Nestled along the Atlantic Ocean in the northeastern corner of Maryland, Ocean City Beach is a popular destination for families looking for an oceanfront escape. Choose from plenty of Ocean City Beach vacation rentals along the beach, and enjoy watching the sun rise over the ocean each morning from the balcony of your accommodation. Your family can spend days playing on the beach, riding bikes around town, and eating great food at locally-owned restaurants. As you start planning your trip, check out the top 10 things to do with kids in Ocean City Beach.
1. Trimper’s Rides
Take the family down to Trimper’s Rides for a couple hours of fun and thrills. This historic amusement park began as part of the Windsor Resort back in the 1890s. For the smallest members of your family, the park offers teacup rides and fire trucks that go calmly around the track, while older kids can hop on the Ferris wheel, the roller coasters, or the tilt-a-whirl. Games of skill line the midway area, where everyone in your crew can try to win a stuffed animal to take back to your vacation rental. Don’t forget to grab a funnel cake, a hot dog on a stick, and other carnival food fare.
2. Assateague Island National Seashore
Spend a day hiking, playing in the sand, and seeing the wild ponies at the Assateague Island National Seashore. This protected reserve offers diverse ecosystems with marshland, dunes, and a pine forest. The Wildlife Loop runs a little over 3 miles, providing chances to see wild ponies, Asian elk, and deer. This path also allows bike riders, so bring your bikes if you’d like. In the summer, the beach has lifeguards on duty to help you keep an eye on your little ones. If there’s a ranger program during your visit, your family can learn more about the barrier island’s ecosystem and conservation efforts.
3. Splash Mountain Water Park
Cool off on hot days at the Splash Mountain Water Park. Your little ones will love spending time at the Rainforest Play Area, which features a tree house theme and offers slides, shallow water, and water guns they can use to battle older siblings. Teens and tweens can enjoy the thrills of the larger water slides, including the Eye of the Hurricane, Master Blaster, and the Aqualoop. Relax with a float down the lazy river or the wave pool. This park offers a variety of concession stands where you can grab a snack or bottle of water.
4. Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum
On a rainy afternoon, stop by the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum to learn more about the area’s maritime history. As a precursor to the modern U.S. Coast Guard, the Ocean City Life-Saving Station helped ships in distress and assisted sailors during and after major disasters. The building dates back to the 1890s. View exhibits with 200 types of sand, or learn more about aquatic animals on display in tanks.
5. The Boardwalk
The boardwalk in Ocean City Beach runs for 3 miles along the edge of the beach and provides easy access to hotels, shops, and more. In the mornings, rent bikes and ride up the boardwalk, or take your dog for a walk along the boardwalk in the afternoon. You’re apt to see street performers of all kinds along the way. In the evening, choose a restaurant on the boardwalk, and enjoy a scrumptious meal with your family.
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6. Jolly Roger Amusement Park
Jolly Roger Amusement Park offers a bounty of rides, games, and food stalls, and it’s a great spot to spend the entire day with your family. Head over to the bumper cars when you first arrive and then ride the large Ferris wheel, which provides a spectacular view of the entire area when you reach the top. Younger kids will enjoy the merry-go-round and tea cups. You can also play a round of mini golf or drive go-karts at this fun park.
7. Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
See astonishing things at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! This museum offers 12 galleries, each with its own theme. Your kids will love seeing the shrunken heads and the bones of some of the rarest animals. Kids stand on their tiptoes as they compare themselves to the world’s tallest man, and they also gasp at the optical illusions. After touring the museum, stop by the gift shop to pick up a unique souvenir.
8. Hit the Beach
Pack a cooler, sunscreen, snacks, and beach blankets, and head for the beach. Find a spot for your blanket on this spacious beach, and then hit the water with your family. After splashing around for a bit, take a stroll along the beach to look for seashells, or gather pails full of wet sand to create an awe-inspiring sandcastle. Bring a kite with you, or purchase one from a shop on the boardwalk; the ocean breeze sends your kite soaring through the air.
9. Rent Bikes
Enjoy the fresh salt air as you ride bikes around town. You can rent bikes from several outfitters in Ocean City Beach, including Wobbly Wheel Boardwalk Bicycle and 27th St Bicycle Rentals. Choose standard bikes, or select a surrey if you want the entire family to ride on double-bench seats and pedal to help keep the cycle moving.
10. Carousel Skating Rink
If the heat becomes overwhelming, head for the ice at the Carousel Skating Rink. Located in the Carousel Oceanfront Hotel, this rink welcomes guests from the hotel and visitors staying in the area. If your vacation rental is near the hotel, stop by the Carousel Skating Rink in the evening to enjoy the nightly show, which features professional skaters performing a variety of tricks and stunts for audiences.
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