Ocean City Guides Make Trip Planning Easy

Kristin
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Your guide to, well…guides

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.

Ocean City, Maryland Hotels & Motels – Book Your Hotel

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.

Accommodations 

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: Saving the planet one vacation at a time

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.

Going green

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.

Dining

Top Ocean City restaurants

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.

Whether you’re craving wings, sushi, crabs, an all-you-can-eat buffet selection or even sweet potato fries, our roundups can help you decide where to go. Some of them you can even access by boat!

Ocean City Bars

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.

Drinking

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- Ocean City, MD

Amusements Navigation If your idea of a great vacation consists of soaring through the sky on a giant Ferris Wheel, circling the track on go­-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.

Amusements

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.

Beach n’ boards

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.

A Guide to the Ocean City Boardwalk – Things to do in Ocean City MD

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.

Pets- Ocean City, MD

There are plenty of pet-friendly hotels in Ocean City. There also are several boarding opportunities and area attractions that will welcome your pets.

Pets

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.

Ocean City Day Trips & Fun Things to Do

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.

Day trips

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!

Discounts

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.

Have your dream beach wedding in Ocean City, MD

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?

Weddings

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.

Events – OceanCity.com

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.

Events

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.

This page was updated on 9/27/17. 

The best pizza places in Ocean City? You Tell Us

Tony Russo
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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:

The Best of Ocean City 2018 Voting is Now Open!

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!

The Outsider names his top 5 places to get wings

The Outsider
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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!

The face of Ocean City brewing has changed – OceanCity.com

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.

The Frog Bar & Grill at the Ocean City Inlet – OceanCity.com

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.
 
Sincerely, The Outsider.

This story was updated for clarity 9/26 — ed.



5 great ways to celebrate OCtoberfest in Ocean City

OceanCity.com
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This article was updated for 2018 events –ed. 

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.

Pay tribute to the King

Elvis Festival

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

The Seaside 10 Miler – OceanCity.com

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.

Take a beer tour of the area (all in one place)

OCtoberfest

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.  Kids and pets are welcome.

See how much OCtoberfest you can get your hands on

5 great ways to celebrate OCtoberfest in Ocean City – OceanCity.com

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.

Beach maze

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.

Flying high at Sunfest

Kristin
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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. 

Kite vendors
As you near the Kite Loft on 5th street, you’ll start to see the line of colorful tents set up in the sand.
Line of kites
Outside the tents are lots of kites. Inside the tents are kite enthusiasts and even whole organizations of dedicated kite fliers. 
Seagull kite
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. 
Kite vendor
Let’s go fly a kite.
Kite
The closer to the water, the better the wind power. 
Owl kites
Owl and mice kites propped up in the sand.
Fog fliers tent
Rain, shine or F.O.G., the F.O.G. Fliers will be at the festival with duck n’ crab kites in tow. 
Dragon kite
Is it a dinosaur? A dragon? A My Little Pony? You decide.
Kites
Animals, real and mythical, are always a common theme up in the sky.
Kite on the ground
This octopus was trying his hardest to get up into the air, but he was sort of a fish out of water. 
Kites in the air
Stick around this weekend, because there will be even more kites tomorrow? 

Garbagemen of the Beach: Ocean City Seagulls

Kristin
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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. 

Seagulls
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. 

Thrasher's French Fries
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. 

A laughing gull in flight.

Fall Festival Season Picks Up As Summer Winds Down

OceanCity.com
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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.

Sunfest

6 Things You Need to Know About Sunfest

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, Sunfest continues 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

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.

Endless Summer Cruisin’ 

Endless Summer Cruisin’ rolls into Ocean City – OceanCity.com

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.

Book online ocean city

Ocean City Restaurant Week 

4 reasons to eat, drink and be merry at Ocean City’s Restaurant Week

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.

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OCtoberfest

5 great ways to celebrate OCtoberfest in Ocean City – OceanCity.com

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 …

 

Winterfest of Lights

Ocean City Winterfest 2017! Celebrating 25 Years of Lights

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.

*This page was updated 9/22/17. 

Peace, Love & Sandcastles: the Art League’s 13th Sandcastle Home Tour

Kristin
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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.

Big house
(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.

Off-season entertainment: $5 Film Nights

Kristin
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Finding fun in the fall and winter

As evidenced by our last photo contest on Instagram (share your favorite #ocoffseason photo to win tickets to OC Screams), just because tourist season is over doesn’t mean there’s nothing left to do in Ocean City. 

The so-called “off season,” is, in my opinion, the best time to visit. Not just for the lack of traffic and the summer closeout sales, but the eerie desolation of the beach, boardwalk and Coastal Highway really speaks to my photographer heart (I’m also getting really excited for Halloween, if you can’t tell). 

But don’t let appearances fool you! There’s still lots of stuff going on here after the summer has ended and Beach Patrol has packed up their gear ’til next year. I hope to keep you updated on all the cool events that happen in Ocean City throughout the year, even when school is in session and the beach is covered in snow. 

Book online ocean city

If minimal traffic, cool-stuff-that’s-still-happening and discount hotel rates doesn’t inspire you to book an off-season trip to the beach, I don’t know what will. (And yes, before you ask, the boardwalk will still be open. The boardwalk itself is always open.) 

$5 Films

The first off-season entertainment that I want to talk about this year is very near and dear to my heart. In June, I helped produce Ocean City’s first film festival, and I’m happy to say that the OCFF isn’t going anywhere anytime soon–not even until the next festival season rolls around.

Every month (the second Saturday, to be exact), we’re hosting a series at the Art League of Ocean City called $5 Film Nights. It’s pretty self-explanatory: you show up to the Art League at 7 p.m. on a $5 Film Screening Night with $5 in hand (or not–it’s really just a suggested donation), and we’ll provide you with a film, usually made by someone who’s local to the Delmarva region, with a director Q&A session following the screening. 

It’s a fun time, there’s usually popcorn, and it’s a great opportunity to check out local art by Ocean City area natives. If not the film, then the paintings, sculptures, jewelry and other mediums that are always on display in the two galleries of the 94th street Center for the Arts. 

The film selection from month to month is pretty diverse, so if something doesn’t interest you one month, it’s always worth a check back to see what’s screening next. The first $5 film screened was Dan O’Hare’s comedy Rehearsal back in July; August was a sci-fi/mockumentary double feature; and September, a documentary about an ’80s metal band. 

October’s $5 Film Night, which falls on Oct. 23, will be a spooktastic screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show–an exception to our “always local” rule, because on Oct. 30, the Ocean City Film Festival will host a Halloween party at the Art League where local horror films are screened. Check the festival’s Facebook for forthcoming details on all $5 Film Nights and film festival events. 

9 stories that are totally Ocean City Boardwalk

Tony Russo
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Ocean City Boardwalk is special for lots of reasons. It’s a place people have nostalgia for, it’s a place kids look forward to visiting, and associate with summer and, for many of us, it was the place where we spent out late teenage years, playing at being grownups on vacation. We write about the OCean City boardwalk a lot here, because we’re kinda nuts about it. Here are the nine stories you guys seem to like the most as well.

Ocean City Night Photos

The Boardwalk at Night Photos – OceanCity.com

Nothing is quite as exciting on your summer vacation in Ocean City, MD than the Boardwalk by night. Here are photos of rides, lights, and the people and places that make your trip to Ocean City and the Ocean City Boardwalk so special.

Photo Adventure

Taking a walk along the Ocean City Boardwalk – OceanCity.com

The Ocean City Boardwalk is arguably like no other place on Earth. Sure, there are other boardwalks lining the shores of coastal cities around the world, but somehow, OC is just a little bit different – maybe it’s something in our sector of the Atlantic Ocean water.

Date Night

5 things to do on a Boardwalk date – Things to Do in Ocean City

The Boardwalk is the biggest tourist attraction in beautiful Ocean City, but its fun and quirky attractions can make it a memorable Boardwalk date! Who needs a $40 dinner for two when you can take your sweetheart on a stroll near the beach, anyways?

Open All Year

No, the Ocean City Boardwalk Doesn’t Close – What Is Open in Ocean City

We get lots of people asking whether the Boardwalk closes. The answer is no, not ever. The Ocean City Boardwalk is essentially just like a street it always is there to be walked upon and generally enjoyed. Although that hasn’t always been the case.

The Best of the Boardwalk

Best of the Boardwalk – Top Boardwalk destinations of 2017

Ocean City’s iconic Boardwalk is known for many things, especially its amusements. Beyond the amusements though, some of the best summer memories have to do with the sights, experiences, tastes and smells that make the boardwalk the boardwalk. Read on for a list of last year’s “Best of the Boardwalk” winners.

The Boardwalk has a Playground

New on the Boardwalk, the first Ocean City beach playground – OceanCity.com

The Ocean City beach playground is just the latest in a long tradition of free things to do in Ocean City. After months of anticipation Ocean City officially opened its first playground on the Boardwalk this week with the snip of a ribbon. The playground, which features three slides, monkey bars, a small ice cream stand …

The Life Saving Musuem is open all year

The Stormy Sixties at the Ocean City Museum – OceanCity.com

The Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum recently opened a new temporary exhibit paying tribute to “The Stormy Sixties”. This display focuses on events, lifestyles and growth of that tumultuous time. The 1960’s was a decade of change for America and a very memorable one for Ocean City, Maryland.

IT’s great for photos all year long

Take a Walk on the Boardwalk Photos

The 3 mile long Ocean City Boardwalk is the perfect place to go for a walk, never failing to entertain. The experience it brings can change depending on the time of day or the time of year, but no matter which season, or whether its morning ,noon or night, it is sure to be an enjoyable time.

It has a super-iconic ride that you didn’t even know was a rare find!

An interview with Ocean City’s biggest Haunted House fan

The Trimper’s Haunted House at the south end of the Boardwalk is as iconic as the teeth-barring bat that adorns the ride’s second story. For over five decades, kids and adults alike have fallen in love with the Ocean City Haunted House (OCHH)’s neon-painted walls, kitschy stunts and decapitated Count Wolf Von Vinderstein who guards the ride’s entry.

10 things to do during an Ocean City Autumn

Kristin
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The leaves are changing color, the summer crowds have thinned out and the sand is cold beneath your feet – it’s autumn in Ocean City. It’s the perfect time of year to experience everything the town has to offer, now with just with a slight chill in the air (and did I mention that the crowds have thinned out?). Summer may be the reigning season for free family activities, but there’s still plenty to do come fall. Why not book yourself a hotel room at an off-season rate and come enjoy the festivities many of which you can do with little expense?

Take a photo adventure on Assateague

An off-season afternoon on Assateague Island – OceanCity.com

Treating myself out to a day of photo adventuring for an off-season afternoon on Assateague. First off, because it is so nice to get out to the ocean, even when it is chilly. Second off, because it is a great excuse to parlay the day at the beach into a Happy Hour Adventure.

Sunfest

Celebrate the end of one season and the start of the next at Sunfest, an Ocean City tradition that’s over 40 years old. Enjoy live entertainment, local food and vendors, games for the whole family, and hopefully copious amounts of sunshine. Be sure to check out Sunfest’s Kite Festival while you’re there, and see hundreds of colorful kites soaring across the sky.

Say goodbye to summer at Sunfest

 

 

Treasure Hunt at the Beach

If you’re 18 or older, you can participate in this treasure hunt and dig up prizes like jewelry, diamonds, gemstones and gift certificates. Registration is free with a donation to Believe in Tomorrow’s Children Foundation.

Off-season entertainment: Ocean City Film Festival’s $5 Film Nights

As evidenced by our last photo contest on Instagram (share your favorite #ocoffseason photo to win tickets to OC Screams), just because tourist season is over doesn’t mean there’s nothing left to do in Ocean City. The so-called “off season,” is, in my opinion, the best time to visit.

O.C.TOBERFEST:

OCtoberfest

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…

Great Pumpkin Race
10/28

(Luckily, you don’t have to fit inside the racecar in order to race it.)

Ocean City Dog Playground – OceanCity.com

If you’re bringing your dog to Ocean City, you’ll want to make sure they have just as much fun on vacation as you do. The dog playground on 94th street is the only outdoor area within town limits where dogs are allowed off-leash on public property, and it’s also the only dog park within a 25-mile radius.

Build your own race car and then bring it to the boardwalk to compete in a festive downhill race, followed by an awards ceremony where prizes are awarded in each division for speed and creativity.

Halloween Spook-Out Party
10/29

Everyone loves a good spook-out. Bring the family (in costume!) for a day of hayrides, games and arts and crafts at Northside Park.

Costumed kids at Ocean City Recreation and Parks’ annual Halloween Spook-Out Party.

After Halloween, celebrate the holiday season a little early:

Winterfest of Lights
11/16 – 12/31

Ride the tram and “ooh” and “ahh” at all of the lights.

It’s never too early for Winterfest of Lights – this year, the show starts in mid-November, so after you grab a steaming cup of hot cocoa, hop in a trolley to see the elaborate light displays blinking along to classic holiday tunes. Admission is free for kids 11 and younger.

Light Up Downtown Festival

Light up Downtown Ocean City – OceanCity.com

Those of you who don’t know are welcome to swing by Northside Park or check out the photos of the annual Ocean City Christmas Parade, but you also might just take my word for it: Ocean City is really into Christmas. The people and institutions enjoy it as an event as much as as a holiday.


More lights! Plus vendors, tree lighting, kids’ crafts, games and prizes, gift drawings, and maybe even an appearance from Santa Clause himself.

Holiday Shopper’s Fair
11/24 – 11/26

Get your holiday shopping out of the way at the Shopper’s Fair, where you can find unique gifts for your family and friends or just come for the kids’ activities and a photo-op with Santa.

Details for these events, as well as a complete free and ticketed event listing, can be found here.

Sweet Potato Fries in Ocean City

Kristin
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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.  

The Globe

Setting the standard: The Globe in Berlin – OceanCity.com

I don’t remember enough about the “old” Globe to say much about it one way or another. I popped in once just around the turn of the century, knew immediately it wasn’t for me, and popped back out. I was in my 30s at the time, maybe my late 20s and pretty much everything about …


The Globe Theater and Restaurant is located in downtown historic Berlin. This gem, located about 5 miles from Ocean City, offers fantastic food and drinks in the dining room and at the Coppertop Bar in addition to live music, local art and a hundred-year-old atmosphere. You can find the sweet potato fries on the appetizer menu. Get a whole basket  for $5, and add a side of house made cheddar sauce or gravy to your basket of hand cut sweet potato fries for only $1.50.

The Greene Turtle

The Greene Turtle by the numbers: Happy Hour Adventures – OceanCity.com

Finding a bar with a sweet spot isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Some places can feel too loud, or too clique-y or too corporate, whitewashed of the natural charm that you expect in a dark tavern.


Long, salty and served with ketchup or honey mustard–that’s how the Turtle does their sweet potato fries. The Greene Turtle and their fries have been an Ocean City staple since 1976, when the now-famous chain’s first restaurant open, and today they continue to serve up deliciousness at their original location on 116th street and in West OC. 

The Shark on the Harbor

The Shark on the Harbor is located on the commercial fishing harbor in West Ocean City. The Shark offers a contemporary approach to American cuisine with Eastern Shore and southern influences, and they proudly feature local seafood purchased right from our docks in addition to locally grown, organic produce. Find the locally grown sweet potato fries on their “Lighter Fare” menu available at the bar. Your fries will be thinly sliced and served with ketchup.

28th Street Pit-n-Pub

In addition to mouthwatering fries, this casual pub makes excellent brisket sandwiches, ribs, BBQ and lots of sides. Get your BBQ straight from the grill between 11 and 2 a.m. daily. The sweet potato fries can be found on the menu classified under “sides,” and for only $3, you’ll get a basket of wedge fries sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. Happy hour starts at 1 and continues to 5 p.m. Beers are served in mason jars and will perfectly complement the BBQ, homemade favorites and array of side dishes.

Abbey Burger Bistro

This Baltimore burger joint has made its way to Ocean City, and so have its delicious sweet potato fries. Enjoy a classic cheeseburger or something more eccentric–bison burger, anyone?–after your appetizer, which could be anything from wings to fried pickles to alligator bites (that’s real, fried, house ground alligator). Just don’t forget your side of salty orange fries. 

Rippons Seafood

If you’re in the mood for a casual dinner or take out and crave an inexpensive side of sweet potato fries to go with it, Rippons is the way to go. For an extra $3.99, your crab cake, coconut shrimp or colossal clam strip can be accompanied by their delicious, fried side. Because what goes together better than sweet potatoes and seafood?  

This page was updated on 9/19/17.


Real estate remains hot near the beach

Joanna Laslo
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Even though summer is  historically a slower sales season,  the sales market in Worcester County was bustling. Most notably, in a study of properties that settled during July and August, we found buyers are paying 95%, or greater, of the asking price! Ocean City real estate sales are stable.

SOLD LISTINGS

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES SALES – JULY

The buyers of 77  properties located in Worcester County, settled on the purchase of their purchase of a  single family home (SFH) between July 1, 2017 and July 31, 2017.  

The average price of the homes that were sold was $297,063. while the average number of days listed on the local MLS (multiple listing service), prior to settlement, was 113.  The list price of these properties, on average,  was $308,349.   Especially relevant, this indicates the average buyer paid  96.33% of the seller’s asking price.

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES SALES – AUGUST

Eighty eight (88) SFH (single family homes) sold between August 1, 2017 through August 31, 2017,   with 105 days on the MLS.  The average sold price of these homes was $284,647.  The average list price for the August settlements was $295,964,.  These stats shows settled prices of 96.17% of the average asking (or list price) was paid.

Ocean City real estate sales
Barge Road Home for sale by Beach Real Estate, Inc.
www.ezsummer.com Listing by Beach Real Estate, Inc.

TOWNHOUSE AND/OR CONDOMINIUM SALES – JULY

Interestingly, the statistics for townhouse and/or condo properties sold are fairly consistent with the SFH market regarding the ratio of sales to list prices.  July 1, 2017-July 31, 2017 one hundred and six (106) town homes and/or condominiums settled . The average days on the MLS was 170 and the average sold price was $285,200. The average list price was $297,282, indicating an average of 95.93% of the   sold price.

 

TOWNHOUSE AND/OR CONDOMINIUM SALES – AUGUST

The month of August in 2017 saw ninety seven (97) townhouse and/or condos settled. These properties were, on average, 143 DOM, and an average sold price of $271,232. That equals 96.42% of the  average asking price of $281,297. 

 

ACTIVE LISTINGS

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

Currently there are four hundred and seventeen (417) single family homes are listed for sale in Worcester County with an average list price of $452,379 and  an average of 216 DOM.

TOWNHOUSE AND/OR CONDOMINIUMS

At this time there are seven hundred and nine (709) Townhouse and/or condominiums for sale in Worcester County.   The average list price for these properties is  $351,910 with 231 DOM.

There are fourteen (14) Short sales properties still available in Worcester County with an average asking price of $196,300.

Further, there are 32 foreclosures at an average list price of $227,450.

Please contact your local REALTOR for details on properties for sale, or for assistance listing your property for sale on our multiple listing service.

 

Green Hotels in Ocean City

Kristin
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What is a green hotel? 

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.

According to Project Planet, green hotels estimate that they save almost 200 million liters of water in one year. By reusing your bath linens while staying in a hotel, for example, you’re helping hotels save as much as 11-17% on water treatment costs annually.

Book online ocean city

Green initiatives 

In addition to encouraging guests to reuse towels before washing, some hotel chains urge customers not to demand fresh bed linens every day. By using the same bed linens during your entire stay, hotels can save on linens, detergent, water, utilities, laundry and labor expenses. Of course, sheets will be changed between guests, but using your sheets for a few days without changing them will help reduce water usage, utilities and supplies while on your vacation.

Another significant source of waste in hotels comes from the tiny complimentary shampoo bottles and bars of soap you’ll find in the bathroom. Reducing the waste of these disposable items can reduce the amount of plastic produced and discarded, as well as the amount of soaps that are manufactured. Some hotels are now using liquid soap dispensers by the sink as well as all-in-one conditioning shampoo and body wash in the shower, eliminating the abundance of plastic bottles and the waste of unused soap.

Most green hotels have signs or cards that you can use to let housekeeping know you don’t need your sheets cleaned yet.

Project Planet lodging in Ocean City 

Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel – 101st Street and Coastal Highway
Comfort Inn: Boardwalk – 5th Street and Oceanfront
Comfort Inn: Gold Coast – 112th Street next to the Gold Coast Mall
Comfort Suites: West Ocean City – 12718 Ocean Gateway in West Ocean City
Comfort Suites: Ocean City – 913 Atlantic Avenue
Holiday Inn Express & Suites – 126th Street and Coastal Highway
Holiday Inn Express & Suites West Ocean City – 12552 Ocean Gateway
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites – 1701 Atlantic Avenue
Holiday Inn Oceanfront – 66th Street and Coastal Highway 
Quality Inn: Boardwalk – 1601 Atlantic Avenue
Quality Inn & Suites: Beachfront – 3301 Atlantic Avenue
Sleep Inn & Suites: 11 North Baltimore Avenue
Econolodge: Ocean Block – 145th Street and Coastal Highway

The Park Place Hotel on Baltimore Avenue in Ocean City has taken the green initiative a step further. Park Place uses a solar hot water system, energy saving light bulbs and eco-friendly cleaning products. They also encourage their guests to reuse as many linens as possible and to recycle all that is acceptable. The hotel has a recycling area on-site where trash can be sorted before it is discarded, and there are even solar panels lining the roof of the building. If you’re interested, feel free to ask if you can see them! The Conners will be excited to see that you care as much about the environment as they do.

The next time you’re traveling to Ocean City, please consider staying at a Project Planet hotel. With the support of our local business owners, hotel/motel owners and eco-enthusiasts, we can make our community and our vacations greener.

10 pictures from Bike Week Day 1

Kristin
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Day One of Ocean City Bike Week isn’t even over yet, but I think it’s safe to say that this year’s four-day Bike Festival is a major success. At least in terms of the sheer amount of bikes on the road and the food trucks, vendors, live music and leather-vested patrons taking over the town. Let’s keep this weekend a major success by staying safe and being courteous on the road–I’m talking to bikers, bicyclists, drivers and pedestrians here. 

Anyway, if you’re still deciding whether to come down and see what Delmarva Bike Week has to offer, check out some of the sights from Day One, and do your best to imagine the smells and sounds that go along with it. Just close your eyes, imagine the sound of a live band covering Led Zeppelin songs, the revving of engines and the smell of hot dogs sizzling on the grill. 

Bike fest sign
There’s stuff happening all over town, from Hooper’s in West Ocean City to the Convention Center on 40th street, but most of the action today took place at the Inlet Lot.
Bike week
The sky alternated between dark and gray and sun-peeking-through-the-clouds, but the forecast for the rest of the weekend is sunny and warm.
Jack Daniels
Did somebody say Jack Daniels?
Band
…And did somebody say “guy that is the spitting image of Robert Plant performing in a Led Zeppelin cover band called Kashmir”? (They’re pretty good and will be performing every day except Sunday. Chevelle and Tonic will be playing on Friday, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet on Saturday.)
Vendor tent
Inside the indoor vendors tent.
Bike helmets
You’re not a real biker unless you’re wearing a pink sequined helmet. (Not pictured: a nearby table selling dream catchers made out of thongs.)
Hooper's bike week
Over at Hooper’s in West OC, the parking lot was totally infiltrated by bikes and more vendors.
Dogzzz
Probably one of the best pop-up shops in town was selling Harley gear for pups.
Bike week dogs
Because dogs are welcome at Bike Week, too.
Kites
A few streets down from the activity at the Inlet, crabs and pigs and other kites were up in the sky. If motorcycles aren’t your thing, Sunfest and Kite Fest are coming to close out the summer in Ocean City next weekend. See you then! 

Gateway Hotel and Suites, steps from the beach and worlds away

Tony Russo
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The lobby of the Gateway Hotel Suites, an Ascend Hotel Collection Member still was quiet a little before 8 a.m., especially for summer. Manager Carol Weigner explained that people still sleep in weekdays. Some men had been down early to sit in the lobby and enjoy one another’s company over a coffee, she said. Eventually they retreated back to their rooms and would return with the troops shortly, wives and kids and traveling companions. The groups would enjoy one of the best included breakfast in Ocean City and then meander across the street to begin their day on the boardwalk.

Just a short walk to the beach

This is a Facebook Live video I took the morning of the Fourth of July. I walked from the front door of the hotel all the way into the water.

 

It won’t be this quiet for long. Happy 4th!

Posted by OceanCity.com on Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Upping their Ocean City game

When Choice Hotels, the company that licensed the Sleep Inn that used to occupy this space, offered an the opportunity for the hotel to upgrade, Carol said it wasn’t a difficult decision. Being selected to join the Ascend Hotel Collection and committing to the higher standards that come with it was right in the hotel’s wheelhouse.
A renovation already was in the planning, so it just made sense to take the extra steps to improve both the hotel’s look and its standards.
“We wanted a more upscale hotel,” Carol said, “and they only pick one in every city.”
So in addition to refreshing the rooms, they added appointments that include name brand soaps and shampoos, Starbucks Coffee in every room, superior towels and linens and a standard of service that is a step above. They’ve expanded their parking to better accommodate multi-car families. Many of their employees have returned year after year for their entire careers. 

 

Bay views from the hotel’s quieter side make for excellent sunset watching. The other side overlooks the Ocean City Northbound strip.

Front Row Center on the strip

When the cars and bikes roll into town, there’s no place like the Gateway Hotel & Suites to take in all of the action. Just five blocks from the ferris wheel and a block of the Boardwalk, it is a fantastic staging area for the perfect Ocean City vacation.

As a hotel designed to cater to families, the Gateway Hotel is just the right distance from the boards. After a day in the sun and surf and an evening on the boardwalk, you can step back from the excitement a bit and take it all in. The bayside balcony rooms overlooking the pool make for just enough shelter from the Boardwalk revelry if you want to have a quiet evening staying up late and then sleeping in.

The spacious lobby is a great place to spend the morning lounging

Beach Vacation Base Camp

Did we mention there’s breakfast until 10 a.m.?

Families can load up on a filling, healthy breakfast before setting out for the day. Carol said that part of what appealed to her about the upgrades was that they were able to expand their already impressive breakfast. From fresh fruits to two different kinds of sausage, they provide the good nights sleep and the fuel to get you through a fun-filled day at the beach.

Two kinds of sausage, fresh eggs, waffles, the whole kit and caboodle.

Lounge by (or above) the pool

The pool is small but perfect for lounging in the evening, for a quick dip after lunch, or just generally if the ocean feels a little chillier than you like it.
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