Ocean City, Maryland info

[Kristi1357]

I know I've seen people talk about OC here, but I searched and cannot come up with any good info on old threads.

Do you have any suggestions of fun things to do, places to stay away from, etc.? This is a big family trip with the grandparents, parents and kids ages 1-9.

We will be there next week at a condo right on the Boardwalk. I haven't been to OC in 18 years (yikes!). But the last 2 times we went, we loved it!

We were thinking of possibly hitting Frontier Town one day with DS3. But other than that, we are playing it by ear - planning mostly beach days. The only other thing we'd like to do is have a professional family portrait done in the beach - if I can find a photographer on such short notice.

DH may want to parasail. I'm sure the kids would love rides and mini golf.

Any suggestions? TIA!

 

[theprincess]

This will be the 1st year in 13 years that we are not going to OCMD because we are going to WDW!!!
We always ride the wave runners what a lot of fun!!! its on the bay side on 54th street.
we also go crabbing, minature golf, do the boardwalk in Rehobeth things are much cheaper (which is great for all the games)

If you need any info on places to eat let me know have got good suggestions for that too.

Hope this helps a little.

 

[tmt martins]

I would do a day at the Jolly Rodger water park

Assateuge (sp ) is a very good trip I prefer the Fed end as to the state end.

The pontoon boats also a very good Family trip.

Eat at Marios on 22nd or around there. Dough Roller anytime of the day ,Bull on the beach . The Captians Galley in West OC was nice haven't been in a while.

Hope that gives you some ideas as well as the others posted very good .

We still do weekends ( 2 already offseason ) but with PAP's and 2 trips planned and trying to squeez in a third I don't see us hitting it that much this year.

 

[Kristi1357]

thanks for the suggestions!

 

[safetymom]

Phillips Seafood is a great place to eat. Thrashers fries are a must. Caruso's or Dough Rollers for pizza. Asseateague (sp) is great to see the ocean and the ponies. Frontier Town has always been fun for the kids. Take the tram down the boardwalk. Ride bikes on the boardwalk in the morning.

We went every year for years. Now that we live in FL. they still like to go to OC for vacations.

 

[Christine]

Phillips Seafood is a great place to eat.

No, no, no....I *must* disagree. This place is pretty bad. It was WONDERFUL in its heyday back in the 70s. It is now a huge buffet. You can go into another part and eat off the menu--not sure how that is.

There are tons of little "mom-and-pop" joints that serve fabulous Maryland crabcakes. They are dives but have the best food. I used to go to a place called Leo's (up by the Fenwick/OC line) and they had good crabcakes, made to order fried chicken, good seafood platters. It was such a dive though.

The Crabcake Factory is good too, for crabcakes. They are on 120th Street (I think!!). Dough Roller is good for breakfast and pizza.

My cousin has a condo there and she lives there every weekend. She doesn't do the tourist stuff, but she will know of the good restaurants, so when I talk to her today I will get a 'refresher' on things since I haven't been in 2 years.

 

[safetymom]

Phillips off the menu is great!!! I have never done the buffet upstairs. We also do their carry out. I ate their last October and it was wonderful.

 

[lucyblondecat]

I second the suggestion of Mario's, its our family's favorite and we have been going there ever since I was a little kid. Also agree you can't go to OC without eating Thrasher's Fries, with lots of vinegar!

Frontierland is wonderful for younger children. They also have a swimpark there, which again is really nice for younger kids. They have a big interactive pirate ship and a lazy river, but its not so big that its indimidating.

You can get your professional portraits done there. They will do them right on the beach. When you get there, go to the place on the boardwalk that does the old time photos -- they also do contemporary photos on the beach. Friends of ours had their's done, they look wonderful. Everyone was in white, and against the beach background it looks great. I would do it too but getting my 3 kids under 5 to all look good for the camera at the same time is still a challenge, will wait until they are a little older.

 

[of the seas]

Be aware of LOUD and rowdy high school seniors!!!

 

[loveysbydesign]

This is the 1st year we're not going since we went ot WDW in May. My kids love Frontiertown...the waterpark/minigolf all day ticket is like 12 a person....great deal! We LOVE the italian place on the corner at the road you turn left onto to go to Frontiertown...I can't remember the name of it right now...also Smokers- BBQ on the highway to FT is great too! Last year we took a boat tour of Assateague...it was really neat, the kids had a great time trying to catch stuff with there nets and the captian was cool. We went 1st thing in the morning. I forget the name of the one we went on but it was at the end of the island on the right, right after you pass the bridge to the mainland. HAVE FUN!!!!

 

[laurajetter]

I only recently discovered this at our last visit, but a wonderful atmosphere to dine in is at Seacrets. It is Jamaican-style with outdoor seating amidst palm trees, lush greenery and tiki torches right on the bay side.

Their claim to fame is their party-atmosphere when it transforms to a huge night club during the evening hours. We are NOT into THAT scene at all, so we visited during the day to eat at their restaurant portion and we LOVED it! It really made you feel like you were on some tropical island somewhere, and the food was great.

Here is a link to the part of their website describing their restaurant:

Seacrets restaurant during the day

 

[loveysbydesign]

OOPS...forgot to mention a great place we found last year!!! FishTales Restaurant on the bayside...it has a playground in the sand along docked boats and a small arcade for kids. The tables are in the sand and there drinks are strong!!! I'm not a big drinker, but I do like frozen fruity drinks. I got the Rum Runner and couldn't move for 1/2 hr---HA HA...my dh was laughing at me the whole time and the kids had lots of fun on the pirate ship playground!(the food was GREAT too)

 

[Sherri]

shorepro.com is a great site as far as weekly or seasonal rentals. We have always used them. I think you get such a great deal. Also we like around 120th-140th street areas because they are less congested and just a bus ride to the boardwalk. But this site will show you all properties.
Our favorite is the Golden Sands, we like the upper floors where when you wake up in the morning you can see the ocean from the master bedroom.
We have also stayed at the Irene which is pretty also.
They both have pools.

 

[ckay87]

OOPS...forgot to mention a great place we found last year!!! FishTales Restaurant on the bayside...it has a playground in the sand along docked boats and a small arcade for kids. The tables are in the sand and there drinks are strong!!! I'm not a big drinker, but I do like frozen fruity drinks. I got the Rum Runner and couldn't move for 1/2 hr---HA HA...my dh was laughing at me the whole time and the kids had lots of fun on the pirate ship playground!(the food was GREAT too)

Oh I really really second that. OP mentions that there are a bunch of kids. This place is PERFECT. The food was fine, but the real appeal is that the kids play right next to you on the playground while you can sit there and sip Rum Runners all night if you want , watching the sunset. Totally different dining experience when you can't get your kids to leave a restaraunt! If I remember correctly, the seating was somewhat limited, so I'd arrive before the dinner rush.

Oh, and good luck finding it! It's part of the bahia marina (we even saw a fishing boat come in with a huge shark - cool!) But the restaraunt is kind of hidden around the back, if I remember correctly.

They have a website here

 

[SillyMe]

We ate the Phillips Seafood Buffet last year and didn't like it. It wasn't as great as we were told. I'm in search of some good restaurants this year, too. Thrasher's fries on the boardwalk are great! There's an ice cream stand, too (can't remember the name, but it begins with a K), that has custard...the chocolate/peanut butter twist is to die for!

As others have mentioned, Frontiertown is great! Baja Amusements has bumper boats, a rock climbing wall and several go cart tracks. There are miniature golf places everywhere.

Have fun!

 

[Christine]

We ate the Phillips Seafood Buffet last year and didn't like it. It wasn't as great as we were told. I'm in search of some good restaurants this year, too. Thrasher's fries on the boardwalk are great! There's an ice cream stand, too (can't remember the name, but it begins with a K), that has custard...the chocolate/peanut butter twist is to die for!

As others have mentioned, Frontiertown is great! Baja Amusements has bumper boats, a rock climbing wall and several go cart tracks. There are miniature golf places everywhere.

Have fun!

I think you are thinking of Khoury Brothers or something like that--isn't right before you walk out on the Pier Amusements? I like Dumser's Dairyland also. No frozen custard, but good soft-serve ice cream, cherry diptops, and hand scooped.

Don't forget Fisher's Popcorn either. Always a must do. Now let me get some of those restaurant names from my cousin.

 

[MELISAZACK]

Owned a home in Ocean Pines there for over 15 yrs now...I agree about Fish tales great place for families you get the bar on the bay with good reasonable foods mainly sandwhiches but entertainment for kids!!!
Secreate is great for ADULTS!!! NOT kid friendly in anyway...that is the biggest downfall of it...Frontier town is good for kids under 12...they now not only have the lazy river but last year added 2 waterslides and for one price you get the water park for the day and the mini golf... there are go carts that are a little cheaper than the ones at jolly rodgers on RTE 50 right over the bay from OC and shopping outlets right there....I agree with Phillips having a horrible buffett anymore - Bonfire is pretty good though still.
Captn's gally which is a very nice rest. is over the bay right off of RTE 50
have fun - the beach is where it is all at though...

 

[Christine]

Okay, just talked to my cousin:

The Blue Ox (very good steak place, very pricey-124th street).
Mackey's Pub (this is on Rt. 54 heading out of OC/Fenwick)
J.R. Steakhouse (mediocre food but a good kid's menu)
Seacrets (for lunch--great hot dogs, excellent Jerk Chicken)
Hammerheads on the Boardwalk (for good burgers)
Agreed that Bonfire was still a good buffet

Absolutely stay away from:
Castaways
Harrison's Harbor Watch (on the boardwalk)
The restaurant in the new Hilton (don't know the name)
Mancini's

 

[motherhen17404]

Just wanted to add 1 more place to eat. The Bayside Skillet is a great place for breakfast. Their Crab omlette is so good!

If you are traveling across the Bay Bridge on Rt.50, there is this great little dive across the Kent Island bridge. It is called Holly's. Wonderful food for a "dive". We used to live just down the street from there and would eat at Holly's 5 out of 7 nights.

 

[disallday!]

MAKE SURE U GO TO THE BOARDWALK & GET THRASHERS FRIES

If u like french fries, this is the place....


Thrashers fries and vinegar, I'll think I'll go up there n get sum this wknd