It’s our first Photo Friday of the season! Our randomly-selected winner Kimberly, who submitted the Assateague pony photo below, has won a pair of tickets to Jolly Roger Amusements.
You could win, too — justsubmit your vacation photos here! We’ll compile them into a photoblog like this one every other Friday and pick a winner. (Even if you don’t win, you get to share your Ocean City pictures with the world!) Just remember, you must include your full name and email address in your submission in order to win.
Our next Photo Friday theme is Memorial Day Weekend. Submit your photos by May 30 and we’ll publish them to our site on May 31, and pick a winner to receive two Jolly Roger tickets, good for the entire 2019 season.
Photo Fridays are our way of celebrating you and the good times you have in Ocean City, and getting to give away fun, OC-related prizes is a major bonus. We’re excited to finally kick off the season with our first Photo Friday of the year, and we can’t wait to see all the incredible memories you make here this summer!
Cruisin OC sunset on the bay.It was in this moment sitting on the beach at Ocean City that I realized all my dreams had come true. Holding my youngest son, watching my oldest and my husband play in the water in the early morning hours. It was this huge epiphany. I could stop looking forward all the time, dreaming bigger, wanting more, because I already had it ALL. Everything I had ever dreamed of. Then I snapped this picture to remember the moment forever. Ocean city is a yearly destination for our family full of traditions and memories.One solitary wanderer keeping another solitary soul company through the sunrise.Cousins Cruisin’ in OCMDNora’s second bday
With Memorial Day Weekend fast approaching, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Mayor Rick Meehan have plans to bring back their now-annual ceremonial summer kickoff event.
The event first took place more than seven decades ago: in 1946, Maryland Gov. Harry O’Connor joined Ocean City Mayor Daniel Trimper Jr. to officially start the summer season in Ocean City by placing an umbrella in the sand. Now, almost 75 years later, Hogan and Meehan will reestablish the ceremonious event by placing the first umbrella of the season on Ocean City’s beach at Somerset Street on Friday, May 24 at 11 a.m.
During the event, Hogan and Meehan will provide brief remarks about the significance of the event and what this historic tradition means for Ocean City and the town’s visitors. Meehan will also speak about upcoming events and other highlights that vacationers can enjoy this year, starting this Memorial Day weekend.
Maryland Governor Harry O’Connor and Ocean City Mayor Daniel Trimper, Jr. ceremoniously kick off the summer in this colorized photo from 1946.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in coordination with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Worcester County, will host a public meeting to discuss two concurrent efforts: a project to address sediment accumulation in the Ocean City Inlet, as well as a study on the scour hole near Homer Gudelsky Park.
The meeting will take place May 30 at the Worcester County Library – Berlin Branch from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
The Ocean City Inlet navigation channel is regularly used by commercial fishermen, recreational boaters, the U.S. Coast Guard and others. The Corps removes material from the inlet through dredging two or more times per year in an attempt to maintain the channel’s authorized depth of 10 feet; however, it continues to fill in with material, creating concerns for navigation.
The Corps signed a project partnership agreement Feb. 14, 2019, with Maryland DNR and Worcester County for the “Ocean City Harbor and Inlet” navigation improvement project, which is 90 percent federally funded. The Corps will evaluate sediment transport in the inlet and recommend options to manage the shoaling to include structural solutions like jetties or channel modifications like deepening the channel in the inlet.
As part of the “Scour Hole: Beneficial Use of Dredged Material” study, which is 100 percent federally funded, the Corps and crews from the Corps’ Engineer Research and Development Center began work in 2017 to gather field data to better understand the approximately 50-foot-deep scour hole just northwest of Homer Gudelsky Park. Work included collecting sediment samples, deploying instrument suites, and mapping the region to obtain information about the movement of sediment in and around the scour hole. The scour hole is causing shoreline instability, foundation issues and compromising the rip rap along the shoreline.
Both efforts are being conducted through the Corps’ Continuing Authorities Program, which allows the Corps to partner with state and local partners for smaller water resources issues without the need for Congressional authorization.
From 6:30 – 7 p.m., there will be an open house in which participants can view posters, provide feedback and speak with project personnel. From 7 – 8 p.m., there will be a formal presentation to provide an overview of the projects, as well as open the floor for questions. The meeting will wrap up at 8:30 p.m., allowing attendees to again view materials and speak with Corps and state employees about specific concerns following the presentation.
The Fourth of July is one of the most popular holidays to celebrate in Ocean City, so it’s also one that requires ample planning ahead in regard to traffic, parking and finding the perfect spot to watch the fireworks.
Inlet parking rates on July 4
In previous years, the Town of Ocean City has charged a flat rate for Inlet parking on the Fourth of July. In 2019, a $5 per hour rate will take effect on the Fourth of July. Payment will be accepted as usual in the pay-by-plate kiosks located throughout the Inlet Lot.
Parking downtown
Parking rates remain $2 per hour as usual on downtown streets, though available parking spaces will be limited. Private lots offer additional parking – rates vary.
Getting around
Since parking downtown is extremely limited on the Fourth of July, we always recommend that visitors take the bus! Bus service is $3 to ride all day. The West Ocean City Park & Ride on Route 50 is just west of the Route 50 Bridge and offers free parking and $3 ride-all-day shuttle service to downtown.
Additionally, boaters should note that on the evening of July 4, the span of the Route 50 Bridge is typically closed to marine traffic at the usually scheduled 10:25 p.m. and 10:55 p.m. opening times. The Route 50 Bridge reopens for boaters at 11:25 p.m. on the evening of July 4.
Fourth of July 2019 events
Every year, Ocean City provides the best Fourth of July celebration on the Eastern Shore, with two fireworks shows scheduled on either side of town.
Downtown fireworks start at 9:30, preceded by a concert on the beach at 8 p.m. Bring your beach blanket and chair and watch the show from your spot in the sand. Similarly, live music in Northside Park starts at 8 p.m. and fireworks start at 9:30.
The Gateway Hotel and Suites on 1st Street and Baltimore Ave. is known for its prime location across from the beach, along with amenities like an outdoor pool and a free continental breakfast. Now, as of spring 2019, the Gateway is also known for hosting the second Ocean City location of an up-and-coming, family-run business.
Marisol’s Market & Cafe is a grab-and-go snack shop and general store that’s taking the Eastern Shore by storm this summer. While its second location just opened inside the Gateway, it was only last year that Kathleen Kropp opened the original Marisol’s on Sunset Island, the 37-acre bayside community off 67th Street.
“I personally live in Sunset Island all year round — there was a Dunkin Donuts that opened up on the outside of Sunset Island and I said, the only thing that could compete with a Dunkin Donuts would be a Starbucks, right?” Kropp said. “So I got in touch with Starbucks and they enabled me to do this.”
The Marisol’s in the Gateway Hotel will have the same hours as the hotel and serve Starbucks coffee, Boar’s Head deli sandwiches, ice cream, acai bowls, beer, wine and sundries that visitors might forget when packing for vacation. The cafe is accessible from the hotel’s patio and its lobby inside.
In addition to its Sunset Island and Gateway Hotel locations, there’s also a brand new Marisol’s in the Marina Bay Hotel on Chincoteague Island and one coming soon to the Cambria Hotel, currently under construction and slated to open in Ocean City in 2020.
Peeking into Marisol’s from the Gateway Hotel lobby.
“Marisol” in Spanish, translated literally, means “sea and sun.” The business was christened Marisol’s by Kropp’s daughter, Kimberly Freund, who helps Kropp run the family business with her daughter, Hannah Freund.
“I think Marisol’s is a great concept that works for any community or hotel because people always forget something that they might need,” Kropp said. “If you’re in a hurry, we have the grab-and-go, and it’s just so nice.”
In addition to Marisol’s Market & Cafe, Kropp and her daughter Kimberly own Sanibel’s Oceanside 32, a restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine, which also opened its doors this spring. Sanibel’s Oceanside 32 is located in the La Quinta Hotel on 32nd Street, and a second location will open in Sunset Island on May 24.
[promos][promo name=”Gateway Hotel & Suites” business=”11 Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, MD” img=”https://www.oceancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/1606_gateway10.jpg” link=”https://www.oceancity.com/hotels-and-motels/gateway-hotel-and-suites-ocean-city/” cta_text=”Book Now” small_img=”true” top_border=”1″]The Gateway Hotel & Suites (formerly the Sleep Inn & Suites) is located in the heart of Downtown Ocean City, just a block from the beautiful beach and famous Boardwalk. Each room has TV, refrigerator, coffee maker, hair dryer, and iron and ironing board.[/promo][/promos]
Memorial Day Weekend is pretty big in Ocean City, but the weekend preceding it is not to be overlooked: Thousands of classic cars and hot rods arrive in town on Thursday, May 16 to celebrate the warm weather and an early start to the summer season. It’s Cruisin’ Ocean City weekend!
New in 2019 is the Cruisin’ Car Corral, to be held inside the Convention Center. Catherine Bach, otherwise known as Daisy Duke from Dukes of Hazzard, will make appearances throughout the weekend to celebrate Cruisin’ and the 40th anniversary of the Dukes of Hazzard, and as usual, Boardwalk parades will kick off Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings when the cars cruise south from 26th Street all the way to the Inlet.
If you’re driving through town this weekend, use extra caution — starting on May 14, Coastal Highway is designated a Special Event Zone, which means reduced speed limits and increased fines for violators.
Besides perusing all the hot rods and attending the Cruisers’ early-morning Boardwalk parades, there are other special events happening in town, including a Joe Diffie concert and International Museum Day at the Life-Saving Station Museum. Geek out at all the cool cars, and then geek out for Ocean City history when the museum offers free admission on May 18.
Memorial Day Weekend will be here before you know it, but until then, we’ll be celebrating the season a little early in our cruisers.
Last week’s news
Punkin Chunkin’ in Ocean City? It’s more likely than you think. Delaware’s famed pumpkin hurling contest could be moved to OC, if the logistics can be worked out.
Punkin Chunkin is a decades-old tradition in southern Delaware, started by some guys who had too many leftover pumpkins after Halloween and decided it’d be fun to see who could launch one the farthest. A small field in Lewes eventually gave way to bigger fields in Sussex County until an accident in 2016 put the event on pause.
The Hampton Inn & Suites in West Ocean City is officially open for its first season ever. The grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Tuesday, May 14!
West Ocean City’s business boom continues with the brand new Hampton Inn & Suites, which will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 14. The Hampton Inn takes the place of the old Wheels of Yesterday Museum, sandwiched between a Dumser’s and Comfort Suites and with the White Marlin Mall a hop, skip and a jump across Ocean Gateway.
This Week in OC
Cruisin’ Ocean City (May 16 – 19): Cruisin’ OC features over 3,400 hot rods, customs, classics, street machines, muscle cars and more. Live entertainment, celebrity guests, special attractions, boardwalk parades, manufacturers vendor midway and more. Admission. Don’t miss the FREE Boardwalk Parades on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m.
Lots of car shows and vendors will be taking place at the Convention Center Parking Lot and the Inlet Parking Lot, plus several more car shows will be taking place at various business locations in and around Ocean City.
Joe Diffie with Special Guest Jackson Dean (May 16): Joe Diffie will be performing at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center on May 16th. The doors open at 7:30 and the show starts at 8 p.m. Diffie has had hits including “Home,” “Pick-up Man,” “Third Rock from the Sun” and “John Deere Green.”
Spring Cruisers in Berlin (May 18): Classic cars and cruisers line the streets of Main Street Berlin.
International Museum Day (May 18): The Ocean City Life-Saving Museum will open its doors for FREE on May 18th, as part of International Museum Day.
Enjoy all this gem of a museum has to offer including the Boardwalk of Yesterday, the Aquarium Room, and the story of the Life-Saving Museum. Well worth a visit!
Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) is looking for volunteers to participate in the Annual Diamondback Terrapin count from May 28 through June 1.
The diamondback terrapin is Maryland’s state reptile and the mascot for the University of Maryland, but its current population status in the Coastal Bays is poorly understood. In an effort to better understand its status, both organizations coordinate annual counts.
Trained volunteers will conduct these surveys throughout the week of May 28 through June 1. Those who are interested in becoming a trained volunteer to conduct surveys should attend training classes, which will be held at the MCBP office on Monday, May 13 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Sunday, May 19 at 2 p.m. and Wednesday, May 22 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. RSVP to Katherine Phillips at kphillips@mdcoastalbays.org if you would like to attend. The class will take place at the Maryland Coastal Bays Program office, located at 8219 Stephen Decatur Highway Berlin, Maryland.
The surveys will take place in the Coastal Bays, including brackish-water creeks, throughout the designated week. Counts take place both on water and on land. From motorboats to kayaks and SUPs, all are encouraged to participate.
Terrapins are the only turtle occupying brackish water, but other turtles, such as snapping turtles, may venture into more brackish water, so it’s important that volunteers are trained to identify the correct species.
Locations of surveys will depend on the number of crews that are available and may take place in all of Maryland’s Coastal Bays. Those whp are interested in participating in the survey should contact Katherine Phillips at kphillips@mdcoastalbays.org or by calling 410-213-2297 ext. 109.
MCBP is a 501 (c) (3) consensus non-profit dedicated to working with the public to protect the bays behind Ocean City and Assateague Island.
West Ocean City’s business boom continues with the brand new Hampton Inn & Suites, which will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 14.
The Hampton Inn takes the place of the old Wheels of Yesterday Museum, sandwiched between a Dumser’s and Comfort Suites and with the White Marlin Mall a hop, skip and a jump across Ocean Gateway.
The hotel falls under the growing portfolio of PiNNacle Hospitality Group, which also includes two hotels on Chincoteague Island in Virginia, the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson in North Ocean City and the currently under construction Cambria Hotel on 309 N. 1st St., slated to open in April 2020.
“You’re close enough to the beach to go to the beach if you want to, but you’re also centrally located,” said Renee Seiden, Regional Director of Sales for PiNNacle Hospitality Group. “There’s shopping across the street with the Ocean City Outlets, the new movie theater that’s coming, you’re close to Assateague and close to the fishing center. You’re also close to the golf courses and the casino is fairly close by, and you’re close to Berlin.”
The 83-room hotel is decorated with vintage photography prints and accented with bright pops of color in its common areas and guest rooms. It features amenities including an indoor pool, fitness room and business center but is still relatively small in size, which Seiden considers a major asset.
“It’s a super cute little hotel and it’s very personal,” she said. “It’s not like going to a big hotel where you just check in and check out. Here, people will recognize you and remember you, and they’ll know your preferences.”
Immediately upon entering, guests are greeted by the hotel’s friendly staff and the writing on the walls. Welcome to the crab state!Creative touches throughout the space make it unique. Even the room numbers are accompanied by art.Rooms are spacious and modern in design.And the views are a little different than what you’d expect in Ocean City. How often do you look out an upper-story window and see woods?The Hampton Inn accommodates all kinds of guests, from families to business travelers.The indoor pool won’t be empty for long.Outside, tables, chairs, cushioned benches and lounges provide a space for guests to eat their breakfast outside, or relax and think about what they’re going to order at Dumser’s next door.
[promos][promo name=”Hampton Inn & Suites” business=”12708 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City, MD” img=”https://www.oceancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/3899_Hampton-Inn-WOC.jpg” link=”https://www.oceancity.com/hotels-and-motels/hampton-inn-suites-ocean-city-west/” cta_text=”Book Now” small_img=”true” top_border=”1″] Welcome to our new Hampton Inn & Suites Ocean City West, located just across from the Tanger Outlets and minutes from the Ocean City Beach and Boardwalk. Discover fun and thrills for all ages at one of the many amusement parks along the pier or explore the natural beauty at Assateague Island National Seashore.[/promo][/promos]
According to Vacasa, a Portland, OR-based vacation rental company, Ocean City, Maryland is the #7 best place to buy a beach house in 2019.
The Top 10 report is based on local markets’ aggregate cap rates, or the ratio of a property’s net operating income over its cost. Vacasa said they determined net operating income by calculating gross rental income for each market, then subtracting each market’s average operating costs and dividing those figures by the historical costs of buying a vacation rental.
Ocean City’s cap rate was determined to be 5.4%; the median home price is reported as $285,900 (Zillow reports a median sale price of $262,700), and the median annual gross rental income $30,769.
Vacasa additionally cited some of Ocean City’s most famous amenities including the beach, boardwalk and arcades, saying:
Swimming, sunning, and socializing near the Atlantic have put Ocean City on “best beaches in America” lists for years. In addition to hitting the sand, travelers can enjoy an expansive, three-mile beachfront boardwalk that’s home to local shops, restaurants, amusement parks, and arcades—all accessible by foot or bike. Those who are seeking a bit more action will find it. Surfing, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing are all available in Ocean City. Vacation home buyers in this market should keep one thing in mind: water. While Ocean City has a diverse inventory of vacation homes, being near the ocean or the bay is key in driving bookings. Can’t swing it? A pool or boardwalk access will help increase your stays.
Ocean Shores, WA ranked #1 on the list, followed by Myrtle Beach, SC and Florida’s Panama City Beach and Santa Rosa Beach.
If you’re in the market for a new beach house, you may want to consider Ocean City!
Ocean City Vacation Rentals and Condos Vacation Rentals Navigation Renting a house or condo in Ocean City Bayside condos with balconies overlooking the most beautiful sunsets. Fully-furnished beach houses just steps away from the sand. Single rooms and two-story apartments, downtown quarters and uptown havens.
If you’re looking to do something super-special for your mother this upcoming Mother’s Day (that’s Sunday, May 12 — write it down!), and a weekend trip to Ocean City is feasible for your family, do it!After all, what better way to celebrate mom than by taking her to her favorite place in the world?
Before we get into the specials and deals that are being offered around Ocean City this Mother’s Day weekend, here’s a handy list of free, fun things to do with mom to show her you care.
Catch the sunrise on the beach. That’s the most perfect way to start the day, after making her breakfast in bed, of course.
Then go for a walk on the Boardwalk and buy her a bucket of caramel corn. (I would suggest Thrasher’s, but somehow Fisher’s popcorn seems more like a Mother’s Day treat than fries do. To each their own.)
If you’d rather sleep in and catch the sunset, take an evening stroll at Northside Park, and stop and smell the flowers while you’re there.
If you’re coming to town early and looking for something to do on Friday, take an Art Stroll in Berlin, Md., and listen to live music at their Reggae Play Day downtown.
The more free activities you take advantage of, the more you’ll be able to spend on lodging and food. Here are some of the best specials in Ocean City to help you celebrate Mother’s Day By the Beach.
Where to Eat on Mother’s Day:
At Longboard Cafe, moms get a free mimosa, Bloody Mary or glass of wine.
Mad Fish Bar & Grill will be giving moms their first mimosa on the house, with $2 refills.
The Skye Bar will open at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, serving their full menu all day along with a $20 whole lobster special for moms.
Residents and visitors are invited to enjoy a cup of coffee with Ocean City Police Department officers at Denny’s, located at 6104 Coastal Highway.
“Coffee with Cops” will take place Wednesday, May 15, 2019, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Attendees will have an opportunity to chat with OCPD leadership and patrol officers as they enjoy a cup of coffee. This community policing event is a partnership designed to bring together police officers and the communities they serve.
“The Coffee with Cops events continue to serve as a great way for us to meet more community members and build relationships,” commented Police Chief Ross Buzzuro. “We sincerely thank Denny’s for their partnership and we are looking forward to a great turnout.”
An exhibition entitled “The Enslaved at Rackliffe House and Worcester County, MD: A Local Story,” opens to the public at Rackliffe House near Assateague Island National Seashore on May 21.
The exhibition covers topics including The Middle Passage, Growth of the Slave Economy, Resistance to Slavery in Worcester County, Methodism and African-American Life, and the US Colored Troops. It includes images as well as two cases of artifacts, one of which displays pieces discovered during an archaeological dig on the Rackliffe property.
“The full story of Rackliffe House cannot be told without a historically accurate portrayal of all the people who lived here,” said Ed Phillips, Jr., President of Rackliffe House Trust. “2019 is a timely occasion to open this show as it marks 400 years since the first African came to the Americas.”
Public and private records, as well as archaeological evidence, show the vital role that African Americans played in Worcester County. They were the economic engine that helped to create and sustain the wealth of 18th-century estates like this one.
Even if you don’t know precisely what you’re looking for, it is easy enough to find the Rackliffe House as part of a larger exploration of the Assateague Island Visitor Center. The house once was part of a plantation tract that took up much of the surrounding area, but time and fortune weren’t particularly kind to the house, nor to the family that founded it.
Rackliffe House was built in the 1740s by Captain Charles Rackliffe, a wealthy seaside merchant-planter who owned 18 slaves. Their names are listed individually around the top of the exhibition’s walls.
This exhibition covers the time from the colonial period until about 1870. It also tells a local story, focusing on Rackliffe and neighboring estates in Worcester County. Many of the names encountered in this exhibition (i.e. Purnell, Jacobs, Ayres, Jones, Derrickson, Henry, and Fassitt) remain in the area today, although the spelling of names varied over the years.
“The role which African Americans played is told through records that speak for themselves to explain the lives and workways of the enslaved in the Sinepuxent area of Worcester County,” said Dr. Ray Thompson, former director of the Edward Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture and curator of the exhibition.
Thompson and the exhibition committee were assisted in planning the exhibition by historian Dr. Clara Small, Professor Emeritus at Salisbury University, and leaders from the local African-American community including Barbara T. Purnell and Rev. David Briddell and his wife, Jane.
Rackliffe House Trust has planned a series of talks and lectures in relation to the exhibition. Dates and speakers can be found on at www.RackliffeHouse.org.
This exhibition has been financed in part by the Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council (LESHC), a certified Maryland Heritage Area through Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, whose purpose is to preserve, protect and promote the historical, cultural and natural heritage of Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore. Additional support was provided by The Humphreys Foundation, Inc., the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Worcester County Tourism Department and individual donors
Historic Rackliffe House is located at 11700 Tom Patton Lane behind the Assateague Island National Seashore Visitor Center. Guided tours are available on Tuesdays and Thursday from 1-4 p.m. from May 21- October 31 and Sundays 1-4 p.m. from June 2 – September 1. Admission is $5 adults, $3 Active Military, and $2 children. For more information visit Rackliffe House’s website or email RackliffeHouse@gmail.com.
This week’s title, “A Return to the Outdoors,” is inspired by all the events happening outside this week, from Spring Movie Night in the Park to the first Eastern Surfing Association surf contest of the season, along with Berlin’s Reggae Play Day fest and their 2nd Friday outdoor art stroll. When was the last time we had so much to in the fresh, open air? The weather forecast for this weekend is currently looking a little questionable, but if it’s anything like the Springfest weekend we’re now coming out of — a not-too-shabby start to the season! — then we’ll be just fine.
Watching the bands perform at Springfest 2019.
Last Week’s News
Whale sighting! A humpback whale was caught and then freed on Thursday, May 2, after it was caught in a commercial fishing net near Ocean City. The Salisbury Daily Times reported that three officers, Ocean City firefighters and a “good Samaritan” worked to cut the netting off the 40-foot whale in the waters near 12th Street.
CLOSE A whale was rescued and freed Thursday evening after it was caught in a commercial fishing net near Ocean City waters, but netting material still remains on the aquatic mammal, according to Maryland Natural Resources Police. National Aquarium officials believe it to be a humpback whale.The whale’s mouth, pectoral fins and possibly its tail were entangled in the gill net.
The OC Bay Hopper is open for the season and ready to take travelers all over Ocean City, from its northernmost reaches into Delaware, all the way down to the Inlet and everywhere in between. The water taxi also moonlights as an activities charter, taking families on crabbing trips and scenic fireworks cruises, and is available for rent, too.
The OC Bay Hopper is an Uber of the ocean, designed to shuttle passengers along Ocean City’s back bays from the northernmost reaches of Ocean City all the way down to the Inlet and Assateague Island.
Ocean City was ranked the #7 place in the U.S. to buy a beach house in 2019. We personally think it should be #1, but Vacasa’s rankings were determined by aggregate cap rate — the ratio of a property’s net operating income over its cost. If you’re in the market for a beach rental, consider Ocean City.
According to Vacasa, a Portland, OR-based vacation rental company, Ocean City, Maryland is the #7 best place to buy a beach house in 2019. The Top 10 report is based on local markets’ aggregate cap rates, or the ratio of a property’s net operating income over its cost.
This Week in OC
Spring Restaurant Week (til May 11): Come to Ocean City for Restaurant Week and have the opportunity to try new restaurants from fixed price menu options. They may offer a $10, $20, $30, or $40 fixed menu. Dining options range from the clean and simple to fine dining. The chance to try new food or dine at your favorites for a great price is so popular that we highly recommend making a reservation in advance. Don’t miss out on Ocean City Restaurant Week!
Ocean City Community Health Fair (May 7): Atlantic General Hospital is bringing you a FREE health fair which will include free health screenings – carotid, lipid profile, respiratory, bone density, skin cancer, hearing & much more!
Red Doors Spring Cabaret: Painting the Stage (May 8): Visit the Performing Arts Center for “Painting the Stage, a Red Doors Spring Cabaret.” Tickets are $10, and showtime is 6PM, with the doors opening at 5:30PM at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center.
Spring Family Movie Night in the Park (May 10): Come join us for a FREE night of family fun! Ocean City Recreation & Parks will show a family appropriate movie at Northside Park on a giant projection screen. The movie will begin shortly after sunset.
Beachfest Volleyball Festival (May 11-12): Come to Ocean City for the fun, competitive indoor volleyball tournament. This tournament originated in Ocean City with 40 teams and has exploded in popularity over the past three years growing toover 224 teams in 2018. Expanding to Salisbury and Snow Hill to accommodate the popularity, we try and keep our Ocean City roots in mind by allowing each team to play in Ocean City one of the two days.
Delmarva ESA Surf Contest #1 (May 11): The Eastern Surfing Association is dedicated to the sport of amateur surfing, to the operation of a program of amateur competition for surfers of all ages and abilities, and to the establishment and preservation of free access to a clean shoreline and ocean environment. It was founded in 1967 by East Coast surfers to promote, preserve, and protect the sport of surfing on the East Coast.
Fight the Bite 5k (May 11): Join us on the Boardwalk for the 3rd Annual Fight the Bite 5K Run/Walk. This is a fundraising event providing information and prevention on Lyme Disease while educating the public about the short and long term effects of an illness that is indemic in Worcester County. The Fight the Bite 5K will begin and end on the boardwalk near the Inlet Parking Lot. Registration, stage, and festivities will be set up adjacent to the south west tram station.
The Rat Pack Together Again (May 11): The music that inspired and thrilled an entire generation! This is a fabulous night of music and song. Frank, Dean, and Sammy will be performing with their 8-piece Big Band Swingtopia, singing their great songs and performing their comedy sketches. The Rat Pack Together Again brings these characters to life before your very eyes.
This Week in Berlin
Reggae Play Day (May 10): Come to Berlin and listen and watch a variety of bands perform, including live reggae music from Zion Reggae Band and 9 Mile Roots! There will also be FREE bingo with prizes hosted by Ocean 98’s own Stevie Jay and DJ Magellan, food vendors, and a Beer Garden to complete this great evening.
2nd Friday Art Stroll in Berlin (May 10): Take a stroll through downtown Berlin and check out the town’s featured artists in their local shops and restaurants. Each month is unique, but you’ll always find great art!
When’s the last time you visited America’s Coolest Small Town? Not just drove through or stopped in for lunch, but really took the time to explore Berlin? If it’s been awhile, this May just might be the perfect time to rediscover the quaint, historic town, 10 miles from the beach and in the center of all of Worcester County’s natural beauty and charm.
 Berlin, Maryland Welcome to America’s Coolest Small Town Berlin, MD Navigation The town of Berlin, otherwise referred to as ‘America’s Coolest Small Town,’ (see below) is just 10 miles from the beach, but it’s more than a tourist destination for sunshine and summer fun.
Take the day, the weekend or an entire week-long vacation to stroll downtown and see the new boutiques lining Main Street; enjoy a meal at a beloved local restaurant like The Globe or Rayne’s Reef; take in the history and old-fashioned atmosphere of the Atlantic Hotel; and attend one of the fantastic annual events happening this May in Berlin.
See some art while you’re in town, too- the Worcester County Arts Council is based in Berlin, along with several galleries, including the upstairs of The Globe! (The restaurant’s downstairs dining room also features local artwork, pictured here.)
Jazz and blues? Wine and brews? Yes, it’s all happening in Berlin on Saturday, May 4, when jazz and blues musicians take to two stages in Berlin and provide the soundtrack to shopping Berlin’s quaint downtown shops and the craft vendors throughout town. There will also be food vendors, a beer garden and 60 different wines from around the world available to taste for $35. Admission to the festival is free.
“Can’t make it to Jamaica this year? No problem mon… We’ll bring Jamaica to you!” It’s all about the music on Reggae Play Day, where Jah Works and the Zion Reggae Band will be performing. Sponsored by Ocean98, Reggae Play Day also features food vendors, wine and a beer garden.
Classic cars and cruisers line the streets of Main Street Berlin during this annual Cruisin’ event. Come see all the retro cars and hot rods on a beautiful spring day in America’s coolest small town.
Begin celebrating Memorial Day a day early at Berlin’s Memorial Day at the Monument event, where a ceremony to honor our veterans will be held at the Veterans Monument on the corner of West and Main Street. Sponsored by the American Legions.
Stick around Berlin for the weekend and attend the Memorial Day Parade at Henry Park! The parade begins at 11 a.m. at Stephen Decatur Middle School and features cars, bands, dancing and music. The parade will march down to Henry Park, where music, vendors, food and games keep the celebration going until 5 p.m. Sponsored by the Berlin Community Improvement Association.
The OC Bay Hopper is an Uber of the ocean, designed to shuttle passengers along Ocean City’s back bays from the northernmost reaches of Ocean City all the way down to the Inlet and Assateague Island.
Like an Uber, passengers can use an app to hail the boat from a number of waterside locations across the peninsula; unlike an Uber, the Bay Hopper can coast along from bayside restaurant to restaurant, or sandbar to sandbar, without hitting the slightest hint of traffic. The only nearby drivers are on jet skis or boats of their own, and the lesser-seen views of Ocean City that the water taxi provides from the Assawoman Bay are unparalleled.
The Bay Hopper officially opens for the 2019 season the first weekend of May. It’s headquartered in North Ocean City on 118th bayside, where its kiosk and departure canal are both located.
“There’s not much up north here within walking distance of all the high rises — there’s not really many attractions up here,” said Steve Butz, one of the Bay Hopper’s four owners. “This is a place where people can get out on the water and have some fun.”
Butz owns the Bay Hopper with his brother, David Butz, and their business partners, Adam Douglass and Jeff Mason. Two of the owners are software developers, who used their tech skills to design and build the OC Bay Hopper app.
2/4 Bay Hopper owners, Steve Butz and Adam Douglass, stand in front of the boat.
On the app, users can choose locations to “hop on” or “hop off” the boat, as far north as Smitty McGee’s in Selbyville, DE and as far south as Assateague Island.
“There are 25 bars and restaurants that are on the bayside here in Ocean City,” Butz said. “The idea is to drop people off at any of them.”
In addition to providing an on-demand water taxi service, the boat can also be booked for private events like bachelor and bachelorette parties, and it can take passengers on “experiences,” which include hands-on nature activities for kids and crabbing expeditions down to Assateague, sunset cruises, and on-the-water viewing parties of Ocean City’s weekly summer fireworks.
The OC Bay Hopper embarks on a sunset cruise.
The two Bay Hopper boats will pick up passengers from bayside locales and private peers and also shuttle people from downtown on a daily fixed schedule. A pier at the Island Village at Lost Lady Beach next to Sunset Park serves as the downtown drop-off point, where passengers are carried to and from the Bay Hopper’s North Ocean City kiosk.
Right outside the kiosk, which is adjacent to the 118th Street Food Lion, a little man-made beach borders the canal. The sandy sliver is currently an empty, open canvas, but it’ll soon be equipped with cornhole and both shady and sunny places to sit.
“We’re really looking forward to people hanging out here,” Butz said. “If you need to wait for the shuttle, come have some ice cream, sit out there, relax in the shade or the sun… That’s what we’re aiming for.”
The Bay Hopper ran for eight weeks last summer during a trial period, which allowed the owners to see what expeditions were popular and which ones didn’t work. Taking surfers with their boards down to Assateague to ride the waves didn’t work, Butz said, but the crabbing trips were popular. They learned that the 118th Street pier was too far from the water for passengers to step comfortably into the boat, so a floating dock will be installed in time for Memorial Day Weekend.
Passengers come back on the beach after a crabbing trip.
The Bay Hopper team plans to collaborate with the OC Foodie Tour this summer, where they’ll take foodie tourists to three different bayside restaurants to sample the fare and meet the chefs. They’re also partnering with jet skiing and parasailing outlets so that Bay Hopper passengers can book watersports adventures right from the kiosk, and in the kiosk they’ll be selling Taharka Brothers Ice Cream, a beloved Baltimore brand.
Starting in mid-May, Butz’s catamaran — the Alyosha, on which he recently sailed around the world — will be available for additional sailing adventures.
The Alyosha has sailed around the world, but this summer it’ll be sticking to Ocean City’s waters.
Three of the four Bay Hopper owners are licensed captains, and they’re open to working with other captains. Anyone with a captain’s license and a boat can register to join the Bay Hopper’s fleet.
“It’s more enjoyable to get around Ocean City by water, especially when you’re trying to go to a restaurant or bar that doesn’t have parking,” Butz said. “I think this will be a real alternative for people.”
Or, for an even more alliterative title, the Top 5 Businesses to Barhop while Boating on the Bay. In other words, these are five bayside bars in or adjacent to Ocean City that can be reached by boat and are guaranteed to provide you with a good drink and an even better view.
Today, the Shrimp Boat on Route 611 in West Ocean City consists of the iconic roadside boat carrying the day’s specials, outdoor seating for carryout and tableside service, and a restaurant that’s 10 years old in 2019. The shrimp are still cooked with the heads on to seal in all the juices, and every customer can still sample one of the famous fresh shrimp; “Try it before you buy it” is Captain Joe’s motto. “I want people to know they are getting the freshest product possible.”
It was 1989 when the business first started, after Captain Joe set up shop under an umbrella with a scale and a couple of chairs on the side of the highway. The next year, he moved his inventory inside his boat and started selling shrimp along 611, where the Shrimp Boat has remained ever since.
Shrimp happens every day at the Shrimp Boat.
The Shrimp Boat has seen its share of families spanning multiple generations who return to their favorite seafood joint summer after summer, or even fall after fall — the Shrimp Boat opens in April and runs well into October. Many of its returning customers still remember the place before the restaurant came along, back when it was just an unassuming boat on the side of the road, and it still often feels like the secret it once was. Even with the restaurant and its growing outdoor seating areas, the Shrimp Boat still feels like the kind of place that’s frequented only by in-the-know locals who know that, aside from a lot of Old Bay, the secret to a flavorful crustacean is to cook with the head still on.
Restaurant Week at the Shrimp Boat 2018. (Click here for their 2019 Restaurant Week specials, good til May 11.)
The cat’s been out of the bag for a while now, and plenty of tourists know that one of the best places to find fresh seafood is out of a boat of 611. However, in 2019, the Shrimp Boat still cultivates a casual and friendly atmosphere that could keep most diners out on the patio, sipping a local craft beer for hours on end. That’s especially easy this summer, because each week the Shrimp Boat will offer a $5 craft beer — this week it’s a Shore Craft Beer, Big Oyster Brewing Co.’s Hammerhead IPA, but next week it’ll be Maryland brewery Flying Dog’s Numero Uno summer cerveza, in celebration of Cinco de Mayo.
As of 2019, the Shrimp Boat has also been designated an ocean-friendly restaurant by the Surfrider Foundation, which means they engage in a number of practices that reduce single-use plastics. They recently replaced their styrofoam carryout containers and soup bowls with biodegradable alternatives, and now when a customer asks for a straw, they receive a PLA straw rather than a plastic one. It looks and feels just like plastic, but Captain Joe’s nephew and current owner of the Shrimp Boat, Joe White, assures that it is biodegradable and compostable — they’re not cheating!
Painting the patio bench in 2018.
Other recent additions to the Shrimp Boat include an expanded carryout seating area adjacent to the boat. They no longer offer tableside service in that area, but customers are welcome to enjoy their carryout at one of the tables or drink a beer there while their food is being cooked. Crab-stuffed flounder has been added to the menu, and as of this week, the Shrimp Boat is open seven days a week through the remainder of the season.
