Are you downtown in D.C. and wanting to get away from it all? Head for the Eastern Shore. There’s golf, fishing, environmental tours, and food and drink in Ocean City, MD. Convenient to Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, Ocean City is an all-year resort worth the pleasant drive – or the Maryland Blue Crab alone. Here are some of the things you can do at the Eastern Shore.
Things to do in Ocean City at the Eastern Shore
Fish The Deep Seas
You can fish the Oceanic Fishing Pier on Ocean City’s Philadelphia Avenue. Or you can fish from the white sand beach with an easily available license.
Back Bay Adventures at 32nd and the Bay offers back bay fishing, tours, and charters that offer bait, tackle, and refreshments on site. You can get your tickets there or charter a tour for family and company groups.in person or online. With a fishing pool in hand, you’ll find the back bay full of flounder, rockfish, sea bass, and trout.
Bahia Marina sits at 21st and the Bay, a well-known headquarters for small boat rentals and deep sea fishing charters. They host a yearly Mako Mania Shark Tournament in June, the Poor Girls’ open billfish release for ladies only in support of breast cancer causes in August, a Flounder Pounder competition in September, and a Roctoberfest celebration of rockfish season in October.
Natural Golf Environments
Golfers from all over the country head for the golf in the Ocean City area. You might enjoy the Glen Riddle Bay Club with its two 7,000 yard par 72 championship courses. The 420 acres of lakes, wetlands, and Zoysia grass fairways will get the city well off your mind.
Photo source CCL
Or, you might try Bear Trap Dunes with its winding bentgrass fairways and native wetland grasses waving in the ocean breezes across the dunes. Oversized greens and scenic beauty entertain golfers about 3 miles from Bethany Beach.
Dining for the Foodie
The award-winning BLU Crabhouse and Raw Bar attracts folks to make return visits with its steamed Maryland blue crab, shrimp, clams, and crab cakes. Its Raw Bar displays local oysters, Blue Points, and Chincoteague. You can top off your meal with cocktails or locally-brewed beers on the deck overlooking the picturesque bay.
Maryland.gov brags, “Blue crab meat sometimes is compared to the sweetness of lobster meat; the flavor best appreciated by cracking and eating steamed hard shells or feasting on softshells.”
Plenty of Places to Stay
Any seaside resort has many hotels, but the Princess Royale and Princess Bayside offer a lot of value in the middle of town.
Princess Royale is a stunning white facade on the beach. Its towers house condos and hotel suites around an indoor swimming pool. Guests enjoy en-suite, fully-equipped kitchens, free wi-fi, and immediate access to beach and boardwalk.
Princess Bayside is a separate complex on the opposite side of the island. Famous for its beach weddings, it boasts a private beach, indoor pool, and rooftop pool with bar. The 194 rooms include five jacuzzi rooms with kitchens, 89 bayfront efficiency apartments with kitchens, and 100 standard rooms. Your own Irish Pub is on the premises, and you are only a short walk away from other entertainment.
Walk The Boards
Ocean City is also home to one of the country’s famous old-time boardwalks. To the east are beaches that are cleaned every night, and the Atlantic surf. To the west are hundreds of shops, restaurants, bars, and amusements. National Geographic says, “Don’t miss the Life-Saving Station Museum for a look at the history of shipwrecks and the rescue teams that came to their aid.”
It’s time to move on your getaway weekend or vacation plans because reservations fill up quickly.You can even organize a package that includes your hotel and local activities that interest you. But, remember that Ocean City is a year-round resort with plenty to do in every season.