At the end of September, a dole of about 100 baby loggerhead turtles emerged from their eggs and began their journey from the sand to the sea. One Facebook user, Keegan Burke, took some incredibly cute photos and videos of the tiny hatchlings in pursuit.
The Assateague Island National Seashore also got a short video of a turtle’s slow crawl to the waves, on the Maryland portion of Assateague’s Over Sand Vehicle zone where the loggerheads hatched.
Why is this so cool?
As far as the Park Service knows, this is the first time a dole of sea turtles has nested successfully on Assateague Island.
This is also the first known nest of sea turtles to thrive in Maryland ever. It’s rare for loggerhead sea turtles to even attempt to nest north of Virginia, and while turtles have made attempts to nest on Assateague’s beach, this is the first group of hatchlings to make it to the water.
A little about loggerheads
Loggerhead turtles, named for their huge heads, are most commonly found in Florida. According to the World Conservation Union, they’re an endangered species.
Loggerheads have been on the threatened species list since 1978, thanks to shrimp trawling, pollution and development over nesting areas. That could be why they’ve recently turned to Assateague for nesting, and we might see more of them in the future, too: mature females will often return to the place where they hatched to lay their own eggs.
Fun fact: Loggerhead hatchlings are about 2 inches long and weigh just .04 lbs. Because they’re so small, they’re often prey to crabs, large reptiles and birds like vultures and seagulls, who could potentially devastate an entire nest. For this reason alone, sea turtles would be smart to nest far, far away from Ocean City.
We often think of Real Estate as being in a stationary location and never moving from its original place. It is stable and does not travel about. Homes are subject to wind, and storms of course, but, generally will be located in its correct spot. If your home is a sailboat, however, everything you have always been comfortable with is changed. Additionally, when the sailboat is in the path of a super storm like Irma, all bets are off.
Here is an accounting of one Berlin local, that gave up land for water. This is my daughter’s story.
“I became a “liveaboard” in the fall of 2013, at 41 years old. My boyfriend and I purchased a 31 foot sailboat, and headed down the coast to spend the winter in the Keys. He and I parted ways the following summer up in Essex, but I was hooked on the sailboat. I bought him out, and returned to the Keys that year as a “singlehander”. I have since traveled down the East Coast in the fall of each year, and back north again in the late spring, working the summer seasons in various locations. For the winters, however, I always headed back to Marathon.
This past winter I completed my fourth winter season down here. As much as I love the nomadic lifestyle, I decided this year to become a year round resident of the Conch Republic in order to save up the money that will enable me to do some serious, long term cruising in my fifties. I have a pretty great job, and the community here at Boot Key Harbor is fantastic. The city runs a mooring field with a little over 250 moorings, and then there are two other areas where boats can anchor if they prefer. There are private showers, laundry facilities, spacious work areas, a community room with a small library, and a tiki hut out on the water for hanging out. The marina has a wifi signal that I can grab with the antenna on my boat. We all travel around in skiffs/dinghies, tying up to the marina dinghy docks when we need to go ashore.
Community volunteers run a “cruiser’s net” each morning at 9 am on the VHF radio, keeping everyone informed and connected. “New arrivals/departures”, “announcements”, “questions/comments/need help”, “buy/sell/trade/give away”, these are the categories. You say your boat name, and wait to be recognized by the net controller du jour, then you say your piece. It always wraps up with a few rounds of trivia.
All in all, just a fun and interesting place to live; that is, until a monster hurricane is bearing down on you.
I am very, very happy to say my sailboat did survive Irma here at Boot Key Harbor in Marathon. There is an unoccupied island that borders the harbor called Boot Key, from which the harbor gets it’s name. Whiskey Creek runs into the heart of the island, surrounded by nothing but mangroves. This was my saving grace, thanks to the wise advice of some old school local fishermen.
Where my boat was anchored
I took her up into Whiskey Creek on the Tuesday prior to landfall, fearing that if I did not go in early, there would be no room. As it turns out, that fear was unfounded. Only 13 or so boats sought refuge there. There was room for many more. This just kills me when I see all the wreckage that is currently everywhere here in Boot Key Harbor. Boats piled on top each other along the shoreline, crammed in half sunken pieces into canals, piled up under the old bridge at the west end of the anchorage. Carnage. But all of the 13 boats that went in to the creek did OK. Only about one fifth of the boats that stayed on the moorings remained attached, and many of those had damage from collisions with boats that had broken free.
I am aware of five people that rode the storm out on their boats in the harbor. Two were able to climb off their boats in the middle of the hurricane after they hit the mangroves and began sinking. Two made it through, still attached to their moorings. One died trying to get off his boat where it ended up wrecked in a residential canal. There was a recording of a VHF conversation from that one; he had called for the Coast Guard during the hurricane after his boat was struck by another vessel. They told us all from the beginning, when they told us not to stay; no one will come to help you in the storm. You stay, you are on your own.
Dude. When they tell you to go, just go.
On that Tuesday prior, I motored up to where Whiskey Creek splits, and hung a left towards the narrower upper reaches. I did not make it past the first bend, however. The water was shoaling quickly, and there was a boat in the second bend, so I settled for the spot. Really I was pretty happy with it.
I won’t devil you with all the details, but for three days I prepped her back in the mangroves, and packed the things I was taking with me. It was melt-your-face-off hot in there, except in the mornings and the evenings when the noseeums came out so thick they were in your ears, up your nose, in your eyes. I had never noticed my eyelids sweating before. I spent the days removing all canvas and sails, my wind generator, solar panel, grill etc. I even removed the davits from the stern for fear that if the guy behind me broke loose, it was just one more thing with the potential to get hung up in his rigging and rip a hole in my boat, or at best hold his boat to mine, beating each other to death. Perhaps I have an overactive imagination, but hey, an ounce of prevention….
I cleared her decks, and duct taped down anything that the wind might catch, such as my cockpit seats/locker lids. They do not have hasps, and I didn’t want them ripped off, or falling open and allowing rain inside. Once I locked her up for the last time, I even duct taped over the companionway to try to stop any water intrusion there. I also taped over my dorade vents (type of vent that permits the passage of air in and out of the cabin or engine room).
I closed all the thru hulls, which are essentially holes in the bottom of the boat to allow water to drain from the sink, for example, or allow water in to cool the engine. All below the waterline thru hulls have valves to shut them off so that your boat doesn’t sink in the event of a rupture in a hose. I was unable to close the thru hull for the sink in the head (bathroom for you landlubbers) because it has no valve. I suppose this is because it is slightly above the water line. I was afraid it may be a way for water to get in if she were laid over, or god forbid, being drowned by her lines, so I filled the thru hull with caulk. I need a new one with a valve anyway. As it turns out, she appears to have spent a good bit of time laid over on that side, so I believe this to have been a good choice.
As for lines, I had ordered 320 feet of 1/2″ three strand nylon line, along with some chafe gear around the time I made the decision to stay. I had intended to cut it into lengths, and splice the chafe gear into the loop, and have it on hand in the event of a storm. I never had gotten around to it, nor did I know how to splice line until that Wednesday in the mangroves. But I knew it was the strongest thing I could do, so I watched a You Tube video and got on with it. I guess I work well under pressure! But hey, I’m a sailor 😉
320 ft line
The first one was a little sloppy, but after that it was on. I measured out the lengths to the mangroves I had picked to tie off to, and customized the lines accordingly. In order to secure the boat, I had to dinghy over to the mangroves, and crawl up in to them to get to a suitably sturdy branch to attach each line. If you’ve never met a mangrove, they grow right up out of the water along a shoreline, thick as thieves, making said shoreline almost impossible to see. So, I had to tie the dinghy to the exterior, smaller branches so it wouldn’t drift off in the tidal current of the creek, and step into the water on to the mangrove roots, and then climb back in to where the stronger branches could be found. It’s a good thing I was a tomboy growing up, or this wouldn’t have ended well.
In the end, I had six lines with a larks head knot on the mangrove branches, leading back to the various cleats on my boat. Chafe gear all around, anywhere the lines might get friction. I also put my Danforth anchor out to the port side stern with about 100 feet of 5/8″ rode (rope), and my 33 lb Rocna anchor off the port bow, with 75 feet of 5/16″ chain, and an additional 20 feet of 3/4″ rode. The curve I was in was about 7 feet deep along the east bank, and only a few feet along the west bank, so I wanted to keep her in the east bank of the curve so she didn’t end up hard aground. My boat needs at least four feet of water under her to keep her off the ground. Of course, they were calling for a 10 foot storm surge, so plenty of water, but I didn’t want her coming to rest on the shallow bank. Or on a house. Or in a tree.
Tied down before Irma
I took this shot as I dinghied away, praying it wouldn’t be the last time I saw her afloat. I noticed as I was leaving that I had left an old halyard (rope) on the deck, and I grabbed it and threw it in the dinghy as I left. This turned out to be a lucky thing.
I had intended to drag the dinghy up on a small beach near the marina and tie it off to the mangroves there, and just hope it didn’t break loose or sink. The plan didn’t work out because so many boats had already tied up into that tiny beach area, there was no more room. Disheartened, I rode around into the marina docks, trying to resign myself to the idea that I would have to let her sink, and hope I could recover her after the fact. Then I saw where one of my neighbors had pulled his dinghy up on top of the floating dock and lashed it down. I had 110 feet of halyard to tie it down with if only I could drag it up there! It wasn’t easy, dragging a ten foot skiff with a 15 hp motor up on that dock, but I did manage it after a half an hour and some choice expletives. It’s a good thing, too, because the inner dinghy dock area was practically crushed by several large boats that were pushed in there. But good fortune smiled on me, and my dinghy survived as well.
As for the big boat, well, the Danforth anchor off my stern held its ground, which is the only thing that kept her from swinging around. You see, when I tied her up, and still when I finally evacuated on Thursday night, the eye was forecast to pass to the east of Marathon. As it turns out, the eye passed to the west, completely changing the wind directions. I had inadvertently tied her to be stern to the wind as it clocked around. And my girl has a big fat stern, so that was a bit of a problem. Better to have the wind on the pointy end. She broke three mangroves, but my anchors held as did the remaining three lines.
Of course, I didn’t know this for days. We weren’t allowed back in to the Keys for about a week. I had come back to Maryland to visit during the evacuation, and was waiting there to find out if I was homeless. In the days after the storm, I had heard on Facebook that NOAA was uploading post storm satellite imagery. I was waiting patiently to get some word about my boat, for them to finish uploading the images. On the Wednesday morning after the storm, I awoke to a text message from a friend with the satellite image of my boat, still more or less where I left her. I immediately went on to the NOAA site, and zoomed over to where I had left the dinghy. I was thrilled; I still had my “house” and my “car”!!
Satellite photo confirmed my boat was intact!
So in the end, I am very fortunate. I did lose my battery bank, and my solar controller (which moderates the current coming in from the solar panel), but it’s all good. Apparently when I shut the fridge down, I didn’t click it all the way over. It ran the whole time. Well, until the batteries died. It is a good thing that I do my best to keep a dry boat, because I imagine my batteries were dead before the storm even hit. That means my bilge pumps would not have been working.
[[ Mental note to self: install a breaker in the galley for the refrigerator!! ]]
I tried to put a charge back on the batteries, but at a badly abused three years old, they were having none of it. As for what killed the solar controller, well, who knows? Maybe it was already going. All I know is that it is currently refusing to play my little sailboat games. Time for justifiably purchased new gear!! That is exciting, as new tech gear is always going to be better at it’s job than the old stuff. I also took the opportunity to increase the size of my battery bank, also a quality of life upgrade. So, a bit pricey, but all in all, very cool.
When I returned, I had gained a few gallons of water in the bilge, and that is all right with me! There are obvious signs that she had been laid over on her starboard side. She is stained on her starboard topsides as well as on the deck along the toe rail. She has stains from mangrove bark rubbed into her starboard shrouds (wires that hold the mast up) as well as all over a halyard I had clipped to the starboard side toe rail. Other than, she was perfect, a sight for sore eyes!!
Just a few observations from the area, and the less than lucky boats; A lot of people left sails on, stuff all over their decks, etc. That stuff turns into high speed projectiles. The sails will end up opening, one way or another, and will exponentially increase the odds of that boat breaking free. I also noticed lines that had been chafed through, still attached to the mooring leads. One of these was a single (bad enough), polypropylene (worse!?!) line that I wouldn’t use that to hold my dinghy. It is simply not strong enough.
The marina recommends a setup using three lines to the mooring pendant, which is displayed in the office/community room. I guess whoever was on this ball never noticed that display. It is unfortunate for people who were more conscientious in their preparations. It is difficult enough to be prepared for hurricane conditions, but to have boats that have broken loose striking your boat on top of it all…..just a shame. That was my number one reason for hiding in the mangroves; to get out of the pinball machine.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this little peek into an alternative lifestyle, and my brush with Irma. I think I might write a book about it, so stay tuned! lol. If you have questions or comments, feel free to hit me up: Candace at livingthesaltlife423@gmail.com“
Barbeque. Bar-b-cue. BBQ. No matter how you spell it, barbecue is one of America’s favorites, and Ocean City has lots of barbeque specialists in town. Use this guide to help you decide which bar-b-cue place will be your new favorite…or try them all!
You know that a place called Pit-n-Pub is going to have great BBQ, and plenty of drinks to wash it down with. Now with locations on 28th street (of course) and Ocean City’s Northside, the Pit-n-Pub has homemade barbecue to top your favorite fresh, smoked meats. The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable, making Pit-n-Pub the perfect place to enjoy a casual (and messy) dinner with family and friends. Get your BBQ straight from the grill between 11 a.m. and 2 a.m. daily. Happy hour starts at 1 p.m. and continues to 5. Open year-round.
Bull on the Beach has been a favorite barbeque stop on the boardwalk since 1980. The restaurant is still located on 2nd street today, now in the Park Place Hotel, just a few stores down from its original location, and on 94th street bayside. BOTB’s motto has always been simple: “Great food, great service and a clean environment to enjoy it in.” The great food they pride themselves on consists of mostly seafood and good, old fashioned barbecue, and happy hour is every evening from 3 to 6 p.m. on 94th street. Open year-round.
Ocean City Barbeque
This Ocean City barbeque joint is really known as just that: Ocean City Barbeque. Established in 2017, OCBBQ serves up “southern BBQ with a Maryland twist,” Ocean City Barbeque is located in the historic 45th street village right by their sister restaurant Taphouse. With racks of ribs, BBQ bone-in chicken breast, pulled pork, fried chicken sandwiches and Fresh Catch of the Day fish specials, OCBBQ already knows exactly what Maryland barbeque lovers are looking for. Open seasonally.
Located on 16th Street and the Boardwalk, Ocean View Grill & BBQ is a great spot to enjoy a sandwich while looking out over the ocean. Look for slow-cooked BBQ on the dinner menu or enjoy a seafood appetizer–from ribs to crab cakes, Ocean View does it all. Indoor and outdoor seating is available. Try Eastern Shore staples like BBQ ribs, brisket and chicken, and when it’s hot outside, be sure to try one of their seven frozen cocktails.
Sometimes passions just take over. It’s something I’ve seen happen in the craft beer industry and something that increasingly is happening in the food truck industry. Making things by hand for the people who will consume them really is a reward unto itself.
Smoker’s BBQ Pit is a local favorite, located off Route 611 in West Ocean City and open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Smoker’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and has wood smoked their pork, beef, chicken and fish in Ocean City since 1996. Not only can you enjoy their delicious barbecue options, but Smoker’s also offers Southern-style side dishes and fried chicken, catfish, meatloaf, smoked tuna and homemade banana puddin’. Head to Smoker’s when you crave a smoky barbecue flavor or a dose of Southern comfort.
Boog’s BBQ
Boog’s BBQ is a Maryland staple. Boog’s sells in Baltimore at the Oriole’s baseballs games and also in Ocean City, on the boardwalk near Thrasher’s and the Jolly Roger pier rides. Dine-in or take out your favorite BBQ specials like pit beef, pit turkey, pulled pork, smoked sausage, pulled chicken, beef brisket and pit ham. Wash everything down with an ice cold, freshly squeezed lemonade made right at Boog’s, and then enjoy a banana puddin’ or rice pudding for dessert. Open seasonally.
While family-oriented Halloween fun abounds in Ocean City every year with OCtoberfest, the neighboring town of Berlin has its own festive fun. Berlin’s Oktoberfest is a full day of shopping, food, music and games on Main Street in the spirit of Oktober. This year, the festival will take place on October 14 from 12 to 6 p.m. Read on, because while Oktoberfest has been a tradition in Berlin (Maryland’s Berlin, that is) since 2011, there’s always something new. See photos from Oktoberfests of years past below.
Things to do
Berlin’s Oktoberfest is just a bit different from the famous volksfest in Munich, Germany–there’s still beer here, just not on the scale of the festival’s German counterpart. (Oktoberfest fun fact: almost 8 million liters of beer are served annually over the duration of Germany’s 16-day festival.)
Berlin’s version of the festival places more of an emphasis on fun autumn activities that the whole family can enjoy.
Eat like a local
Food is one of the most important aspects of anyone’s Oktoberfest, and while you might not always find bratwurst and sauerkraut in downtown Berlin, brats n’ burgers do make a special appearance one day out of the year
Restaurants and cafes including Baked Dessert, Gilbert’s Provisions, Crush and Crab and Eastern Shore Kettle Korn provide sweet and savory snacks so that you can taste whatever you’re craving, German dish or otherwise.
Shop for the season
Downtown Berlin’s shops and galleries set up tables outside for the annual Fall Sidewalk Sale, where books, bags, jewelry, clothes, handmade items and more are all on display.
Enjoy a drink and a stroll
The best part of any festival is usually just walking around and people-watching. Here, you can take a slow walk around and soak in all of Berlin’s charm while sipping on a beer from Burley Oak, and you can expect to hear live music in the distance while you do it.
Kid-friendly fun
There’s also, thankfully, tons of stuff to do that will keep the kids occupied. Like most street fairs, Oktoberfest features face painting, juggling, cornhole and crafts, but there are other cool, locally-minded activities and entertainment that vary from year to year.
Like the Phillips Wharf Fishmobile–that’s a mobile aquarium that travels throughout Delmarva to bring children 13 tanks and two touch tanks inhabited by sea creatures native to the Chesapeake Bay. There’s also Scales and Tales from Assateague State Park, where park rangers allow festival-goers to get up close and personal with various regional reptiles and birds of prey.
On a more festive, autumnal note, Worcester Youth and Family provides pumpkin painting, chalking, sand art and pine cone bird feeder making.
How to get there
During the festival, Main Street is closed to vehicles from Main/West to Main/Bay & Jefferson and Broad/Main to Broad/Gay Streets. Commerce Street and Pitts to William are also closed beginning at 9 a.m.
The Town of Berlin recommends that local residents walk or bike to Main Street, while non-local festival-goers should park at the Berlin Intermediate School and take the free shuttle downtown.
If you love Halloween as much as I do, then you know the fun isn’t really limited to a single night–it happens all October long. That’s why I am officially unofficially declaring October to be the absolute spookiest and most fun month in Ocean City, ever. I’ll even be so bold as to claim that this OCtober will be more exciting than July and August combined. Obviously there will be far fewer tourists in town and no lifeguards in the stands, but the lack of cars zooming down Coastal Highway on a foggy autumn night only adds to the creepy, desolate ambience of the town. And isn’t that what Halloween is all about?
While I’m obviously of the opinion that this is the most wonderful time of the year, it’s not always obvious to Ocean City visitors what all there is to do during these “off” months. Admittedly there’s not nearly as much happening around town in October as there is in the summer, so sometimes you have to make your own fun. Luckily, around here, that’s not super hard to do. Here’s just a few things that I know I’ll be doing to celebrate Halloween in Ocean City.
Go exploring
Our neck of Delmarva is actually really haunted. Sleep with your lights on, and be sure to check out a few of these places that are well-known and widely accepted to be occupied by ghosts.
Hotels
Where there’s old hotels, there’s usually haunted hotels, too. You don’t necessarily have to book a room if you’re hoping for a ghost sighting–many of these places might be closed for the season, anyway–but Chesapeake Ghost Walks’ Ocean City or Berlin tours will likely give you a taste of such spooky lodgings. Otherwise, planning your own homemade Ghost Walk always makes for a fun Saturday afternoon. Here’s a few to add to your list. Just don’t trespass!
At the Atlantic Hotel in Berlin, which was built in 1895, it’s said that the spirit of a little girl haunts the second floor, and paranormal activity is often reported from room 16.
If you find yourself in Bethany Beach, check out the Addy Sea Inn. It’s home to a mysterious shaking bathtub, organ music seemingly without origin and the spirit of the inn’s former handyman.
In the heart of Ocean City, the Henry Hotel is no stranger to ghost sightings, either. The Henry was built around the same time as the Atlantic, but provided lodging for “colored” guests before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was put into effect. Today, people passing by have reported seeing a ghostly young man in overalls standing on the porch and at other times hearing jazz music from the empty building at night.
A bit farther down the boardwalk, the Shoreham Hotel is known for its haunting “trifecta,” having provided the backdrop to a murder, a suicide and an accidental death years and years ago. If you’re able to go inside and are hoping for a paranormal experience, check out the basement and room six–they’re said to be the paranormal hotspots of the Shoreham. (While you’re on the boardwalk, by the way, stop by the Life Saving Museum and pay a visit to Laffing Sal–she’s plenty possessed in her own right.)
Sal, while a lovely lady, is probably the scariest thing in all of Ocean City.
Homesteads
If haunted houses are more your thing than haunted hotels, you’ll want to venture out to Gumboro, DE and visit the Old Gumboro Homestead. It’s one of the most famous landmarks in the small township, known for the spooky sound of heavy breathing and disembodied footsteps upon entrance into the home, the occasional reverberation of harmonica music and sightings of translucent figures moving across the yard at night.
A few miles nearer Ocean City is Salisbury, MD, home to the Poplar Hill Mansion. The 1795 plantation functions today as a museum, which means you can actually go inside and look for the spirits of the former servant Samuel, the mansion’s former owner and a young enslaved girl who burned to death after her dress caught fire.
The great outdoors
If you’re looking to convene with nature on a crisp fall day, there’s a number of places outside that may or may not be totally haunted.
One of those places is the Witch’s Tree in Whaleyville, MD. Legend holds that women thought to be witches were once hanged from the tree, but whether that’s true or not, just being in the presence of the looming tree with its gnarling branches and long shadows cast can send chills down your spine. And there’s multiple orbs in every picture I’ve ever taken of the Witch’s Tree, for whatever that’s worth.
Not too far from the tree in Frankford, DE is a cemetery commonly known as Catman’s Grave. Supposedly a long-dead cemetery caretaker with catlike features watches over the graveyard, and if you knock three times on the bizarre brick wall just behind the cemetery, the Catman will mess with your car to keep you from leaving.
Scream!
Maybe you’re looking to be scared, but not in a “real life” sort of way. When your heart is racing and you’re terrified out of your mind, it is sometimes nice to remember that whatever’s haunting you is for sure only an illusion.
Sadly the Trimper’s haunted house only opens up for the season when Halloween falls on a weekend, but OC Screams waits until right after October 31st to close. And there’s truly no better way to celebrate Halloween than by having a tiny heart attack every time a zombified sailor jump-scares you.
Free your inner child
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the kid-friendly side of the holiday. We all need a break from paranormal investigations and pee-your-pants scary haunted houses sometimes, after all.
Most OCtoberfest events are geared toward children, but some, like the Halloween Beach Maze, are still open to all ages–and the Halloween Beach Maze is populated with witches, ghouls and zombies, in case you’re up for a lite scare. There’s not really anything too spooky about the Howl-o-Ween Pet Parade unless you’re a cat (I predict the parade is dog-heavy), but the event really embraces the cute, quirky aspects of the holiday. And the Great Pumpkin Race provides the opportunity to get a little competitive by building a tiny pumpkin racecar.
The Beach Maze is a blast for kids, grown-ups, zombies and pirates alike.
Other events and happenings…
If you’d rather engage in more adult-oriented fun, the Shore Craft Beer OCtoberfest will introduce you to a ton of delicious, local craft brews–many of them, in the spirit of the season, pumpkin flavored.
Be sure to check the events that are happening at your favorite nightlife hubs. Many larger venues throw Halloween parties, like Seacrets‘ Spooktacular Halloween Party and Costume Contest.
If your favorite Halloween activities or haunted locales weren’t mentioned here, we’d love to hear about them on our OCtoberfest thread.
Sometimes, people use our OC Dining Forum to review the local businesses they’ve enjoyed (or not enjoyed) while in Ocean City. A lot of times, the reviews are packed with great information that any OC dining connoisseur can appreciate. This one is from a thread by user pghDave. Join the forum and add your two cents, or start a new thread with your own reviews–we love to read them.
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Since a dining report this late in the season isn’t of any widespread help, and given that no more than 12 people will read it, I’ll do a short version this year.
We hit most of our favorites at least once: BJ’s, Coins, Harborside and Liquid Assets all served up excellent foods and retain their spots as our go-to places. For breakfast we of course hit Bayside Skillet and General’s Kitchen. Dumser’s was, once again, the official ice cream provider for our vacation. Of course, anyone that has ever read an OC dining report knows all of these places and they did not disappoint.
New this season was Our Harvest (the Liquid Assets spin-off in Fenwick) and it was truly outstanding. It has a similar but different vibe than LA. They specialize more in small plates and larger shareable plates (feasts, as they call them). We had a number of small plates, all of which were very good and a rockfish feast which was simply outstanding–two rockfish on a platter with the meat picked and piled high in the middle. Delicious and not a bone to be found in the whole pile.
Another one new to us this season was the Marina Deck. It’s been on the list for years and we never made it. What a fantastic view! We only did crab dip and happy hour drinks on the deck but left happy. The White Marlin cocktail was Mrs. pghDave’s favorite signature cocktail. (To be honest, I think she had many favorites…) Did I mention the view?
We made it to Hooked this year–what a great spot. I had a scallops on cheesy grits offering that was absolutely incredible. We intended to get back here for a second night but just ran out of time. Bummer.
Ropewalk offered up some great oysters in advance of really nice meals. The atmosphere and view here are killer–not a bad seat in the house.
We got back to Macky’s this year. It’s been a long time and I enjoyed it. We did crab dip and some rockfish fingers (excellent, actually) along with adult beverages. We haven’t been here in a lot of years but it was nice and with the September crowd the beachfront is very subdued and relaxing. We need to be back more regularly–can you say orange crushes in a bucket??!!
Rosenfeld’s featured an outstanding corned beef hash–simply outstanding.
A Bagel And… over in Ocean Pines wins the award for the most cream cheese on your bagel. We appreciate the hearty helping. And for my fellow yinzers I think of this place as A Bagel ‘n At.
We had crab dips at a lot of places. We love crab dips and sampling as many as possible has always been an OC thing for us. Harborside is the best we had this year. It’s our usual winner only once ousted by the Harbor Watch. (Which we didn’t get to this year as we ran out of time. Bummer.)
Places we regret missing were Harbor Watch, Ky West, Longboard Cafe, Catch 54 and Woody’s. But there are only so many days in a vacation and so many meals that can be eaten. Oh yeah, and we missed out on Julia’s Cannolis. We really must stay longer next year. We didn’t make it to the Frog Bar either…man, time to turn around and go back.
ETA: Not sure how I left Mother’s Cantina off my original report. Very good Mexican food for a change of pace. We loaded up on enchiladas for takeout after an afternoon at the Burley Oak brewery. Mother’s was jammed but the takeout service was still friendly and responsive and the food was excellent! We also picked up some very tasty steamed shrimp on the side from the Shrimp Boat, so it was a nice post-brewery feast.
So I guess I forgot several places…maybe it was the time at the brewery that clouded my mind. And, by the way, the Burley Oak is a great place to spend some time. Excellent beers. They do not have food but they do allow you to bring in your own. Only downside is that the ‘skeeters were biting in the outside seating area.
The weather is always critical around here. Frankly most of the time the only question is weather it’s going to be beautiful or gorgeous. Sometimes neither is the case. Either way, we’ve chosen among some of our favorite forecasters and each week we’ll add their updates here. In addition to this Ocean City Weather roundup, we publish updated reports on our Ocean City Weather Page.Maria will give us surf and rip currents, but it looks as if that’s it for now.
Wind and rain for the foreseeable future
National Coverage
Local Coverage
Delmar Weather is a Facebook Page originally started by two high schoolers who now study meteorology. Their page is popular because of their in-depth independent reporting and a track record as good as or better than other local outlets.
The annual Chesapeake Celtic Festival (happening this year on October 7 and 8) is one of the more awesome experiences you can have at Furnace Town, even though the living museum is pretty cool unto itself. The 28-year-old festival actually was born in Princess Anne, a vision of language professor Jeanne du Nord and a number of confederates who saw the potential for drawing people interested in Celtic life to the Lower Eastern Shore.
The festival failed to flourish there, though, and after a few years, du Nord and the other organizers spoke with the folks at Furnace Town about having the festival there. There are a billion reasons that the museum was the perfect spot for the festival, and more are discovered every year, but at the bottom of it is that the atmosphere, no the ambiance, makes people happy. Furnace Town has the space, sure, but it also is a permanent backdrop that comes alive all the more when occupied by throngs in period dress.
Prepare yourself. There are a bunch of double negatives in the following:
You don’t only not have to be interested in Celtic life to enjoy yourself at the festival, not being Celtic or familiar with Celtic culture isn’t even an issue. To be fair, Celtic life as it is portrayed is a lot of fun and certainly worth admiring, but the old-timey fairground aesthetic is much more pleasing. But beyond the beautiful grounds there are enough distractions to make a trip to the festival worthwhile, but there’s more than just the look of the thing that makes it the kind of attraction that draws hundreds of people to the region every October specifically for this festival.
Irish Wolfhounds, which always are a treat, will be as big a part of the festival as they always have been, but additionally there is a dog parade with less wolfy, less Irish and less houndy dogs.
2 All the great music
Far from being just background music, the musicians and musical acts that come to the festival come with the pointed notion of heightening the atmosphere with songs you know and song you ought to know.
3 The first rule about Celtic Fight Club…
“Martial” really just means military, and any culture that had a military developed specific means of smacking other cultures around. There will be plenty of displays of the Celtic martial arts. Also, if you didn’t know, Celtic martial arts are a thing.
4 Finally, poles that aren’t tiresome
The “caber” or log toss is a strength competition wherein people pick up big logs and see how far they can throw them. Sometimes it is pretty far. Also, when was the last time you saw semi-professional cabers? Probably not in a while…
5 Stories and other artsy stuff
There also will be tons of artisans and vendors. Some selling their wares, other plying their trade for the sport of it. There’s a lady who dances while she paints, an assortment of people who make traditional things in traditional ways and story tellers and role-players and just general merry makers.
Planning a vacation can be stressful. Especially if you’re going to Ocean City, because there’s so much to do here. With a seemingly endless array of accommodations, dining options and activities for the family and for a night on the town, it’s hard to know where to start.
You could just take it as it comes, which isn’t a bad idea for a day or two, but sometimes you want to be sure that the bushel of crabs you’re getting is from the best crab place in town, or that the hotel you’re booking is the best fit for your families’ needs. But don’t fret—we have guides for that! Here’s where you can find some of the best information on restaurants, lodging, entertainment and attractions in Ocean City, Maryland.
Click for Hotel Navigation You’re already here, so the search is just one click away. You can search by location and amenities. It’s easy to compare rates and availability plus there are deals to be had in every season. Ocean City is more than just hotels, you can choose motels or condo rentals if those suit you best.
The first step of planning your trip should probably be choosing a hotel that suits your needs. Whether you’re looking for an oceanfront view, proximity to the boardwalk or a simple motel (with a pool, of course), our guide will have you booked and ready to pack up the car in a heartbeat.
Prefer camping out to the luxuries of a hotel? There are plenty of places in and near Ocean City where you can pitch a tent or park your RV for the duration of your stay.
Green hotels are environmentally-friendly accommodations that utilize programs which save water and energy and reduce solid waste. You’re probably already familiar with one common green initiative-many hotels and motels ask that you hang your towel in the bathroom if you’d like to use it again or leave it on the bathroom floor if you’d like a new one.
You can have a terrific vacation and be environmentally-conscious at the same time—it’s really not that hard. Check out our page on green hotels and also be sure to utilize our forum for more info on being green in OC.
Restaurant Navigation Lots of people list “Dining Out” as one of the best aspects of vacationing. Often being in a new place tempts people to try new foods and to make an effort to expand their culinary cache by getting something they might not be able to get a home.
We’ve got plenty of guides to local restaurants—what are you in the mood for?
Every year, OceanCity.com readers vote on their favorite restaurants. Here are the most recent winners.
Bar & Nightclub Navigation Ocean City is a great bar town, here are the top six reasons you should start your bar search here: We have comprehensive bar listings that direct you to the place best suited to your mood.
Our readers vote annually on Ocean City’s best bars, too, which you can find right here.
Our bar guide can help you decide between a sports joint or a nightclub, and Shore Craft Beer is another great resource if you’re looking to taste the craft beer of the Shore.
Amusements Navigation If your idea of a great vacation consists of soaring through the sky on a giant Ferris Wheel, circling the track on goÂ-karts, jetting down a water slide or floating down a lazy river, screaming with others on a roller coaster, trying to score the big prize at the arcade, or putting your way around clowns and other silly distractions, you’re in luck because Ocean City, MD is home to pretty much every amusement and attraction under the sun.
You don’t need us to tell you that there’s plenty to keep you amused in Ocean City. From waterparks to mini golf, there’s a ton of fun things to do here—you just have to figure out what the kids (and adults) will enjoy the most.
We can tell you even more about kid friendly things-to-do right here.
You might think that the beach is self-explanatory, but there are actually a lot of questions that visitors have about our beach and ocean. Luckily, we have the answers. And if you’re one who enjoys fishing and boating on the Atlantic, here’s a page that can answer your questions in those regards. There’s even a handy guide to watersports, too.
Take a walk on the Ocean City Boardwalk to explore an iconic East Coast pedestrian thruway. The award-winning boardwalk is home to amazing hotels, fabulous restaurants, and attractions befitting a world class seaside resort. Along the boardwalk in ocean city you’ll find Trimpers Amusements, Thrashers Fries, Jolly Roger Amusements, Fisher’s Popcorn, Dolle’s Candyland, Kohr Bros.
Our boardwalk guide has information about the boardwalk’s landmarks, things-to-do, its rich history and all the lodging and dining exclusive to the boards. We even have a page about wheelchairs if you need to rent one while you’re in town. If you have any concerns about parking, check out our page here and for general information about the transportation in town, look no further than here.
The dog’s a member of the family too, and if you’re bringing them along on your trip, our pet guide can help you find pet-friendly hotels, restaurants, kennels, stores and more.
Day Trips Navigation In Ocean City, especially during the summertime, it’s nearly impossible to be bored. But even though there’s always something going on here in OC, the best way to see your vacation reach its fullest potential is to explore the peninsula a little bit and discover the beauty of Ocean City’s surrounding regions.
If you’re only here for the weekend, then you’ll probably just want to laze around the beach and hit up your favorite jaunts in town. But if you’re planning an extended stay in Ocean City, there’s a number of beautiful, charming towns within 20 minutes to an hour of downtown OC, and while not all of them have a boardwalk, Delmarva is rich with historic sites and natural beauty. Once you start to really explore the region, you may never want to leave!
Trying to save money? Who isn’t? This one isn’t so much a guide, but it is a super helpful place where you can get discounted gift certificates to enjoy your favorite restaurants, bars and amusements on the cheap.
There’s also no shortage of free things to do in Ocean City—you just have to know where to look. Here is a good place to start.
With all of its rich family tradition and breathtaking beauty, it comes as no surprise that many couples choose to tie the knot with a beach wedding in Ocean City, Maryland. What better way to tie the knot than surrounded by people you love under a warm sun with waves breaking in the background and a cool breeze blowing off of the gorgeous Atlantic Ocean?
What could be more picture-perfect than a wedding on the beach? Our weddings guide is a good jumping-off point as you prepare to tie the knot in Ocean City.
The 23rd Annual “Wine Festival on the Beach” will feature wineries from Maryland. Micro-Brewed Beers, Delmarva Cuisine, Quality Arts and Crafts, and Local & Regional Live Music will be focal points of this year’s event. General Admission is $35.00 at the Gate with valid photo ID required. Children ages 13-20 are $15.
Even when nothing’s going on in Ocean City, there’s plenty to do—but why not plan your stay to align with one of our famous festivals, fishing tourneys or holidays, which are always celebrated with much fanfare? No matter what time of year it is, it’s not hard to find something exciting going on in OC. Just sit back and enjoy the fireworks!
Check back here often, because we’re always updating and adding new guides to make your trip planning easier. And if you’re an Ocean City first-timer, here’s where you can find some general information about the town.
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. While it is a matter of debate which might be aesthetically the best, there’s something to be said for being the most popular. After all, if people like a place enough to try and have it named the Best of Ocean City, then whatever the place is certainly has something good going for it.
Of course you have your own opinions. Share them by voting for the Best of Ocean City:
Best Of Navigation 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. That means the 2018 Voting ends on Monday, May 28!
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. I can’t help it, I’m just hardwired this way I guess, but sometimes I just want to put the seafood fork down, roll my sleeves up, and dive wrist deep into a good basket of crispy deep fried chicken wings. For me wings are more than just some game day snack. I use them as a measurement for any bar claiming to have good food. If they can make a good wing, chances are the rest of the tavern menu will fall in line. However if you’re served something incinerated, or worse yet soggy, that’s a deal breaker. Good places to get wings should serve them crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, coated in an unbroken sauce made in house.
Wings take time to cook, and time in Ocean City is very precious for most people. So in an effort to expedite the process for you, I’ve listed my top five favorite establishments to find good quality wings. It should be noted: While it’s true that wings come in all flavors and variety really is the spice of life, I am a purest at heart. So, for the purpose of this article, I’m going to be focusing mainly on Buffalo style wings. Also worth mentioning is that I took many factors into account upon compiling this list such as location, hours of operation, service and atmosphere.
Number 5 – Smitty McGee’s
Located on Route 54 on Fenwick Island, technically it’s really not “in” Ocean City, but it’s certainly close enough to be included. This place has it all, great decor, efficient service, plenty of TV’s in just about every direction you could look, and of course excellent wings. Even on a day when they’ve been overly busy and understaffed, I’ve seen the wings still come out consistently fast, and cooked just right with a bright fresh tasting sauce. Pretty hard beat really. The only down side is the place does tend to get crowded, so a wait for a table is not uncommon during the summer months.
Number 4 BJ’s on the Water
Definitely one of the most comfortable places to dine in all Ocean City. We’ve ate in here with our kids after 9 O’clock at night while bands have been playing, and never once felt out of place. Most people when they think of BJ’s would automatically think on the lines of seafood entrees, and while that type of thought process would be right on the money, they also have a great selection of bar food munchies to go along with their traditional choices like the stuffed flounder, and their famous 12oz lobster tail. The wings are nice sized and are served up in very classical buffalo style sauce. When I order them, I usually add on the soup ‘n salad. I think they have some of the best Maryland Crab Soup that you’ll find in town, and when I pair this combo with the wings I feel like I’m eating a full meal.
Number 3: Kirby’s Pub
There’s a good chance you could drive right past this little gem tucked between Lombardi’s Pizza, and Liquid Assets. It’s small green and white sign seems to get lost in the 94th Street Plaza setting, and their neon beer signs, do little to help them stand out against the Candy Kitchen located right next door. Once you get past the camouflaged exterior you’ll find the decor inside to be pretty much what you’d expect in a small town neighborhood bar, rather than a tourist destination. Now don’t get me wrong, the place is clean, and the bartenders along with the rest of the staff are super friendly, but this isn’t the kind of place I’d take someone I was trying to impress with the ambiance. As the name suggest it’s a pub, plain and simple. Luckily for me I’m never trying to impress anyone, I’m just in search of great wings, and they certainly have them here! These aren’t breaded, they are fried up naked and come out exactly how you’d want a traditional wing crispy on the outside, and even though we are going with straight buffalo here, I have to tell you that their “Old Goat” (think hot mixed with garlic) sauce is the da-bomb diggity!
Over the last few years, Ocean City’s emerging craft beer scene has given rise to numerous breweries at and around the beach . From the nano-sized Backshore on the Boardwalk to Fin City hidden high in the rafters above Hooper’s Crab House to Burley Oak in Berlin which was rated “world-class” by BeerAdvocate , there are unique breweries cranking out craft brews for literally every type of beer drinker.
Number 2: Ocean City Brewing Co.
This place opened about two years ago under the thought process “We do it different.” I’m not sure that I agree with them, because every good brew pub I’ve ever went to has had one thing in common—awesome food! Gladly this place is no exception to that rule. The full menu lends itself to a family friendly atmosphere. Not only can you bring your children, but in the past I seen the owner’s kids working and busing tables here at their 56 Street location. It’s a unique establishment, and in my opinion a real asset to the resort. They seem to have an endless vision for the craft beers they brew, and of course what goes better with a tall cool draft than a basket of hot wings? The wings themselves are absolutely enormous, and the hot sauce they make here has a real tang to it, I’d be willing to take guess and say apple cider vinegar might be the secret ingredient, mostly because -as I’ve read on the internet- it’s a miracle product, and can do virtually anything.
Come have a brew with a view! These are the favorite words of those who work at The Frog Bar & Grill that overlooks the inlet and Assateague Island on the boardwalk. “The Frog Bar is a great place to sit and have a beer and relax…
Number 1: Frog Bar
Tucked away amid the inlet shops past the beginning of the boardwalk, you’ll find one of Ocean City’s best kept secrets – No, I’m not talking about the Frog Bar itself (everybody knows this place), I’m referring to their wings! You see, if you ask people in the know “where can I get a good burger?” inevitably they’ll answer back “The Frog Bar”. The answer is correct, but the problem is even if you’re sitting there gazing out over the inlet enjoying one of those big juicy burgers while thinking to yourself that “it simply just doesn’t get any better than this”, your world could suddenly be turned upside down by the bartender walking past you with an order of those steaming hot buffalo wings intended for another patron…and once that smell seeks out your olfactory glands – Forget about it! Next thing you know, you’re likely to find yourself second guessing your decision. Save yourself the grief. The obvious solution here is to heed The Outsider’s advice and just order both. After all, the saying is go big or go home, and these wings are huge, cooked to perfection, nice and crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, covered in a sauce that I’d personally take over the Anchor Bar’s any day of the week, plus the view here simply can’t be beat.
It breaks our heart to say it, but we’ve probably seen the last of 90 degree temperatures for 2018. That said, it still will get warm and there still are fabulous things to do at the beach. Why not give autumn a proper welcome and give the Indian summer a thankful sendoff by spending the sunny October days at the beach?
There’s nothing like Halloween in Ocean City. The bars are all hopping with costume parties and there are so many events for kids and adults alike that it’s worth one final trip. If you’ve got a condo, maybe plan to do your fall cleaning. If you don’t, take advantage of that rare time of the year when hotel rooms are inexpensive, parking is easy to get and the weather is still glorious. We put together a couple of suggestions for ways you can spend the Ocean City autumn before the cold sets in.
This year, we welcome you to a Fabulous 50’s Weekend! The only invitational preliminary for the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest will return with twenty of the world’s top ETAs competing for prize money and the chance to represent Ocean City in the 2018 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artists Contest.
For the last few years, the Elvis Convention at the Clarion has been growing in popularity. The event is quirky by its nature but it is the fun kind of quirky that makes people want to participate.
In addition to seeing plenty of Elvis impersonators, Elvis themed things to do throughout the weekend. Visit the festival site for more information.
Take a run on Boardwalk, pass Go, collect lots of cool memories
I made the turn from 33rd Street back onto Baltimore Avenue and for the first time in seven miles snuck a glance behind me. There was a runner turning from Coastal Highway, closing. I was clocking six and a half minute miles and while I was trying to pick up the pace, to kick it these final few miles, my legs were telling me otherwise.
The Seaside 10 Miler and 5K Halloween bash has become something of a tradition among local runners and running enthusiasts from around the region alike. It’s not just because the weather still is fair in October in Ocean City, but also because the event is build on a culture of fun. Running is only the half of it. Many people use it as an excuse to get one more day at the ocean in before the November chill and the holidays are upon them.
Sunset Park overlooking Assawoman Bay will once again be the setting for a fabulous Shore Craft Beer celebration of the local breweries who are producing world class beer. You can’t beat the beauty…
The annual OCtoberfest Shore Craft Beer Fest takes place 12:30-4:30 p.m. the last Saturday in October as a way of closing out OCtoberfest in Ocean City. Last year’s event set a new standard for what we have come to expect of both festivals and beers on the shore. In addition to having more breweries, the breweries themselves have taken things up a notch and will be on hand to answer your questions and discuss their beers. Â Kids and pets are welcome.
See how much OCtoberfest you can get your hands on
It breaks our heart to say it, but we’ve probably seen the last of 90 degree temperatures for 2017. That said, it still will get warm and there still are a ton of things to do at the beach.
Wander the beach with your kids
The Beach Maze is just one of the dozens of attractions along the beach to celebrate Halloween and the ensuing depth of autumn. The maze is free as are many of the other beachside attractions. There may not be many more sand in your toes weekends after this so it is critical to get all you can out of this last opportunity. Other family-friendly events include The Great Pumpkin Race on the Boardwalk at North Division Street and all the other OCtoberfest festivities happening around town the week of Halloween.
There’s a lot going on during the four-day weekend that is Sunfest. From the live music to the games to the shopping, sometimes you need to throw down a beach blanket and just chill out. That’s where the Kite Festival comes in. Walk just a few streets up the boardwalk and on the beach across from the Kite Loft you’ll see the tents, the spectators and, of course, the kites.
Sunfest’s high-flying sister festival is where you get to take a break from all the commotion down at the Inlet and just stare up at the sky. There’s also a number of games, candy drops, sport flying demonstrations and bubble art, but I prefer to lie in the sand and watch the colors swirling in the clouds. And take the occasional photo. Because on a year when Sunfest is actually sunny and there’s enough wind to keep the kites in the air, you’ve got to document the small miracle.
As you near the Kite Loft on 5th street, you’ll start to see the line of colorful tents set up in the sand.Outside the tents are lots of kites. Inside the tents are kite enthusiasts and even whole organizations of dedicated kite fliers. If you’re me, you might just have a mini heart attack thinking that a weirdly floppy and lightweight seagull has attacked your face, before realizing that it’s just a really, really realistic seagull kite. Let’s go fly a kite.The closer to the water, the better the wind power. Owl and mice kites propped up in the sand.Rain, shine or F.O.G., the F.O.G. Fliers will be at the festival with duck n’ crab kites in tow. Is it a dinosaur? A dragon? A My Little Pony? You decide.Animals, real and mythical, are always a common theme up in the sky.This octopus was trying his hardest to get up into the air, but he was sort of a fish out of water. Stick around this weekend, because there will be even more kites tomorrow?
Seagulls: if you frequent Ocean City, or pretty much any beach around the world, you probably hate them. If you’ve ever stayed at a hotel on the boardwalk, you might have found yourself awake before the sunrise thanks to their incessant squawking, or if you’re like me, they might have dropped you a surprise from the sky, like, three times at this point. They are the Ocean City Seagulls.
But as much as we complain about them, we actually need gulls, especially in a town like Ocean City that’s overrun with litterbugs. Seagulls–which, by the way, isn’t their scientific name but more of a catch-all for ocean-dwelling birds of the laridae family–are scavengers. In fact, the Greek translation of laridae is “ravenous sea bird.” Anyway, in between the boardwalk’s early-morning cleanings, seagulls scavenge up small, dead animals and organic trash (i.e. the errant Thrasher’s French fry) and keep the boards at least a little cleaner than they would have been otherwise.
You can count on finding flocks of seagulls wherever the action, and food, is.
Why are seagulls so loud?
That’s probably the biggest question for most understandably annoyed beach-goers (the exception being myself, whose biggest question is, ‘why is my head a moving target???‘).
Gulls communicate through sound, and the more you get to know their squawks, the better you can identify what in the world it is they’re screaming at us/each other. There are short calls and long calls, choke calls, anxiety calls, mews, mating calls, attack calls and departure calls. Their mating call is a distinctive ‘ew-ew-ew’ that you’ll hear frequently during the springtime, and samples of their various other calls can be found on Youtube if you want to be more specific next time you tell a seagull to shut up.
Baby seagulls hatch between early May and late July and gulls are very protective parents, which is one reason why they’re so exceptionally loud during the summer.
If a family of gulls seems to be nesting right outside of your condo or hotel room and waking you up with their squawks every morning, don’t just plug your ears and go back to sleep. Because gulls can spread disease, it’s best to keep them from nesting at your residence. First, make sure the outdoor area is clear of food and other trash and that lids are closed tight over garbage cans. If you can, employ a scarecrow of sorts in the space they’re nesting in–gulls especially stray away from bright, owl-like faces. Irritating noises, lights and smells are also a seagull deterrent, and if all else fails, a spray bottle of water is a humane way to shoo them off.
Can I feed them?
Yes! But please don’t.
If you feed a fry to one gull, you’ll end up with a swarm. You’ll annoy your neighbors. And you’ll make a big mess. If you absolutely have to feed the seagulls during your stay in Ocean City, do it in the early morning or evening when the beach is empty.
Boardwalk fare, like French fries, is also not a healthy choice for gulls. While the gull population of Ocean City is clearly booming, a diet of garbage and food scraps leads to smaller gull eggs and eventually fewer offspring altogether.
Delmarva gulls
This isn’t a comprehensive guide to every gull species on Delmarva (of which there are about 20), but a few of the species you’d be likely to find in Ocean City or on Assateague.
California gull
These gulls are more common in the pacific, but they can be found on Delmarva, too. These birds are white with a yellow bill and gray wings, with a wingspan of about 51″. They prefer eating fish, insects and eggs, but are also known for scavenging garbage and following farmers as they plow to catch the stirred-up insects.
Franklin’s gull
These gulls are small, with a wingspan of about 35″. They have black heads with white rings around their eyes, orange bills and gray wings with white borders and black tips. They’ve been spotted in Ocean City, but typically around lakes and marshes rather than the ocean.
Lesser black-backed gull
This gull is the one you’re most likely to see on the Ocean City beach and boardwalk, with its white head and underparts, gray wings, orange bill and a large wingspan of 53-59″. This gull species is actually most common in European countries, but their population is continuing to grow rapidly in North America.
Laughing gull
You might be able to guess where this gull gets its name from. The laughing gull is a medium-sized bird with a black head, gray wings and a dark red bill. They make large nests of grasses and seaweed along the shoreline, and have a wide, varied diet that consists of insects, fish, shellfish, crabs, garbage, boat refuse, Thrasher’s fries, mozzarella sticks and scraps they steal from pelicans and other seagulls.
There was once a time when Labor Day weekend marked the death knell of the summer season in Ocean City, Maryland. It marked the transformation from bustling tourist town to boring ghost town, and putting an end to the majority of excitement and activities as period of winter hibernation crept in. Simply put, those days are long gone and Ocean City now offers nearly as many amazing festivals and experiences in the fall and winter as it does between Memorial Day and Labor Day. If you think Ocean City is just for summer vacations, you’re wrong.
Check out these annual highly-anticipated fall festivals.
Labor Day may mark the end of summer in some places, but Ocean City, Maryland is not one of them. In Ocean City, summer is a state of mind that can’t be located on a calendar or constrained to certain months.
When Ocean City held the first ever Sunfest four decades ago as a way to delay the inevitable onset of winter, no one imagined it would blossom into the most popular festival of the entire year. Now well into its 40s, Sunfestcontinues its tradition of attracting thousands to town each fall for a weekend of national music acts, amazing food and great times with family and friends. And it’s free to attend (aside from headline concerts).
Wine on the Beach hasn’t experienced quite the longevity of Sunfest, but in its second decade, it’s asserted itself as a post-summer mainstay in Ocean City. As always, this year’s Winefest will feature dozens of the finest wines from the best local and regional vineyards and wineries for your tasting pleasure. In addition to locally produced libations, Winefest provides favorite local food vendors, handmade arts and crafts and live music to the Inlet parking lot.
Custom and classic cars, hot rods and trick trucks will be out in Ocean City this weekend for the 16th annual Endless Summer Cruisin’ event at the inlet parking lot and 40th Street convention center. Events kicks off Thursday with car shows, vendor showings and awards presentations and continue through Sunday, with more than 2,000 automobiles on the streets and on display.
Ocean City may be known for its widely popular car and truck shows throughout the summer, but its fall festival dedicated to cruisers, muscle cars, hot rods and trick trucks offers as much tire burning, engine revving excitement as its June and July counterparts. The Endless Summer Cruisin’ weekend (usually the first weekend in October) draws over 2000 classic cars and thousands more spectators for a weekend of car shows, national vendors, live music, celebrity meet-and-greets and parades along the Boardwalk each morning. It’s still unclear whether or not the combination of exhaust, custom paint jobs and celebrity appearances help extend endless summer, but they will certainly help you take your mind off of cold weather blues for a few days in early October.
Historically, Ocean City has always been a vacation destination for food enthusiasts–if your idea of a good meal is limited to crabs, pizza and bar peanuts. Thankfully, the Ocean City restaurant scene has been expanding greatly in the last decade, and the town’s Restaurant Week has gotten bigger along with it.
It breaks our heart to say it, but we’ve probably seen the last of 90 degree temperatures for 2016. That said, it still will get warm and there still are a ton of things to do at the beach. Why not give Autumn a proper welcome and give the Indian summer a thankful sendoff by …
The 35th Annual Ocean City Christmas Parade will march up Coastal Highway from Old Landing Rd to the judges at 120th St. The event will feature more than 50 units, including high school bands, horses, antique cars, colorful holiday floats, and more. Bring your chair and blanket and enjoy the day in Ocean City!
No matter how hard we try to delay it, winter eventually takes hold over the town. Rather than dwell on cold weather and short days, Ocean City celebrates with a 2 ½ month-long celebration known as Winterfest of Lights. From mid- November to January, Ocean City is covered in over 1,000,000 light bulbs and hundreds of eye-popping displays that bring thousands of eager onlookers to town. The amazing lights at Northside Park are one of the main attractions, but a ride aboard the Winterfest Express or a stroll down the Boardwalk allows you to see many unique holiday themed displays that have won national awards and recognition in past years. Words and pictures on a page cannot do the Winterfest spectacle justice; this is truly an event you must see for yourself to fully appreciate.
With numerous festivals and celebrations taking place after summer gives way to the colder seasons, Ocean City can be just as exciting after Labor Day as it is before. The fall and winter months are no longer a period of hibernation–they’re full of exciting experiences to keep you occupied until summer strolls back into town.
In 2005, the Art League of Ocean City hosted their very first Sand Castle Home Tour event to raise money for a newer, expanded Art League headquarters. Today, those headquarters stand as the Ocean City Center for the Arts on 94th street bayside, and the Sandcastle Home Tours are going strong in their 13th year.
The self-guided tour, taking place this Friday and Saturday from 9:30 to 4, features 10 beautiful Ocean City homes that ticketholders can visit as they please (although they can only visit each home once). It’s basically a weekend-long open house, except the homes aren’t for sale and each one seems more luxurious than the last.
And just as there’s a wide-ranging variety of lifestyles on the peninsula between the locals and tourists, surfer dudes and kayakers, crabbers and small business owners, there’s a wide variety of homes on the tour, too.
(All of them, of course, are beautiful–see above.)
“It’s everything from oceanfront condos to big family homes to bachelor pads and little cottages,” the Art League’s Executive Director Rina Thaler explained. “It’s a mixture, so people see the different ways that people live in this area.”
All of the homes are located in the Ocean City region, some right in town and others a bit farther out. One home, for example, is on the border of Fenwick. Three homes are located in Ocean Pines, the featured neighborhood of this year’s tour, about 10 minutes away from Ocean City proper.
To gain access to the homes you’ll need a tour book, which you can pick up at the Center for the Arts after purchasing a ticket online here. Then on Friday and Saturday as you visit each home, you’ll get them crossed off in your book.
“A lot of people like to go with friends and make a day of it,” Thaler said. “They stop and have lunch and plan their route. Couples do it together, sometimes friends.”
But no matter who you’re with, the Sand Castle Home Tour is a great way to make a weekend out of exploring Ocean City.
Each annual home tour is kicked off with a themed cocktail party. This year, the theme was Peace, Love & Art.So the party was verrry 1970s. Showing up to the tour in bell bottoms is not a requirement, but it’s definitely not a bad idea, either.
