City Guides: Things to do While Boating in Ocean City, Maryland

From the beach to the boardwalk, it’s all about sand, sun and salt in Ocean City (whether it’s French fries and popcorn, ocean waves or the scent of sunscreen and Old Bay). The area is popular with travelers and locals for fishing, boating, kayaking and just hanging out at the beach.

Photo: Ocean City, Maryland Facebook

Located along Maryland’s Atlantic Coast in Worcester County, Ocean City lies between Fenwick Island, Delaware to the north and Assateague Island National Seashore to the south. Isle of Wight Bay and Assawoman Bay border the western side. Private boat slip rentals along canals make the area easily accessible to boaters. Keep reading to check out just a few of the fun things to do in Ocean City.

Ocean City Boardwalk

Photo: Ocean City, MD Facebook

Ocean City’s iconic wooden boardwalk is a reminder of the seaside attractions of the past with all the thrills and fun of the present. At about three miles long, it’s perfect for walking, bicycling, in-line skating and fishing from the pier. Of course, there’s also a wide array of food, entertainment and activities along those three miles, including surf shops, souvenirs stands, seafood restaurants and the obligatory French fries, cotton candy and funnel cakes. Other attractions include mini golf, arcades, Ripley’s Believe it or Not and carnival rides at Trimper’s Rides and Amusements and the Jolly Roger Amusement Park.

Speedworld Go-Karts

Photo: Speedworld Facebook

Give the kids, and yourself, a break from the sand and surf and spend a day zipping around the tracks at Speedworld Go-Karts. Part of the Jolly Roger Amusement Park family, it opened in 1964 and has 10 tracks, concession stands, video games and a souvenir shop. Channel your inner drift racer (`a la The Fast and Furious) on the Miami Drift track, zoom around the Formula 1 track or take on the 1500-foot long and five-story tall Cyclone Cart Coaster, which is part go-kart track and part roller coaster.

Ocean City Life-Saving Museum

Photo: Wikimedia

Built in 1891, the Ocean City Life-Saving Museum is located at the far south end of the boardwalk on the inlet. It features exhibits on shipwrecks, sea rescues, surfing, vintage boardwalk memorabilia, Worcester County history, coastal ecology and much more. The document archive includes postcards, photos, records and marine objects. The museum is easily accessible from boat slip rentals on Isle of Wight Bay.

Arts and Culture

Arts and culture aren’t far from the beach and private boat docks for rent in Ocean City. Attend concerts, performances and seminars at the Performing Arts Center, or check out local and regional art at the Ocean City Center for the Arts. The Art League of Ocean City is the place to go for exhibits on oil paintings, photography, arts and crafts and graphic design. The organization holds resident artist studios, film festivals and classes for kids and adults on clay sculpting and screen painting.  
 

Watersports

Photo: Odyssea Watersports Facebook

Want to head out to catch marlin, bluefish or yellowfin tuna? There are a wide variety of watersports companies that provide charter fishing trips as well as parasailing adventures and kayak tours to nearby Assateague Island. The family-owned Odyssea Watersports offers rentals on kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, pontoon boats and jet skis. There are also several local boat ramps if you trailer your boat or keep it at a private boat slip rental in Ocean City.

Jot down some of these ideas to take with you the next time you’re hanging out at an Ocean City boat dock for rent!