One tradition our family has is heading to the beach during the summer! We enjoy the Ocean City, Maryland beach because of the fun activities that make it the best beach vacation ever. With the most delicious restaurants, rides, arcades, a boardwalk and more, there’s something for the whole family.

Ocean City Beach Day

Ocean City is well known for having a fun-packed boardwalk overlooking a beach, but we prefer heading to the quieter beaches further away. Lifeguards are out at 10 am, so even if you aren’t near the crowds, it’s a safe place for swimming. People start to head to the water to secure a good spot before 10 am, but you can generally find a sitting area at any time of the day.

Make sure to bring all your beach supplies! We purchased beach toys at one of the tourist shops to make sand castles and brought along a boogie board for a fun time.

There is plenty to do other than just the beach. After all, you don’t want your skin to burn. From arcades to miniature golf, most places are open late and they make a great spot to visit during the rain. One fun place is AlleyOops, where you can play games, go bowling, and dine!

Activities at The Boardwalk

Although I could enjoy spending all day at the beach, it’s not long before the kids are looking for something else to do. That’s when it’s a good time to head to The Boardwalk! If you are looking for kid-friendly rides and activities, this is the place to be.

Even if you aren’t visiting the beach while you are at The Boardwalk, it overlooks a beautiful ocean view that makes it a very picturesque place. There are several great photo opportunities, like the whale in the sand and the gigantic tire at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not.

The best part of The Boardwalk would be the games and rides for all ages. There is Jolly Roger at the Pier, Trimper’s Rides, Marty’s Playland, and more!

This year, we did a family photo shoot at Flashback Old Time Photos. With professional and knowledgeable staff, the experience was great! We chose the Southern Belle style photos, which turned out nice, and they were fun to do.

Dining on the Boardwalk at Ocean City

We dined on classic snacks at The Boardwalk. The Original Thrasher’s French Fries with salt vinegar are a timeless Ocean City tradition enjoyed by all our family members. It’s a sweet memory for my children to go on vacation with their grandmother to a place she visited when she was younger, and for all of them to enjoy the same experience!

My favorite Boardwalk treat was a Dumser’s Dairyland soft serve vanilla cone. With hot summer weather, this was just the snack I needed! Children can enjoy the sprinkle toppings and add a cherry for an extra special dessert.

Ocean City Restaurants

With many options for food all along the Coastal Highway, check out some favorites that are well worth visiting! For pizza, Trattoria Lombardi’s offers authentic Italian food. The Supreme Pizza has fresh tasting ingredients, including the delicious meatball toppings. Looking around the room, you could also see people ordering pasta dishes that looked amazing.

Another spot to visit is Nick’s House of Ribs. One of the most unique dishes was Nick’s World Famous Onion Loaf Appetizer, which had stacks of lightly breaded, delicious onion rings. It was the perfect dish to share before our main dish of fantastic ribs and authentic Maryland crab cakes.

One tradition is to stop by Dumser’s Dairyland for a very special breakfast for the kids. They enjoy the Belgian Waffles topped with ice cream! Savory dishes are also fantastic there. I had an omelette with fresh vegetables, ham and salsa, and it was very satisfying.

Visiting Ocean City is a family tradition we adore! Even though we do some of the same activities each time, we also try some new ones and create special memories.

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