Next month, we will be spending a week with this view:
We’re heading to Ocean City, Maryland!
A few months ago, I posted about our struggle with this year’s summer vacation planning. We didn’t have any friends or family lined up to go with us, we couldn’t decide on where to go. We spent weeks “shopping” rentals in various places and it was overwhelming. Yet… limited. A lot of the nicer rentals in our price range were already booked since we were looking so late.
We were thisclose to booking a rental in Northern Michigan, but something kept stopping me. I kept hesitating, procrastinating… and then Michael and I talked and things just completely changed course. Next thing I knew, we were booking a condo in Ocean City instead.
Ocean City is a completely different vibe than Michigan, I know. Ocean City will be more of the “typical” beach vacation while Michigan probably would’ve provided a more unique experience. But in Michigan, the rentals were more houses and cottages—and as I mentioned before, many of the better ones were already gone. In Ocean City, condos seemed to be aplenty, and some really nice ones still remained. It seemed a better fit for our family this year.
Plus the ocean was calling to me.
We are definitely keeping Michigan on the list for an upcoming summer. Definitely. But we are excited for Ocean City!
For anyone familiar with Ocean City (I’m not, I’ve never been), we are staying pretty far north, away from a lot of the hustle and bustle. In fact, we’re almost in Delaware! Perhaps we’ll take a day trip up to Bethany Beach to check it out for another future beach destination. Anyway, we debated between two condos—one that was very close to the boardwalk, and the one we ended up renting up north. With the help of some experienced Ocean City traveler friends, we decided to go with the quieter of the options as it is likely to be the more family friendly of the two options. Plus, this one is directly on the beach, and you really can’t beat that!
We’re looking forward to a relaxing (as “relaxing” as kids allow vacation to be), low-key week at the beach. Fingers crossed for a lot of sun while we’re there!
Any Ocean City tips or recommendations? We’d love to hear.
7 Responses to Take Me to Ocean City
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I'm Heather. I'm 33 and have been married to Michael for seven years. Together, we have two beautiful little girls we love more than anything, and a miniature dachshund who drives us crazy. I'm a full-time working mom who has very little time for my own "stuff" these days, like home improvement, cooking/baking, cake decorating, and photography. Despite the team not making the playoffs since 1999, I'm STILL a Buffalo Bills fan, which I think speaks to my loyalty AND sense of humor. I can't wait to pick up the pace with travel again some day... you know, when we're done being ruled by tiny fists. Welcome to my blog.
Yay for Ocean City. It’s definitely a touristy vacation, but still lots to do with the kids. While in Ocean City, you should check out the General’s Kitchen for breakfast. It’s used to be in a hole in the wall, but just relocated recently. The wait is long, so get there early, but if you like creamed chipped beef, it’s what their known for. Also, Fish Tales for dinner. They have fun hammocks to sit on and a playground for the girls. You can travel easily via bus for a flat rate all day, as long as you don’t mind the occasional rowdy teen. Staying up north isn’t a bad thing. My family actually has a place on 135th street bayside and it’s much quieter and not so busy. Have a great time!
Staying up north isn’t bad (I usually stay on 125th), because it is quieter. But if you want to go to the boardwalk then you either have to fight the bus which can get pretty crowded the later in the day you go or try and find parking which isn’t always the easiest. There is plenty to do for the kiddos, to include lots of mini golf, the rides at the end of the boardwalk, Jolley Roger, etc. I second Fish Tales and will add Mackey’s, Brass Ball Saloon (boardwalk) and Lombardi’s (pretty good pizza) to your list of restaurants.
Don’t forget to grab a bucket of Thrasher fries, get yourself some Dumser’s ice cream and pick up some Fishers popcorn on your way home.
Ocean City is great! Yes, the town is touristy, but that just means there is plenty to do! We have a condo at the North end and love it. I have a million suggestions, so pardon me if if this comment turns out to be really long…
Northside Park is great for kids! It’s a beautiful park on 126th that has great trails, wildlife watching, a lonnnng pier out into the bay, picnic facilities, and awesome playground for kids. Also a great place to watch the sunset over the bay.
Assateage Island is nice, but I’d maybe skip it with kids your age. You might not see the wild horses and it gets SO BUGGY in the summer that you can’t even enjoy the the trails. The mosquitoes on the island are no joke. If you do go, then stop at Smoker’s BBQ on the road there. It’s so yummy, has a nice screened in porch area to rest and eat.
At the very south end of the boardwalk, by the inlet, has all the rides and arcades for the kiddies. It gets really crowded down there and we don’t pay for the inlet parking… We usually find side street parking one block off the boardwalk for free. My favorite micro-brewery on the boardwalk is Backshore Brewing, it’s so chill there and the beer is really good! Do not get suckered into eating at Harrison’s Harbor Watch on the boardwalk, it’s a tourist trap. Recommend Brass Balls for mixed drinks and solid pub fare on the boards.
Fishtales is a great restaurant for families- good food, good beer. So nice to sit outside and relax with the view of the marina.
I’ve heard Dead Freddie’s is also great for families, but since we don’t have kids we’ve never been there.
Belly Busters: It’s a surf shack with great food and great beer. It’s my favorite lunch place on the island.
I’m going to try to keep to mostly north (ish) end suggestions now, since I know it can take awhile to drive down the island island during the summer.
If you like burgers, you have to go Abbey Burger right by Northside Park, delicious. Definitely the best burgers on the island. Great tap selection, great service. They also have good weekday happy hour specials on select apps and beer.
Crabcake Factory has great crabcakes, good beer, and other good options for the seafood hater.
Fractured Prune donuts, dumb name but they are delicious sugar gut bombs.
Uber Bagel. I grew up in North Jersey (so I know bagels) and these bagels are pretty freaking legit. Lines can get crazy, crazy long. So I would maybe just pick some up to make your own breakfast sandwiches in the condo.
Touch of italy… so good. The meatball sub is the best thing ever. Perfect for lunch or dinner.
Papa Grande: I go back and forth with this place. If they have specials going on or Happy Hour, great prices for good food and good drinks. If you find yourself needing a good margarita, this is the place to go.
Do not go to Harpoon Hanna’s as it’s for the olds. Phillips is a tourist trap. And Mackey’s Bayside is only good for drinks, the food is horrible.
If you feel like it, you can drive about an hour north to the Dogfish head brewery for a great tour. The tour I took had kiddos on it, so I know they welcome well behaved children.
If you stop in Rehoboth, I also suggest the Dogfish brew pub for food/drinks.
I have so many more suggestions… but I feel like I’ve already gone overboard… so I’ll end it here :)
Thanks for all of this, Eva! We’ve made a nice cheat sheet using all of your (and others’ here) recommendations. If you have any more that are “musts,” or even “STAY AWAYs,” certainly let us know! :)
Definitely take the kids to Sea Shell City in Fenwick (between Ocean City and Bethany Beach). It’s huge, and the nicest seashell store I’ve been too. On the second floor there’s a free shipwreck museum that’s actually really neat. It’s a go-to every time we visit Bethany! The town and boardwalk at Bethany Beach are very nice as well; family friendly with cool shops and sometimes music on the boardwalk. The Five and Dime store is really cute, and Fisher’s caramel popcorn is the best! Have fun!
I read your summer planning post. We went through some of the same things when planning our family vacation. We waited until the last minute to decide where to go and we decided on Mytrle Beach and I can not wait. I can not wait to see about your adventures in Ocean City and maybe we will venture there next year.
Reading late but Fractured Prune donuts are my favorite OCMD treat! Hope your vacation is wonderful