Ocean City Stories

Summer Nights & Zero Dollars: Your July Guide to Free Fun on Maryland's Coast

July is peak season on Maryland's Coast. The beaches are packed, the Ocean City Boardwalk is buzzing, and it can feel like everything costs something. But here's what the locals know: some of the best things about summer here don't cost a dollar. Not one. From live music on the bayfro...

The Ultimate Paddler’s Guide to Maryland’s Coast

Maryland’s Coast should be on every paddler’s bucket list. The diversity of habitats, ecosystems, and waterways that exist in such a small region is sure to keep any paddler busy exploring all season long. From kayaking the Assawoman Bay with views of the Ocean City skyline, to the vast...

VOICES 250 TO CAPTURE LOWER SHORE STORIES

The Lower Shore 250 Commission, has announced the launch of Voices 250, a major public history initiative connecting local experiences to the broader national story of Maryland at the nation’s semiquincentennial. Voices 250 will record, archive, and freely share at least 250 oral-history in...

Where To Stay On Maryland’s Coast

B&Bs, Inns, and Unique Stays in Berlin, Snow Hill, and Pocomoke City. Most people planning a trip to Maryland’s Coast start in Ocean City. That makes sense. But Worcester County, Maryland is more than a beach destination. Behind the shoreline, the county opens into farmland, woodl...

RV Life on Maryland’s Coast: Where the Open Road Meets the Ocean Breeze

There’s something special about waking up on the Eastern Shore. The air smells like salt and pine. Gulls call before sunrise. And that first cup of coffee tastes better when the horizon stretches wide and still. That’s the rhythm of RV life on Maryland’s Coast, from Ocean City,...

Spend Your Birding Era on Maryland’s Coast

It seems that so many people have entered a new and exciting era of their lives lately - the birding era. Years ago you wouldn’t have looked twice at a gathering of tiny shorebirds on a mud flat, but now you find yourself getting distracted during a meeting when you’re facing the window....

Lesser-Known Walking Trails of Maryland’s Coast

When imagining the walking trails of Maryland’s Coast, images of the Ocean City boardwalk or windswept marshes of Assateague probably come to mind. Or maybe the feeling of strolling the beach and feeling the sand between your toes. Maryland’s Coast certainly has some iconic places to go...

Spend Time Biking Along Maryland’s Coast This Season

From secluded state forest trails to the iconic Ocean City boardwalk, biking along Maryland’s coast is a must-do activity for cyclists of all skill levels. The variety of scenery that’s encompassed in such a small region gives visitors unrivaled opportunities to explore on two wheels.&nb...

Why Spring Is the Sweet Spot on Maryland’s Coast

If you’ve ever wondered whether spring is too early to visit Maryland’s Coast, here’s the honest answer. It’s not! In fact, it’s one of the best-kept secrets of the season. Spring arrives here quietly. Not with a single moment you can point to, but in small cha...

Experiencing Maryland 250 on Maryland’s Coast

As Maryland prepares to mark 250 years since the founding of the nation, Maryland’s Coast offers a way to experience that history beyond exhibits and timelines. In Worcester County, history unfolds outdoors along rivers, through shaded forests, across barrier islands, and within walkable towns...

Spend Your Birding Era on Maryland’s Coast

It seems that so many people have entered a new and exciting era of their lives lately - the birding era. Years ago you wouldn’t have looked twice at a gathering of tiny shorebirds on a mud flat, but now you find yourself getting distracted during a meeting when you’re facing the window....

February on Maryland’s Coast: The Month Between

February lives in the space between seasons. The holidays are behind us, summer still feels far off, and Maryland’s Coast settles into a steady, familiar rhythm that belongs to the people who live here year-round. This is not a month of escape. It’s a month of reconnection. What Febru...

Planning a Summer Getaway on Maryland’s Coast

If you’re starting to think about summer travel, January is often when it begins. Not with bookings or checklists, but with a feeling. The kind of trip you want. The pace you’re craving. How you want your days to unfold once the weather turns. National Plan for Vacation Day is a remin...

Cozy Cafés & Comfort Food Spots in Ocean City, MD This Winter

If you’re craving a little winter adventure, Ocean City, MD is an easy cold-weather escape. The slower season means less traffic, shorter waits, and fewer parking hassles, making it the perfect time to explore local cafés, restaurants, and comfort food favorites. From warm coffee shops...

Best Winter Walks Near Ocean City, MD

Beyond the Boardwalk, there are plenty of places in and around Ocean City, MD to get your steps in year-round. Whether you’re looking for exercise or a calming escape into nature, these local favorites offer some of the best winter walks near OCMD. Bundle up and explore! Where Are the Best...

January on Maryland’s Coast: The Quiet That Brings You Back

January strips the coast down to its essentials. Fewer people. More space. The sound of waves without interruption. This is the month when Maryland’s Coast feels honest and unhurried, the way locals know it when the season exhales. For many who live here, January is when we finally get to e...

Venture Outdoors This Winter Along Maryland’s Coast

It’s no secret that Maryland’s Coast is packed with opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors, but the most popular outdoor activities usually center around the warmer months. Swimming, kayaking, crabbing, and strolling the boardwalk are all activities people flock to the coast to enjoy...

Gifting Outdoor Experiences Along Maryland’s Coast

Gifting experiences is quickly becoming the best way to exchange gifts with outdoor lovers during the holiday season. The promise of an adventure gives your loved ones something to look forward to, which is much better than stuff that will just collect dust or clutter the closet.  The variet...

OCMD Indoor and Outdoor Family Fun in Late Fall

When the crowds head home and the salt air turns crisp, Ocean City settles into something a little quieter and honestly, kind of magical. Late fall is when the locals take back the beach: arcade lights glow brighter, the Boardwalk feels like yours again, and that first sip of hot chocolate after a w...

Nature, Community & Celebration: Events That Bring Maryland’s Coast to Life

Worcester County, Maryland, is not just a place to visit. It is a place to belong. Here, Ocean City’s shoreline meets open farmland, bald eagles soar above the Pocomoke River, and wild ponies wander the dunes of Assateague Island. For travelers seeking a getaway rich in nature, tradition, a...

Weddings on Maryland’s Eastern Shore | Venues & Inspiration

Boho bouquets in open fields. Jewel-toned tablescapes glowing in candlelit barns. Rooftop champagne toasts with ocean views. Maryland’s Eastern Shore has quietly become one of the East Coast’s most sought-after wedding destinations, where every season offers couples a new canvas to desig...

Explore Experience: Country Calling 2025

Day 1  Country Calling kicked off with beautiful beach weather, cowboy hats and boots as far as the eye could see, and a crowd more than ready to party all weekend long. Ocean City, MD’s inlet transformed into Nashville-on-the-coast, with fans flooding the festival grounds by car, ride...

Explore Experience: Oceans Calling 2025

Oceans Calling 2025, you did it again! Now that we have a couple of years of Oceans Calling music festivals under our belts, Explore OC is proud to see that the concerts are getting better year after year, continuing to surpass expectations with incredible lineups, drawing crowds of 50,000+ people f...

Tide to Table: Maryland’s Coast Oyster & Crab Trail

Crack a claw, slurp a salty oyster, and hit the road. This is Maryland’s Coast, where the seafood is local, the stories run deep, and the flavor is unforgettable. Worcester County, Maryland, is known for its scenic shoreline and small-town charm, but it’s also a culinary destination f...