If you’re looking for the best summertime spot for your next family vacation, look no further than the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Stretching from the Delaware to Virginia state lines, it borders the beautiful Chesapeake Bay and falls in nine different Maryland counties. This popular tourist destination is family-friendly, affordable and packed with fun things to do, from sunbathing and swimming, to amusement parks, golf and watersports.
Hit the Beach
Of course, the most obvious way to enjoy the Eastern Shore of Maryland is to hit one of the beautiful beaches like Ocean City. This popular resort town sees up to 8 million visitors each year because of the multitude of things to do and its 10 miles of oceanfront beach. Just grab your towel, chairs and sand toys, park in one of the paid spots along the side streets or park in the park-and-ride lot and get an all-day bus ticket that will take you all over the city, and then hit the sand! There are umbrella and chair rentals if you don’t want to bring your own, lifeguards on duty from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day and plenty of nearby places to grab a cold drink or a snack while you’re enjoying a long day of fun in the sun.
Stroll the Boardwalk
Also in Ocean City, MD, the boardwalk is the perfect way to spend your evening after a day on the beach. The three-mile long boardwalk was recently renovated and in addition to being a great place to walk, rollerblade or bike ride, is also home to tons of restaurants, shops, bars and attractions like the famous Thrasher’s French Fries, Dough Roller Pizza, Brass Balls Saloon and Bull on the Beach. The inlet, located at the end of the boardwalk, also has amusement park rides including a roller coaster and a giant Ferris wheel that offers great views of the whole area.
See the Wild Ponies on Assateague Island
At the Assateague Island National Seashore, located about 20 minutes outside of Ocean City, you can catch a glimpse of the wild ponies that have been living there since the late 17th century. Although interacting with them up close is not recommended (for the safety of both the horses and the visitors), there are plenty of opportunities to see them from a distance where you can capture photos and videos of the majestic creatures in their natural habitat.
Visit the Historic District of Chesapeake City
Chesapeake City, referred to as the “hidden treasure of the Chesapeake,” is listed on both the Maryland Historic Registry and the National Historic Registry. In addition to restored historic homes that are available to tour, there’s also dining, shopping, the C & D Canal Museum to explore, the Turkey Point Lighthouse, several vineyards that offer tastings and Chesapeake City Water Tours that offer sunset cruises and live music cruises on the Bay.
Go Back in Time at Frontier Town
If your little ones love playing cowboy, make sure to check out Frontier Town – a Wild West-themed campground and amusement park that’s located about 5 miles from Ocean City. With nearly 600 campsites to choose from, you can stay right on-site and enjoy all of the amenities including a water park, miniature golf course, ropes course and the theme park, which features a Native American village and live Wild West shows. There’s also plenty of ways to relax including nature trails, two dog parks and a 200 foot-long fishing pier.
Play the Slots at Ocean Downs
For an adults-only Eastern Shore vacation, head to Ocean Downs Casino where you can play the slots and enjoy an amazing dinner all in one spot. The casino also offers live table games, electronic table games and video poker, in over 70,000 square feet of gaming space. Once you work up an appetite, choose from Pacers – a casual American restaurant, Poseidon’s Pub – a pub that overlooks the racetrack, and several grab-and-go eateries.
Chart a Boat and Go Fishing
If you enjoy going fishing, there’s nothing like a quiet day on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Bring your own boat or charter one from one of the many charter companies in the area. These experts know all about the area and can take you exactly where you need to be, no matter what your preference is, from Maryland rockfish to stripers, croakers and mackerel. Many also offer other excursions like duck hunting and crabbing.
