History
The beginning of Ocean City dates back to 1869 when a businessman built a cottage named the Rhode Island Inn on the beachfront, which he rented out to guests. Soon others followed his lead and developed the area as other small cottages and boarding houses sprang up around the beachfront.
The first hotel, The Atlantic Hotel, was not built until July 4, 1875, a date that is considered to be the beginning of Ocean City. That hotel was destroyed by fire in 1925 but rebuilt in 1926 and still operates today.
The construction of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in 1952 and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in 1964 made travel to the resort easier and facilitated development. Today the resort is well known through the Eastern Seaboard and attracts many visitors from there.
Hotels in Ocean City
There are many, many fine hotels to stay in during your visit. This writer has stayed in several on the boardwalk and those were well maintained and had friendly personnel working there. Of course these boardwalk hotels are not inexpensive. Rates do drop during weekdays however.
Many other fine hotels not on the boardwalk are also available. It’s always a good idea however to do a little research on the internet to read reviews on hotels you may be interested in. I have found these reviews very helpful most of the time.
Things to Do
Of course, the pristine beachfront is a must and is well maintained. The waves coming into the beach can be quite mesmerizing. One can spend hours just sitting on a blanket or a beach chair starring out at the ocean. A leisurely stroll down the beach toward the amusement area will lead to the work of some very talented sand sculptors whose work must be captured on camera.
Strewn out along the length of the beach are many well-trained lifeguards in case someone gets in trouble when they go out into the water, which can get choppy at times. During the late evening hours equipment is dispatched to the beach to pick up any debris and re-sift the sand leaving a fresh soft appearance to the beach by morning
The boardwalk has that old resort flavor. There are many quick food places, swimsuit shops, restaurants, souvenir shops, game stalls, hotels and restaurants on the boardwalk. At the end of the boardwalk on First Street is the amusement area complete with a Ferris Wheel and Rides.
If you are not quite in shape to walk the three miles and take in all the sights, comfortable blue and white colored trams run back and forth on the boardwalk for your convenience. The trams run from 10 a.m. through midnight during the summer.
Although you can get a hot, hamburger, fries and cotton candy on the boardwalk, many excellent restaurants on the boardwalk and surrounding areas offer famous Chesapeake Bay Seafood as well as other fine cuisine. Free maps and guides are available which have coupons for discounts at restaurants and amusement areas.
For those into water sports, Ocean City offers sailing, fishing, surfing, kayaking and parasailing.
A few miles out of OC is Frontier Town where one can attend a frontier saloon show, a rodeo exhibition, buy western apparel and souvenirs, ride a miniature train and even attend a reenactment of the gunfight at the OK Coral. A section is also devoted to Native American dance and culture.
Just a few miles further away is the Assateague State Park located on Assategue Island. The park offers two miles of beaches, beachcombing, surfing, a lighthouse and marsh areas with deer, waterfowl, horses and other wildlife. The island is well known for the herds of feral horses that roam free as they please.
Near the island is the historic town of Berlin dating back to the 1790’s. This is a charming little town where two centuries of Federal and Victorian architecture has been preserved. Te historic center of town has quaint shops–a great place to shop and dine.
The golfer will think he or she is in golf heaven. There are 17 championship 18 hole golf courses around the Ocean City area. These courses have been designed by big-name legends like Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. Ocean City Golf Vacation packages are available by reservation for as short as a weekend or longer.
For those who follow the horses and like to dabble in a little gambling, Ocean Downs is the place for them. Ocean Downs has had harness racing for many years and now has a casino with slot machines. The racing schedule is from June 19th to August 28th. The casino has 750 slot machines in a 34, 000 square area. Dining facilities are also available.
Auto buffs won’t want to miss a trip through the Wheels of Yesterday auto museum just outside of OC. Inside are many historic and classic cars and even a replica of an old gas station. One car was even used in a Gene Hackman movie.
Motor scooters are an excellent way to get around town and you can rent one at several places in OC. If you are a motorcycle fanatic, a nearby Harley Davidson showroom with all the latest models will dazzle you. If go-carts are your thing, you’ll find an amusement area where you can hop in one and race your friends around the track.
Ocean City has some fall and winter events such as a classic car show and the Festival of Lights. Visit the Ocean City website at www.ococean.com for a schedule of upcoming events.
Conclusion
A good place to take your summer vacation if you’re planning to be in the Maryland DC/Virginia area is Ocean City, Maryland.
The resort has a pristine beach, a boardwalk, fine hotels, golf courses, water sports, fishing, racing, slot machines and excellent cuisine.
