The ER is for life-threatening situations, yet many people go there when urgent care is more appropriate. According to one study, nearly half of ER patients whose ailment didn’t warrant being admitted to the hospital had gone to the ER simply because their doctor’s office wasn’t open.
Urgent care would have been more appropriate — and less expensive. Out-of-pocket costs are likely lower than for an ER visit, especially if the facility is in your health insurance network.
Realize, too, that the emergency department treats people in order of need, so you may have a longer wait time. Urgent care centers usually see people on a first-come, first-served basis.
Here are some examples of reasons to seek urgent care:
Fever and flu symptoms.
Minor injury.
Painful urination.
Severe sore throat.
More serious problems, like severe pain and difficulty breathing, as well as traumatic injuries, do need screening and treatment at the ER.
In serious emergencies, driving to the ER won’t get you help fast enough. It’s safer to call 911, especially in life-threatening situations. Paramedics can start care immediately.
Here are some reasons to go to the ER:
Any sign of stroke, including paralysis, difficulty speaking, altered mental status or confusion.
High fever or fever with a rash.
Persistent chest pain, shortness of breath or wheezing.
Serious burn.
Serious fall or an injury involving the head or eyes, a broken bone, deep cut or dislocated joint.
Severe bleeding or pain.
Sudden, severe headache or loss of vision.
If you’re unsure what constitutes an emergency or what costs will be covered, contact your insurer before you need any of these services. If you’re ever in doubt, go to your closest ER. But if the problem is simply that you just can’t reach your doctor, consider urgent care.
The Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum will be hosting their 8th Annual Children’s Day on the Bay Festival onSunday, August 5th from 12:00-3:00 pm. This free, family friendly event takes place on the bay at Sunset Park in Ocean City, MD. Families will get to experience live animals, games, crafts, live music and Dough Roller Pizza!
The Salisbury Zoo and Maryland State Parks will be there with live exotic and native animals. Chincoteague Bay Field Station, Ocean City Surf Club, Furnace Town, Maryland Coastal Bays, Ward Museum, Indian River Life-Saving Station, Ocean City Library, Ocean City Recreation and Parks, Rackliffe House, and the Art League will be on the scene with demonstrations, crafts, and games to engage kids of all ages! Throughout the day the Ocean City Police Department will be out and about with their horses!
Whether you find yourself, playing colonial games with Rackliffe House, creating a piece of art with the Art League or taking a closer look at a great horned owl, you and your family will learn all about the many local educational organizations that Delmarva has to offer! This event is sponsored by the Ocean City Development Corporation. If you would like more information regarding Children’s Day on the Bay, please contact the Museum at 410-289-4991 or email christine@ocmuseum.org. This event is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather.
While vacationers and locals alike would prefer perfect sunny beach days all-day, everyday, sometimes nature decides to thrown in a rainy day or summer storm into the mix. But do not let the weather put a damper on your mood because there are still plenty of wonderful things to do in Ocean City.
Eat! (And maybe explore new dining options)
The best and most obvious choice on any kind of day is to enjoy a nice meal, or two, or even all three. When in Maryland, you must eat Maryland style. Enjoy all the seafood you like or have a crab feast accompanied by fresh corn and local beer. There’s a seemingly endless supply of options no matter what kind of cuisine you’re craving, so if you’re having trouble choosing, check out our most recent Best of Ocean City winners in categories including best pizza, best crabs, best breakfast and more.
Embark on a brewery tour
In Ocean City and all of the Eastern Shore in general, there are always new, cool, and delicious breweries popping up, and older ones that continue pumping out fresh and unique new brews.
Head over to one of the many breweries to take a tour and a drink for the day. In Ocean City alone you’ll find world-class breweries like Fin City and Backshore, but head on over to ShoreCraftBeer.com to check out all the breweries in Ocean City and beyond.
Visit the arcades
There is still plenty to enjoy on the boardwalk when rain strikes. There are many arcades around the south end of the boardwalk where you can spend a whole day having a ton of fun, and winning some prizes while you’re at it. Sportland Arcade and Marty’s Playland are the classics where you can go to act like a kid again, or even bring your own. Play some Skee Ball and Air Hockey or choose your favorites to rack up your tickets and fun!
Old Pro’s indoor golf is a rainy-day go-to.
Hone your putt putt skills
Mini golf isn’t an activity that’s exclusive to sunny days thanks to Old Pro Golf’s two indoor courses. Bring your friends or your kids and make a little competition for a fun and exciting rainy day. Head over to the two locations in OC, one on 68th street (with the giant whale), and the other on 136th street.
Catch a mid-day matinee
Movies are a classic, but essential, rainy day activity, and even at the beach it’s a good idea to take a breather and watch a good movie (especially if you’re sunburnt and could use a little indoor time). On 143rd St. is the Fox Sun & Surf Cinema, which offers all the newest movies and has the comfiest red leather recliner chairs for an even more relaxing and enjoyable movie experience. Grab some popcorn and candy and head over to catch a film.
Go bowling
Ocean Lanes, Ocean City’s bowling alley, is another go to rainy day choice for all ages. Head up to 72nd street for a good day of bowling and a little competition along with food and drinks for your rainy day.
Partake in some retail therapy
Nothing makes a rainy day better than doing a bit of shopping and there are plenty of options in and around Ocean City. Check out local shops like Ragamuffin, Sea Quest, or Southmoon Under or head over to Tanger Outlets in West Ocean City. And for the surfers, or those who want a beach vibe, head to some surf shops like K-Coast, Chauncey’s, and Malibu’s. A little bit of shopping never hurt anyone, especially on a rainy day.
For the past two weeks, a small region of Assateague‘s shoreline located west of the Verrazano Bridge has been host to construction equipment and dump trucks, temporarily obscuring an otherwise beautiful, natural view of the state park. But the presence of the equipment, the workers and the sounds of construction all worked toward a good cause: they’re providing resiliency to Assateague’s shoreline and reducing shoreline erosion along the coast of the state park.
The project is a collaboration between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Coastal Bays and design/build contractors Underwood & Associates, and is funded by the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund. Over the span of several weeks, natural structures including boulders, cobble and sand are placed along 10 constructed headland structures, which ultimately result in coastal resiliency against storms.
These natural headlands were constructed along the shore to provide resiliency and protect the coastline from erosion.
“Resiliency” is the big word of the project, said Roman Jesien of Maryland Coastal Bays, and the results of the project are long-term.
“The thinking here is, this will be as permanent as we can have a shoreline,” Jesien said. “If you see the size of the rocks here, when the sea level rises, these rocks will be able to withstand that.“
The long-term result of the resiliency project is a living shoreline, a stabilized coastal edge that grows with time and uses natural materials that provide wildlife habitat, rather than unnatural infrastructure like seawalls that hinder the development of plants and the habitats of animals.
“The way that we do a living shoreline is, we set these vegetative breakwaters offshore and those dissipate wave energy and they create these really, really nice aquatic lagoons, aquatic habitats basically,” said Underwood & Associates Project Manager Chris Becraft.
Working on a final phase of the project, planting vegetation along the headlands.
While the shoreline is benefiting from the project in terms of resiliency, Assateague’s aquatic ecosystem benefits as well. The lagoons make the perfect shallow water habitats for fish and horseshoe crabs, Becraft said, while aquatic grasses will be able to thrive underwater and turtles can nest on the white sands of the headlands.
Even humans benefit from the resiliency project (although everyone benefits when natural ecosystems and their wildlife thrive!). The resiliency additionally applies to state park’s boat ramps, fishing piers and other public facilities, and protects them from rising tides and major storm events as well.
With the project now complete, this part of Assateague’s shoreline will be able to weather almost any storm that comes its way, and critters and beach-goers alike will be able to enjoy it for many years to come.
It’s still a haven, just now with a different name.
It only gets better with age.
Just like a fine wine, certain special hotels in Ocean City only improve with each passing year. 2018 might be the best year yet to stay at Ocean 1 Hotel & Suites, a motel-turned-hotel located right in the heart of Ocean City, that proves the old “better with age” adage to be totally true.
If you visited Ocean City anytime between the 70s and the early ’00s, you might remember it as the Haven Motel. The motel, which featured 40 rooms and a wrap-around porch, was torn down and rebuilt sometime around 2003. When owner Franco Fidanza took over four years ago, he officially changed the hotel’s name.
“The name [Haven] didn’t really mean much,” Fidanza said. “Ocean City needs a spark of — you’re on the beach, you need sunshine, you need ocean and you need water. I felt the name just needed to change with the times.”
Welcome to Ocean 1.
And so, over the span of the decade, the entire building and its name changed with the times. Now the recently-dubbed Ocean 1 is managed by Real Hospitality Group, and everyone working in the hotel’s line of duty — that is, at the front desk — agrees that the past year has been a sort of turning point for the hotel. It’s due in part, they say, to General Manager DeVanna Young.
Any hotel is only as good as its employees
“The most changes I’ve seen here have been with DeVanna,” said Mary Anne Weir, who’s worked at the front desk for the last six years. “We did the lobby up with the furniture and everything, she really dressed it up.”
In addition to a dressed-up lobby, this year the hotel also received brand-new mattresses and flat-screen TVs.
“We’ve made a big impact here in the last year, just trying to push our reviews, really trying to renovate and make some changes,” Young said. “We’re really starting to invest in this place.”
But to Weir, what makes a decent hotel is more than its bells and whistles. “It’s like a family here,” she said, referring to both the employees — the year-round staff like Young and Weir and the J1 students who come to work at the hotel every summer — and the guests.
“It’s homey, and we have a lot of guests that say they feel like they’re coming home,” she said. “We get a lot of repeat guests.”
Mary Anne Weir mans the front desk with a smile.
Marko Glusac, a J1 student from Serbia who’s spending his summer behind the front desk, echoed Weir’s sentiments.
“We all work here really well together,” he said. “Everything is functioning as it should and customers are really happy.”
Every room is a room with a view
Of course, more than anything else, the biggest draw of Ocean 1 is its prime location and the views from its guest rooms and condo units.
The hotel puts guests right in the heart of Ocean City: stand on the balcony, look straight ahead and there’s the ocean. Look to the right and there’s a perfect view of the Jolly Roger ferris wheel and the slingshot, and the smell of fresh funnel cakes and gyros wafts from the Golden Plate Sub Shop next door.
To the left, families come rolling down the Boardwalk on surreys, and artists carve intricate sculptures in the sand. If there’s anywhere that perfectly encapsulates the summertime vibes of Ocean City, Maryland, it’s up on a balcony on 1st Street.
The view from a 2nd floor balcony.
“We have a great location but at a great rate, definitely,” Young said.
Til the end of the season, guests who book directly with the hotel can save 10% by using the code online or by booking over the phone and mentioning the Book Direct and Save discount.
You have probably always felt your property was special. You are absolutely vindicated in your feelings in that regard!
In real estate, one of the first lessons you learn is, indeed, every property is individual and unique. This holds true even when considering lots in a new development: At first glance they may appear the same. However, when observing closely, one lot may have different boundary lines. One lot may have a tree, or a pond, or more road frontage, or a low spot, than its neighboring land, thereby making one lot substantially different than another.
Even if we consider condominiums we would find differences.
One condo may…
Be closer to the stairwell
Be an end unit
Present a different view
Have central air, or window air
Feature updated windows and/or doors
Possess more or less parking spaces
Have paneling or sheet rock
Include all newer appliances, or not offer all appliances
The list can go on and on. All these examples outline the many possible differences there can be, even between condominiums.
This rule is so definite that there is an action to define this fact. In a case where a seller does not honor his sales agreement, in some circumstances, a buyer could take a legal action called ‘specific performance.’ Specific performance is based on the concept that no amount of money can replace that particular property. For details of specific performance, please speak with your counselor. The law upholds the fact that all property is unusual and unique.
Other specific features to differentiate between properties may be their close proximity to:
Shopping
Theater
Dining
Golfing
Ocean
Bay
Amusements
Parking
Bus stop
The above items are all positive things that a buyer would perhaps consider important.
On the contrary, there are some things that make a property unique that may be issues to watch out for, as follows:
Power lines
Right of ways
Easements
Lines of delineation
Forestry conservation
Environmental issues
Encroachment
Zoning
Low areas
Drain off
Buried tanks
The lengthy list above clearly indicates the nearly endless possibilities that make each property very individual and specific. Therefore, each property is absolutely special, not just special to you.
Considering all these factors and variables, which may be somewhat overwhelming to consider, it makes a REALTOR invaluable when conducting transactions regarding your specific and special property. For questions please feel free to contact me: joanna@oceancitybeachproperties.com or contact your local REALTOR.
Five women — Chelsea Eline of Salisbury, MD, along with Rose MacGregor of Salisbury, Megan Bryant of Lothian, MD, Christine Coleman of Long Island, NY and Angela Urban of Pittsburgh, PA — have filed a lawsuit against the town. These women and many others believe in ‘top freedom,’ where men and women should have the equal right to be topless on the beach. The lawsuit is to declare that the ordinance against going topless violates an equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution and the Declaration of Rights to the Maryland Constitution.
The town has declined to stop enforcement on striking down its mandate on topless women, and any woman who bares her breasts on the Ocean City beach may be fined up to $1,000. Because of this, the plaintiffs and their attorney, civil rights attorney Devon Jacob, filed a motion for a preliminary injunction on June 29. Now, Ocean City has until July 27 to prepare a defense in order to deny the motion to dismantle its ordinance on topless women until a decision can finally be made.
The Ocean City Beach Patrol.
Jacob feels strongly about this topic in Ocean City, saying, “Public funds [are] being wasted on trying to shield citizens from seeing a couple of naked female breasts,” and that this money could ” be used to make Ocean City truly family-friendly” which includes to “fight crime, feed the homeless, fight drug addiction and care for children and the elderly.”
Last summer, the Ocean City beach patrol, was instructed to document complaints about topless women, but they were told not to approach them; before the complaints were made, the beach patrol would tell women to cover up. The change prompted a statement from the town that stated, “Ocean City is not a topless beach and will not become a topless beach.”
What do you think – does it matter if women are allowed topless?
For almost 80 years, past and present members of the elite lifeguarding team known as the Ocean City Beach Patrol (OCBP) have dedicated their summers to education, research and saving lives along the ten miles of Ocean City beach. For 46 of those years, Captain Melbourne “Butch” Arbin III has worked for the patrol.
Big Atlantic Storms Cause Rip Currents in Ocean City, Maryland
As we enter hurricane season, storms in the Atlantic can affect our coastline even when we can’t see the storm. Simply put, “When there is tropical activity in the Atlantic Basin, we can get rip currents in Ocean City,” Arbin said. Many may have heard that the ocean during such a storm, whether the storm is seen or unseen, has a higher than average chance of producing rip currents, which are extremely dangerous to swimmers.
Image of Tropical Storm Chris from My Radar App
Ocean City Beach Patrol Instrumental to the Creation of Rip Current Prediction Models
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issues these rip current warnings based on models that the Ocean City Beach Patrol helped develop many years ago. A scientist with NOAA was swimming off our coast with his son when they got caught in a rip. The Beach Patrol rescued both swimmers. Shaken, this scientist approached the OCBP and said that a prediction model needed to be developed to help warn swimmers of dangerous conditions. The OCBP began calling in the number of rescues each day and the scientists at NOAA correlated that data with wind speeds and direction, tides, and wave height. When a weather forecast is made with conditions that in the past have resulted in high numbers of rescues from rip currents, then models show that rip currents are likely to accompany those predicted conditions.
NOAA is not the only organization with which the Ocean City Beach Patrol has worked. Researchers at Johns Hopkins, the Maryland Sea Grant Program, and Dr. Rob Brander aka “Dr. Rip,” who has a site called ScienceoftheSurf.com, have all worked with the Ocean City Beach Patrol to understand ocean conditions dangerous to swimmers and to help educate and inform the public. Captain Arbin takes great pride in ensuring that the OC Beach Patrol “does more education than any beach patrol in the world.”
Rip currents can change every day and even many times a day.
What is a Rip Current?
Basically, rip currents are simply large volumes of water trying to get out of constricted areas. When a sand bar is offshore and there is a trough of deeper water between that sand bar and the beach, water gets stuck in the trough. At high tide, the water is deeper over the sand bar and lots of water can wash back over the sand bar so there isn’t as much “trapped” water.
When the tide is really low, much less water pushes over the sand bar into the trough where it gets stuck so, again, the volume of water “trapped” is lower. However, when the tide is falling and lots of water is in the trough but the depth decreases over the sand bar, all that water is still in the trough and is blocked by the sandbar. This water is pulled to the breaks in the sandbar where it can get out of the trough and back out to sea. Rip currents pull swimmers down the beach in the trough until they reach the break in the sandbar and then the current pulls swimmers straight out to sea through that break in the sand bar.
Can Anybody See a Rip Current?
If you are on the beach, you can see breaks in the sandbar where the dangerous rip currents exist. The members of the Beach Patrol can see them better because they are higher off the beach and have a better perspective. What they look for are plumes of sand that go out beyond the breaking waves.
When the waves are big and the ocean looks angry, most swimmers stay on the beach and the Beach Patrol actually see less rescues. It’s when the weather is great, the skies are blue and the waves are clean that more people venture back into the water. A storm may pass, but the conditions could still be excellent for increased rip activity because lots of water is still pushing over the sand bars and into the beach where it gets trapped. It will find its way back out to sea and will take even the best swimmers with it. Rip currents can be so strong that even Michael Phelps can’t swim against them.
Most Rescues are from Rip Currents
My son was a Beach Patrol member for four summers. His first rescue involved two little girls who were pulled down the beach by the rip current and then out through the break in the sandbar off shore. Two other lifeguards were involved in that rescue. Everybody was fine, but the impact on my son forever changed him. He realized that people’s lives actually depended on him, and that if he didn’t perform his job well and if he wasn’t lucky, somebody could actually die.
He rescued one child by diving for her as she went under water. According to Arbin, 95% of all rescues performed by the Ocean City Beach Patrol are of swimmers rescued out of rip currents. Only 2% of drownings in Ocean City over the last 80 years occurred when the Beach Patrol members were in their chairs guarding the swimmers.
“98% of all drownings occurred before or after the Beach Patrol guards were in their stands,” said Arbin. “PLEASE don’t swim if we aren’t there to help you.”
What Should You Do if Caught in a Rip?
If you do get caught in a rip that you can’t swim out of, stay calm. The worst thing to do is panic. If you remember that Michael Phelps can’t swim against some of the worst rips, then you have to keep your head and swim diagonally towards shore.
Remember, the water only rushes to make it back out to open water and then the current dissipates. If a swimmer doesn’t get exhausted fighting the current, they will soon find themselves in calm water. Then he or she can swim back to shore behind the sand bar and out of the rip. If a swimmer swims diagonally across the rip towards shore, they will soon find themselves away from the pull of the current so they can make their way back to the beach.
Stay Informed
The ocean in Ocean City, Maryland is beautiful and powerful. Some days it’s as calm as glass and others it’s wild and fierce. For some, this area is home and for others it’s a long-awaited respite. For all of us, the ocean provides a wonderful place to play and to enjoy nature at its best. Like with all outdoor activities, educate yourself and know the risks.
Check out the Beach Patrol site. Get to know the guards on your beach. They will give updates each day with information and risks in your area. They might also be the people who save your life or help reunite you with a lost child. The Ocean City Beach Patrol technicians are well trained, equipped with first aid kits, lots of information, and the skills to keep you safe on the beach and in the water all summer.
A storm blew over Ocean City this afternoon, and our visitors, enjoying what they hoped was going to be a long beach day, had to grab their belongings and run, but not before they snapped a shot of the formidable clouds, which they then sent to us. Here is a selection of some incredible photos from this incredible storm!
Thanks to all who submitted these photos!
The first incredible picture of the incoming storm we received, sent to us by Chase Dawson
The last glimpse of the sun, by Amanda Campbell
Another great pic by Amanda Campbell
Clouds over the bay by Bonnie Dodds Marra
Dark clouds over the ocean by Brie Jadra
The storm’s getting close, by Crystal Hess Bussard
That’s one scary looking cloud, by Donna Marie
Erin DellAngelo Benfer thought it was interesting to watch from the 17th floor!
Jody Smoker took this while sitting on the balcony.
And you’re still in the water? by Joe Merebeth Stringent
And the storm came rolling in, by Kelly Gastio
Deserted beach by Kristin Jones
Abandoned sand castle by Kristi Padgett
Laurie Beth Wilt’s view from 66th St.
Two seasons in one moment, by Mark Jones
Another by Mark Jones
Here’s what it looked like from Meridith Robinson Burton’s balcony on 115th.
Huge clouds dwarfing the people on the beach, by Rachael Brager
Ocean City, Maryland – (July 3, 2018): The Ocean City Fire Department would like to remind visitors of the dangers of consumer fireworks as the July 4th holiday approaches. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires per year, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and 16,900 outside and other fires.
“The power and danger of fireworks should not be underestimated,” said Ocean City Fire Marshal David Hartley. “In addition to causing damage, fireworks can cause injuries and we want people to be safe during their holiday stay in Ocean City. The safety and wellbeing of all residents and visitors of the Town of Ocean City is the primary goal of the Ocean City Fire Department.”
Although the State of Maryland has approved the use of ground-based sparkling devices such as cylindrical and cone fountains, these are not legal to use or possess in Ocean City. All other fireworks that may be sold in neighboring states are not legal for use by the public anywhere in Maryland.
Within the Town of Ocean City, products such as handheld Gold labeled sparklers, “Snap-N-Pops”, “Black Cobra Snakes”, and “Party Poppers” are allowed to be used and possessed without a license. However, injuries and property damage may still occur from these types of products, so parental supervision is always encouraged.
Further, Maryland law prohibits the shipping or transportation of fireworks into the state if the fireworks are to be possessed, used, sold, or distributed by citizens of Maryland. Illegal fireworks found are subject to seizure by law enforcement authorities, and persons found in possession of illegal fireworks with the intent to use them run the risk of both criminal charges and the confiscation of the fireworks. Fines for possession of illegal fireworks may be as much as $1000.
Anyone with questions pertaining to fireworks should contact the Ocean City Fire Department, Office of the Fire Marshal at 410-289-8780.
Ocean City, Maryland – (July 2, 2018): As our summer season swings in to high gear, the Town of Ocean City is reminding our visitors that paid parking throughout the resort town is being enforced. More specifically, the town’s Pay By Plate system in the Inlet Parking Lot is automated and camera enforced.
For visitors who exceed their stay in the Inlet Lot by 30 minutes more than the time purchased at the meter or through the Park Mobile app, a bill will be sent in the mail for the additional time plus a $25 processing fee. Visitors can avoid the fee by simply paying for the time you were parked in the Inlet Lot at a kiosk or with the park mobile app upon entering the lot.
Further, if visitors stay longer than the original payment, simply add time at any kiosk or through the park mobile app before you leave. As long as the payment is made BEFORE leaving the Inlet Lot, visitors WILL NOT receive a bill.
Finally, it should be known that the $25 processing fee is to cover the cost to the Town to review plate photographs at entry and exit areas, research plates through the MVA and prepare, and mail the parking invoice. For more information, visit:https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/
When you think of Ocean City, what comes to mind? It’s more than likely that your first thoughts are of the Boardwalk, the nightlife and dining and, of course, the beautiful beach. But what you might not think of — aside from how beautiful the beach and the Atlantic Ocean are on a sunny summer morning, because we all know that — is what natural beauties await you in the creeks, the wetlands and the general landscapes around Ocean City.
There’s no better place to take in such beauty than on Ayers Creek, just under seven miles south of Ocean City in Berlin, Md. On Ayers Creek you’ll find Ayers Creek Adventures, billed as OC’s premiere paddlesport and kayak outfitter, which offers everything under the sun and on the water from group kayaking expeditions to SUP to Floyo (that’s stand-up paddleboarding but with yoga. For those who aren’t afraid of losing their balance and getting a little wet).
The best way to marvel at mother nature and appreciate the abundant wildlife that Delmarva has to offer is through one of Ayers Creek’s many Eco Tours: Explore the salt marshes. Trek through the forested wetlands. Paddle out at sunset, wake up early for the sunrise paddle or wait til darkness hits and go out on a full moon paddle, followed by a bonfire complete with wine, cheese and desserts. Because you didn’t think you could possibly enjoy the scenic views of the Eastern Shore any more until there was wine involved.
Rebecca Hardy and Seth Irwin were lounging in the shade, enjoying a pair of the adirondack chairs placed strategically around the Ayers Creek Adventures property. A couple, Peter and Linda Hutchinson, already was out on the creek. The next school tour wouldn’t arrive for another few hours, so there were some minutes of quiet to …
The following are some photos that owner Suzy Taylor has taken during her many Ayers Creek adventures. It’s the next best thing to actually being there on the creek… Though once you’re there, the photos don’t even compare.
A picturesque sunset view.Lots of kids come to Ayers Creek with their schools. Here, students are excitedly searching for creek critters.Someone found a baby blue crab.And someone found a baby flounder, too.A beautiful bald eagle perched on a tree branch.An Eastern Painted Turtle spotted in the grass.Kayaking makes for a perfect team building excursion.A view from the kayak with the sunset reflected in the water.Paddling out during a full moon.
Most long-time Ocean City visitors and residents are familiar with “Arts Alive,” the weekend-long fine arts show in Northside Park each summer where artists showcase their work and families walk around enjoying food, drinks and live music. This year you may have noticed a gap in the Ocean City events calendar that Arts Alive used to fill every June, but that’s only because the annual art stroll is being replaced with a larger-scale arts festival this August: ArtX.
ArtX will take place on August 25 and 26, from 12 – 8 p.m. that Saturday and 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday. Like Arts Alive, ArtX will be held at Northside Park on 125th Street bayside, and admission is still totally free.
While Arts Alive was a juried art show that focused on the artists selling their works, mostly visual art, in addition to food, live bands and kids’ activities, ArtX will branch out to incorporate other forms of artistic expression like performance art and film. ArtX, like Arts Alive, is a partnership between the Town and the Art League of Ocean City. According to the Art League’s Executive Director Rina Thaler, the festival will include activities for audiences of all ages to take part in.
“Not only have we expanded the types of art that are being offered, but we’ve added a lot more interactive experiences like workshops, film and things where people can participate in creating and collecting art,” Thaler said.
Said Ocean City’s Special Events Director Frank Miller, ArtX will feature “a wide swath of talent,” including films by local filmmakers presented by the Ocean City Film Festival, local musicians performing on the outdoor stage throughout the weekend and, of course, artisan tables lining the walkways of Northside Park.
Interactive kids’ activities will be scattered throughout the park, and the Art League will host several mixed-media workshops that families can take part in, including making a windchime, painting a beach scene and printing a fish pattern on t-shirts or paper.
Food trucks will provide food on-site available for purchase, and a Shore Craft Beer Garden will feature samples and pints of local craft beer available for purchase.
“We’re excited for the future [of the festival],” Thaler said. “It’s going to grow over the years, and it’s going to be great for OC and for getting the community involved.”
Though it’s only entering its first year, ArtX will have something for everyone and is an “Xpressive and Xciting” event that you won’t want to miss.
OCEAN CITY, MD – (June 27, 2018): Every year, Ocean City, Maryland proves to be one of the best Fourth of July celebration spots on the Eastern Shore. Bring your family and friends, your beach chairs and blankets, and watch the fireworks sparkle over the beautiful water in one of two great locations in Ocean City offering concerts and fireworks displays for free.
At Northside Park on 125th Street and the bay, the tradition kicks off with The Reagan Years, the East Coast’s Premier 80’s tribute, at 8 p.m. The spectacular fireworks display may be viewed from anywhere in the park at 9:30 p.m. with the National Anthem leading the show.
“Northside Park is a spectacular place for families’ to watch the colorful displays light up the evening sky and lagoon,” said Mayor Rick Meehan. “We encourage spectators to get there early to claim their spot to watch the fireworks.”
On the south end of town, guests can head to Ocean City’s famous Boardwalk with its bright lights and assortment of food, family fun, for more fantastic fireworks. Mike Hines & The Look will start off the evening’s modern show with a performance on the Caroline Street Stage at 8 p.m. and fireworks lighting the sky beginning at 9:30 p.m.
“The July 4th Celebration in Ocean City is a unique opportunity to watch fireworks sparkle over the ocean,” Meehan said. “Our stage on Caroline Street allows visitors to bring beach chairs or blankets and claim a spot on the sand where they can enjoy the live performance and capture a special and patriotic fireworks display set to a modern mix of music.”
Parking operations for the Inlet Parking Lot will stay the same for the holiday, Wednesday, July 4. Visitors are reminded that parking is extremely limited at both fireworks locations. It is recommended that visitors take the bus. Bus service is $3 ride all day. The West Ocean City Park & Ride on Route 50 is just west of the Route 50 Bridge and offers free parking and $3 ride-all-day shuttle service to downtown. Also, area boaters should note that on the evening of July 4th, the span of the Route 50 Bridge will remain closed to marine traffic at the usually scheduled 10:25 p.m. and 10:55 p.m. opening times. The Route 50 Bridge will reopen for boaters at 11:25 p.m. on the evening of July 4th.
“The Fourth of July holiday is a great opportunity for residents and visitors to stay and play in Ocean City,” Meehan said. “With a beautiful setting and two great fireworks events, we hope our guests will come early and stay late to celebrate America’s birthday at the beach.”
For more information about July 4th activities, call the Ocean City’s Special Events Department at 410-250-0125 or the Ocean City Department of Tourism at 1-800-626-2326.
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 2019 voting.
This article was updated on 6/21/18 to reflect the Best of Ocean City’s 2018 results — ed.
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, Kohr Bros, 28th Street Pit n Pub, Smokers BBQ, Anthony’s Carryout, Fish Tales, Macky’s, Hooper’s, The Crab Bag, Crab Cake Factory, Tequila Mockingbird, Horizons Oceanfront Restaurant 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 about 28% of voters choosing a favorite pizza place that wasn’t on our poll. To be fair, there are a lot of pizza options in Ocean City. The runner-up for best pizza was Lombardi’s Trattoria, for their delicious, traditionally Italian pies. The family-friendly pizzeria is located on 94th street and also offers subs, salads, pastas, a full bar and an authentic atmosphere that’s unlike anywhere else.
If you’ve never tried Mione’s Pizza, don’t admit that to anyone, or you will be met with an incredulous, “you’ve never had Mione’s?!” It’s just about the most authentic Italian pizza you’ll find in Ocean City, based on recipes that were passed down through the Mione family over generations from Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, before the Miones finally brought their pizza to Ocean City, Maryland. Get it by the slice, the whole pie, gourmet or stuffed, or get a stromboli if you’re especially hungry.
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.
Shrimp happens at The Shrimp Boat — big, juicy, delicious shrimp cooked with the heads on to preserve the juices and offered as a sample to anyone who stops by The Shrimp Boat in West OC. And The Shrimp Boat offers even more, equally fresh, seafood options from crabs to clams to even live lobster. Stop by sometime for a great meal paired with a local craft beer on tap, or one of their delicious fresh-squeezed orange crushes, and ask for a seat out in their new outdoor seating area when the weather’s nice.
Just don’t open the crab until it’s been doused in Old Bay.
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’.
When driving on 50 toward Ocean City, you’ll pass Crabs-to-Go on the corner of 50 and 589. Stop in for a meal next time you’re there — you can get crabcakes, steamed clams, steamed shrimp and more, but what you’ll really want to take home with you are the crabs. They’re fresh from the Choptank River in Cambridge, MD, which is said to produce some of the fattest, sweetest crabs on the Eastern Shore.
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.
Southside Deli is one of Ocean City’s hidden gems, located in the South Gate of Ocean Pines and serving up daily specials that include sandwiches, soups, chili and, most importantly, their jumbo lump crabcakes. Get your crabcake served on a kaiser roll or on crackers with lettuce, tomato and your choice of a side, and rest assured you’re eating one of the best crabcakes that Ocean City has to offer.
Vanilla with sprinkles is a safe but very delicious choice.
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.
The ice cream at Island Creamery is well worth the 20-minute hike to Berlin, Md (a historic town that makes for a lovely stroll while you eat your cone!). The ice cream is exceptionally fresh and comes from the milk of Lancaster County cows, spun with flavors from locally-grown fruits. A few flavors they offer that are especially worth a try: Wallops Rocket Fuel (made with chili pepper!), Whiskey Brickle, Pony Tracks and Java Jolt.
The motto at Bull on the Beach is pretty simple: “Great food, great service and a clean environment to enjoy it in.” It’s all true, but such a simple slogan almost underscores the fantastic fare that can be found at the Bull: tender baby back pork ribs, brisket smoked over charcoal for 12 hours, Bull Wings — those are just a few of their barbecue options, not to mention fresh seafood, sandwiches, salads and more that are offered on the Bull’s menu. You’ll want to try it all.
“Best BBQ” is always one of the hardest categories to choose a winner for, since Ocean City has several barbecue restaurants that are top-notch, but editor’s eventually decided on the restaurant that was 2017’s runner-up. Smoker’s continues the tradition of pork, beef, chicken and fish smoked on wood on-site, and offers fried chicken, catfish, smoked tuna, breakfast sandwiches and homemade banana pudding in addition to their famous barbecue and ribs.
What’ll it be, beer, wine or beer? Whatever it is, add a sub to the order.
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.
Since 1959, Billy’s Subs has had “a reputation you can taste.” Their extra-large subs are made on fresh rolls delivered daily from Philadelphia, their signature pizzas include traditional topping combinations like the buffalo chicken, Hawaiian and meat lovers, and they also offer vegetarian options, milkshake and salads. Billy’s has locations in Ocean City and Selbyville, and they deliver to all of Ocean City, Fenwick Island and West Fenwick.
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.
“Laidback” and “upbeat” are words used often in reviews of Macky’s, likely because of the restaurant’s casual and fun atmosphere. You can chill at a table outside and just watch the sunset over the water, drive your boat right to the side of the building or dip your toes in the bay. Be sure to come during happy hour and stay for whatever event is happening that night, be it a theme party on Tuesday, wing night Wednesday or Little Black Dress Night Thursday where a black dress can get you a half-off cocktail.
Best Raw Bar
When you’re craving raw shellfish, a restaurant or buffet with a raw bar is your best bet.
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.
Seacrets is best known for its nightlife and being such an integral part of Ocean City’s bar scene, but if you’ve ever dined at Seacrets while hungry for fresh raw seafood, you know their raw bar is excellent, too. Find mussels fresh from Prince Edward Island, spicy steamed shrimp, middleneck clams, oysters and hard-shell lobsters from Maine.
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 summer, the Bonfire has reduced prices during the first hour they’re open. Get there early.
Inside the Clarion Hotel is Horizons, an award-winning oceanfront buffet with two all-you-can-eat selections as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. Spend your Sunday morning at the Deluxe All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast Buffet, or come for dinner to enjoy a prime rib, crab legs or the seafood buffet. Either way, you’ll be treated to a beautiful view of the ocean and maybe even live entertainment while you eat.
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.
The bread can make or break the breakfast, and at Bad Monkey, bread is baked fresh in-house every morning and comes straight out of the oven right before it hits your plate. Eggs and omelettes, french toast and pancakes, breakfast tacos and chipped beef are all on the menu, and morning libations include organic Mexican coffee, Tito’s cucumber-infused Bloody Marys and fresh-squeezed mimosas.
The top words you’ll hear to describe Kirby’s Pub are “reasonable prices,” “unpretentious” and “great wings!!!” with, yes, three exclamation points. Come on a Tuesday for Wing Night and get your house, BBQ or Bangin’ wings. The Bangin’ is tangy BBQ mixed with Kirby’s hot sauce and is highly recommended by locals.
Shotti’s Point is a new restaurant in Ocean City, but it won’t be long before they’re known for their delicious and super-unique offerings. Their wings are no exception. You can get them in 14 different flavors ranging from Zippy Cana (smoked paprika, chipotle, brown sugar, agave and sriracha) to Boardwalk (Old Bay, malt vinegar) to Taekwondo (Thai BBQ, orange zest, Thai basil, scallions, sesame).
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!
No shirt, no shoes, no problem! That’s how casual the atmosphere is, so you can carry out your Belly Busters straight from the beach. Since the 1950s they’ve offered delicious subs, sandwiches and seafood, and they’re also the only restaurant in Ocean City that delivers crabs. We might need to add a “Best Delivery” category for that reason alone.
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.
Whether you’re dining in the Emperor’s Dining Room or at the sushi bar, Rice House Bistro offers a family-friendly atmosphere with some of the best Asian food around. Their menu includes steak, Chilean sea bass served with honey wasabi sauce, chicken fried rice, sushi and more. Come on Tuesday night for sushi specials and try the volcano roll–spicy salmon and avocado wrapped in rice paper, topped with spicy mayo, lump crab meat and Old Bay.
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.
DiFebo’s is a modern Italian restaurant with roots in Delaware, Bethany and Rehoboth Beach to be exact, that recently opened up a third location in Berlin, Md. DiFebo’s is another restaurant known for their authentic cuisine that’s been passed down through the generations, and with one taste of Big Bob’s famous homemade gravy and meatballs or their hand-rolled raviolis, you’ll understand why the recipes have worked for so many years.
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.
It should be noted that there was only a one vote difference between Mother’s and Tequila Mockingbird!
Plaza Tapatia has locations all over the Eastern Shore, which comes in handy when you’re day-tripping up and down the coast and suddenly start craving their chips and salsa. Plaza has delicious margaritas, burritos, chimichangas and sopapillas all at reasonable prices, and when you’re craving some good, authentic Mexican food, there’s not much else you could ask for.
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.
Ocean City’s iconic Boardwalk is known for many things, especially its amusements. Beyond the amusements though, some of the best summer memories have to do with the sights, experiences, tastes and smells that make the boardwalk the boardwalk. Read on for a list of last year’s “Best of the Boardwalk” winners.
Boardwalk businesses who have placed in a “Best Of” Best of the Boardwalk category for 5 straight years include — there’s a lot, are you ready? — Fishers Popcorn, Dolle’s, The Kite Loft, Quiet Storm, Golden Plate, Alaska Stand, Shenanigan’s, Harrison’s Harbor Watch, Captains Table, The Purple Moose, The Dough Roller, Tony’s Pizza and Thrasher’s. Congrats to those fine award-winning establishments, and to all of those listed below!
While they may have a few flavors, caramel popcorn is a boardwalk classic.
Fisher’s has been around for over 80 years now, proving that a bucket of caramel popcorn on the boardwalk never goes out of style. Originally a corner store on Talbot Street, Fisher’s soon gained popularity for their delicious secret caramel recipe, and today they’ve expanded the popcorn flavors to include white cheddar, cinnamon caramel, caramel chocolate drizzle and the old Maryland favorite, Old Bay.
There are plenty of shops lining the boardwalk from the Inlet to 27th street, but the Kite Loft has been one of the best for 42 years. The Kite Loft is pretty unique for a boardwalk store, with an inventory of kites and kite accessories, aerial toys, windsocks, yard ornaments and general fun stuff for kids and adults. You’ll know you’re near the 5th street Kite Loft as soon as you get close to the high-flying kites on the edge of the beach, and if you’re lucky, you might just be in town for one of their International Kite Festivals.
Sometimes you just don’t have time to sit down and eat when there’s so much fun to be had on the boardwalk, but you need to refuel and maintain your energy for the rest of the day. That’s where the Golden Plate comes in. They’ve been winning the Best Boardwalk Stand award for years, and their gyros and funnel cakes are the best you’ll find in all of Ocean City.
With all the food the boardwalk has to offer, Harrison’s Harbor Watch offers the best seafood, local produce and fresh raw bar, with the added benefit of a classic, family-friendly atmosphere and gorgeous views of the ocean. You won’t find a sit-down restaurant on the boardwalk like Harrison’s Harbor Watch.
Take a seat at the Shenanigan’s bar and refuel with your favorite brew.
On the third floor of the Courtyard by Marriott on the Boardwalk is where you’ll find Captain’s Table, a sit-down restaurant on 15th Street that offers some of the freshest seafood, best vegetables and juiciest steaks in town. Hear the sounds of their very own Piano Man when you dine on Friday or Saturday nights, or stop by during Happy Hour (5 – 7 p.m. daily) for $1.50 Miller Lite drafts and $1 off house wine and rail cocktails.
Best Boardwalk Bar
Be sure to check the Moose’s live music schedule for an extra-fun night.
For decades, the Purple Moose has been a landmark of Ocean City nightlife. Take shelter from the heat and enjoy a cold drink at the saloon on Talbot Street, where DJs spin classic rock hits all night long, or else a touring band is providing live music ambiance.
The Cork Bar celebrated its big 5-0 back in 2014, but still proves to be one of the best dives in Ocean City four years later. Maybe not a whole lot has changed in its 54 years on the Ocean City Boardwalk, but maybe that’s why it’s remained a favorite of locals and travelers alike. When you visit the Cork Bar, you know exactly what you’re going to get: reasonably-priced drinks, a game of pool, your favorite song on the jukebox and walls packed with 50 years of photos and firefighter memorabilia.
Pancakes, pizza and everything that belongs under a rolling pin is on the menu at the Dough Roller. The restaurant also serves Dayton’s boardwalk famous fried chicken and a full breakfast menu, but you don’t come to the Dough Roller without at least getting one slice of pizza.
You don’t have to be on the boardwalk to grab a sweet treat from Candy Kitchen, but it’s definitely a boardwalk tradition. Find whatever kind of candy your heart desires, or satisfy your chocolate cravings with a block of delicious fudge–just have a cooler on hand so it doesn’t melt!
When it comes to Boardwalk candy, Dolle’s has it all — and has had it all since 1910. Dolle’s specializes in caramel corn, salt water taffy and fudge and also carries other sugar-rush inducing treats like caramels, gummies and mints (and sugar-free treats, too!). No matter what you’re craving, there’s a 99.9% chance you’ll be able to find it at Dolle’s.
Every year we award Thrasher’s the obligatory Best Boardwalk Fries award because, let’s be honest, who’s going to vote for someone other than Thrasher’s? Since 1929 Thrasher’s has been a staple of the Ocean City Boardwalk and could probably keep Heinz Vinegar in business by itself.
It should be noted that “Best Fries” is an additional category to Best Restaurants this year, so if you think Thrasher’s has the best in all of Ocean City (or if you think they don’t), vote here. But don’t worry — Thrasher’s will always be the Best of the Boardwalk!
