if you are on foot or a bike, where it cuts through several hotel parking lots.  The land use types along this alley are numerous, but more commercial in nature, including hotels, restaurants and condos. 

Wilmington Lane is between Baltimore and Philadelphia Avenues.  At its south end, it starts at N. Division Street, between the 7-11 store and the OC Baptist Church.  It only runs up to 3^rd Street but starts again at 4^th Street.  It then continues in a direct path (with many stop signs at every street crossing) to 15^th Street.  The uses along here are primarily residential north of 5^th Street and provide a variety of interesting vintage Ocean City buildings including the former OC Dairy building at 707 Wilmington Avenue, just north of 7^th Street (look for the sign on building).

Dayton Lane is located between Philadelphia Avenue and St. Louis Avenue.  It starts at N. Division Street to 3^rd Street and then there is a break until 9^th Street, where it extends to 15^th Street.  This alley has mostly residential uses along the path.  Its surprisingly quiet, considering this location is immediately north of the Route 50 Bridge.  The northern section of Dayton Lane, passes by mostly residential uses to 13^th Street then there are public and commercial uses.

Bayview Lane is located between St. Louis and Chicago Avenues.  It is only three blocks in length; between N. Division and 3^rd Streets.  This abbreviated alley only has residential uses.

Each of these alleys only exists north of the gateway to Ocean City, known as N. Division Street; no north-south alleys extend south of this entranceway. 

Other, Lesser-Known Alleys

There are a few dedicated “alleys” throughout downtown Ocean City that people may not be aware and each has its own story as to why it was developed.  Trout Lane is located between 14^th and 15^th Streets just west of St. Louis Avenue.  Wood Lane, located between 12^th and 13^th Streets, it runs in an east/west orientation; between Baltimore and Philadelphia Avenues.  Lastly, there is a small alley, which is located mid-block, between Somerset and Wicomico Streets. It runs east to west, on the west side of S. Baltimore Avenue, immediately north of the Dunkin Donuts store at 406 S. Baltimore Avenue.  This short segment of road (about 200 feet in length) is known as Seaside Lane.  Interestingly, this pathway was laid out to provide pedestrians access, in a period when there was an active rail line, from the former railroad station, once located on S. Philadelphia Avenue, east to S. Baltimore Avenue and the boardwalk.  The lane still remains today but is barely recognizable and does not have a street sign identifying it.

Alleys in General Terms

Historically, alleys were viewed by many as “back streets” and often looked at negatively, as places where trash is collected, rain water pools, fear and crime happen, and other unsanctioned behavior occurs in these often dimly lit areas. 

But, while some of these factors may be true, there are many positive benefits to these lowly appreciated travel ways. 

Attributes of Alleys

Let’s start with the following positive elements:

• Trash collection – great for businesses and residents to place their screened trash receptacles. Conversely, if trash receptacles are located in the front of properties, this diminishes the appearance of primary street and walkways.
• Business and resident deliveries – a great option for large trucks to make deliveries to the rear of the building, where traffic is not blocked and the views on primary streets are kept open and made available for table seating.

  

• Additional parking – if sufficiently wide enough, alleys are a great location for parking, especially for employees or at least access to off-site parking. An added benefit is that it” hides” parking for vehicles in the rear of a business or residence.  Less curb cuts in front of a property, for driveways, makes for a much-improved pedestrian pathway.
• In Ocean City, many of these alleys often contain residential and hotel uses. They are the “eyes on the street” for improved passive surveillance. 
• Although out of view, alleys can be an unexpected location for public art, as seen in many wall murals and painted utility boxes, throughout downtown Ocean City.

  

• As evidenced in Ocean City, especially during windy conditions, the alleys can serve as a great place to bike by using the adjacent buildings as a wind block.
• In urban design, they are used to assist in breaking up long blocks. Often used as shortcuts.

Alleys in Other Communities

Chicago is the king of alleys in the United States; over nineteen hundred miles of these “little streets.”  Considered the nation’s oldest public street that has been continuously inhabited is Philadelphia’s Elfreth’s Alley.  Other cities with large alley systems include Seattle, Nashville, Detroit, Savannah, Philadelphia, and Charleston.  Generally, they are located in older cities and communities, however, newer mixed-use projects following the new urbanist planning principles have been incorporating them into projects, too.  

Alleys are common throughout Europe and Asia and over time have evolved into much more than just basic use.  Communities have actually turned alleys into intimate gathering spaces and small celebrations, seating for restaurants, retail activities and more.  Several locations in the United States have been repurposing their alleys into similar uses.  Other communities are using their alleys for improved stormwater drainage and other physical improvements, beyond just commercial uses.

Select Quotes on alleys

• “The unsung alley has the potential to create an intimate American urbanism, it just need a little attention from urban designers,” – Robert Steuteville
• “As an urban form, alleys have completely escaped the attention of historians. … Understanding the alley’s past reveals it for what it is today; a hidden resource for making our city’s stronger and more prosperous.” – Thomas Dougherty, The American Alley – A Hidden Resource.

Ready to Explore?

So, on your next visit to Ocean City, take a stroll or a bike ride through some of the alleys of downtown.  You will see firsthand the significant contribution and utility, along with some often-missed points of interest; whether it be a public art project, a traditional Ocean City building with its porches, dormers and a simplistic appearance, or just to experience a quite spot in what can be the much anticipated, summer time hustle and bustle in Maryland’s favorite beach resort.  See you there!!