If you are looking for something to do when you visit Ocean City, Maryland, there are lots of options. Of course you have your annual musts like mini-golf, beach activities, shopping, amusement park visits, and strolling the boardwalk. When you want something special, however, and can spend a few hours on an excursion, we always head for the water. Here are our favorite options for the 2021 season.
7Jet-ski Tour of the Bay with Odyssea Watersports
It’s a family affair at Odyssea Watersports and Ron Croaker is the patriarch. You will see him out on the water, greeting customers, or moving boats. Odyssea wins the Best of Ocean City award every year for Best jet-ski rental. You can’t lose with this group, whatever package you choose. They also have the Liquid Limo for group tours.
6Ice Cream Cruise on the OC Bay Hopper
The OC Bay Hopper has a lot of tour options for Ocean City visitors and residents. They capture several of our top recommendations. The sixth place winner is their ice cream cruise. They bring homemade (and award-winning) small batch ice cream from Baltimore in multiple flavors and offer it on the boat during an hour long cruise on the bay. Perfect for kids, families, and couples who want a quick break. You’ll see the boat in the pictures from some of the other winning tours.
5Groups on the Liquid Limo
If you want a party, this is a party boat! Tour the bay with your friends and enjoy events like bachelorette and bachelor parties on the water. Families can also rent the boat for an excursion. Lots of fun if you love a party!
4Shore Craft Beer Cruise on the OC Bay Hopper
A two hour cruise, a two hour cruise… Join the OC Bay Hopper each Thursday night at 7 for a 2 hour cruise focused on local craft beer. Many cruises will have a tap-takeover by a local craft brewery. The other cruises will have a Shore Craft Beer expert who can tell you about all the breweries here on the Shore and let you sample local beer from a variety of our breweries. You get 2 beers included in the trip and if you want more, you can buy additional beers for only $5. See the dolphins, the ponies on Assateague, and the local birds all while enjoying local craft beer. There is a bathroom break in the middle!
3Nature Tour with the Maryland Coastal Bays
We recommend that you head back to the OC Bay Hopper for a guided tour behind Assateague and Ocean City with the Maryland Coastal Bays. This non-profit has scientists and educators on staff who will teach you about the flora and fauna of our region. You will talk about the wildlife including the bay birds like the osprey and the herons. You might even see oyster catchers or skimmers. You will typically see dolphins and might even get a glimpse of the wild ponies on Assateague. Learn some history of our area, see the wildlife, and learn a little more about this coastal environment from the experts. You will also seine with a net along the shore to see what fish are there. This is a great hands-on learning experience for the whole family! Proceeds from this trip are shared with the Coastal Bay program.
2Alyosha Cruise for Shore Craft Beer App Users
This trip is for people who love craft beer. All you have to do is download the Shore Craft Beer App and book a trip. Your beer is included and you’ll enjoy 2 hours on this sailboat that will stay in waters behind Assateague. Dolphins, birds, wild ponies and craft beer with 12 of your best friends. If they aren’t already your best friends, they will be by the end of this tour!
1Sunset Cruise on the Angler
I recommend that every person who visits Ocean City try this fabulous deal. Eat at the Angler’s restaurant facing the bay. Enjoy the great food, and the goombay smashes at Happy Hour prices, then talk with your waitress to get tickets on that evening’s cruise. You only pay $5 when you eat at the Angler and it’s about a 45 minute tour of the West Ocean City area and the inlet. If it isn’t too windy, you will even go up the beach. This is a deal you can’t beat and a tour you won’t want to miss. That’s why we give it our #1 rating.
