Ocean City

The town sits on a barrier island and its defining feature was an accident: a hurricane in August 1933 cut an inlet through the island at the southern end, which fishermen immediately found useful for reaching the ocean, and the Army Corps stabilised it with jetties rather than letting it close. That inlet made the commercial fishing and charter industry and separated Ocean City from Assateague to the south. The boardwalk runs about three miles with Trimper's Rides, operating since 1893 with a carousel of 1912, and Thrasher's fries. The beach is free, unusually for the mid-Atlantic. Senior week in June, when graduating high school students arrive in numbers, is a local institution and a local headache.

Highlights

• A three-mile boardwalk - with rides operating since 1893.
• The 1933 inlet - cut by a hurricane and kept open deliberately.
• A free beach - unusual on this coast.
• Assateague across the inlet - undeveloped, with wild horses.

When to go

June to September. A full day.

Things to know

July and August are extremely crowded and Route 50 backs up for hours. Senior week in June changes the character of the town. Parking is paid and scarce. Off season most of the boardwalk closes.

Nearby

Assateague Island is south across the inlet; Berlin is inland.