Experience Ocean City , Maryland

Ocean City , Maryland has long been called “The East Coast's Number One Family Resort,” with activities and events that appeal to everyone every day of the year. Yes, Ocean City , Maryland is the place to be for fun all year long. From season to season, Ocean City offers a family-friendly environment filled with exciting things to see and do. The sun, sand and surf always beckon. So, too, do 17 great championship golf courses, boating, bay and deep sea fishing, nature tours and preserves, water sports, amusements, antique and outlet shopping, three miles of world-famous Boardwalk, and 10 miles of the best white-sand beaches on the East Coast.

Choose your own pace of activity in Ocean City . Enjoy an early-morning bicycle ride on the Boardwalk, ranked one of the Best Boardwalks in America by the Travel Channel. Explore the heritage of the Lower Shore by touring the wonderful museums. Stroll along Ocean City 's wide stretch of beaches, free and open to everyone. Sink your toes in Ocean City 's beautiful white-sand beach.

Splash in the surf, or sit back and watch the waves roll in and out. Paddle a canoe or kayak. Take a leisurely stroll on a nature trail. Fly a kite or build a sand castle. For rest, relaxation and recreation, Ocean City , Maryland is the place to be.

Whether you are seeking quality family time or a relaxing getaway, Ocean City awaits your visit with a choice of accommodations, including more than 10,000 hotel rooms, over 25,000 condominium units, plus apartments and beach houses. Hospitality is our heritage and your enjoyment is Ocean City 's mission.

Fantastic Fishing

Since its founding as a small fishing village in 1875, Ocean City has drawn anglers from all over and boasts the title of “White Marlin Capital of the World.” Spring, summer and fall abound with fishing opportunities. Spend a day out at sea on a head boat, or charter a boat in search of white or blue marlin, bluefish, tuna and wahoo; or venture out in smaller craft in the bay waters to catch flounder, trout and sea bass.

Landlubbers can cast a line from one of several fishing piers or from the beach. Rod rentals are readily available as are tips on the best bait to use from the many tackle shops and marinas. The resort hosts a number of fishing tournaments each year, including the White Marlin Open, known as the world's largest billfish tournament.

Nature Calls

Enjoy a scenic afternoon or evening cruise along our waterways. Eco-cruises provide the chance to see porpoises and whales off Ocean City 's coast. Or take one of the inland bay cruises in search of wildlife closer to land. Numerous species of wild birds inhabit the area, including pelicans, herons, egrets, piping plover and bitterns. A trip to nearby Assateague Island takes you to a natural treasure of barrier island life where Assateague's famous wild horses can be found wandering the island.

Water Sports

Ocean City offers numerous water sport activities. For the calm seeking, rent a sailboat or pontoon boat and glide along the bay. For the more daring, take out a jet ski and dash across the waves. For a bird's eye view of Ocean City , enjoy parasailing high above the bay or ocean. You can also enjoy kayaking, canoeing, water skiing and windsurfing in the sparkling waters surrounding Ocean City .

Great Golf, Too

Back on land, Ocean City is considered one of the premier golf vacation destinations along the mid-Atlantic seaboard. Golfers will find 17 area championship golf courses, including Ocean City 's own course, Eagle's Landing, named one of the top 10 municipal golf courses in the U.S.A. Our golf courses are surrounded with carefully preserved wetlands and marsh, and feature elevated tees, lush, rolling fairways, pristine wooded areas, and scenic and challenging water holes. Local hotels offer numerous golf packages to suit every handicap and golfer year round.

Dining Delights

Visitors who enjoy fine dining can choose from many waterside settings. Since its earliest days, Ocean City has been known for its fantastic menu offerings and our restaurants offer everything from famous Eastern Shore seafood fresh from the docks, to a variety of ethnic cuisines. Delicious seafood favorites include Maryland 's famous steamed blue crab, lobster, oysters, clams and a bountiful selection of fresh fish caught daily from ocean waters.

Be sure to visit one of our raw bars or crab houses where you can watch oysters and clams shucked fresh from their shells and piled onto plates for your sampling pleasure. Fresh steamed jumbo shrimp as well as those popular steamed and Old Bay-seasoned blue crabs are sure to satisfy the palette. Save room for the famous crab cakes as well as delicious soups made from the delicate meat of the Chesapeake blue crab.

A number of restaurants in Ocean City offer all-you-can-eat buffets serving up Ocean City 's famous seafood selections along with the Delmarva's delicious fried chicken, ham and prime rib of beef. Maryland 's Eastern Shore is also known for its bounty of fresh garden fruits and vegetables. Fill your salad bowls with produce picked fresh from the farm fields of the Delmarva Peninsula .

Meat lovers will find great steak and rib houses in Ocean City . Italian, Mexican, Japanese and Greek cuisines can also be found along our shore. Casual eateries along the way offer pizza, burgers, subs, barbecue pit beef, wraps and other sandwich fare. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a visit to our old-fashioned ice cream parlors and our shops filled with fresh-made creamy fudge and candies.

After a great meal, enjoy a night of entertainment at a host of nightclubs and pubs, which feature music from blues to jazz and reggae and rock ‘n roll. Ocean City takes its sunsets seriously. Take a seat on one of the waterside decks at restaurants beside the bay to wait for the big moment. Then enjoy an evening stroll on Ocean City 's famous Boardwalk, the three-mile promenade-by-the-sea. Amusement rides, arcades, specialty shops and a vast assortment of treats including caramel popcorn, saltwater taffy and world-famous french fries, await your visit. Youngsters will squeal in delight on a wild roller coaster ride, then take a spin on one of the oldest carousels around.

Just For You

Ocean City is the perfect beach resort all year long. Each season finds festivals and concerts, antique shows and arts and crafts events. The Roland E. Powell Convention Center provides the perfect venue for conventions, shows and concerts. The center also houses Ocean City 's attractive visitors center, a good place to start your visit to this seaside town.

Family friendly activities are the focus. Evening bonfires on the beach on Thursday evenings in summer. Sundaes in the Park family concert series. Free concerts on the beach. All this and much, much more are yours to enjoy in Ocean City , Maryland .

From inspiring sunrises over the Atlantic to breathtaking sunsets on the bay, every season offers a reason to visit Ocean City . Families have been vacationing in our resort for generations. Visit our shore and make Ocean City , Maryland your place in the sun.