Casual Living at the Ocean

Ocean City, MD, is the best place to release all the stress that weighs you down. The gentle surf, soft sand, brilliant sun and excellent boardwalk is a family fun paradise.

There is an amusement pier around the southern end of the boardwalk. An old carousel is in the shelter of the Trimpey playland. A mirror maze will keep you occupied while you try to find your way through the mirrors and plate glass panels. A haunted house is scary enough for the average child but may be a little mild for a teen or adult. This is the area for children's rides.

There is also an amusement park (old style - not modern) farther up the main drag and several shopping areas (including an outlet mall at Fenwick Island, DE). Miniature golf courses dot the area and some have all day passes.

The ocean pier has a large roller coaster and ferris wheel along with several other rides. Most of them are for older children or adults.

Food is available all along the 2 1/4 miles of the boardwalk. Want a funnel cake? Lemonade? Crabs? Breakfast? Lunch? Dinner? It is all there. Thrasher's Fries are a boardwalk fixture and now have several satellite stores so you don't have to walk all the way to the ocean pier.

Stores abound and carry everything from sunscreen and beach toys to T-shirts and coffee cups (and everything in between).

The surf is gentle enough for small children and yet the waves are large enough for body or boogie board surfing. There are even a few true surfers in the morning hours. The sand is soft underfoot and will give your legs a real workout. Umbrellas and beach chairs are available for rent if you don't care to (or can't) bring your own. There is paid parking in a lot at the south end of town and along many of the side streets close to the boardwalk. Free parking is available a block or two away and at most of the hotels (if you are a patron).

The sun is not quite as strong as it is farther south, but it can still give you a serious burn if you are not careful. Use sunscreen and a hat to protect yourself and your family members.

Quick Tips:

If you plan to rent a condo in the area, be prepared to bring your own linens (sheets, towels, etc) and cleaning supplies along with your food. Most condos have bedspreads, pillows and cooking utensils, but anything else is your responsibility. Some of the rental agents can arrange for linen rental if you ask. This is a big help to those who are flying in. There is no maid service in the condos.

If you are renting at a hotel, there are several that have kitchenettes and suites. Check with the chain or individual manager to see if maid service is included in the cost.

Beach paraphernalia is available for rent at several stalls on the beach. Umbrellas and something to sit upon are really a necessity. The rays of the sun are intensified by the reflection off the sand. Bring sunscreen!!! Even if you think that you have a good "base tan", you can still burn quickly.

Save some of your calories for the boardwalk treats. Fries, ice cream, salt water taffy, fudge, pizza and the occasional cold drink make the walk more pleasureable. This is not the time to have a strict diet plan. You will probably walk off most of the calories anyway!

Give the kids a day at the miniature golf course - they can play all day for a nominal fee and even switch between courses that are owned by the same company.

Farther from town, in West Ocean City, is Frontier Town. It is a western themed park complete with "saloon" and "gunfight". Next door is a small water park.

Steamed crabs are a staple during the summer. There are several restaurants that specialize in all-you-can-eat. If you have never had steamed crabs or are unfamiliar with "picking" them, ask for help and your server will gladly explain the process. If you are not a seafood fan, these restaurants also have chicken, burgers, etc..

Fun can be found in all corners of this town

Best Way To Get Around:

Ride a bike on the boardwalk until 10AM during the peak season of the summer and all through town all day long. Bikes and surries are available for rent at many corners in town or on the boardwalk. The town is very flat and it is an easy pedal from one end to theother. Remember, the boardwalk is just over 2 miles long and very flat, so you can ride it twice during your one hour rental time (or once if you stop for refreshments).

The city bus runs from one end of town to the other. There are several one way streets in the older section of town and you might have to walk a little to get from the stop to your destination. It won't be too far since the whole island is only about 4 blocks wide.

Paid parking is available in the major lot at the south end of town and in the blocks adjacent to the boardwalk. If you don't want to pay an hour, park a block or two off the beach and walk. Most of the restaurants and hotels have free parking for their patrons, but they frown on you taking up their spaces if you are not actively using their facilities.

If you want to have "all you can eat" crabs, but there is a member of your party that is not fond of seafood, get yourself to Hooper's.

We joined some friends for dinner. Three of us wanted steamed crabs - one didn't. We decided to go to Hooper's since it was close by and we knew that they served more than just seafood.

Needless to say, the crabs were great. Seasoned and steamed to perfection. We picked and talked while our non-seafood friend ate one of the biggest chicken breast dinners that I have seen in a long time. He said that it was tender and well seasoned and would definitely order it again.

Hooper's has been an OC fixture for many years. This incarnation was brought about by a fire that took the former structure down to the pylons in 2003. Lucky for us and the town, they rebuilt in the same spot and made it bigger and better. The shabby-chic flavor of the former restaurant has given way to a more refined rustic decor. You can't get away from the butcher paper table covers, but who would want to? The massive wooden railings and sturdy tables and chairs give a comfortable atmosphere to those who want to eat, drink and be merry. Just don't let the pirate skulking in the rigging scare you. He's friendly.

We stopped at the Java Cafe because they had crab omelet posted on the menu on the boardwalk. I love crabs and will eat them in anything from breakfast to dinner (haven't quite gotten to crab ice cream yet).

This little boardwalk cafe is "open air" seating at bistro-type tables and was close to the spot where we rented our bikes, so we decided to try it for breakfast after a morning ride up and down the boardwalk. I should have known what to expect when my first request was denied. They didn't have any crab for the omelet listed on the menu. Couldn't they have covered up that area of the menu and saved me the frustration?!! The second "sign" was that the men's restroom was out of order when Hubby made a trip inside. Did I need more? Apparently so.

My cheese omelet was very shy of cheese. What was in there was not melted and tasted like fake cheese. Hubby's pancakes were flat and tough. At least they did have sugar-free syrup for him.

The wind - remember this is on the boardwalk and in the open - kept taking our napkins and blowing over a sign outside the railing. The waitress finally took the sign inside after she righted it for the 6th time in less than 10 minutes. That was a relief because the loud "thump" scared me every time it fell (we were sitting about 3 feet from it). I wish someone would invent "velcro" napkins for outdoor restaurants. I finally gave up and tucked my last napkin into by waistband so that it would still be there when i needed to wipe my face. Hubby lost his and had to use mine. Good thing we're used to sharing germs!

I'm sure that this place probably has good coffee (I don't drink it), but it sure needs to check on the food that it is serving. This was the worst breakfast of our whole trip.

We went to BJ's on the Water for an early dinner on our last night in Ocean City. Our friends had eaten there before and were quite pleased with the outcome, so off we went.

I ordered a "Black Russian", a beef, turkey and swiss sandwich topped with lettuce, tomato and thousand island dressing. It was more than I could finish in one seating. The pumpernickle was hot and the meat was tender. Boy, was I a happy camper! Hubby had a burger and thought that it was tender and delicious. He is not one to say the word "delicious" easily, so I'm sure that he really meant it. One friend ordered the "Black Russian" also and the other ordered the "Seafood Skins" from the appetizer menu and a salad. The "skins" were piled high with a seafood salad that was rich in crab, shrimp and scallops in a cheesy sauce. The potatoes underneath were thick cut so that you had the meat of the potato along with the crispy skin. I got to eat the scallops since she didn't want them. Yummy!!!

We sat on the back deck and had a wonderful view of the bay. The sunset was just starting when we left. Too bad we didn't order drinks, we could have enjoyed the colorful event while sipping and noshing.

Those of us who grew up "down de Ocean" in the 50's and 60's remember some of the older family owned hotels in the center of town. They ranged from the larger ones to the small cottage type. Many of them are still around and have not changed much except for the paint colors. Some, especially the ones on the boardwalk, have redone their facades. Some, unfortunately, (or fortunately if you are not a fan) have given way to the condos that are creeping into the "Old Town" section. We try to stay in the older buildings because of the atmosphere and they are usually quite a bit cheaper. That leaves us more "Crab Money".

If you choose to stay in an older building, be prepared for lumpy plaster walls and low pressure plumbing. The rooms are usually clean and have a small fridge and/or microwave (check on website or at front desk to be sure). The porches are great places to get a breeze and most are close to restaurants and variety stores. Some even have their own bike rentals. The residents of these older hotels are usually very friendly and will share a beer or Coke with you. It is easy to make friends with your fellow travellers when you share a porch.

Since the older section of town is fairly small, you can walk to the fishing boat marinas on either side of the bridge and go deep sea or bay fishing. Be prepared to catch something - it is very seldom that a boat comes back empty.

Fishing is also available on the bridge that connects the "Old" part of town to West Ocean City (Rt. 50 Bridge) and on the pier behind the amusement pier off the boardwalk. You can surf fish in the early morning hours in the ocean when the beach is empty. Some of the bayside accomodations have canals and private piers for fishing. Check with the front desk at check-in if you are staying on the bayside. Most of the bayside piers also allow crabbing - bring your own traps and pots.

There is always something to do in Old Town Ocean City - even if it is only "vegging out".