Things to do in Ocean City Maryland: Your Complete Travel Guide

Summertime is here and that means it’s time to hit the beach and enjoy yourself! Lucky for me, I was able to discover and explore a beach town that made enjoying yourself easy, Ocean City, MD. It was my first time traveling to OCMD and I was happily surprised to find that it was only a short 3-hour drive from my home city of Philadelphia, which made it a super convenient beach trip! My friend Anahys joined me, and together we were able to experience some of Ocean City’s best restaurants, enjoyable activities, prettiest sunsets, and tons of cute picture spots!  My fantastic guide for this trip was the Ocean City Maryland Tourism Board. They organized and arranged an incredible itinerary for my visit, connecting me with the best must-see spots in Ocean City. Their agenda was pleasantly simple with only one request. Enjoy Summer! And that, we certainly did!

DAY 1

SNEAKY PETE’S

Maryland is famous for its crab spots, and we got to try one of the best! Sneaky Pete’s is a casual bayfront restaurant, serving up delicious seafood classics & all-you-can-eat Maryland-style steamed crabs! The restaurant is located at the end of a long dock, out on the bay. There are even two boats tied along the dock where you can choose to eat! We got to try Coconut Shrimp, Ahi Tuna, Crab and Avocado Salad, and Lobster Roll, which was my personal favorite! Sneaky Pete’s was so fun and quirky, with fantastic food, views, and vibes! If you’re visiting Ocean City Maryland and are in the mood for incredible seafood, stop by Sneaky Pete’s! 

CAMBRIA OCEAN CITY – BAYFRONT

Our home away from home, and host for our stay was The Cambria Ocean City Bayfront Maryland. The Cambria is sophisticated and stylish, while also remaining fun and charming. The hotel offers generous bayfront views that felt like they went on forever from our balcony. In the mornings we would spend some time in the waterfront fitness center. During the day you could usually find us at the pool and poolside Tiki Bar, soaking up some sun and cooling off!

TIPSY TIKIS

Tipsy Tiki is OCMD’s original tiki bar boat! This floating Tiki Bar offers a 360 degree view of the water and enough space for up to 12 guests! It was definitely the most unique activity of our trip, and an absolute blast! Floating along the bay, Tipsy Tiki’s kept the party moving, while serving up delicious tropical drinks, island music, and golden sunsets! I was drinking a Tiki Orange Crush and Anahys had Sweet Tiki Mama! Tipsy Tikis is perfect for bachelor/bachelorette parties, birthdays, or any excuse to have a party with your friends! A must-add to your OCMD itinerary! 

45TH STREET TAPHOUSE BAR AND GRILLE

After Tipsy Tikis dropped us off at the Pier, we were only steps away from the 45th Street Bar and Grille! We stopped by for a quick bite to enjoy the spacious deck, peaceful panoramic bay views, and their amazing food! 45th Street also boasted a beer list with over 40 beers on tap, and plenty of delicious cocktail options. I ordered the Crab Avocado, which was out of this world, and perfect after a day on the water. Anahys went with a Greek Salad with Salmon, which she absolutely loved.  

DAY 2

BARN 34

For breakfast we stopped by Barn 34. Located inside a large open concept barn, Barn 34  had a menu full of fantastic food and drink options. Barn 34 is the go-to spot in OC for everything from your favorite breakfast dish to daily happy hour. We got avocado toast, an acai bowl, and western omelet.

DOWNTOWN BERLIN

Next, we went on an adventure to the adorable town of Berlin. Just 10 minutes outside of OCMD, Berlin is a quaint and lovely town. Main Street in Berlin is home to many shops, galleries, antique spots, and restaurants. What I love about small towns like Berlin, is that you can see everything in only a few hours, and experience so many cute shops and fooderies. While we were there, we stopped by The Atlantic Hotel and got to try their famous Lemon Lust Cake, which was beyond delicious! Berlin was a delightful hidden gem of our trip, and definitely a must stop if you’re in the OCMD area.

ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE

Now that we had our fill of small-town charm, we decided to get back to nature, and experience something truly wild! The Assateague Island National Seashore is a 37-mile long barrier island  famous for its beautiful beaches, wild horses, and abundant birds. There are plenty of ways to enjoy the island including kayaks, paddle boards, or walking the picturesque trails. We spent much of our day walking the beaches and enjoying the horses and wildlife. Prices were super reasonable too, with $25 weekly passes and $45 yearly passes.

FAGERS ISLAND

After spending time with our horsey friends, we went back to the hotel to reset our batteries, and then we hit Fager’s Island Restaurant and Bar for dinner. Known for its American and Pacific Rim Cuisine, Fager’s Island also had over 30 wines by the glass, and stunning bay views. We were extra lucky to catch an amazing sunset. All of the food was impeccable and delicious. I ordered the Pan Seared Atlantic Salmon and Anahys got the Chilean Sea Bass Broiled with Plum-Sesame Glaze, both were delicious!

DAY 3

PABLO’S BOWLS

For our last day in OCMD we started by fueling up at Pablo’s Bowls. Pablo’s serves handcrafted, custom made acai bowls and smoothies! It was also only 5 minutes from our hotel which made it so convenient! We both got Dragonfruit Acai Bowls which were perfectly refreshing from the summer heat. Starting our day with a healthy meal was a great way to set ourselves up for success.

OCEAN CITY BOARDWALK

No beach trip is complete without a walk along the boardwalk, and OCMD is no exception! Named as one the top 10 boardwalks by National Geographic, OCMD’s boardwalk is nearly  3 miles of jam-packed fun! There’s nothing so nostalgic and exciting then the sounds of amusement park rides and the smell of funnel cake, cotton candy, and all of the best beach treats. Our favorite part was riding the Ferris Wheel to the top, to enjoy the view from above. After we got to ride some of the rides, we grabbed some boardwalk pizza and enjoyed it under the pier.

SUNSET GRILLE

We wanted our last meal to be a special one, so we chose to dine at the Sunset Grille. Located on the Marina, Sunset Grille had tropical vibes, bay breezes, and exceptional seafood. We sat on a cute glassed-in porch for our meal and enjoyed the marina views. I very much enjoyed their yummy Atlantis Salmon, and Anahys loved her New York Strip Steak.

We had an absolutely amazing time in OCMD! It truly made enjoying Summer easy! We couldn’t get enough of the beach, boardwalk, and beautiful views. Every meal we had was fantastic, and every adventure we went on was a blast! For anyone that hasn’t been, Ocean City, MD is a must visit town, and a perfect year round destination. OCMD has my highest recommendation! Enjoy your Summer soon before it’s over!

Happy Traveling!