I was going to say something snarky like, “The best place to jet ski in Ocean City is… the water!” but decided against it. There are plenty of people who come to Ocean City just for the watersports, and they’re serious about their jet skiing. With so many places to do it — we are a peninsula surrounded by water on both sides, after all — the various watersports categories for “Best Of” might just be the most important of them all.
Here, I’ll relay the people’s consensus as of April 25. You have until Memorial Day (May 28) to place your vote, and the Best Of for every category is still anyone’s game. Vote, and then tell your friends and family to vote, so we can recognize all the businesses that make Ocean City great.
Best Jet Skiing
The current first-place for Best Jet Skiing in Ocean City goes to Odyssea Watersports. That’s no surprise, as they won “Best Of” in 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014. Action Watersports is the usual suspect for runner-up, and they’re currently in second place this year, too.
If you disagree with either of these, and think that OC Bayside Rentals, Bayside Boat Rentals (seen in the cover image above), OC Baysports or another business entirely should take the crown, you’re going to want to vote for them ASAP!
Best Parasailing
Parasailing is about as much fun as jet skiing is, but about 100x more peaceful. Jet skiers rule the waters, while parasailors just enjoy the view and wave to the jet skiers down below. As far as the Best Parasailing in Ocean City is concerned, OC Parasailing is in the lead with OC Watersports close behind.
If you’ve ever been parasailing, you know what a magical experience it can be — pass that magic along and vote for the best parasailing in town.
Best Kayak/Rental Experience
There’s an entire unique ecosystem in Ocean City’s waters that you won’t get to see while cruisin’ on a jet ski or peering down from hundreds of feet up in the sky on a parasail. You can, however, get up close and personal with the water and all that lives in it, on a kayak. In fact, many kayak rental shops in Ocean City even offer guided eco-tours.
In the lead for Best Kayak Rental/Experience right now is 48th Street Watersports, followed by Coastal Kayak, and with “other” — those are the write-ins — a close third. Could the Best Kayaking go to an “other” this year? Only you can decide.
Best Surf Shop
We may not have a category for “Best Surfing,” as that’s pretty much dependent on the individual surfer, but we do have a category for Best Surf Shop. Where you get your boards and boarding gear matters. Even if you’re not a surfer, while on vacation in Ocean City, we’ll let you dress like one anyway. Malibu’s Surf Shop currently takes the lead, but K-Coast, Quiet Storm and and Ron Jon’s Surf Shop aren’t too far behind.
This article was originally published on 4/16/15 and was updated on 4/25/18 –ed.
Grab your binoculars, guide books, and checklists — Delmarva Birding Weekend returns for its 23rd year April 26-29 to celebrate the spring migration of thousands of birds. Delmarva Birding Weekend is organized by Worcester County Tourism and gives birdwatchers and bird lovers from across the region the chance to observe and identify waterfowl, shorebirds, warblers, raptors, and dozens of other bird species while participating in guided foot tours, boat trips, and kayak excursions around Assateague Island and other scenic locations across Delmarva.
photo by: destinationdelmarva.blogspot.com
Because of its position directly along the Atlantic Flyway, proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake, and coastal bays, and plethora of barrier islands, marsh and wetlands, cypress swamps, open fields and farmland, and primeval forests, the Delmarva Peninsula possesses a wide range of habitats and ecosystems that attract migrating birds from all over the Western Hemisphere — making it a literal paradise for birders. 182 total species were totaled at the 2017 Spring Birding Weekend.
Not only does Delmarva Birding Weekend give bird enthusiasts the chance to enjoy watching winged wonders in natural habitats, but it also provides a unique chance to raise awareness about the importance of birds and habitat conservation through low-impact ecotourism.
Here’s a look at some Delmarva Birding Weekend trips and other events from around the Ocean City area:
Thursday, April 26
-Bird watching at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge – beginning at 8 a.m. – Birders will convene near Dover, DE at one of the state’s hottest bird watching spots and sample each of the main habitat types looking for migrants and local breeders, including wading birds, shorebirds, rails, and colorful songbirds. The trip will involve some easy walking, and car caravans between major stops.
– Bird watching at DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor – 1:30 p.m. – Birders will search for migratory shorebirds, wading birds and waterfowl along Slaughter Beach, Delaware, and learn about the connection between horseshoe crabs and shorebirds at the DuPont Nature Center.
Friday, April 27
photo by: ayerscreekadventures.com
– Lewes & Delaware Bay boating excursion – 2 p.m. – Embark on a two-hour cruise of the waters near Cape Henlopen and the mouth of the Delaware Bay, visit the stone breakwaters in search of common and rare waterfowl and seabirds including gulls, cormorants, gannets, loons, and scoters.
-Tally Rally at Irish Eyes Restaurant & Pub – 4 p.m. – After a full day of field trips, meet at Irish Eyes Restaurant & Pub, just a short hike from Cape Water Taxi.
-Ayers and Trappe Creek Sunset Paddle – 6:30 p.m. – Paddle through the salt marshes of Ayers and Trappe Creeks near Berlin, Maryland, enjoy the show as dozens of species settle in for their nightly roost, then enjoy a post-paddle bonfire complete with conversation and s’mores.
Saturday, April 28
– Warblers on the Water Kayak/Canoe excursion – 8 a.m. – a three-hour trip that launches from Porter’s Crossing on the Pocomoke River a few miles north of Snow Hill, Maryland. Birders paddle deep into this forested wilderness of bald cypress, where Prothonotary Warblers Wood Ducks, Eagles, and beavers are regulars.
photo by: gogobot.com
– Prothonotary Pontoon boating excursion – 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. – A guided pontoon boat cruise on the Pocomoke River in Snow Hill, Maryland, where Prothonotary Warblers will be seen in the low branches of the bald cypress that border the river.
– Birds of Maryland’s Chincoteague Bay driving excursion – 8 a.m. – Guides will lead participants to Public Landing, Figgs Landing, Scott’s Landing and Truitt’s Landing, some of the most remote and best coastal birding spots in Maryland.
– Tally Rally at M.R. Ducks – 1 p.m. – After a full morning of field trips, meet at the World Famous M.R. Duck’s, just a short hike from the Ocean City Inlet.
– Shorebird Explorer – 2 p.m. – Leave the dock at Talbot Street in Ocean City, Maryland, and tour by boat for two hours around Skimmer Island and the north shore of Assateague Island.
-Night Birds of the Marsh driving excursion – 6:30 p.m. -Tour the 2,630-acre E.A. Vaughn Wildlife Management Area and Truitt’s Landing east of Snow Hill, Maryland. Seek out Clapper Rail, Sora, Marsh Wrens, Chuck-will’s-widows, and Eastern Screech Owls.
Sunday, April 29
– Warblermania! driving – 7 a.m. – Warblermania! will help you add warblers to your weekend tally! Meet your guide at Pocomoke River Canoe Company in Snow Hill, MD, and caravan to Nassawango Creek to search for Prothonotary, Worm-eating, and Prairie warblers, American Redstarts, Northern Parulas, and other birds of the bald cypress swamp.
– Ayers Creek Morning Paddle – 8 a.m. – Meet at Ayers Creek Adventures and paddle the beautiful forested headwaters of Ayers Creek, abundant with birds and wildlife, just minutes from Berlin, Maryland.
– The Nature of Smith Island boating excursion – 8 a.m. – Depart from Somers Cove Marine in Crisfield, Maryland, for a daylong birding cruise to historic Smith Island in the heart of the Chesapeake Bay – home to Maryland’s Official State Dessert, the Smith Island Cake!
– Warblers on the Water Kayak/Canoe excursion – 8 a.m. – a three-hour trip that launches from Porter’s Crossing on the Pocomoke River a few miles north of Snow Hill, Maryland. Birders paddle deep into this forested wilderness of bald cypress, where Prothonotary Warblers Wood Ducks, Eagles, and beavers are regulars.
Winning duck carvings from the 2013 Ward World Championships, photo by: wardmuseum.org
– Newport Farms Diversity Walk – 8 a.m. – Pines, oaks, fields, and marsh spread as far as the eye can see on this 2,000 acre farm outside of Berlin. Take a 3-hour stroll through this private and protected land for the chance to see nesting bald eagles, wood ducks, and wading birds.
Also, don’t forget that Delmarva Birding Weekend coincides with the 48th Annual Ward World Championship Carving Competition and Art Festival at the Ocean City Convention Center. This weekend-long event brings the world’s best bird carvers to the beach as they display their mastery and compete for over $60,000 in prize money.
For a full schedule of events for the 20th Annual Delmarva Birding Weekend, directions, and other information about the event, please visit: http://delmarvabirding.com/
Ready to take a virtual tour of one of the top hotels on the Ocean City Boardwalk?
That’s coming, but first, a little history lesson on Ocean City’s famous Commander Hotel is in order. Because in addition to their new, giant beach chair (more on that down below), the Commander has a rich and unique history that dates back to the 1930s, and lots of modern amenities today that make it special, too.
A brief origin story of the Commander
The original Commander opened on Ocean City’s 14th street on Memorial Day of 1930. Today the hotel is almost 88 years old, even if the current Commander building has been reconstructed and remodeled in the decades since its grand opening. 88 years ago, the Commander boasted Ocean City’s first elevator, in-room telephone service and a sweeping front porch overlooking the Boardwalk. The hotel was complete with a full dining room and 62 rooms, and a week’s stay including three meals a day cost just $95.
When visitors sought haven at the Commander during World War II, the windows would be covered at night by black-out curtains due to the danger of enemy shelling by off-shore submarines. After the war, a North Wing was added to the hotel. The dining room at this point could seat 400 people, and in the 1950s, visitors traveled from all over Maryland and beyond to attend a Commander Clambake complete with lobster, corn-on-the-cob and steamed clams.
The Commander’s famous Clambakes came to an end after the March Storm of ’62, but from 1979-93, the Commander Boardwalk Cabaret Dinner was one of the hottest shows in town.
In 1998, the new building was erected and today includes beachfront rooms and suites, an indoor and outdoor pool, a separate cabana with suites overlooking the pool and two on-site restaurant’s — Ocean City traditions Grotto Pizza and Fractured Prune.
Of course, you can read that history and more on the hotel’s upstairs timeline mural. “The Commander Hotel is truly a celebration of tradition,” it says.
A look inside
Now, a virtual tour of the Commander’s interior, before we head outside to the beach and Boardwalk.
Postcards depicting an older iteration of the hotel can be seen on a coffee table in the hotel lobby……Which, by the way, was just remodeled last year.The Commander has oceanfront rooms and suites like this one, recently renovated with beachy colors and comfy beds.And even though the beach is just down below, you’re also just steps away from the indoor pool.
Commander Fun Fact: They’ve got mermaids. College students dressed in mermaid attire (tails and all) inhabit the Commander’s pool on select summer days. “They swim around in the pool with the little girls and they do a game, and they’ve got a pirate to go with them,” said Marketing & Sales Director Carissa Scaniffe. “It’s really cute, the kids love it.” This and other summer activities for both kids and adults can be found here.
A look outside
Of course, you’ll want to save the indoor pool for a rainy day when there’s so much to do outside.
Like swim in the outdoor pool. (Pictured here in the off-season.)Or venture all around town in the new Commander shuttle. Cabana rooms overlook the pool, while rooms in the main building look provide a view of the beach and Boardwalk (which, while peaceful now, will be a lot more interesting with actual people down there!).Then there’s this guy, now the ultimate selfie spot in Ocean City, just outside the hotel on the Boardwalk. Take a seat, take a picture and people watch from this perch.The hotel will be painting their logo on the chair before summer rolls around, but other than that, it’s ready for you to come take a seat. See you this summer!
A windy spring walk on the Boards, just outside the Commander
Ocean City, Maryland — (April 23, 2018): In an effort to improve bicycle safety in Ocean City, the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) began distributing free bicycle lights to residents of the town. Because the effort was so successful and received overwhelmingly positive feedback, the Town of Ocean City is expanding the bicycle lights project.
Ocean City residents and visitors alike will be able to bring their bikes to any of the town’s five fire stations to have the free lights installed. This service is just one effort to make Ocean City a more bicycle friendly community and a safer community overall, said Ocean City Councilmember Tony DeLuca.
“We are excited to have received a generous grant from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore,” DeLuca said. “The generosity of our community has resulted in the purchase of nearly 500 free bicycle lights for residents, visitors and our J-1 students. We strongly believe that having properly equipped bicycles will reduce the number of bicycle collisions that occur in Ocean City, making it safer for drivers and bicyclists.”
Funding for the bicycle lights program has come from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, in addition to the Ocean City Hotel Motel Restaurant Association and the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Association.
“It’s important to keep everyone on our roadways safe,” DeLuca said. “Providing lights for free is not only a great service but it’s a service that is making our roadways safer in Ocean City.”
To further improve this safety initiative, bicycle lights will be available at the City Hall gazebo on Wednesdays from May 16 through June 27, from approximately 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. To receive a free bicycle light, you must bring your bicycle to one of the designated locations, which include the Public Safety Building and the five Ocean City Fire Department stations.
It’s only April in Ocean City, but everyone is hard at work getting downtown OC, especially the Boardwalk, ready for summer.
And it’s got to happen fast. Even though it’s been a pretty cold spring thus far, Route 50 is seeing more and more traffic with each passing weekend. Normally when you drive past a backup of cars waiting to pass over the Bay Bridge, your initial reaction is to shudder and thank the heavens that it’s not happening on the side of traffic you’re on. In late April when you drive past a backup of cars waiting to pass over the Bay Bridge, you smile to yourself and thank the heavens that summer clearly is just around the corner.
April 20 might have been the first Friday of the year that 95% of the Boardwalk shops were open and pedestrian traffic was pretty steady around the Inlet and the pier rides. That wasn’t the case on the quieter north end on the Boardwalk, as evidenced by this Facebook live…
…But that end will become more crowded in time.
Anyway, here are 10 photos of a bustling spring Boardwalk and downtown area, where shop owners are putting the finishing touches on their storefronts and even the utility boxes are getting a fresh set of paint.
First, stop and smell the flowers in Sunset Park.Before you reach the boards, you hit the utility boxes — and in this case, the artists of the Art League of Ocean City giving the boxes a colorful new design.Local artists like Gerilyn Gaskill, Debbi Dean-Colley and Kathy Bohs work hard on those beautiful boxes.They’re also hard at work over at Trimper’s, getting all the rides up and running for the season.The Boardwalk Dumser’s is now open for business, and the ferris wheel is back up, too.Some Boardwalk shops are getting a facelift.…And others are getting their signs fixed. (Don’t try this at home.)On the other end of the Boardwalk, the Commander Hotel just put out a giant beach chair. It’s ready for you to come take a seat!All in all, downtown is pretty much one big construction site right now, but it’s for good reason. Ocean City will be back and better than ever by the time you’re here for summer vacation.And these lifeguard stands will be back on the beach by then, too!
With summer just around the corner, all property owners interested in selling or renting their real estate property should be preparing for the season. A little preparation goes a long way toward contributing to successful transactions.
With the trees in bloom and the weather warming up, potential buyers and renters alike are venturing out in search of their ideal property.
I would recommend the following steps to preparing for a great season:
Look at your property with an objective eye as though you were seeing it for the first time.
Think of the little things that slightly annoy you – they will be magnified many times by others.
Your bed frame should not show unless you have a finished wood frame.
Replace old, flat pillows. Renters will appreciate it, and flat pillows do not show well to buyers.
Replace old torn or stained bedspreads.
Check air conditioning vents and fan blades for dust that accumulates over the winter.
Take new, fresh photos of any changes.
Small items that are not required, but inexpensive and add warmth would be:
Area rugs or runners.
Decorative door mat.
Decorative towels.
Some battery-powered candles.
Decorative throw pillows.
Remove any clutter and keep countertops as clear as possible.
Artificial, as well as natural lighting, helps to make the property look bigger and brighter.
If you own a townhome or single family home and have a yard, first impressions are so important. It would serve you well to plant some flowering shrubs or bushes.
You may want to speak to your local REALTOR for any suggestions they may make, since they are familiar with your specific home or investment property.
It is advantageous to be competitive with other properties for sale, https://realestate.usnews.com/real-estate/articles/why-you-should-sell-your-home-in-2018. This is even more important for rental properties, considering the number of available of units for rent. Improvements help you to stay competitive at the least, and may give your particular real estate the advantage you may need.
In 1965, construction was completed on Ocean Playland Amusement Park on 65th street bayside, on a large peninsula-type lot that protruded out into the bay at a price tag of over $2 million. The park was only 860 feet long and 375 feet wide and sat behind a 1000-car parking lot off of Coastal Highway. The park, which officially opened for its first day of business on June 18, 1965, was developed by realtor Jim Caine, Oscar Carey, and George Chandler and was built to offer amusements to those staying in uptown Ocean City. The park became an immediate success in north Ocean City, which at the time was extremely underdeveloped and sparse.
Unlike many of its competitors, Playland offered a plethora of unique attractions including a complete monorail, a full wooden coaster called the Hurricane, a miniature golf course, and over 25 amusement attractions of all types and for all ages. The most significant attraction in Ocean Playland, as far as dark rides were concerned, was Ghost Ship, built by Bill Tracy from Universal Design Limited. Although the park closed in 1981, this attraction, unlike the others, would live on in Ocean City for decades to come thanks to a high bid and a vision from Granville Trimper. Granville was able to purchase the ride’s contents, including the cars and track, for a later expansion of The Haunted House at Trimper’s Rides and Amusements on the boardwalk.
Quickfacts
Ocean Playland operated as a concessionaire park—businessmen and women would come from all over to set up their equipment and pay a percentage of their earnings to the park as a concession.
Ocean Playland, as the park was originally named, was later re-branded as simply “Playland.”
The large pirate that stood at Ocean Playland’s entrance was built by the International Fiberglass Company and is similar to the one at the entrance of Jolly Roger Amusement Park. Originally, the figure was painted to resemble a pirate, but in later years, it was changed to resemble a clown thanks to some new paint and a hat.
Ocean Playland offered free admission and a pay-one-price riding system.
October 8, 1965 (George H. Cook, The Sunpaper)The Monster Mouse roller coaster overlooks the bay.Ocean Playland at night looking toward the park’s one and only wooden coaster, The Hurricane.Looking east from atop the park’s Alpine Sky Ride.A nice shot of the park’s iconic Satellite Monorail.Rare view of the park during construction.Park entranceSatellite Monorail and Juggling Clown at the park’s entranceMid 1960sEarly 1970s1979Advertisement from the late 1970s.Excerpt – (National Amusement Park Historical Association publication – Vol. 24, number 6, 2002)Excerpt – (National Amusement Park Historical Association publication – Vol. 24, number 6, 2002)An advertisement from The Resorter showing a view of Ocean Playland. Tracy’s Ghost Ship façade can be seen in the left of this photo.Found on the back of a 1966 real estate booklet.An ad from the Salisbury Times from June of 1966.An ad from an Ocean City visitors guide from 1969.Seems like quite a deal for an afternoon of fun, even for the summer of 1975!Article from Salisbury Times from April 15, 1964 when a permit for one of the park’s imagined locations was being sought.The true story of how Ocean Playland came to be, including a list of the park’s rides which mentions a “(Tracy) Dark Ride.”After Playland closed in 1981, O.C. purchased the land to use for city government facilities. (1982)Check out this great article from the July 21, 1978 issue of Oceana Magazine. The article outlines the management strategies of the park and features park manager Jack Morningstar, who was the boss of over 100 employees during the summer and managed the park’s major attractions, including Ghost Ship, which was later acquired by Granville Trimper for the Haunted House expansion at Trimper’s Rides and Amusements on the boardwalk.A rare full-page ad from the August 4, 1978 issue of Oceana Magazine.An ad from an Ocean City guide book from 1977. Ghost Ship can clearly be seen in the aerial image of the park.Vintage bumper sticker promoting the park.Vintage employee name tag. (Courtesy of Blake Blaze)Vintage employee clothing. (Courtesy of Blake Blaze)Bill Tracy’s Ghost Ship dark ride. Date unknown.Aerial view of the property and surrounding blocks in the 1980s after the park closed. Although Ocean City Public Works has moved on the the property by this time, the original roller coaster and a few buildings remain. The land shown immediately to the north (right) of the property is known today as Sunset Island.Feeling nostalgic? Take a road trip to see the original Clown that stood atop the Ocean Playland entrance. He lives on at Magic Forest Family Fun Park in Lake George, NY. (usagiants.com)The Slide & Ride sign on 65th street right before it was destroyed in 2009, which previously served as the main road sign for Playland. The original Playland sign had round cutouts with letters that spelled out “Playland” where the Slide & Ride banner was.
Do you remember Bill Tracy’s Ghost Ship dark ride at Ocean Playland? Read about it!
All historical photos are property of their respective owners and are being featured for viewing purposes only. Special thanks to OC historian Karl Schwarz and the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum for historical knowledge and content contributions.
Our Best of Ocean City® 2018 voting is well underway. In fact, the polls will close on Memorial Day, which only gives us a little over a month to hit the polls (which really just means visiting this page and clicking a few buttons).
Some categories are more popular than others, and always have been since this contest’s birth in 2011. Best Bar Overall, understandably, has a couple hundred more votes than most other categories — and if you were wondering, Fish Tales is currently in the lead on that poll, with Seacrets close behind.
Other super popular categories include Best Waterfront Dining (where Sunset Grille takes the lead), Best Crabcakes (currently going to Crabcake Factory), Best Sports Bar (Pickles Pub), Best Ice Cream (Dumser’s) and Best Pizza (“other,” followed by Lombardi’s). Pizza, ice cream and drinks — vacationers and locals alike have strong opinions about those things. Understandably so. We all love a greasy slice of pizza with a cold, reasonably-priced beer, and soft-serve topped with sprinkles for dessert.
Best Of Navigation Cast Your Votes for The Best of Ocean City® 2018! Last year’s polls saw nearly 60,000 votes cast, and this year is expected to yield an even bigger turnout! Voting for the Best of Ocean City runs from Memorial Day to Memorial Day each year.
But, as we expected, there are a number of categories that could use some love. Surely there are fewer fishermen and jet skiers than there are lovers of pizza and bayside sunset views, but we do know that there are avid anglers and watersport adventurers out there with recommendations to make. So whether someone is into pizza or parasailing, or both, we want them to know exactly where to go, based on the opinions of thousands of Ocean City lovers.
The Best of Ocean City® awards is the longest-running competition of its kind, and ALL Ocean City businesses are eligible to win. Each summer, winners are included in The Best of Ocean City® pocket guide and given a winner’s certificate and window decals to display in their business. Plus, we write about them extensively online here and on our social media, so you’ll always know the people’s picks of the year.
Definitely vote in the popular categories, but vote for the lesser-knowns too. Here are a few polls that could use more votes. You can go to our Best of Ocean City page (see the link above), or you can just stay on this page and peruse some of the brackets.
Best Parasailing
With the wind in your hair and the dolphins jumping below, there’s nothing quite like parasailing over the Atlantic Ocean.
Best Jet Skiing
This one is ALWAYS a close race. Odyssea is in the lead now, but looking at the current numbers, Best Jet Skiing in Ocean City could go to anyone.
Best Kayak Rental/Experience
Where’s the best place to go for a peaceful afternoon in a kayak?
Best Mini Golf
With so many themed mini golf courses in Ocean City, this one can be hard to choose. But think — which course is the absolute coolest?
Best Surf Shop
Whether you’re actually a surfer or you just like to look like one, you’ve got to have a favorite Ocean City surf shop.
Best Rainy Day Activity
It’s always a bummer when your vacation gets rained out, but luckily there are plenty of fun indoor things to do in this town.
Best Asian Food
Ocean City hasn’t always been known for its Asian cuisine, but more and more restaurants like the ones below have been popping up in recent years.
Best Brewery
Delmarva is a craft beer destination! What’s the best brewery in or near OC?
Best Craft Beer Selection
Whether you’re drinking at the brewery or just picking up a six-pack, it’s all about keepin’ it local.
As I’ve said before, I’m getting married — almost exactly a year from today, in fact — when I myself have never been to a wedding before. So the planning process is especially intimidating; until now, I’ve had absolutely no idea where to begin. Should we make a guest list first? When do we need to decide on our venue? Are artisanal cupcakes always this expensive?
Help!
I’m sure the overwhelming prospect of planning such a huge event isn’t exclusive to me, and even seasoned wedding crashers start to stress out the first day post-engagement. Whether you’re inviting 500 guests or limiting attendance to immediate family only, the pressure is on. Tradition holds that this is supposed to be the most special day of your life, or whatever, second only to childbirth and maybe your Disney World honeymoon. If you and your guests don’t have the absolute time of your lives, you failed! Obviously that’s not true, but it can feel that way sometimes. Especially if you can’t afford a wedding planner — guess what? You’re a wedding planner now.
I’m lucky enough to live in a beach town where couples come from all over the East Coast to marry. There’s lots of wedding services in this region, which is certainly a positive thing, but it also adds another element of doubt: how do I know I’m getting the best services for my vision and for my budget?
That’s where the expos, conventions and bridal shows come in. In January, when I was freshly engaged, I started doing a little research and found that there was an annual bridal show in Ocean City. I immediately ordered my tickets, which totally wasn’t necessary because they were for sale at the door day-of, but I was just so excited that my prayers had been kind of answered; some of the peninsula’s top wedding services and vendors would be gathered in one place, and I’d get to interact with them face-to-face instead of staring at a screen or leafing through a brochure.
That brings me to what I’ve discovered to be the ideal first step in the wedding planning process:
Take advantage of the expos!
Because unless you work in the business yourself, you probably won’t immediately know exactly which florist, caterer and hairdresser is going to suit your specific needs. Besides getting advice from trusted and experienced friends and family, the bridal show/wedding expo/’bout-to-be-married convention/whatever you want to call it is the best way to start making local contacts and getting ideas.
I attended the Ocean City Bridal Expo, hosted by Rox Weddings at Seacrets Jamaica USA, on April 8. My fiancé and I met up with my family there, and we spent hours at the different tables where we talked to vendors, sampled finger foods and collected business cards. There was a fashion show that featured suits for the grooms and groomsmen and dresses for the brides, bridesmaids and mothers-of-the-bride. The vendors raffled off prizes, and I won a five-piece luggage set courtesy of Bethany Travel (although I promise I would have written this raving review of the bridal show even if I hadn’t won anything).
Even if you’re not sold on any of the particular services offered at whichever bridal show you attend, you’ll certainly leave with a clearer vision of how you want your wedding to be. So before you pick a date, check when the next wedding expo is coming to Ocean City, or wherever it is you’re getting married (although I, of course, highly recommend OC).
After that, download The Knot. It’s an app, and it’s not related to expos or conventions per se, but it has been extremely helpful to me in organizing a checklist/timeline of all the things I need to do, by when. Then after that, ask any recently-married friends and family members which vendors they’d recommend, in addition to how they stayed sane through it all. Then finally, when the day comes, hit the bridal show, sip a cocktail or two and collect oodles of information that’ll help you further down the line.
MDOT SHA TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE US 50 HARRY W. KELLEY MEMORIAL BRIDGE IN OCEAN CITY
US 50 Bridge to be Closed 10 P.M. Friday Night; Traffic Detoured to MD 90 (Ocean City Expressway)
(April 5, 2018) – On Friday evening, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will close the US 50 (Harry W. Kelley Memorial Drawbridge) over Sinpuxent Bay in Ocean City to conduct needed repairs to the structure. Work will begin at 10 p.m. and proceed until repairs are complete at approximately 8 a.m. Saturday. The closure is necessary because the crews will need to raise the drawbridge to conduct the work to make the repair.
Motorists will be detoured to MD 90 (Ocean City Expressway) during the repairs. During a routine evaluation to the bridge, MDOT SHA crews discovered a small crack in a single steel beam. While the bridge is safe and operable, the repair is necessary to ensure reliability before the spring and summer season. Marine traffic will have full use of the channel during the work.
Approximately 33,000 vehicles use this bridge each and that number increases significantly during spring and summer months. Motorists should allow extra time to reach Downtown Ocean City via MD 90.
MDOT SHA’s contractor, Covington Machine and Welding, Inc. of Annapolis, will evaluate the other beams while the bridge is in the up position. Subsequent repairs and temporary closures may be necessary next week.
While MDOT SHA and its transportation partners work hard to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones, each driver needs to actively modify his or her driving style to help prevent crashes. Stay alert and look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers. Slow down and don’t follow too closely. Work Zone Safety is in Your Hands. For a list of all major MDOT SHA projects, click on Road Ready, MDOT SHA’s electronic construction brochure. For a look at real-time commute conditions, log onto www.md511.org. This gentleman is a fisherman on the bridge one week every year.
Since Ocean City is becoming more of a year-round destination with each passing season, West OC has especially been expanding by leaps and bounds. There’s more open here in the “off” months to keep visitors and locals busy, but there are also pockets that provide a little calm away from the summertime business of downtown OC.
All of Ocean City prides itself on being a family-friendly resort, but the side of town west of the Route 50 bridge is especially conducive for good, clean family fun. Here are a few favorite things to do in West Ocean City that’ll guarantee the whole family a great time, whether you’re booking a hotel in West OC or just exploring for a few hours.
1. Hit up all the amusements
Thrill-seekers are known to frequent West Ocean City for its array of fun, family-friendly amusements. Baja Amusements set up shop in West O more than three decades ago, and they’ve been expanding ever since to provide entertainment to kids and kids-at-heart away from the hustle and bustle of Coastal Highway.
There are eight go kart tracks and two climbing walls, plus kiddie rides, bumper boats, an arcade, mini golf and more, all accessible without having to sit in bridge traffic if you’re staying at a West Ocean City hotel.
Take the little ones to the Wacky Worm roller coaster, let the tweens hang out at the snack bar and the speedsters race go karts, and everyone else can enjoy a peaceful game of mini golf. It’s the perfect way to spend a summer day, at least until dinnertime rolls around. Even then you can stay on the west side and…
2. Get your seafood fill
Some of the best seafood in Ocean City can be found in West OC. It’s where the commercial fishing harbor is, after all. You don’t get much fresher than that.
One restaurant in West O that’s especially worth a trip is The Shrimp Boat off Stephen Decatur Highway. At the Shrimp Boat, an OC tradition for almost 30 years, you can try before you buy, sit outside or inside the “boat,” enjoy a local craft brew and get whatever ocean fare your heart desires, from crab platters to fish entrees to lobster rolls. Seriously.
Hooper’s Crab House is a good on-the-water option for families; diners under 10 can enjoy kid-friendly seafood like rockfish fingers, fried shrimp and and fish tacos, while parents can enjoy a cold beer from Fin City Brewing Co., Ocean City’s oldest brewery that calls Hooper’s their home.
If your family doesn’t favor seafood, there are tons of other restaurants and familiar chains that have amassed in West Ocean City. But if it is seafood you’re looking for — the west side of the bridge is still the place to go.
3. Visit “Stinky Beach” (also known as Homer Gudelsky Park)
Stinky Beach was hidden when “Shanty Town” was developed in the ’70s, and only recently has the beach come back into the public eye. Photo by Denise Metzger.
If you’re scratching your head at this one, don’t worry — you’re not the only one. While Stinky Beach was once more of a locals’ secret, it’s starting to see more foot traffic with each summer that goes by, and that’s why I’m officially letting the cat out of the bag and telling you that Stinky Beach is a very cool spot in West O to visit.
Formally known as Homer Gudelsky Park, this beach by the bridge is pet-friendly and a perfect place to cast a line, take a stroll or watch the boats sail in and out of the Inlet. Ocean City lore says that the area used to be a dumping ground for the town, and the west wind would bring bugs and the smell of garbage to the beach. The water is shallow, and the wind also spreads the smell of the canal, hence the name “Stinky Beach.” If you have no idea what or where this place is, here’s a map for reference:
4. Stay at a hotel the kids will love
The Comfort Suites in the heart of West Ocean City is one of those hotels. In fact, while driving down Route 50, your kids have probably already pointed out the hotel’s big front yard pool with the prop palm trees, waterslide and buckets waiting to pour water over an unsuspecting person’s head. What they haven’t seen yet is the indoor game room. And just down the street is a favorite of the younger kids, the Francis Scott Key Family Resort, equipped with outdoor and indoor themed pools, playgrounds and mini golf.
Lodging in West O is always a great option for families who want to distance themselves from the rowdier nighttime Boardwalk crowds but remain close to the action, particularly Assateague Island, Frontier Town, and all the restaurants and entertainment listed here. Downtown is just a trip across the bridge away.
Over the last few weeks we’ve been working on a video feature called “Ocean City Stories” wherein contributor BL and I knock around Ocean City with a camera and a video camera and talk to people. You can see the completed work on our YouTube page.
5. Walk across the bridge to even more fun
It’s normally not a good idea to walk across a bridge known for its heavy summertime traffic. Luckily, the Route 50 bridge to downtown Ocean City has a pedestrian walkway that makes it totally safe for families to stroll. When the winds and the tides are in perfect harmony, you can look straight into the ocean and get a crystal-clear view of the sea life within it. Just don’t get so distracted by the beauty that you knock into a fisherman or cyclist passing by.
A major benefit of the West Ocean City region in general is the Park and Ride, where you can park your car for free and walk or take the shuttle bus into town. Here’s one idea for families staying in West O who want to spend an evening on the east side: establish a home (well, car) base at the Park and Ride, take a walk across the bridge and pay a visit to The Angler on the other side. Enjoy a good dinner, then embark on a sunset cruise on the restaurant’s boat (also called The Angler). Allow your meal to digest, then walk home and enjoy a restful night away from the noise and nightlife of downtown OC.
Take Pride in Berlin Week 2018 takes place April 21 – 28 and will kick off with Berlin Clean-Up Day on the 21st.
For over a decade, volunteers have dedicated several hours of a Saturday in April to give Berlin’s parks and neighborhoods a spring cleaning. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to earn service hours, and groups and teams will be needed to help with planting, weeding, raking, mulching and whatever else needs attention in the community.
The main cleanup areas are Stephen Decatur Park on Tripoli St., Henry Park on Flower St. and Berlin Falls Park on Old Ocean City Blvd. Cleanup of Hudson Branch will also be needed, although that area will not be for children. Volunteers can sign up at any of the parks at 8:30 a.m. the day of cleanup, and Hudson Branch sign-up will be at Henry Park. Some supplies will be available for use, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own if possible; rakes, shovels and wheelbarrows are always needed. Heavy clothes and boots are recommended.
Trash pickup will be available; items for pickup will need to be placed in one location at the clean-up area. The Town must be contacted so that crews are aware of the need. To register a location or to notify the Town of a pickup location, email Mary Bohlen at mbohlen@berlinmd.gov or call 410-641-4314. Lunch on Clean-Up Day will be provided by SonRise Church.
That Saturday, there will also be a celebration of the Berlin Seahawks, the 2017 National Champion Pop Warner Football Team. Join the coaches, the players and their families at Henry Park, and enjoy the music provided by Power 101.7.
Get Berlin nominated for the Meet Me at the Park Earth Month campaign! If the Town gets the most nominations, one of its parks will receive a $20,000 grant for improvements.
Those who nominate Berlin will be entered into a sweepstakes to win a GoPro Prize Pack. The town with the most nominations at the end of April will receive the funding.
There are so may places to get snacks in Ocean City. Seriously — so many, and the new restaurants and cafes that pop up every summer make it even more difficult to choose just one. Luckily, we’ve compiled plenty of lists over the years that detail the top places to get your grub, from bar wings to sushi. And this is just the tip of the iceburg.
We know you’ve got your opinions about Ocean City snack traditions, like caramel corn and ice cream, which is why we won’t even touch on those here — we’ll leave that to you. Speak your piece on Ocean City snacks, and other foods and fun activities, by voting in our 2018 Best of Ocean City polls. You’ll find the 2017 winners here.
Only a few restaurants in Ocean City have perfected the art of the sweet potato fry. The following restaurants have perfected their recipes over time and now make a killer side dish that put run-of-the-mill French fries to shame. Try ’em for yourself and let us know who makes the best sweet potato fry in Ocean City.
It’s not really fair to rank the Boardwalk fries of Ocean City since Thrasher’s has been the go-to spot for decades, and sweet potato lovers are serious about their fries. Whether you like ’em with ketchup or brown sugar, there are a number of restaurants in OC that have really perfected the art of the sweet shoestring potato.
I’m a fan of the greasy spoon diner. The kind that serves mediocre coffee but amazing food that’s the hallmark of the American experience: Cheesy eggs! Pancakes as large as your face! Golden chicken and waffles! In Ocean City, there’s no shortage of diners with vinyl seats and where you can order late breakfast without shame.
Sometimes you just need a burger. And when you’re on vacation, the last thing you want is food from a fast food chain. That’s why you gotta try the local diners — some of them are easier to find than others, but hopefully our guide to the top five diners in Ocean City will help you out.
A gentle reminder that the Outsider is beholden to no one, least of all us – ed. Whenever I think about about Ocean City Md, my thoughts immediately go to fresh seafood.
When you’re in a town with a lot of bars, you’re automatically in a town with a lot of chicken wings, too. Let the Outsider tell you what his five favorite wing joints are, and what it is that makes them so special.
I dream of sushi constantly, and Ocean City has a healthy scene for it, considering we’re in one of the seafood capitals of the east coast! In fact, the rice and raw fish business is thriving on the island, as a new sushi joint opened its doors this summer.
Ocean City han’t always been known for being a sushi hub, but that’s changed a lot in the last five years. Now there’s even enough sushi restaurants for a top five list! When you’re looking for a light beach snack and need a break from all the greasy Boardwalk fare, sushi is the way to go.
It’s hard to go wrong with pizza
We’re going to leave the controversial “best pizza” discussion alone, but here are the current favorites as defined by our readers in the Best of Ocean City.
Where to get the best pizza is always a very personal food for people. Those who have a taste for it tend to like specific places for specific reasons. So far in this year’s voting, it’s actually pretty close among the top five but sixth place is pretty distant.
(But seriously, do your fellow Ocean City lovers and snack lovers a favor by voting for the Best of Ocean City.)
OC Foodie Tours are coming to Ocean City this summer, to be exact. Foodie Tour founder Sandy Gillis says that she’s been wondering for ages why there aren’t any food tours in Ocean City. When she was recently snowed in for three days, she drew up the plans for one of her own.
The tour is designed to give guests a taste of Ocean City, both in OC’s midtown region from 28th to 37th street and the downtown/Boardwalk area, the two regions where the tours will be provided.
A culinary craft experience
When she and her husband go on vacation, Gillis said, they seek out foodie tours. Through the tours, they’ve been able to learn about the places they visit and explore the local cuisine while immediately burning off the calories in places like Philadelphia, New York, Seattle, Las Vegas and even Prague in the Czech Republic.
“You get a backstage view of the restaurants, little secrets, sometimes little dives, hole-in-the-wall places you would never go in,” she said. “You learn about the area and the heritage of the family and the recipes, and how they got started. And then after that, another day, we’ll go back and revisit the restaurants and try them again.”
When on the Foodie Tour, patrons will not only get to sample the fare of local restaurants — Higgins Crab House and the Dunes Manor’s Victorian Room midtown and The Angler and M.R. Ducks downtown are just a few examples of local restaurants included on the tour — they’ll also get to learn about the history of Ocean City.
Topics covered on the tour will include how OC became the white marlin capital of the world, the history of the railroad that once brought tourists to and from the peninsula and the history of the Ocean City Beach Patrol.
“Most people don’t know that teenagers ran the Beach Patrol for four years, four entire summers during the war,” Gillis said. “So little things like that — we had no drowning during those four years, but we had lots of dirty laundry on the beach.”
The OC Foodie Tour will kick off with “The Big Get-Together,” an event hosted by the Art League and Shore Craft Beer at the Center for the Arts, where foodies can come together and enjoy hand-crafted art, beer, food and friends. The event will feature three breweries, six restaurants, artisans and live music by Full Circle Duo.
The tours will officially start on May 15, and will operate for six months out of every year.
Often referred to as the heart and hub of town, Ocean City’s “South End” at the Inlet has been hosting families and making memories for well over a century. It’s gone through many major changes through the years but it’s proven to never disappoint those who venture down to take in the exciting lights, memorable sounds and nostalgic smells of the most southern few blocks of town.
Enjoy a virtual journey back through the decades of Ocean City’s famous boardwalk at the South End.
1920s
Early 1920s, prior to when the pier building burned down in December, 1925.
1930s
The day after the storm of 1933. Jester’s Funhouse and the old Capitol Theatre can be clearly seen here.Late 1930s
1940s
1940s, shortly after Trimper’s Inlet Lodge was built.
1950s
1950s in front of Marty’s Playland.1950s – A view of the boardwalk buildings that now house Inlet Gifts, Trimper’s Haunted House, and several games.1950s – Rare view of the lot that now houses Trimper’s Rides. Back then, many small buildings stood on the property behind Trimper’s Merry-Go-Round building.July 1958 – Looking east from the Oceanic Motel. Granville Trimper’s Eli Ferris Wheel can be seen in the distance.
1960s
1964October 1965 (Baltimore Sun Archives)1960s1960s – Marty’s Playland1960s – Marty’s PlaylandLate 1960s1962 – Flooding on the boardwalk from the Storm of 1962.Mid 1960s (Baltimore Sun Archives)19651965April 1967 – The second story apartments are being constructed on the boardwalk front.July 1967March 1968March 1968
1970s
1970s1970s – Marty’s PlaylandMid 1970s1976Late 1970sDecember 1978 – Finishing touches are being put on the newly-relocated Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum at the inlet. The building was dedicated on Christmas Day of 1978. (Baltimore Sun Archives)
1980s
1980sEarly 1980s1985Mid 1980s – Water Flume and YoYo1983 – Inlet LodgeMid 1980sLate 1980s
Ocean City, Maryland – (March 28, 2018): “Pay & Display” systems are a thing of the past, at least in Ocean City. New parking kiosks are replacing the old all over town on sidewalks and in municipal parking lots, and a “Pay by Plate” system is replacing “Pay & Display.”
Because these new kiosks are “Pay by Plate,” patrons must enter their license plate numbers before paying for their time. Users will be guided step-by-step through their parking transactions on the full-color display screens of the new solar powered kiosks. There is no longer a need to place a receipt on the dashboard, and time can be extended at the kiosk with your plate number.
The pay-by-cell parking system remains in place, and patrons will still be able to pay for their parking by using the Parkmobile mobile parking app. You can extend your time directly through the app, which will also send text reminders when your parking time is about to expire. The Parkmobile app is available for download on the App store for the iPhone, the Google Play Store for Android devices, and the Microsoft store for Windows phones.
The Town is also making improvements to parking at the Inlet Parking Lot by implementing a “gateless” system. Parkers will no longer have to get a ticket at the entrance and pay an attendant at the exit. Now parkers can enter the parking lot, park their vehicle, pay at a Pay by Plate kiosk or through the Parkmobile app, and go enjoy themselves. The Town expects this system to have a significant reduction on wait times at the exit to the lot.
“With our paid parking season beginning on April 1, we are excited to offer a new parking system that will add convenience for our visitors, as well as a system that should help us better manage parking occupancy,” says Jessica Waters, Communications Manager for the Town of Ocean City. “Our goal is to ensure compliance with the parking regulations while providing our residents and visitors an enjoyable time in Ocean City.”
The new parking system is being provided by Parkeon, Inc., based out of Moorestown, NJ. Parkeon is the leading provider of parking kiosks around the globe, and has deployed similar parking systems in cities across the United States and locally in towns like Salisbury, Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach, and Washington DC.
