Ocean City Maryland is famous for its three mile long wooden boardwalk. With plenty of live music and awesome nightlife, you will have an amazing time in this fun city!
It’s a great town for a family vacation or a trip with friends. I’ve gone to Ocean City Maryland on girls’ trips and it didn’t disappoint! I’m going to share with you the best things to do in Ocean City, Maryland… with and without children.
The post “The Best Things to Do in Ocean City, Maryland” may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you). All opinions are my own and no products were received in exchange for my opinions. Click here to see details of my full disclosure policy.
What to SEE in Ocean City, MD
The Beach in Ocean City
Beaches along the East coast are some of the best places for a summer vacation. The good news is visiting the 10 miles of Ocean City beach is absolutely FREE. There is plenty of entertainment on and off the beautiful sandy beaches. Make sure you look into the special events so you know things like when they have free movies on the beach and live music.
In the summer months, this beautiful beach is ready for you to go sunbathing, build castles, and fly kites. It has lifeguards and rentals for beach chairs and umbrellas. (Okay so I did not make that sandcastle, but it’s pretty impressive.)
Jolly Roger's Amusement Parks
When you take the whole family to Ocean City, one of the fun things you want to do is go to the amusement park. Jolly Roger Amusement Park has two locations. One is located at the southern end of the bustling boardwalk and one is on 30th Street. It is ranked on TripAdvisor as #12 out of 28 things to do in Ocean City. The giant Ferris wheel is a main attraction that you can see from the costal highway.
Jolly Roger has a number of parks, with popular attractions for all ages, including water slides at Splash Mountain Water Park, racing at Speedworld, and playing Miniature Golf.
The Ocean City Boardwalk
Ocean City Maryland is famous for its three mile long wooden boardwalk. Like most boardwalks it has plenty of food, games, amusement rides, and entertainment.
Everyone loves a beach boardwalk, but you will have to visit the Ocean City boardwalk yourself to see why National Geographic named it one of the top 10 in the U.S. and USA Today named it one of the nation’s best boardwalks for food. For a delicious way to see the boardwalk, check out the Ocean City Downtown and Boardwalk Foodie Walking Tour.
Trimper’s Rides and Amusement Park
Ranked as #5 of 28 things to do in Ocean City Maryland, Trimpers Rides and Amusement Park should be a “must-see” on your list! It is the oldest continuously family-owned and operated amusement park in the world. In 2020 they underwent a number of major renovations to add 11 new rides. They are well known for their popular rides like their Herschell-Spillman merry-go-round and their roller coasters. Check out their year in review in the video below to see more.
Ocean City Fishing Pier
I’ve liked fishing since I was a little girl. I’m not particularly good at it, but it’s fun. (Sometimes all I catch is a buzz. Cheers!)
Oceanic Fishing Pier is open 24 hours from May – September and you don’t need a fishing license. You can rent everything you need including rods, reels, tackle, and more.
Oceanic Pier is rated in the top 5 favorite fishing piers in the United States. TripAdvisor ranks it #8 out of 28 things to do in Ocean City.
Parasailing over Ocean City
Have you ever gone parasailing? I did it over the beach one time and it was so much FUN!
This 1.5 Hour Parasailing Adventure is an incredible way to see Ocean City Maryland. If you have never tried this then parasailing over the Ocean City coast is something you should experience. You can enjoy this unique experience with two or three people at one time.
Click HERE for more information and tickets to the parasailing adventure. 🎟
Ocean Sailing in the Atlantic Ocean
Although I’ve done things like parasailing, I have not ever been sailing. This excursion is next on my bucket list! It will be at the top of the best things to do in Ocean City, Maryland.
The excursion “Ocean sailing on a Sail Catamaran in Ocean City” is a 3 hour long adventure. During the trip, you can see dolphins and go swimming right off of the boat. With a maximum of 6 travelers, this is a PERFECT unique family experience!
Where to STAY in Ocean City, MD
Before you book a place to stay, make sure you read Top 5 Things you NEED to Know when Finding a Hotel.
Ocean City has so many options, depending on what works best for you and your budget. I’ve been staying at Airbnb’s more often lately, because they are more economical and they are a great option for larger groups. Click the link below to see the amazing options VBRO has for Ocean City Maryland. They have a TON of condos to rent.
Where to EAT & DRINK in Ocean City, MD
The Greene Turtle
If you have been to Ocean City Maryland then you’ve definitely heard of The Greene Turtle, which was voted the BEST sports bar restaurant in Ocean City. Make sure you stop at the gift shop to purchase your Green Turtle gear. They have tons of TV’s, DJ’s on the weekends, and outside seating.
If you’d like to combine their good food with some extra fun then you should do the Ocean City Bay Hopper Lunch Cruise with Drinks. This 2 hour long lunch cruise lets you pick your meal and a drink kit. Then, you can tell the captain where you’d like to go in the bay, or you can let them decide for you.
Happy Hour Boat Tours
There are a few options for some fun Ocean City happy hour boat tours!
One is a Happy Hour BOYB Cruise where you can bring your own booze and take a boat ride with friends around the bay to see some of the best sites in Ocean City, Maryland.
The other option is a 21 and older happy hour cruise around the bay where they have alcohol available for purchase. The first drink is included in the ticket price. Cheers!
If you are traveling solo or with a small group, a happy hour cruise is the best way to make friends and get feedback from other tourists.
This 3-hour tour is likely to sell out so make sure you get your tickets early. If your plans change, you can cancel for free within 24 hours of your activity.
Ice Cream Cruise
This fun cruise is great for families! It is only 1 hour long, which means it’s a perfect first-time cruise to see how everyone feels about being out on the water.
It shouldn’t surprise you to know that on the Bay Hopper Ice Cream Cruise you can expect to sample a variety of locally made award-winning ice cream flavors!
This delicious tour only holds 5 guests and is likely to sell out so make sure you get your tickets early.
Click HERE for tickets and more information about the Bay Hopper Ice Cream Cruise. 🎟
Seacrets Bar and Grill
Seacrets Bar and Grill is located at 117 49th Street Ocean City, MD 21842. They have a full menu and a distillery. This is a very popular spot to visit when you are in the Ocean City area. You are guaranteed to have a good time at Seacrets. It is one of the best places to party, especially in the summer months when you can enjoy it in the open-air.
Honestly, the nightlife at Seacrets is my FAVORITE part about Ocean City Maryland! If you read “How to Have an Epic Weekend in Baltimore Maryland” you know that I enjoy nightlife. Tripadvisor ranks Seacrets #1 out of 14 for nightlife in Ocean City Maryland.
It’s hard to tell from the picture, but this place is HUGE! They have SEVENTEEN bars inside and something going on EVERY night of the week so be sure to check out their calendar in advance. I love to see live music when I’m there. This place ranks #1 for “The Best Things to Do in Ocean City, Maryland” and after you go there you will see why!
QUICK LINKS: for Tickets Ocean City, Maryland
I like to purchase my tickets in advance online so I have them all in an app on my phone. Viator and Get Your Guide allow you to book in advance and cancel within 24 hours with NO FEES. Here are some quick links to my suggestions in The Best Things to Do in Ocean City, Maryland:
For Tickets to the 1.5 hour Parasailing Adventure over Ocean City CLICK HERE. 🎟
CLICK HERE for tickets to the 3-hour Ocean Sailing in the Atlantic Ocean. 🎟
Ocean City Bay Hopper Lunch Cruise with Drinks: CLICK HERE 🎟
Click HERE for tickets and more information about the BYOB Happy Hour Boat Tour. 🎟
For tickets and more information about the 21 and older Happy Hour Boat Tour click HERE. 🎟
Click HERE for tickets and more information about the Bay Hopper Ice Cream Cruise. 🎟
If you liked The Best Things to Do in Ocean City, Maryland, then you might also want to read about 7 Cheap of Free Things to Do in Virginia Beach When You Can’t Go to the Beach.
SUBSCRIBE with your email to get notified of new posts. ✉️
LET’S CONNECT: Which one of the suggestions from “The Best Things to Do in Ocean City, Maryland” do you think you’d add to your list when you go?
