Boardwalk Ocean City, Maryland
The 2.5-mile boardwalk offers a stout workout on foot, a leisurely bike ride or a relaxing trip by tram.
The small town of Ocean City, Maryland, with about 7,000 residents, opens its doors — or rather its boardwalk — to 8 million visitors every year.
The 2.5-mile traditional wooden plank walkway stretches north and south along pristine sandy beaches on the Atlantic coast.
The influx of visitors necessitates a stratospheric ratio of amenities per capita. Ocean City boasts 10,000 hotel rooms, 25,000 condominium units and more than 200 restaurants. Seventeen golf courses are available within a short drive of the town.
The southern inlet of the Ocean City boardwalk features an amusement park complete with Ferris wheel, roller coaster, arcade, bumper cars and midway games.
The Travel Channel hailed the classic boardwalk as America’s best, National Geographic named it one of the country’s top 10 and USA Today dubbed it one of the nation’s best boardwalks for food.
Marking the southern terminus of the boardwalk is Jolly Roger at the Pier amusement park, which features a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, bumper cars, kiddie and wave pools, funhouse, midway and arcade games and a “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” museum.
The Trimper’s Carousel, created in 1912, is the oldest continuously operating carousel in the United States. Nearby is a 1902 two-tiered merry-go-round with elaborately painted animals and benches, mirrors and felicitous decorations.
Walking, biking or taking the tram northward, visitors can enjoy frozen custard, ice cream, french fry and candy stands; restaurants offering barbecued ribs, pizza, seafood and craft cocktails; souvenir shops; and a brewery offering specially flavored moonshines, such as peach, cherry, strawberry, blueberry and cinnamon apple pie.
Other sweet tooth satisfiers include saltwater taffy, caramel corn, fudge, hot funnel cakes, cotton candy and chocolate-covered strawberries.
Specialty shops dotting the boardwalk sell pet supplies, jewelry, T-shirts and surfing accessories.
Notable landmarks along the way include:
• A U.S. Coast Guard tower. Construction began in 1934 and the tower was employed to watch for German U-boats during World War II.
Early bird visitors can catch a glimpse of a stunning sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean.
• Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum, which houses museum exhibits that portray the history of the U.S. life-saving service and the town. The first life-saving station was erected in 1878 and was expanded in 1891. The long-abandoned building was saved from demolition in 1977 and was moved to its current location. Exhibits include Davy Jones’ locker, Boardwalk of Yesterwday and aquariums featuring local marine life.
• An oak carving of an Assateague Indian, created in 1976 by artist Peter Toth, who has donated totem carvings to all 50 states. The tree used for the carving was more than a century old.
• Ocean City Pier Building, first built in 1907 and replaced in 1926. The original building contained a dancing pavilion, skating rink, bowling alleys, billiard room and refreshment booths. The second floor was initially constructed as a ballroom.
Melanie Pursel, president and CEO of the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, offered a 10-point plan to maximize one’s experience on the boardwalk:
• Walk the whole thing. “You’ll enjoy stunning water views and tons of window shopping while getting a seriously heart-pumping workout,” she said.
• Borrow some wheels, including a tram, bicycle or surrey.
• Shop ‘til you drop. “The blend of quirky, bizarre and beautiful makes shopping a real treasure hunt.”
• Eat your heart out. “Leave your diet at home.”
• Visit an extra special attraction, “from sandcastle building competitions to air shows.”
• People watch.
• Tune in to beach music, including street performers, live music in some of the restaurants and bars and music during the weekly laser shows and beach concerts.
• Entertain your kids, including family-friendly Beach Olympics and Movies on the Beach.
Foot-pedaled surreys are available for rent to make the trek up and down the boardwalk less strenuous.
• Stay on the boards in one of the dozens of hotels, motels and condos that line the boardwalk.
• Move beyond the boards onto “cozy, brick-lined streets with a decidedly downtown vibe. If you’ve already done the boardwalk, you’ll find there is still much more to explore.”
“If you get up early enough you can catch the pristine sunrise over the Atlantic,” said Pursel. “Also, be sure to stay for the fireworks on Thursday nights throughout the summer.”
The first boardwalk, a modest stretch of a few blocks, was constructed in 1902 by several hoteliers who, according to www.oceancity.com, “decided they and their guests needed a way to walk easily between their places of business while enjoying the view of the ocean.” That portable first version was “removed at high tide and stored on the hotel porches.”
The first permanent section, which ran five blocks, was constructed in 1910. Subsequent lengths were added, but the boardwalk was destroyed by a storm in 1962. It was rebuilt to its current length and underwent a complete renovation in 2012 “whereby the old splintering and rotten boards were replaced with new wood, while retaining the old-fashioned feel of its historic past.”
The boardwalk is open 24/7 year-round, but the businesses maintain various hours and some are only open during the peak tourism season between the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.
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Best place in the world Ocean City Maryland I’m 65 and I’ve been going to Ocean City since I was 12 years old since 2000 when I bought two week timeshare at the Bay club with 32nd and 33rd Street Ocean City I spend them two weeks there plus I usually go down memorial day or one of the first three weeks in June so I spend at least 3 weeks down there I’m from Pittsburgh PA in June of 2001 my wife and I it was our second marriage got married on the beach at 33rd Street my grandson’s been coming with us since 2011 He’s now 10 years old going on 11 he just loves it there too we have well my wife has a 37-year-old handicap son is why we take the June vacation cuz we stay at the Holiday inn at 17th Street as we need a accessible roll-in shower for him we’ve been staying there since around 2009 stated a few other places on the boardwalk with accessible rolling showers with the Holiday inn is the best there’s quite a few good restaurants waterman’s West Ocean City coins 28th Street breakfast and lunch Sahara 19th Street and Baltimore and there’s a few up in Delaware that is real good too I usually eat dinner out everyday I don’t eat lunch I may make a breakfast in my condo or in the kitchen at the Holiday inn but I usually eat breakfast out most of the time also take a trip there I don’t care if you’re 2 years old or 90 years old you will find something to do and there’s quite a few places that are pet friendly actually there’s a handful or more right on the boardwalk