Hopefully you haven’t used all your vacation days, because there’s truly no better time to visit Ocean City than in the autumn. Now that the temperatures are finally dropping — literally, as of today it’s no longer feeling like summer around here! — It’s time to take a moment to appreciate all that Ocean City has to offer during this magical season. Just as we’ve done in years past, here are some of our favorite posts from the last week that remind us why OC is the best place to be all year round.
1. The beach is all yours
What’s better than a private beach, where all you can see for miles and miles are shells and seagulls and maybe just one or two other couples lounging in their beach chairs? If you like taking pictures, watching the sunrise, taking peaceful strolls along the ocean, flipping through the pages of a book in the peace and quiet or just taking in all the beauty that the mid-Atlantic shoreline has to offer… There’s no better time to come enjoy it.
2. Halloween is a week-long affair
Especially when Halloween happens to fall on a Wednesday. you can expect a week or longer of parties, costume contests and all kinds of fun for kids and adults alike. There’s even an event for pets to take part in. If you’re lucky, you may even get to meet a haunted mermaid.
3. It’s the perfect time to take a road trip and just explore
By the time Halloween is over, it’s already almost time for Winterfest of Lights… And even between those two holidays that are -big- for celebrating in Ocean City, you can always find something to do. And, you can always get there without sitting in traffic, so that’s a plus. Why not take the time to explore the nearby towns, or try that restaurant you’ve been meaning to go to? Hop in your car, head toward Ocean City and see where the journey takes you. Maybe you’ll end up at Winterfest when it opens on Nov. 15, or maybe you’ll end up somewhere totally new.
4. You can fill your cup with autumn ales right in Sunset Park
Like we said two years ago… If you’re looking to dip your feet in the salt one last time, this is it. OCtoberfest in Ocean City ends with a *bang,* specifically with the annual Shore Craft Beer Fest in Sunset Park. This year, the fourth annual festival takes place on Oct. 27. It’s the best place to try all the seasonal beers that the local breweries have to offer, all while taking in gorgeous views of the Assawoman Bay and weaving in and out of vendors, food trucks and the dogs that are always present in their Halloween best (it’s a kid- and pet-friendly event).
5. See a rocket launch, or take part in cool space-themed activities
It’s time for your yearly reminder that we have an entire flight facility, with rocket launches at all, just an hour or so away near Chincoteague Island. Not only are there super-cool rocket launches to see, but there’s also a full lineup of fall activities and programs this season at the NASA Wallops Island Visitor Center.
Bonus: There’s always cool stuff happening nearby, too.
(Editor’s Note: I had to put a “bonus” reason because I’m always starting these lists and coming up with more numbers than I initially set out to write. Just know that I could always go on… and on and on…)
Yes, Ocean City proper is awesome in the autumn, but if you get tired of Ocean City (how???), there’s fun fall happenings all over the peninsula. Just drive 50 minutes north to Rehoboth Beach, DE, for instance, and you’ll find a Sea Witch Festival with live music and family-friendly activities happening for the 29th annual year.
Also, this may not appeal to you so much if you’re vacationing in Ocean City to get away from your home in Annapolis, but if you rarely make the venture to Maryland’s capital city, it’s worth the just-over-two-hour drive from OC.
There are lots of other day trips you can make from Ocean City, but I’ll just leave you with our day trips page if that’s something you’re interested in.
