The perfect place name
For fun in the sun, Ocean City, Md., lives up to its name
Ocean City, Md., is both a city and has an ocean, but also much more.
As you drive along the coast of Delaware, past Bethany Beach and Rehoboth Beach on the way to Ocean City, Md., the area transforms from a cozy surf town with the smell of french fries to an industrial locale. It’s interesting to see the hustle and bustle: Before the Atlantic Hotel began welcoming travelers in 1875, the city was an isolated fishing village. Three years later, a progenitor of the Coast Guard, the U.S. Life-saving Service, made its home there, with the mission to rescue shipwreck survivors from stormy seas.
Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Isle of Wight Bay, the area today is filled with resorts that give off a busy city vibe and a boardwalk with icecream stands, carnival games, rides, fishing piers, bike rentals and everything you need for a perfect summer vacation.
Lodging Princess Royale Oceanfront Resort
9100 Coastal Highway, Ocean City; princessroyale.com
Thanks to its on-the-beach locale and waterfront views, you’ll feel like you’ve traded busy blacktop streets for hot sand and the sound of waves crashing even when inside the Princess Royale Oceanfront Resort. The hotel recently updated some of its club-level rooms, which include access to a balcony overlooking the beach, bonfire pits and free wine and beer. If it rains, step inside the hotel’s beautiful, natural lightfilled atrium for protection without missing out on sunshine. There’s also an indoor pool, a hot tub and an on-site spa for a rejuvenating massage that uses hot and cold stones.
Dining Fager’s Island
201 60th St., Ocean City; fagers.com
Fager’s Island offers both a fine-dining side and a casual side. It’s never a bad idea to find the latter, where you can roll up your sleeves and get elbow-deep in a platter of Maryland crab dunked in butter. Here, however, the classic fine-dining option is worth it. Unique dishes created in-house include chicken livers and water chestnuts wrapped in crispy bacon, which Fager’s has been serving with horseradish dipping sauce since the 1970s. The Chilean sea bass also melts in your mouth, and the crab soup is an absolute must if it’s on the specials list.
The Shark on the Harbor 12924 Sunset Ave., Ocean City; ocshark.com
Shark on the Harbor is likely to be packed, but it’s worth the wait. The cocktails are both unusual and delicious. You can get a traditional margarita, or go for flavors like fresh pomegranate, grapefruit or spicy jalapeño served with a salted foam cloud. The clam appetizer comes drenched in lobster broth, garlic, butter and white wine. If the soft-shell crab with corn salsa dish is on the menu, it’ll be fresh, local and excellent.
Activities
Bike World
6 Caroline St., Ocean City; bikeworldoc.com
Renting a bike is the ideal way to take in the 2 ½ mile boardwalk, allowing you to scope out all the shops and eateries before deciding where to go. As you cycle through, you’ll swerve through locals chomping on hot dogs, tanning at the beach and playing games at the arcade. Be sure to stop at The Dough Roller: The hot dogs are a little pricey (1/4 Pound Hot Dog for $8.99, American Dog topped with American cheese for $9.99, Mexican Dog topped with melted American cheese and hot homemade chili for $10.99, German Dog topped with sauerkraut for $9.99), but it will only seem too expensive until you try them. They’re giant, juicy and delicious. Stop at Dolle’s for some of the famous saltwater taffy and caramel popcorn. If you ride to the end, you can take photos under the fishing pier and dip your toes in the water at the beach or lay out for a bit to soak up some sun.
A Ocean City Life-saving Station Museum
813 S. Atlantic Ave., Ocean City; ocmuseum.org
Dive into the history of
the country's life-saving service by stepping into the 1891 station house that played an integral role in the development of the city. Now a museum, the Ocean City Station was saved from demolition by a group of concerned citizens and moved to the southern end of the boardwalk.
A Seacrets Distillery
111 49th St., Ocean City; seacretsdistilling.com
Seacrets Distillery is its own little community, with its own radio station, beach and distillery. The fun and interactive Tour & Tasting takes you into the era of Prohibition, when “sick” individuals were able to circumvent drinking laws by asking a doctor for a prescription for “medicinal” alcohol. On the tour, use a phone to “call your doctor” and plead your case; once approved, you must knock three and a half times on the door of the speakeasy and give a pass code before being granted entry to the tasting. Three generous portions are included; I highly recommend the lemon vodka, which is made with fresh lemons and tastes like a lemon drop shot all on its own.