Ocean City, MD

Address:Ocean City, Maryland

Your visit to Maryland won't be complete without stopping in Ocean City, a beach resort where there's something for everyone, regardless of age. Carnival rides, water slides and very popular mini-golf await just steps from the three-mile-long boardwalk. Ocean City's entire beach is open to the public and is perfect for everyone from families to surfers. From April through October, Ocean City is a hotbed of sailing, parasailing, windsurfing, jet-skiing, power-boating and waterskiing. Surf fishing is permitted on all public beaches but is restricted at certain hours of the day.

So many people visit Ocean City during the summer months that for those three months, the 10-mile strip that is Ocean City, is considered to be the second-largest city in Maryland.

Hotels, restaurants, ice-cream stands, and shops line the boardwalk, which stretches all the way to the oldest part of Ocean City. There are enough benches along the boardwalk where you can sit, have a snack and enjoy the view. The boardwalk ends at the fishing pier, which has amusement rides and a huge Ferris wheel.

You don't have to walk far to shop. With 27 blocks of souvenirs, candy stores, restaurants, snack shacks, and, of course, T-shirt stands, the boardwalk is probably the most popular place to shop. You'll find a lot of the same stuff in each souvenir shop, but there are a couple places worth mentioning. Ocean Gallery World Center, is unique, with its mosaic-like facade of art from around the world. Choose from three stories, full of art posters, prints and original oil paintings; all for sale at closeout prices. The Kite Loft has a large selection of kites, flags, windsocks and toys. For something sweet, visit the popular Candy Kitchen, which specializes in fudge and saltwater taffy. Candy Kitchen is so popular it has several locations in Ocean City. Other shopping opportunities are available out on Coastal Highway.

Biking on the boardwalk is a very common activity, especially for families. Boardwalk biking is allowed between 5 and 10 a.m. during the summer, and anytime in the off-season.

If you're tired after all the boardwalk activity, take the BoardwalkTram, which stops for waiting passengers along the Boardwalk - very convenient for parents with tired children or Ocean City first timers.

Ocean City promotes itself as a major golfing destination; many courses offer vacation packages together with your hotel. All courses are open year-round from morning to evening. Most courses in the area have different fees for morning, afternoon and evening golf.

Ocean City attractions are fun for adults and kids. Before you head for the attractions, look for coupons for everything from miniature golf to go-carts, usually available at the visitor center.

Visit Frontier Town, a theme park and camping site just 10 minutes from the boardwalk. From mid-June to Labor Day, enjoy a Live Wild West show with narrated re-enactments so you understand what's going on. Adults and children can even participate in parts of the show. To make it a real family event, parents and children can be in the show together! Experience a steam train ride, a stage coach ride and paddle boats. Frontier Town theme park also has a water park and mini-golf course. The attractions are spaced out enough to give you time to get from one to the other. It also gives you time for bathroom breaks with the kids and grabbing something to eat like pizza or ice cream. Frontier Town's camp grounds include cabins, a dock for fishing and crabbing, as well as a swimming pool. The bathrooms are kept clean and there is security on the campgrounds.

Located at the end of the boardwalk is Trimper's Rides - a prime stop for family fun. Catch the bus down to the inlet and buy your tickets at the booth; inside the arcade building you will find beautiful antique rides, but the thrillers are outside. They even have indoor rides for when it's raining. It's a fabulous place to take small children, especially if they enjoy rides that spin. A great ride for little kids is the Frog Hopper. With the unlimited pass you can enjoy your favorite rides again and again. Check for the coupon book in your hotel lobby.

Zoom along the waters of Ocean City in the Sea Rocket, a 70-foot, open-top speedboat. The trip lasts about 50 minutes. You can see dolphins, and sometimes the crew will stop so you can get a better look at them. Unless you want to get wet, bring a raincoat - people in the very back usually get soaked. Those in the front get less wet, and those in the middle stay the driest. Save this ride for a warm day, when you feel like getting a little spritz. If getting wet doesn't appeal to you, take a nature cruise to a neighboring island.

Get on the Assateague Island Explorer, a narrated nature cruise with a stop on Assateague Island to see ponies, lots of horses, marine life and birds. Since catching a glimpse of wildlife can be hit or miss, you can return to the Island many times for one price. This is a great adventure with small children. It's a perfect tour for eight-years-old and under. They are thrilled to catch shinners & hermit crabs in a net, feel a sea star in a Tupperware container and see ponies on the island. Making reservations ahead of time is suggested.

Go wild at the Planet Maze & Laser Storm – it has an indoor and outdoor maze that is great for kids, a high-tech arcade and a laser-tag game. There's even a snack bar, so you can stay all day!

View a large collection of shipwreck artifacts, local history displays, shells, pottery, and coins for free at the Discoveries from the Sea Museum. With stories behind the artifacts and a very friendly, knowledgeable staff, the museum is a great place for kids.

Jolly Roger's is a top-notch amusement park, both for the price and the family atmosphere; park entrance is free. There are several Jolly Roger locations in Ocean City and each features a different range of rides: from crazy roller coasters to kiddie rides. Some rides require that an adult accompany the child. Rides run on credit, so there's a limit to the amount of times you can try a particular ride. It's advisable to get a package deal for credit-run rides. The chance games are awesome as well. There is a prize almost every time, which is great for the children and even better for the parents' wallets. There's also a gigantic water park, as well as a Speedworld - a 16-track go-cart park. The two-hour all-you-can ride go-carts are a bit pricey and they have height restrictions, so there aren't many carts a child under 10 can ride.

65th Street Slide & Ride has age and height-specific requirements for all of its attractions, including water slides, golf carts and paint-less paintball, which all parents love. If your feeling the summer heat then have a little fun and drench someone, just because you can, with Water Wars.

Seafood is very popular in