Ocean City, Maryland
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Destination
Guide |
North America >
United States > Maryland
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Ocean City is known as the White Marlin Capital of the World, but
the bay and ocean waters also offer sea bass, sea trout, flounder,
shark, dolphin fish, tautog, bluefish, tuna, cod and wahoo. Located
on the Atlantic coast, Ocean City is a glittering strip of
boardwalks and high-rise condos stretched along wide, white sand
beaches. It was designated
an "All-American
City" in 2001
If
you're going there to deep-sea fish, the best time is mid
April-early November.
The quieter waters
surrounding Ocean City, the bays of Assawoman, Sinepuxent, and
Montego, attract fishermen, sailors, parasailers, and kayakers who
like calmer water. The inlet at the south end of the island was
created during a fierce hurricane early in the 20th century, thus
creating a shortcut to the ocean
Even if they don't like to fish,
visitors love this family friendly destination. Among the major
attractions is a 10 mile long beach and a 3 mile long boardwalk
filled with fun. Summers are crowded and offer non-stop
entertainment. Bicycling on the boardwalk, spending time on the
beach and in the surf occupy the morning and early afternoon hours.
After that, there is a choice of several amusement parks and
fascinating places such as the Ocean City Life Saving Station Museum
and the Ocean Downs harness-racing track (races take place
May-September). Flea markets are held on summer weekends, and an
outlet mall is located outside of town. There is fast food in
abundance as well as restaurants in which to sample the fresh
seafood!
The boardwalk,
which stretches to 27th Street in the oldest part of Ocean City, is
crowded with hotels, some of them dating back to the 1920s.
Restaurants, ice cream stands, and shops fill in between. It ends at
the fishing pier with amusement rides, including a huge Ferris
wheel. A second boardwalk is being developed as a Bayside
promenade: a 14-foot-wide path running along the west side of
Philadelphia Street from the inlet to Talbot Street.
Ocean City is well
known as a beach for families with younger children. It has dozens
of miniature golf courses with upbeat scenery, water slides,
amusement parks, roller coasters, haunted houses, parasailing,
kayaking, skateboard parks, laser tag, even indoor ice skating.
There are
volleyball nets on the beach; soccer, lacrosse and baseball "camps";
batting cages; and a Wild West theme park complete with rodeo and
ceremonial dances There is a 100-mile scenic bike trail that circles
Worcester County. Ocean City is home to the largest white marlin
tournament in the country. There are two dozen golf courses nearby,
and more under construction. The local outlet mall has more than 60
national-brand stores.
5,500-seat Arthur
Perdue Stadium, home of the Delmarva Shorebirds, the Baltimore
Orioles' Class A South Atlantic League team, is about 25 miles from
Ocean City on Route 50. Ocean Downs Racetrack is 10 minutes away
and features a late June through August racing season. The
clubhouse is open year-round, with simulcasts of thoroughbred and
other harness tracks.
Ocean City’s
coves, ponds, and marshes offer shelter to a number of bird
species, visible on the Fourth Street mud flats (at the bay) and
West Ocean City Pond. Bird-watching charters transport visitors to
the Continental Shelf to observe puffins, Wilson's storm petrels,
black-legged kittiwakes, and dovekie. There are also whale and
dolphin-watching cruises.
There are weekend
festivals throughout the summer, including kite flying contests;
arts and crafts shows; antique car and hot rod expositions and music
festivals, most staged either at the inlet parking lot alongside the
Boardwalk or at the Convention Center at 50th.
The Party Block
(17th Street and Coastal Highway) is a four-club complex offering
the younger crowd a choice of music from cover bands to DJ nights.
Jam bands are also in evidence.
Traditionally,
Ocean City was an area of smaller homes and trailer parks rather
than summer rental cottages, Now, however, the marina complexes are
expanding and updating, adding gift shops and huge family
steak-and-seafood restaurants. Palatial new homes are populating the
coves in ever increasing numbers, and luxury golf clubs are staking
out sections of the more secluded areas on the Sound side of the
city. Major upgrades and renovations have occurred throughout the
area.
Fortunately, some things don’t ever change. The Assateague Island
National Seashore and State Park begins just south of Ocean City on
a long barrier island facing the Atlantic Ocean. This preserve, in
its storybook setting, gave inspiration for the beloved children's
book, Misty of Chincoteague. It contains thousands of acres
of land and sea and hundreds of untamed ponies. They are herded
across the channel each July for auctioning in nearby Virginia (just
as they were when the book was written). The reserve is also an
important migratory stop for snow geese.
Ocean City may be
just a sliver of barrier island less than 10 miles long, but its
wide sandy beach, pounding surf, ocean breezes, and stellar
entertainment make it irresistible to families looking for an “All
American” vacation destination. |
