Ocean City, MD

R

rommer

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Considering making Ocean City a destination for our summer vacation. I understand there is a decent marina within walking distance of the marina. I've heard differing opinions on the boardwalk. Small vs large, little to do vs lots.

Whats the real scoop? Descent restaurants? We would be coming via Cape May NJ. Which way is best, outside or via the Cape May canal?

Feedback desperately needed. I normally have my summer reservations by now!
 
Ocean City is great for kids. The marina is just inside the inlet and within walking distance to the boardwalk. There is alot to do on the Boardwalk but mostly for kids. There are bars and shopping (t-shirt/novelty stuff). I don't go anymore because of the riff raff and cheezyness of it all. On the upside, there is public transportation to get you out of OC if you want to hit the outlets or golf. Just my opinion. BTW, if you do go, Thashers Frys are a must do.
 
Also Rommer, the marina and inlet are easy to navigate and the heads are clean but there is always a pretty stiff breeze off the ocean and depending on the tide, about a (if my memory serves me)5 knot current to deal with. There is a great bar on site called MR Ducks. It is named not after a man by the name of Duck but by the local dialect of duck hunters. Them are ducks...kinda cute. They make one hell of a bloody Mary. Good Luck
 
Going into the canal, means you just have to come back out,so if I were coming from the north,I'd just stay out to OC.
 
I agree with Dusty, piece of cake run on the outside in good to fair weather especially with your boat Rommer. I did it in a 28 Bayliner
 
Dear Rommer, every year we spend a month in OC, MD. What you get is very similar to Wildwood, NJ, so do not look for much of a difference from an entertainment standpoint. What you find different is that often the fishing is about 10 miles closer to shore, there is some exploration that you can do on Assateaque Island National Seashore, and as compared to NJ, there is a large back bay for fishing, crabbing and water sports, and several waterfront bars/restaurants (Secrets is a must) nice area to dingy around.

Dockage, personally I would avoid the marina near the inlet, its name is the White Marlin, there is quite a “surge” that comes through the marina and unless your tied inside (and you will not since those slips are reserved for annual slip holders) you will be doing a lot of rocking. Based on my personal experience, I do recommend Harbor Island marina on 14th street, only a 2 block walk to the beach & board walk and convenient to the bus line – pay a couple bucks and ride all day. The marina I stay in is Sunset marina which is in west OC, you really need a car to get around, but it is a fantastic facility, check it out if you get a chance.

Practically speaking there is no inside route from NJ to OC. From Cape May take the inlet out into the ocean and come down the beach, I would estimate about a 35 mile run from sea buoy to sea buoy. The OC inlet is smaller than Cape May but I have never had any trouble just watch out for all the boats fishing the south jetty and an occasional jet skier. Good luck, I will be down there the month of July stop in and say hi. Jerry
 
Good replies. You may want to check out Bahia Marina too. They have a nice little marina just a couple blocks from the beach on the bayside with a nice lil' restaurant. One of my favorites.

http://www.ocfishtales.com/
 
And the Bahia Marina is somewhat sheltered off Assawoman Bay.
 
OCMD is awesome! Lots of restaurants and bars right on the bay with docks.

Fager's Island is very nice and food is somewhat reasonable. They play the 1812 Overture during the brillant sunsets over the bay, and everyone applauds at the end! Perfectly timed to end just as the sun dips below the horizon.

Fishtales is a great open air bar and grill, tables out on the sand and a pirate ship for the kids to climb on.

Seacrets is more of a younger crowd club-like atmosphere. I think they have a radio station on site that runs like a dance club in the evenings. You can hear the music from the channel as you motor by, so you can't miss it. Chicks are hot there, BTW.

In West Ocean City, if you like seafood, you definitely need to check out Watermans. They have an all you can eat thing going where they continue to "dump" king crab legs, blue crabs, chicken, corn on the cob, hush puppies, etc. You defintely walk away from there very happy.

There's also a Phillips Seafood Restuarant (the same as from the Baltimore) there, which has the best Lobster Bisque I've ever had.

We found that there are so many places to eat in OC that we never had to wait long to get a table.

Assateague Island is very nice. There's wild ponies on the island, and they are very tame. You can actually pet them (although the rangers discourge this). Every year, the third week in July, the Ocean City, MD fire department swims the ponies across the bay for an auction. It gets pretty wild around that time, lots of boaters out there to see the show.

The boardwalk gets VERY crowded. If you have kids, go in the afternoon and get out of there before 7PM. It's a zoo. Lots of rides, Hard Rock Cafe, Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum (make sure to try to make the funnny faces in the mirror in the beginning!) are all on the boardwalk.

And of course, I have vast experience and knowledge of the inlet. It was very easy to negotiate, not too busy, and very well marked. Once in the bay, stay in the channel as it gets very shallow real fast. Annabo has found the bottom more than once in that bay!
 
Shallow bay????? While clamming saw wind surfer run aground......It was hilarious as he went flying off the board !
 
In the bay at OC you need to heed the old saying from the river Medway in England (My old home port). "If the seagulls are walking on water put about"
 
Thanks for all the great information. Looks like we may put this trip off till next year now. I'll print it out and file it with our planning stuff.
 
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