Here are some facts for those who are concerned about the overdevelopment of Ocean City. This will help separate fact from fiction. These statistics do not include new construction for owner-occupied, or primary homes for local occupants.
In 1950, the town saw 153 new construction properties including:
The Lankford Hotel
Stone Haven Apartments
Buckingham Hotel
Seascape Motel
Castle In the Sand
Between 1950 and 1960, there were 517 new construction units built in Ocean City. Those ten years brought us:
Harrison Hall
Buas Bayside Hotel
Commander Hotel
Phillips Crab House
Surf & Sands
Castle in the Sand
From 1961 to 1970, a total of 1866 properties were constructed within the city limits of Ocean City. Those years brought:
The French Quarter
Sundowner Park
Madison Beach Motel
U.S. Coast Guard Station
Safari Hotel
Beach Plaza Hotel
Between 1971 and 1980, we saw 9,424 units of new construction in town. This was 7041 more units than was built in the previous 20 years. This new construction consisted mostly of condo units.
1981 to 1990 brought us 2,356 more units constructed than in the previous ten years. This construction consisted of, again, mostly condo units.
Construction slowed between the years 1991 to 2000, bringing only 1,485 new properties to town. The majority of this construction was condo units.
Construction ramped up again between 2001 and 2010. 3,187 newly-constructed properties popped up in those years. Condos made up the majority of this construction.
Even though you might believe the town couldn’t expand another inch, with 18,835 properties improved between 1950 and 2010, another 359 properties were constructed between 2011 and today, with more condo properties than any other type.
Certainly we can make the argument that the bulk of construction over the years was to accommodate tourists and vacationers. Therefore, as far as rental income, the more we slice the pie, the smaller the portions become for those wishing to recognize income from their rental unit.
We want to thank SpecPrint for the statistics and information supplied in this blog.
Wherever you’re reading this, we sincerely hope that it’s in a space that’s heavily air-conditioned, or at the very least, under the shade of a beach tent or imported palm tree. This heat wave is serious business. Serious enough that a cold drink and an ocean breeze probably won’t be enough to cool you off. Slightly brisker temperatures are forecasted later in the week, but until then, stay plenty hydrated and make sure your pets are doing okay in this weather, too.
Maybe you’re looking for an indoor activity to keep your family cool and entertained for at least part of the day. Here, we’ll have to recommend the winner of The Best of Ocean City 2019’s Best Rainy Day/Indoor Activity category: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Otherwise, try the runner-up, the Fox Sun & Surf Cinema, or the editor’s choice, Escapomania Escape Rooms.
Yes, it’s true- we’ve finally announced the winners of the Best of Ocean City® 2019! We received a record-breaking 102,000+ votes in total this year, and are happy to finally share the winners with you, recognizing Ocean City’s bar, restaurant, activity and Boardwalk businesses that visitors and locals truly love. Take a look, and then be sure to vote for the Best of Ocean City 2020 (it’s far off now, but 2020 will be here before you know it!).
2019 Winners Announced! Click here to vote for 2020! The polls are closed, the votes are tallied, and the people have spoken. This year’s competition saw more than 102,000 votes cast across more than 40 categories including best restaurants, activities, bars, and boardwalk businesses.
That’s our big news for the week. Here’s what else is going on in Ocean City.
Last Week’s News
Plane flips while pilot attempts abrupt landing in Ocean City: A pilot was injured on Friday as he tried to land at the Ocean City Municipal Airport. He experienced engine trouble upon taking off, and flipped once on the runway while landing.
A pilot suffered a shoulder injury Friday after his plane flipped while trying to land at the Ocean City Municipal Airport, Maryland State Police said.
88-Year-Old Woman Critically Missing From Ocean City, Md. Found Safe: Some good news- 88-year-old Aeiko Hatfield, who was reported critically missing on Thursday, was found safe.
OCEAN CITY, Md. (WJZ) – An 88-year-old woman reported critically missing from Ocean City Thursday has been found safe. Aeiko Hatfield had last been seen around 10:30 a.m. leaving the area of 12300 Jamaica Avenue on foot. Around 1:30 p.m., police said she had been found safe. Updated info: Eiko Hatfield.
August is Runaway Bride Month in Berlin: Fans of the movie “Runaway Bride” and of the small town of Berlin, Md. surely already know that it’s where the 1999 romantic comedy was shot. Berlin will be celebrating the iconic film throughout the month of August with themed window displays, tours, a scavenger hunt and a screening of the movie on Aug. 24.
The Town of Berlin, Maryland, a community of about 4,500 residents, will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the release of the hit movie ‘Runaway Bride’ during the month of August. Downtown Berlin will feature decorated wedding-themed storefront windows and those shops that were featured in the film will be showcased with posters depicting what they were in the movie.
#ThisWeekinOC
Free Movies on the Beach (July 22 and 26, 8:30-10:30 p.m.): Grab and chair and a blanket and enjoy free movies all summer long on the beach. Monday and Friday movies are shown at 27th Street Beach.
Family Beach Olympics (July 23, 6:30-8:45 p.m.): Fun for the whole family – sand castle contests, tug-of-war, relays, & more!
OC Beach Dance Party (July 23, 7-9 p.m.): Get your dancing shoes on for the weekly dance party hosted by local DJ’s at Ocean City’s Caroline Street Stage on the beach by the Boardwalk!
Free Movies on the Beach (July 24, 8:30-10:30 p.m.): Grab and chair and a blanket and enjoy free movies all summer long on the beach. Wednesday movies are shown on the beach at the Carousel Hotel.
Liquid Therapy Sunset Splash Pool Party (July 25, 4-7 p.m.): The new Aloft Ocean City on 45th Street invites you to join them in celebrating the opening of their new waterfront tiki bar, Liquid Therapy. There will be music, games, giveaways and more, and you don’t have to be staying at the Aloft to enjoy, all are welcome. Come have some fun, enjoy the spectacular views, and check out this brand new hotel.
Shore Craft Beer Cruise: Tall Tales Brewing Tap Takeover (July 25, 7-9 p.m.): Take an evening cruise while tasting four different craft beers by Tall Tales Brewing in Parsonsburg, Maryland. This casual, two-hour trip, which always includes the potential for a stunning sunset and unparalleled views of the Ocean City skyline, lets you to sit back, relax, take in the smell of the salty sea air, and crack open a cold, local craft beer, brewed by Tall Tales. Tall Tales brewing will be there to discuss their beers and try four favorites.
Sunset Park Party Nights (July 25, 7-10 p.m.): Enjoy FREE concerts all summer long at sunset Park. Attendees are recommended to bring your own chairs. Drinks, including beer, are available for purchase.
Greek Festival (July 25-28, 12-8 p.m.): Delmarva’s Largest Greek Festival will offer all things Greek – from lunch and dinner, to shopping and dancing! The Roland E. Powell Convention Center will be transformed into a place for “All things Greek”, with authentic traditional Greek cuisine and entertainment for thousands of Delmarva tourists and local families. Real Greek Coffee and a huge selection of Greek cookies and Baklava pastries will be available, as well as hot bowls of fresh loukoumathes and rice puddings.
Huk Big Fish Classic (July 26-27, 4-10 p.m.): The 6th Annual Huk Big Fish Classic. The Hottest Tuna Tournament to Hit the Mid-Atlantic!
Mind, Body and Spirit Festival (July 27, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.): Illuminate Ocean City is a holistic festival with free workshops, hosted near the shores of Delaware and Maryland. We are here to enlighten our community to alternative healing practitioners, modalities, and products. Explore aisles filled with practitioners & vendors to sample a range of holistic services.
Sundaes in the Park (July 28, 7-9 p.m.): Come to Northside Park each Sunday night, and make yourself an ice cream sundae while enjoying live music and children’s activities. This is a free evening, although there is a small charge for the ice cream. The evening ends with a fireworks display at 9pm.
OceanCity.com is proud to announce the winners of the 2019 Best of Ocean City® contest, wherein visitors and locals alike nominate and vote for their favorite businesses in Ocean City’s longest running, most prestigious contest of its kind.
Now in its 10th year, Best of Ocean City is the only local popular vote not tied to advertising or sponsorship, instead relying on the fans of Ocean City business’ enthusiasm to propel the most engaged businesses to the top. This year, the contest received a record-breaking total vote count of well over 100,000.
Winning an OceanCity.com Best of Ocean City award is a triumph for Ocean City businesses because it shows that their fans are willing to take the time to vote. Winners are prominently recognized within the local community and receive a coveted certificate of achievement and distinctive window decal to display throughout 2019 and into 2020.
“This all started when hotels were coming to us wanting this information — guests in the hotels wanted recommendations for the best businesses in a variety of categories. That is why it’s imperative that the Best of Ocean City not be related to advertising,” said OceanCity.com CEO Ann McGinnis Hillyer. “We want to provide every visitor in Ocean City with real, honest recommendations for the best businesses in town.”
The awarding of the title of ‘Best of Ocean City’ falls on the readers of OceanCity.com and their nearly 200,000 Facebook fans. With more votes than any other contest, results were tallied across 40 categories including Best Restaurants, Best Bars, Best Activities and Best of the Boardwalk.
Congratulations to the award-winning businesses of 2019! The full list of award winners, runners up and editors picks, in addition to five-year winners, can be found online at OceanCity.com/best-of-ocean-city. Best of Ocean City 2020 polls are now open at OceanCity.com/best-of-ocean-city-2020.
2019 Winners Announced! Click here to vote for 2020! The polls are closed, the votes are tallied, and the people have spoken. This year’s competition saw more than 102,000 votes cast across more than 40 categories including best restaurants, activities, bars, and boardwalk businesses.
The well-known band Ripe will bring their funk-tinged fresh vibe to Ocean City’s second annual ArtX festival in August. The live concert will take place on Saturday evening, Aug. 24 beginning at 8 p.m. with local band The Swell Fellas opening the night’s entertainment.
This eight-year-old Boston band consists of musicians from all over the world, including Robbie Wulfsohn (vocals), Tory Geismar (guitar), Jon Becker (guitar), Sampson Hellerman (drums), Josh Shpak (trumpet, EWL), Calvin Barthel (trombone) and Nadav Shapira (bass). In April 2018, they released their first album, “Joy In The Wild Unknown.” They’ve continued to make their musical mark at the Paradise Rock Club, Levitate Festival, Harborfest, Bonnaroo and Firefly, and will soon grace the stages at Ocean Mist, Wonderbus and Devil’s Backbone Hoopla.
The funk band is a perfect fit for Ocean City’s new and growing event, ArtX.
“We really want ArtX to be a fresh event concept for the Town by providing unique opportunities to enjoy art, music and hands-on experiences,” said Frank Miller, Director of Special Events. “Their music is fresh and upbeat– the kind of music you can dance and sing to or kick-back and relax to. It’s a perfect fit for our beach community.”
ArtX hours are Saturday, Aug. 24, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. RIPE will take the stage on Saturday at 8 p.m., with free admission to the Northside Park outdoor grass venue.
“ArtX is an opportunity for friends and families to discover the artist within while also creating great Ocean City memories,” Miller said. “Bring your blankets or chairs but expect to stand and dance as we enjoy great art and live music.”
The Town of Berlin, Maryland, a community of about 4,500 residents, will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the release of the hit movie “Runaway Bride” during the month of August.
Downtown Berlin will feature decorated wedding-themed storefront windows and those shops that were featured in the film will be showcased with posters depicting what they were in the movie.
A free guided walking tour will take place every Monday in August starting at 4:00 p.m. Meet in front of the Berlin Welcome Center and tour guide Mary Raley will share stories of the filming and point out each location. The tour will last 45 minutes and is sponsored by the Gulyas family.
There will additionally be Runaway Bride trivia questions posted in most of the downtown shop windows and visitors can pick up an entry form inside each shop or the Berlin Welcome Center. You only need 10 correct answers to be entered in the drawing for a free night’s stay at the historic Atlantic Hotel. Drop your completed entry form in the box located in the vestibule of the Welcome Center, which is open 24/7.
The Berlin Welcome Center will be featuring life-size images of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere for visitors to take photos with. Hours are Monday-Friday 10-4 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 24 is Runaway Bride Day in Berlin. The movie will be shown on Jefferson Street starting at 8:30 p.m. Adults and children are encouraged to wear their best Runaway Bride movie costumes to win some cool prizes sponsored by the Berlin Arts and Entertainment Committee. The Berlin Arts and Entertainment Committee will also be offering a special café table seating option for the movie which will include a beverage, light fare and a slice of Baked Dessert Café wedding cake. For more information on the Arts and Entertainment sponsored events, please contact Robin Tomaselli at Baked Dessert Café.
A look at the menu in Seaside Deli. Click to enlarge.
In Maryland, the locals like to put their delis inside liquor stores.
Before I began working in the Old Line State, this was a completely foreign concept to me. The first time I entered a liquor store on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, I was instantly overwhelmed by the scent of dill pickles. Astonished and more than a little enamored, I sought out the source. In the corner was a petite counter and two ladies preparing submarine sandwiches to go.
Now I will forever associate a liquor store with sub sandwiches. Seaside Deli, Beer and Wine in Ocean City captures this unique and successful combination with its surfside store.
On 72nd Street and Coastal Highway, you’ll find the deli in a small strip center on the southbound side of the road. It’s unassuming and at first, I wasn’t sure why it came so highly recommended to me. But when I approached the front door, I understood. Liscio’s and Aversa Bakery boxes were waiting outside the door. Their breads are no joke.
And the bread is very important on a sub. Critically important. Too soft and it’s like eating a carwash sponge; too hard and it ruins the sanctity of the ingredients inside. The perfect combo of crispy crust and airy insides is paramount. And both these bakeries are locally known to balance crust and crumb beautifully.
The advertisement of Boar’s Head deli meats and cheeses was also a good sign.
Inside, I was surprised to see not just a liquor store, but also a full-service quick-stop convenience store. The store was hopping, with at least two dozen customers browsing, chatting up the staff or reviewing the overhead sandwich menu. In fact, I heard many guests greeted by name, letting me know that this place caters to a recurring customer base. Promising, indeed.
I was overjoyed to see local brands like Lewes Dairy and Turkey Hill in the refrigerated cases as well. Martin’s Eggs and C.W. Dunnet dairy products filled the squat glass-front case, both Lancaster-based brands. Tossed green and bound side salads were ready to grab and go, and Schmidt breads and rolls, another local name, were available for home sandwich building. Nine fridges of cold beer supply lined the back wall and a full-service bar is set up in the back, too, with six stools and TVs ready for sports viewing.
It was hard to choose a sandwich from those on display. They had the standards like freshly-made chicken salad, Italian-style sandwiches and Reubens, but there were some curve balls in there, too, Oriental Chicken and the Barnyard among them. I ended up choosing the Hungry Kayaker and was overwhelmed at the amount of filling in it. I ate half and was so full, I could barely sit comfortably.
Make sure to stop in for Woody’s Kegs and Eggs too. It’s breakfast served all day at the bar, complete with a pint of beer. Really.
Great sandwiches, inside a liquor store. Only in Maryland, and Seaside’s only in Ocean City.
Have you visited Seaside Deli? What did you order? What other local businesses should I review? Let me know in the comments!
Each year OceanCity.com readers vote on the best of everything in Ocean City. We also have a panel of experts around Ocean City who pick their favorites based on local experiences, which we refer to as Editor’s Choice. Click here for this year’s voting.
Whatever the weather and whatever your preferred form of entertainment, there’s always something to do in Ocean City. The bay is riddled with watersports for the adventurous vacationers, just as Coastal Highway is home to an abundance of mini-golf courses for those who prefer a more relaxed kind of fun. Whatever fun activities you choose to partake in, you’re sure to have a great time.
If you’re looking to reel in sea bass, cod, trout and everything else the Atlantic Ocean has to offer, sign up for one of the Angler’s Deep Sea Fishing Trips and set sail on their 65-foot fiber glass party boat with your fishing rod in hand. If you’re looking for more of a scenic adventure, their Nature Cruise will take you around Assateague Island to see the ponies and waterfowl, and the Evening Scenic Cruise treats boaters to a trip around the bay as the sun sets.
Since 1965, Old Pro has been treating golfers of every age to fun, challenging games at all four of their locations. Fuel your imagination with whatever your heart desires, whether that be underwater, safari, Renaissance castle, dragon, dinosaur or pirate-themed courses. You’ve seen all of Old Pro’s fantasy sculptures every time you drive down Coastal Highway – the dinosaurs don’t bite, so why not get to know them a little?
Feel the wind in your hair as you watch the waves move beneath your feet. Paradise Watersports will take you up in the air on their parasails, where you’ll get a birds-eye view of dolphins, sea turtles, Assateague’s wild ponies and the most beautiful views you can imagine of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. You can even choose your own height — but of course, the higher you go, the better your view will be!
Open from May 1 to Sept. 24 each season, Paradise offers a premiere jet skiing experience in Ocean City (you know, to cool off after your parasailing expedition). Navigate the waters near Hooper’s Crab House at the foot of the Route 50 bridge where Paradise is located, reach top speeds and achieve the ultimate adrenaline rush on your Ocean City vacation. Your vacation isn’t a true adventure if you don’t jet ski at least once!
Located on the picturesque Isle of Wight Bay, 48th Street Watersports is one of the only places in Ocean City that offers kayak eco tours, where guides help you get on the water to catch an intimate glance at all the plant and animal life that lives in the bay. You can see diamondback terrapins, Maryland blue crabs, ospreys, egrets, horseshoe crabs, jellyfish and sometimes even stingrays and skates as you glide over the shallow waters of the bay.
Surfers rejoice at Malibu’s Surf Shop, where you can find the best surf gear and boards that Ocean City has to offer. If you’re new to surfing but looking to ride the waves, Malibu’s offers private lessons every morning with seasoned instructors who are local to the Ocean City area. If you don’t have a board of your own, Malibu’s has rentals, too.
When the rain starts pouring down and you’re seeking shelter near the Jolly Roger pier rides, head inside Ripley’s to be amazed by all their weird collections — a model of the world’s tallest man, shrunken heads and two-headed animals among them. The kids will be entertained for as long as their attention spans allow them.
Not everyone is lucky enough to have their own boat tied up behind their beach house… That’s why you rent one from Odyssea Watersports. Odyssea offers pontoon boats that hold up to 12 passengers and deluxe pontoons that hold up to 14, available to rent for two, four, six and eight hours at a time. Bring a cooler full of drinks, or bar hop your way down the bay. Whatever you do, you’ll have a blast, especially if you opt to use the boats’ bluetooth speaker radios. Now it’s a party!
Each year OceanCity.com readers vote on the best of everything in Ocean City. We also have a panel of experts around Ocean City who pick their favorites based on local experiences, which we refer to as Editor’s Choice. Click here for the 2020 voting.
Whatever you’re in the mood for, there’s a restaurant for it in Ocean City (especially if you’re in the mood for crabs). With seafood, buffet, pub-style and pizza joints on every corner, the possibilities are endless.
Restaurants who have placed in a “Best Of” restaurant category for 5 straight years include Harrison’s Harbor Watch, Dumser’s Ice Cream, Kohr Bros, 28th Street Pit n Pub, Smokers BBQ, Anthony’s Carryout, Hooper’s Crab House, The Crab Bag, The Crabcake Factory, Tequila Mockingbird, Blu Crabhouse, The Bonfire, OC Wasabi and Belly Busters. Congrats to those fine award-winning establishments, and to all of those listed below!
Where are you getting your pizza from? There was no clear winner in this category, with over 1,000 voters writing in a favorite pizza place that wasn’t on our poll. That’s typical for this category, one of our most popular (this year it received almost 6,000 votes total), so we wrote about some of the common write-ins that voters chose. To be fair, there are a lot of pizza options in Ocean City. But ultimately the winner was Grotto Pizza, a Maryland and Delaware pizza tradition since the 1960s. The family-friendly pizzeria has locations on 14th and 125th Street and also offers subs, salads, pastas, wings, strombolis, calzones and more.
They say that crab is on the menu all day at Crabcake Factory USA, and so are their Bloody Marys, which make the perfect complement to a crabcake. It’s no wonder that with five locations (their original location at 120th street, bayside in Selbyville, DE, a seafood house across from the original restaurant, an express store at the boardwalk and poolside at the Tidelands Hotel) and an option to get their crabcakes shipped straight to your door, Crabcake Factory is the clear winner for the Best Seafood of 2017.
The Crab Bag’s “fattest crabs ever” are, according to the seasoned crab pickers and “Best Of” voters, by far the best crabs in Ocean City. With so many crab restaurants on the Eastern Shore, the Bag must be doing something right to garner so much support for their male blue crabs, which are steamed for 20-30 minutes and offered with sides like fries, corn and fried chicken in their “Feast” entrees. Pick a picnic table and get pickin’.
Are you surprised? In addition to taking home the Best Seafood award, the Factory has also been crowned Best Crabcakes, winning by a landslide thanks to their signature entree. Whatever underwater creature you’re craving, Crabcake Factory literally takes the cake.
An Ocean City staple since 1939, Dumser’s Dairyland wins Best Ice Cream yet again. The ice creamery has expanded to seven locations throughout OC since the 30s, when Mrs. Gladys Dumser made her first homemade batch on the boardwalk, and today the family-owned-and-operated business offers every flavor and topping under the sun. Whether you’re dining in at their 49th or 123rd street locations or getting your dessert to go, Dumser’s is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
For delicious barbecue including house-smoked brisket, pork, chicken, ribs and wings, look no further than 28th Street — the 28th Street Pit & Pub, to be exact. You’ll also find this smokehouse in North Ocean City and, as of this year, in Salisbury, too. The Pit & Pub offers a casual environment where you won’t be ashamed to get your fingers a little saucy, and they also have a great daily Happy Hour from 3-6 p.m.
The shop on 33rd street with the dancing light-up beer cans isn’t just a liquor store. Anthony’s also carries beer and wine, and the best subs in Ocean City. For 45 years, their deli has been serving top-quality sandwich meats from Boar’s Head and Critterio, so when you’re in the mood for a hoagie, Anthony’s is the place to go. Be sure to stop at the bar for a cold brew on your way out.
Down at the Sunset Grille… you’ll find some of the best deals in town, including $6.99 lunch specials Monday through Thursday and half-priced drinks at Happy Hour. But those deals aren’t even the best part of dining at the Sunset Grille. The best part is being able to enjoy your meal sitting dockside under an umbrella, watching boats roll into the harbor while the sun sets over the bay. Combine that view with a couple of drinks from Teasers Bar and you’ll never want to leave.
The Harrison family has been local to the Ocean City region for over 100 years, and maybe that’s why they’re so dedicated to offering the freshest shellfish in all of OC. Fish on the restaurant’s menu are often served the same day they’re caught, and in the summer, produce comes freshly picked from the Laurel Produce Market in Laurel, DE. Chow down on the oyster stew while enjoying one of the best bay views the island has to offer.
The Bonfire has been serving up a large and diverse array of food since 1973. At their 70th street buffet, pretty much any craving can be sated, whether it be with seafood, steak, ribs, crab legs or any other fresh buffet staple. The Bonfire proves to be Ocean City’s best buffet (and there are lots in this region!) because here, as you sit under their beautiful stained glass with a view of the restaurant’s tropical fish tanks, all your senses will be satisfied.
In the barn-style building formerly home to the Pirate’s Den, Barn 34 continues the tradition of delicious breakfasts and other great meals throughout the day, too. Downstairs you can dine-in or order a drink at the Rum Bar, or upstairs, hang out in the Loft Dining Room and Bar. Either way, your experience will be accented with great food, live music and maybe even a game of ping-pong.
Shotti’s Point is only a few years old (and their second location on the Boardwalk just opened this summer), but in a short period of time, their wings have taken Ocean City by storm. According to Best of Ocean City voters, their pizza isn’t bad either (it received a ton of write-in votes!) and their fries are second only to Thrasher’s. You might have to schedule several meals at Shotti’s Point just to try all the highly-favored food they have to offer.
Best Carry Out was a close race between 17th Street Anthony’s and the other Anthony’s, but the audience choice ultimately goes to Anthony’s at 17th street. Tried and true and owned by the same family for 45 years, Anthony’s serves the best takeout breakfast, fried chicken, subs and pizza in Ocean City. They’re cash only, so be sure to hit up an ATM before you go!
OC Wasabi wins Best Asian Food in a landslide. Come try the freshest sushi and sake on the beach, dine-in or carryout, or hit up the bar for happy hour specials on beer and house margaritas. If you’re feeling adventurous, be sure to order the fried ice cream for dessert, or the mochi, a sweet Japanese classic.
Hands down some of the best pizza you can get on the beach. Touch of Italy started out as a Lewes, DE exclusive in 2010, but today their artisanal pizza can be found in Ocean City and Rehoboth Beach, too. Check out their pasticceria, better known as a pastry shop with biscottis, pastries and cakes, or their salumeria, the Italian version of a deli. And whatever you do, be sure to treat yourself to an authentic Touch of Italy pizza.
Mother’s Cantina prides themselves on their bold flavors and local, organic ingredients that make their Tex-Mex entrees so delicious. Mother’s Cantina is not only authentic but also affordable, so when you’re in the mood for a Mexican meal, you can dine-in, carry out or hit up the market at their 28th street restaurant. Happy hour is every day from 4-7, so keep in mind that a margarita is the perfect complement to a spicy fajita.
Each year OceanCity.com readers vote on the best of everything in Ocean City. We also have a panel of experts around Ocean City who pick their favorites based on local experiences, which we refer to as Editor’s Choice. Click here for the 2020 voting.
For many Ocean City visitors, the most important part of any Ocean City vacation is the bar-hopping. “Best Bars” almost always proves to be the category that we get the most votes in, and we totally understand why. There are some great bars in Ocean City, and some not-so-great bars. We’re here to concentrate on the positives, of which there are many.
Bars that have placed in a “Best Of” restaurant category for 5 straight years include Seacrets, Fish Tales, Coconuts and Fager’s Island.
Without further ado, here are 2019’s Best Bars in Ocean City, Maryland! If you don’t agree with the results — or even if you do agree, but want them to stay the same next year — it’s not too early to start voting in the Best of Ocean City 2020.
‘Best Bar Overall’ voting is almost always a neck-and-neck race between Seacrets and Fish Tales; last year, Fish Tales pulled through. This year, Seacrets took the crown back. Both are incredible bars in their own right, but for very different reasons. Fish Tales is a colorful oasis with a playground for kids, so you can spend hours there with the entire family. Seacrets is known more for its nightlife, especially the local and national musical acts is attracts to its sweeping Morley Hall nightclub. You can eat indoors at Seacrets, or outdoors on the sand, or outdoors in the water as you watch more diners arrive via their boats and Seacrets’ own water taxi. You could spend all day, and well into the night, at Seacrets.
Always another close race between Seacrets and Fish Tales! Seacrets’ drinks are often made with liquor from their distilling company next door, which has won medals from spirits competitions all over the United States. Their spiced rum is especially renowned. Also be sure to try their Tropicale craft beer, brewed specially for Seacrets by Evolution Craft Brewing in Salisbury, Md.
Head inside the Castle in the Sand hotel on 37th Street and that’s where you’ll find Coconuts, a frequent winner of Ocean City’s “Best Happy Hour.” Happy Hour at Coconuts is every day from 5 to 6 p.m., where drinks are 2-for-the-price-of-1. It’s the best and the fastest hour in Ocean City, often enjoyed alongside live music and, of course, beautiful views of the ocean.
It would be blasphemous to not award Ocean City’s Best Sunset View to Fager’s Island. They time it perfectly every evening so that the 1812 Overture bellows from the bar just as the sun is setting, and if you haven’t stood on their gazebo on the water to enjoy this phenomenon, you haven’t really had the full Ocean City experience.
No one in Ocean City does live music better than Seacrets. Whether an act is performing at Morley Hall, the Tiki Stage or the outdoor Beach Stage, you can bet there will be a huge crowd with seemingly limitless energy and dance moves. You can even watch live cams and pre-recorded videos of the bands that regularly rock the Seacrets stages right on their website.
Pickles has been a favorite sports bar among locals since the joint first opened up in 1989. Open year-round and providing Ocean City with a dose of casual pub atmosphere downtown, locals and visitors alike are known to catch a game on their giant high-def TV, and maybe enjoy a fried pickle or two. Or 12.
4th Street, 9th Street or 45th Street — whichever Tap House you’re at, you can bet they’ll have an awe-inspiring assortment of craft beer! The Tap House features local and national craft beer brands, which pair perfectly with food selections including the crabby pretzel, wings and a king-sized burger. Happy Hour is every weekday from 3-6 p.m., the perfect opportunity to try your new favorite craft beer.
Burley Oak in Berlin, MD draws thousands of visitors to the area every year just for their craft beer alone. According to Burley, “Our goal is to produce distinctive beers whose quality is unsurpassed using new and traditional brewing methods,” a goal that they’ve certainly accomplished: Their brews are as unique as it gets, and made largely with local ingredients. Stop in for an IPA or, for those feeling adventurous, a JREAM: a sour beer made with fruit and milk sugar, offered in a variety of flavors.
Some of us like to stay somewhere new every time we go on vacation. After all, there are hundreds of fantastic hotels and motels lining Ocean City’s beach and bayside — for some, it can be hard to commit to just one regular destination.
Others, however, already know what they like. Sometimes it’s a tradition; your family stayed at this hotel for decades and decades, and you know they wouldn’t frequent any place but the very best (this is common, because many of Ocean City hotels have been around for decades and decades). Or maybe you spent summer after summer trying out different accommodations, only to finally find the one that was completely perfect for you and your family. There’s no turning back now!
Either way, if you’re set on where you’re staying, be sure to check if that hotel has a loyalty program that you can take advantage of. You might just find that your favorite locale does offer rewards that you haven’t been rightfully earning. Or, you might find your new favorite hotel based on their amazing loyalty program alone.
Here are some of our favorites, and we can vouch that these are all excellent hotels. They’re well worth the multiple stays that are usually required to start earning points, and to eventually receive that free week in Ocean City you’ve always dreamed of. Let us know what your favorite loyalty-friendly hotels are and we might just add them to the list!
We are part of Choice Privileges which includes Quality Inn, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Econo Lodge and Ascend properties. It is a rewards program where you earn points for your stay based on dollar amount of reservation. They can be redeemed for not only free nights but also many types of gift cards.
The Aloft and Residence Inn are both Marriott hotels, which use the Marriott Bonvoy awards program. Through Bonvoy, guests earn points by staying at Marriott Properties and through credit card spending. Points can be redeemed for a free hotel stay, with awards priced according to the specific hotel, or for airline miles with any of 40 qualifying airline loyalty programs.
Reward points at the Grand Hotel can be earned simply bybooking directly. Guests can earn six vacation rewards per reservation; rewards include Grand Hotel gear, vouchers to local businesses like Jolly Roger, Splash Mountain, Speed World and Thrasher’s, complimentary upgrades and more.
Our signature program is called “Dunes Circle.” If you mention that you are a returning patron, we offer discounts from 5% – 20% depending on season and day of week.
Hilton Honors – Guests earn a certain amount of points per dollars spent, and the amount of points returned to the guest depends on their tier — there’s blue, silver, gold and diamond. Silver members and blue members earn the same return on points, gold members get 20% more and I believe diamond is 25% more on dollars spent. They can use those points at any Hilton property, for an entire free stay if they have enough or they can do a points-and-money combination to get a discount.
Ocean City Hotels Click for Hotel Navigation There are literally hundreds of places to stay in Ocean City, so choosing just one for your Ocean City vacation can feel a bit overwhelming. No need to worry, though.
The quirky catchphrase was exclaimed by Susan Dickerson Mason — at least, the 21st-century reenactment of Dickerson Mason – – when she was told that the first Bank of Ocean City would soon be built.
“Well hallelujah… on a bicycle!” repeated the Ocean Pines Player portraying Ella Phillips Dennis when she heard that the bank would be located across the street from her hotel, the Dennis Hotel, on the corner of Dorchester and Baltimore Avenue.
These women and two others, who played major roles in the making of Ocean City as we know it today, are resurrected every Monday at 10 a.m. outside the Life-Saving Station Museum. The half-hour play presented by the Ocean Pines Players is called the Petticoat Regime, and tells the story of the women who built OC in the early 1900s, including:
Ella Phillips Dennis, who built the Dennis Hotel on Dorchester Street.
Margaret Campbell Buell, who built the Mount Pleasant Hotel, located on the Boardwalk between North Division and First Street, in 1900.
Susan Dickerson Mason, who purchased the Mount Pleasant Hotel from Campbell Buell in 1919.
The Petticoat Regime is named after the term that local historians use to describe the group of entrepreneurial women who ran businesses, mostly hotels, throughout town in the early 20th century. By 1926, in fact, 30 of the 32 hotels in Ocean City were run by women.
Ella Phillips Davis, who first came to the Shore with her husband in 1890 in hopes of improving her ill health, said to the Baltimore Sun, “Ocean City is seventy percent run by women, built by women, and the men are all hen-pecked.” Her health improved upon moving to Ocean City, and she ran the Dennis Hotel for the rest of her life.
History Navigation An Isolated Fishing Village Once an isolated fishing village that has since grown into one of the east coast’s premier vacation destinations, Ocean City, Maryland has a wonderful and storied past. An Englishman named Thomas Fenwick,the namesake of the Delaware resort that borders Ocean City to the north, once owned the land where Ocean City now sits.
The play, written by Karen McClure of the Ocean Pines Players and set in a tea room, is as humorous as it is educational. Rumor has it that Dickerson Mason created quite a stir in town when she arrived in Ocean City by skiff with four children and a cow along with her, and the ladies sitting with her at tea can’t help but wonder — why did you bring the cow?
Learn a little more about Ocean City’s early history, and take a few moments to appreciate the hardy women who helped build the town from the ground up. Our only recommendation is that you arrive to the show early in order to get a seat!
Pushed back from the noise of Coastal Highway, a short bus trip away from the Inlet and all the amusements downtown but far enough away for some likely much-needed peace and quiet — with only the sound of crickets and night herons gently coasting along the bay at nighttime — and evenings spent sitting around the firepit.
Does this sound like heaven to you?
The Home2 Suites by Hilton on 67th Street opened quietly last November, about as quiet as the Assawoman basin that it sits on. But even though the Home2 Suites is new, and somewhat hidden away behind a bayside shopping center and a big, indoor/outdoor Old Pro mini golf, the hotel has had no problem filling up its rooms and suites for the summer.
“It’s kind of surprising how many guests want to be away from the Inlet and all the action,” said Kaitie Cochran, the hotel’s General Manager. “We’re great because we’re conveniently located, we still have the bus stop right out here, and we’re very close to [Route] 90.”
You’re just across the street from the beach, but Ocean City’s beautiful bayside should never be overlooked — unless you’re literally overlooking it from a high-up hotel room.
Most of their guests, Cochran said, come with pets in tow. The Home2 Suites prides itself on its pet-friendliness, and even though pets aren’t allowed on Ocean City’s beach in the summertime, they’re more than welcome to hang out in the Home2’s guest rooms while their owners soak up the sun.
Furry, four-legged guests will probably enjoy at least a few of the hotel’s amenities as much as their owners will. In the backyard, just outside the indoor pool area, is a grilling station that overlooks the bay. Families are encouraged to cook out and enjoy their meal under the shade of an umbrella, all the while enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of the marshlands. Dogs will love being outdoors and catching scraps off the grill, and most humans won’t be able to help but gawk at the scenery.
Guide to Ocean City with Dogs 2018 Ocean City is one of those places where you can bring your whole family with you — not just the human members, but the furry, four-legged ones, too.
They might even hear the sounds of motors, the telltale signal that some lucky boat owner is approaching the dock. The Home2 Suites owns the dock outside their building, so guests with a boat are welcome to use it for an additional fee. Even guests without a boat can try their hand at crabbing off the dock, or head next door to the 67th Street Paddle Cove and rent a stand-up paddleboard without having to trek more than a few feet away from the hotel.
Southwest view from outside the Home2Suites.
The major draw of this all-suites, extended-stay hotel is in its very name. Rooms are modern and contemporary and designed to feel more like an apartment than a hotel room, so visitors don’t feel like they’re saying goodbye to all the convenience and comfort of their home when they go away on vacation.
Each room features a pullout sofa, microwave, dishwasher and full-size refrigerator, and although there is no oven or stove, guests can rent an induction burner to cook on for free (though at breakfast time they’ll probably want to take advantage of the continental spread rather than cook for themselves).
Any couple or family who wants to enjoy the quieter side of Ocean City while also being near nature and alongside their beloved pets will find just the rest and relaxation they’re looking for at the Home2 Suites by Hilton. The hotel is just steps away from Old Pro, 67th Street Paddle Cove, Longboard Cafe, SweetFrog, Ron Jon Surf Shop and the Kite Loft, so those looking for something fun to do on a hot summer day won’t have to look far. Plus, the bus downtown to all the shops, entertainment and Inlet amusements is right outside the door. Vacation has never been easier.
[promos][promo name=”Home2 Suites by Hilton” business=”120 67th Street, Ocean City, MD” img=”https://www.oceancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/3775_home-2-12.jpg” link=”https://www.oceancity.com/hotels-and-motels/home2-suites-by-hilton-ocean-city-bayside/” cta_text=”Book Now” small_img=”true” top_border=”1″] Stay a while at our new, pet friendly Home2 Suites by Hilton Ocean City Bayside. Conveniently located midway between the Boardwalk and Northside Park. Our excellent location puts you within walking distance of award winning beaches, the Advanced Marina and 67th Street Town Center offering a variety of shops and dining. You’ll feel right at home in our spacious suites offering a well-equipped kitchenette complete with a full-size refrigerator, dishes, microwave and flatware. [/promo][/promos]
We were out on the beach this weekend, and WOW — the crowds have absolutely exploded and summer is obviously in full swing here in Ocean City. Dodging hungry seagulls and weaving in and out of overzealous children on the beach has never been so rewarding; a slew of 80-90 degree days and sunshine seems to have brought everyone down to the water, and luckily, the sun doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
It’s the perfect time of year for our friendly annual refresher on beach safety! The concerns over Vibrio infection and the potential return of sea lice have some beachgoers worried, but in all honesty, there’s not a lot to be worried about as long as you take simple preventative measures and practice basic safety at the beach. Here is our guide on beach safety that’s short, sweet and to the point, and great to share with kids before you bring them to the beach. And if you have any concerns about lice or flesh-eating bacteria… Keep reading down below.
The beach can be a very safe place if you take the time to understand sand and water safety. Many misconceptions about beach safety exist and contribute to one of the biggest factors behind people getting into trouble: fear.
Last Week’s News and How to Stay Safe on the Beach This Summer
Sea lice might be back soon: Over the weekend, the Baltimore Sun reported that sea lice — which are actually minuscule jellyfish larvae that sting and can cause itchy rashes — have already made an appearance this summer in Virginia Beach, VA. They could reach Ocean City by mid-August, right around the same time they showed up last year.
But don’t waste too much time worrying whether sea lice are swimming in your section of the beach. Just ask a lifeguard if they’re present. It’s advised that swimmers avoid wearing t-shirts and to cover up with sunscreen, which can reduce contact with the larvae. Last summer, the Ocean City Beach Patrol also recommended that swimmers shower after getting out of the ocean. Learn more about avoiding sea lice and treating rashes.
However, the rash-causing, itch-inducing jellyfish larvae are not be confused with the small, parasitic crustaceans which feed on fish to survive (read: actual sea lice), according to marine experts. The parasitic sea lice do not affect humans, only fish, and simply, but misleadingly, share names with the jellyfish larvae form of “sea lice.”
Vibrio is no cause for major concern: Beachgoers became alarmed earlier in the month when a boy swimming in the Sinepuxent Bay was infected with Vibrio, a flesh-eating bacteria. Vibrio is rare — only one case was reported in Worcester County in 2017 — and is caused by undercooked or raw shellfish and by swimming with open wounds. Vibrio can be prevented by avoiding the consumption of undercooked and raw shellfish and by covering wounds with waterproof bandages, and by preventing saltwater contact with open wounds altogether.
Vibrio can be a hazard across Maryland bays and coastal waters, but after a boy was recently infected with the flesh-eating bacteria, concern and confusion has spread about the bacteria. The concern stems from a young boy who contracted Vibrio while swimming in the Sinepuxent Bay at the end of June.
#ThisWeekinOC
Free Movies on the Beach (July 15 and 17, 8:30-10:30 p.m.): Grab and chair and a blanket and enjoy free movies all summer long on the beach. Monday and Friday movies are shown at 27th Street Beach. All movies are subject to change. In the event of bad weather, the movie may be held inside or canceled.
Family Beach Olympics (July 16, 6:30-8:45 p.m.): Fun for the whole family – sand castle contests, tug-of-war, relays, & more!
Ocean Games (July 20, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.): This is an annual event conducted in cooperation with the Town of Ocean City, the Ocean City Beach Patrol, and the United States Coast Guard. The Ocean Games features three main competitions. “Swim Ocean City”, a WOWSA-sanctioned ocean race, features 1-mile, 3-mile, and 9-mile ocean swims, and Ultimate Flight Frisbee (competitive beach frisbee tournament).
Sundaes in the Park (July 21, 7-9 p.m.): Come to Northside Park each Sunday night, and make yourself an ice cream sundae while enjoying live music and children’s activities. This is a free evening, although there is a small charge for the ice cream. The evening ends with a fireworks display at 9 p.m.
Albertino’s Brick Oven Eatery is located at 131st Street in Ocean City.
Have you ever had a pizza that changed your life?
A brick oven pizza is not your standard fare. Allow me to share some pizza industry secrets. As a chef, I feel it necessary to tell you some hard facts: Most commercial pizza eateries use a piece of equipment called an impinger (or impinger oven) to cook their pizzas and baked items. This is basically a metal tabletop or floor oven with a conveyor belt that runs through it. The item is placed on the belt and it is slowly drawn inside. Heating elements above and below, nestled in aluminum casing, bake the item top and bottom at the same time. The result is a quickly, consistently and evenly baked pizza.
While this sounds like an amazing kitchen invention, it lets down a real pizza enthusiast like those in my family. Why? An impinger-baked pizza is nowhere near an oven-baked pizza on many levels, including crust crispness, cheese bubbliness and that slight char flavor that is so utterly craveable. The toppings tenderize and sink into the gooey mozzarella, the edges of the rounded hand-tossed dough turn dark amber and the tap of crust on the plate results in a hauntingly satisfying crunch.
If you’re not drooling yet, I’m not sure we can be friends.
If you want a brick-oven-baked pizza in Ocean City, one that will change the way you feel about pizza, stop by Albertino’s for lunch or dinner. Once you have a pizza baked in a wood-fired, 900-degree oven, you won’t be able to enjoy impinger pizza again. They’re open year-round, offer relaxed, family-friendly service and an atmosphere full of old-world charm, perfect for socializing, so you have no excuses to not spoil yourself a little.
I would be remiss to not mention the other menu offerings, though the pizza is hard to pull myself away from. Abundant pasta selections, including Bolognaise authentically made with pork and veal, hand-filled pastas and seafood-centric offerings will appeal to non-pizza patrons. Allow me to recommend the Lump Crab Mac and Cheese, made with gouda and white cheddar. Draft beer, including local craft brews, are ready to go with your pizza of choice or choose a wine to pair with your entrée.
Specials are offered daily, including half-price pizza and pasta lunches, perfect for quick breaks during your vacation or work days. In addition, Chef’s Specials are offered to capture the best seasonal flavors and finds. On my particular visit, a veggie-centric pasta dish was on offer. Asking for accommodation for restrictions is also fine with the chef and they’ll do what they can to make every member of your crew comfortable.
If you can’t leave a restaurant without a sweet finish, Albertino’s offers some Italian specialties to placate your cravings. Imported sweet cocoa-dusted Tiramisu pairs beautifully with their snickerdoodle-spiked coffee, and though I’d usually recommend The Big Chocolate as a post-meal splurge, the Lemon Berry Mascarpone cream cake, baked with cinnamon streusel then filled with fruit, is pretty spectacular.
Did you enjoy your brick oven pizza? Are there more local places in OC I should check out? Be sure to leave a comment and share this article!
Happy Friday, Ocean City lovers! Every other week in the spring and summertime, we accept photo submissions and compile a blog just like this one. Out of the posted photos, we randomly choose a winner to receive a prize, usually to an Ocean City restaurant or entertainment like Jolly Roger Amusements. This week our winner is Shannon, who submitted a throwback photo from 1981, in addition to two beautiful sunset photos from Blu Crabhouse, and won two tickets to Jolly Roger. Congratulations!
You could win, too — justsubmit your vacation photos here! Even if you don’t win, you get to share your Ocean City pictures with the world. Just remember, you must include your full name and email address in your submission in order to win. (It also helps your chances to submit photos that are large, horizontally-oriented and not pixelated or blurry.)
Picture of the beautiful sunrise from right in front of the boardwalk!Getting ready for a beach movie! Taken at The Carousel hotel on July 3.Under the pier at inletBay Sunset, taken June 30, 2019 at Blu RestaurantSunset Over The Bay, taken at Blu Restaurant, Sunday June 30My kids enjoying some polish water ice!New Baby Pony on AssateagueGrayson love playing in the OC sand! He had a blast during our summer vacation.Double rainbow through a fisheye lense.Follow the rainbow to ocean city boardwalk June 29, 2019.Growing up my family spent my vacations in Ocean City. My best memories were riding Trimpers rides, eating Thrasher’s fries, and camping at Frontier Town. This photo of myself with my sisters and brother was taken in August 1981 on the wall at the inlet. Notice our matching T-shirts?Wild ponies crash our beach bonfire on Assateague Island. Perspective courtesy of chardonnay.Sunset on the bay at Fish tales on our birthday boys 1st birthday!Lightning bolt from a thunderstorm over the ocean at night.9th Street | Spring Break April 2017 | Sunrise w DolphinThis picture was taken of the June full moon over Ocean City Skyline. It was a beautiful night and the picture was taken from the beach at Stinky Beach. I love taking pics of the full moon.
Want to beat peak summertime traffic in Ocean City without sacrificing a prime location and pristine views of the water? Historically, a rental on the other side of the Route 50 bridge, or maybe a private helicopter chartered to drop you off on the roof of your hotel, would have been your best bet. But since the Residence Inn by Marriott opened its doors last May, all you have to do is drive down the 90 bridge and #turnright.
The Residence Inn is made up of eight floors, 150 rooms and amenities including a fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, two bars and a private bayside beach. Even though it’s on 61st Street, its address is 300 Seabay Lane because it isn’t located directly on Coastal Highway, but pushed back into a little bayfront byway across from a strip of townhomes.
“Back here it’s more of a neighborhood feel,” said Sales and Marketing Manager Courtney Blackford. “It’s more of a resort back here, away from the main road where it gets loud and kind of crazy.”
Views of the neighborhood from a balcony at the Residence Inn.
The key word in describing the atmosphere of the year-old Residence Inn is “resort”; its location, amenities and abundance of activities available to guests elevate it high above “hotel” level, and because it is an extended-stay option, guests can stay there for a weekend or months at a time. Or, more likely, plan to stay a weekend and then start dreaming about leaving their responsibilities back home forever and extending their stay at the Ocean City Residence Inn for an indeterminate amount of time.
Family fun on a private beach
On the top floor of the building is an indoor pool flanked by windows that offer spectacular views of the 90 bridge to the west and all of the resort’s outdoor offerings just next to it.
More traffic at the pool than on the road on a Wednesday in July.
In the summer, the outdoor pool deck is replete with swimmers, sunbathers and 21+ guests enjoying cocktails at the tiki bar. Off the pool deck juts a long pier that leads to a small beach, where kids play in the sand, families kayak and those who can balance opt for a SUP lesson.
“We just added kayaks and stand up paddleboards this season,” Blackford said. “So those are available to rent by the hour, and then we also offer classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, which OC Stand Up Paddle Fitness comes in and does for us.”
Even with easy access to the bay and all it has to offer, some guests, understandably, still want to see the ocean. From the Residence Inn, it’s just a short walk and a crosswalk away, and electric carts are available to help families carry their umbrellas, coolers, beach blankets and boogie boards across the street and through the sand.
But you don’t necessarily need the ocean when this lies just outside your door.
Tiki Bar and beer with a Bayview
While the pools and tiki bar are available only to guests — “We’re in the process of naming the tiki bar now,” Blackford said — the inside bar on the hotel’s second floor, the Bayview Bar and Grill, is open to the public.
You don’t even have to be a guest at the hotel to enjoy the Bayview, the Bar and the Grill.
The bar has two taps, one for domestic and one for local craft beer, and also offers a menu of appetizers, with a dinner menu coming soon. The Bayview opens at 4 p.m. in the summer, but the tiki bar is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and food can be ordered right at the outdoor bar.
It’s a great space to eat a flatbread, drink a local beer and enjoy the view of the bay from the window. It’s also a space that has hosted a Valentine’s beer festival with Delaware brewery Big Oyster last winter, a bourbon festival and in the last month alone, three weddings — ceremonies happen out on the pool deck and then guests move inside to celebrate. If it’s late enough, they can enjoy a world-class sunset.
“We always say, the sunrise you have to work for,” Blackford said. “This sunset you just sit back and enjoy.”
Paradise on Seabay Lane
Ultimately, the Residence Inn resort is designed to accommodate any kind of traveler, from the couple who wants to spend a romantic weekend on the bay to the adventurous family looking for a few weeks of fun. Even the family dog is invited to partake in the adventure.
The resort cultivates a family atmosphere in part because their employees make everyone feel like they’re right at home. In fact, out of everything else they offer, Blackford says the staff is what sets the resort apart from other accommodations in Ocean City.
“We’ve come to build an awesome staff here… they’re very engaging and very knowledgeable about the town, and a lot of them have been here for a long time,” she said. “You can stay in any hotel, but it’s all how you feel when you’re greeted when you’re checking in.”
It’s almost a shame that the rooms are so nice since guests spend most of their time outside!
[promos][promo name=”Residence Inn by Marriott Ocean City” business=”300 Seabay Lane, Ocean City, MD” img=”https://www.oceancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/1857_residence-inn11.jpg” link=”https://www.oceancity.com/hotels-and-motels/residence-inn-ocean-city-bayfront/” cta_text=”Book Now” small_img=”true” top_border=”1″] The Residence Inn by Marriott Ocean City hotel offers a beautiful bayfront location with stunning views over the bay. Unwind in our spacious suites, step out onto our outdoor balconies and take in captivating views and sunsets of the Isle of Wight Bay. Start your morning filling up on healthy and hearty options at our free breakfast buffet. Enjoy seafood at our stylish Bayview Bar and Grille… [/promo][/promos]
