Orlandoans are blessed with some of the best attractions, restaurants and beaches anywhere in the world. So where does an Orlando resident go when they want to experience something different, but also not compare it to our own backyard? Head to Ocean City, MD for a truly unique, kitschy and laid-back beach boardwalk experience not offered along any of Florida’s 8,263 miles of coastline.
The Ocean Gallery is a right of passage for first time visitors. Don’t forget to go upstairs, but watch your step!
The History
European presence in the Ocean City area began in 1524, when Giovanni da Verrazzano explored the East Coast. By the 1600s, British colonists expanded north from Virginia and settled nearby.
Isolated on a barrier island, Ocean City remained a quiet fishing village until 1875, when the Atlantic Hotel opened its doors. A year later, the railroad bridged Sinepuxent Bay, officially launching the resort era. In 1878, the U.S. Life-Saving Service—predecessor to the Coast Guard—established a station in Ocean City, bravely rescuing shipwrecked sailors during storms. The second station, built in 1891, now houses the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum.
The first boardwalk was constructed in 1900. Early versions of the boardwalk were dismantled and stored each winter. In 1933, a major storm created an inlet between the ocean and bay, later made permanent by engineers. This transformation turned Ocean City into a top sportfishing destination and earned it the title “White Marlin Capital of the World.” Transportation milestones further boosted tourism. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge (1952) and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (1964) provided direct access from Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Virginia, solidifying Ocean City’s status as a premier East Coast resort.
Today, Ocean City spans 10 miles of Atlantic coastline. With more than 10,000 hotel rooms and 21,000 condos, accommodations are abundant.
The Boardwalk
People go to Ocean City for the boardwalk, one of America’s best and most classic wooden boardwalks. Get up early and ride a Surrey down the boardwalk or stay up late and watch the shenanigans go down at the pier. It’s very RPG. This nearly three-mile stretch of scenic beachfront strolling offers an array of casual shops, stores, bars, restaurants, hotels, condos and VRBO-type rentals to keep you busy (M.R. Ducks and Flashback Oldtime Photos are popular spots for special OC souvenirs). But the real attractions are the classic rides you can find here and nowhere else in the world.
Trimper’s Rides
Some more modern carnival rides are mixed in with the older, classic children’s rides.
Daniel and Margaret Trimper, German immigrants, originally ran the Silver Dollar Bar in Baltimore. A visit to Ocean City in 1890 captivated them so much that they sold their bar and relocated to the beach. Today, Trimper’s Rides stands as America’s longest-running family-owned amusement park—a living slice of Ocean City history that blends old-world attractions with newfangled thrills, all under the same beachy skies that first bewitched Daniel and Margaret Trimper over a century ago.
While many of the older rides are for smaller children, they’re still worth exploring and watching. The Fairy Whip is particularly fun to watch while it haphazardly whips kids around, a ride at Trimper’s since the 1920s.
Pirate’s Cove
The exterior of Pirate’s Cove.
A ride (or rather walk-through) just about anyone can experience, Pirate’s Cove is a true treasure being one of only two remaining Bill Tracy-designed funhouses in existence. Tracy, who began his career in 1952, designed many dark rides and ghost trains in this time period, and achieved legendary status. Installed around 1970, Pirate’s Cove boasts classic Tracy stunts, rare floor gags and an iconic sword-wielding pirate façade. It blends eerie thrills with playful touches like animated parrots and shifting pirate ship decks. We recommend going in alone for a little more fearful fun.
Trimper’s Haunted House
A View of the Haunted House from outside.
Trimper’s Haunted House, located directly on the historic boardwalk, is one of the last remaining Bill Tracy-designed haunted houses left in the world. Originally built in 1964 by Granville Trimper and expanded in 1988 to two stories, it offers a thrilling ride through vintage dark ride stunts from the 1960s, as well as several modern-day spooky effects. You’ll even experience the boardwalk from the second story of the attraction (it makes for a great photo op). Be prepared for jump scares, as actors are often inside the attraction to enhance the experience.
Fisher’s & Thrasher’s
There are two OC classics you should try while strolling the boardwalk; Thrasher’s fries and Fisher’s popcorn. Let’s start with the fries. In 1929, a Georgian known as Mr. J.T. Thrasher introduced a unique concept: a food-stand concession which would specialize in only one product, the noble French fry. His idea? Simply to produce the best tasting French fry ever eaten—past, present or future. He did.
Through five generations and nearly 100 years, Thrasher’s has changed hands only twice. According to their website, “tradition rules, and quality reigns supreme.” According to my tastebuds, that statement is correct. There is no deviation from original procedures or original recipes. Once you load up on Thrasher’s, don’t forget to dose them in a heavy shaking of malted vinegar and salt. Don’t look down; hundreds of lost fries have made their way onto the boardwalk each day from overflowing fry tubs. And don’t look up; the seagulls are waiting to pluck a fry from your hands. Even the gulls know these fries can’t be beat. Now onto the popcorn!
Everett Fisher went into business with his wife’s cousin, Edmund Pusey. They opened Pixton’s Popcorn on the Boardwalk at Talbot Street, named after Edmund’s wife’s maiden name. Everett oversaw popcorn stand operations from day to day. After some time, Edmund Pusey decided to leave the business, and Everett Fisher continued, making his delicious caramel popcorn under his own name, using his secret recipe. From the beginning, his son, Donald Fisher, worked with him side by side and handled the operation of the stand while his dad was drafted into military service during WWII. Today, the family operates three stores at the Delaware beaches in Fenwick Island, Bethany Beach and Rehoboth Beach. You can order it online too, but nothing beats it freshly popped on the boardwalk during a cool summer evening.
The Old Pro Course on 23rd Street
Down The Road
It’s not all about the boardwalk in Ocean City. As the street numbers go higher and the boardwalk ends, there is so much more to explore. OC is home to no less than 15 mini golf courses, some nearly 60 years old. Locals and longtime OC visitors love the Old Pro Golf courses for their fun themes and nostalgic charm (the founder, Herbert J. Schoellkopf, was inspired by Walt Disney). We also love their prices, and at $12 a game (and free for 3 and under) you can’t beat it.
The Old Pro Indoor Course on 68th Street
Old Pro offers special pricing for those looking to hit multiple courses during their stay. They offer four outdoor courses, The Temple of Dragons on 23rd Street, The Renaissance Castle on 28th, the Undersea Adventure & Dinosaur Park on 68th and the Safari Village and Caribbean Pirate courses on 136th. The 68th and 136th street locations offer two indoor courses (Undersea Adventure and Safari Village).
Need a place to cool off? Vacationers have been ice skating at The Carousel Oceanfront Resort on 118th Street for more than 50 years. Robert Baker opened the Carousel Motel on July 22, 1962. At the time, Ocean City didn’t extend past 41st Street, and the Carousel became one of the only accommodations in a stretch of desolate land. In the mid-1970s, under new ownership, the Carousel Motel gained a 21-story condominium tower and became one of the first high-rises in Ocean City. The project also added an atrium housing the Carousel’s famous ice-skating rink, convention center, indoor pool and more.
In 2002, professional ice-skating company, The Next Ice Age, started performing nightly shows on the Carousel’s ice rink each summer. Watching the show has become a tradition for guests and the public alike, as each year the team brings new and exciting choreography. And the price to skate on your own? $6 for hotel guests; $8 for non-guests. It’s the ultimate cooldown for the hot summer months!
The Food
1/2 Dozen Blue Crabs from Mug & Mallet.
Ocean City has some incredible seafood (and non-seafood) options all along Coastal Highway. Belly Buster’s on 45th Street is a casual, no-nonsense OC staple, offering steamed crabs, burgers, subs, fish tacos and lots of delicious fried seafood since 1985. This is a great place to eat blue crab if you’ve never tried it before. The staff is friendly, and the locals are helpful when it comes to proper crab deconstruction. Mug & Mallet on the boardwalk is another great low-key spot for blue crabs.
Looking for a more elevated dining experience? The Hobbit is THE place to be, boasting an exceptional menu and bar, and some of the best views, especially during sunset where you can catch a glimpse of the summer sun setting behind the OC marshes. The Hobbit’s menu changes with each season, but every item delights the palate. The Catch of the Day is never a bad choice, served over Japanese rice with soy and honey-roasted mushrooms, finished with dashi mayo and scallions (market price). An extensive cocktail menu offers refined versions of beachside drinks like the Strawberry Basil Mojito, made with fresh basil, fresh strawberries, Parrot Bay Strawberry rum, shaken and served over rocks with a lime ($14).
For those looking to dine beachside, Coastal Salt delivers consistently good meals with a great view. All the seafood options are incredible, but they also know their way around the grill (the steaks are delectable). Want a little buzz before you head back to the boardwalk? The Ocean City Rum Shack, a Caribbean- themed and inspired pool bar, is located next to Coastal Salt, right on the Ocean City Boardwalk at 16th Street. They offer a wide array of frozen drinks, fresh fruit crushes, locally crafted brews, and delicious lite fare, but the show stealer is the 32-ounce rum bucket ($22).
The Fresh Fruit Bowl at Barn 34.
For breakfast or weekend brunch, Barn 34 has your number, and the Captain Crunch French Toast has your name all over it. If the Angel Food French Toast is on the menu, don’t miss that either. Ask for a table upstairs!
Where To Stay
Hotels and motels abound on Coastal Highway, and VRBO and AirBNB options are plentiful as well. There is no wrong place to stay, but the closer you get to the boardwalk, the closer you are to the action! The further up you go on Coastal Highway, the quieter it becomes. We haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of experiences you can have in Ocean City. On the beach? Don’t forget your Telescope (Scope) souvenirs. Want to see wild horses? Assateague Island is just a short drive away. There is so much to discover. Why not see it for yourself?
Beach at 31st Street.
A Note from the Publisher:
I’ve been to Ocean City four times over the last decade. Never sponsored or hosted, we just go on our own. It truly is a place to have fun, relax and enjoy without the pressures of expensive theme parks or MICHELIN-starred restaurants. You’ll live like a king in Ocean City, a King crab, that is.