An iconic American seaside resort, this town offers all kinds of family entertainment, such as amusement parks, ice cream parlors, miniature golf courses and piers.
Ocean City is a coastal town on the famous Jersey Shore. It features a lively boardwalk, miles of accessible beaches, entertainment attractions and watersports. The city is dry, meaning it does not allow liquor sales, making it a favourite destination among holidaying families. Dive into the non-stop action in summertime or visit out of peak season to enjoy its natural charms and fresh air at a slower pace.
The 2.5-mile-long (4-kilometre) Boardwalk is the resort’s energetic heart. Join the sun-kissed crowds that traverse this seafront pathway on foot or by bike and skateboard from early morning until long after sundown. Its home to cafés, candy stores, fast-food restaurants, galleries and surf shops. Buy saltwater taffy (soft chewable candy) at Shriver’s, the Boardwalk’s longest-running business.
Go to the Ocean City Music Pier for superb sea views and live music shows. Gillian’s Wonderland Pier and Playland’s Castaway Cove have dozens of attractions such as bumper cars, drop towers, Ferris wheels and roller coasters. Have fun on the lazy river and waterslides at OC Waterpark. Congo Falls Adventure Golf and Medieval Fantasy Mini Golf are two of several themed mini-golf courses.
Enjoy the golden sand and clean water of the beaches. Lifeguards patrol most of the 8 miles (13 kilometres) of shoreline from June to September. Be adventurous and try kitesurfing, surfing or windsurfing. Corson’s Inlet State Park is an area of virgin sand dunes and estuaries ideal for crabbing, hiking, fishing and kayaking.
Away from the coast, Ocean City Historical Museum recounts city history and traditions. Spot thousands of shells at Discovery Seashell Museum. See colourful shorebirds in the freshwater marsh of Stainton Wildlife Refuge.
Get here by flying to Atlantic City International Airport, a 30-minute drive north of the city. A series of bridges and causeways provide road links to the mainland, Longport and Strathmere. Come see for yourself why Ocean City has the reputation of being America’s Greatest Family Resort.
