Get Answers from the OC Insiders

No, the boardwalk tram will not be operating again until Memorial Day weekend.

There is no specific senior week, but most seniors are in OC in the middle of June and that is when most of the Senior Week events are held. You can get a free bus pass by attending Play it Safe events. More information can be found here. If you don't have a free pass, you can ride the bus for $1 a ride or $3 a day.

The layout of Ocean City is fairly straightforward. The boardwalk starts at the inlet at the south end of Ocean City and continues north to 27th Street.  The southern blocks of Ocean City have streets named after Maryalnd's Eastern Shore Counties (Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset, Dorcester, Talbot, Caroline) plus North and South Division Streets and south 1st and 2nd Streets. After that, the streets are numbered as you move north. The boardwalk continues to 27th Street. Note that the Boardwalk is also sometimes referred to as Atlantic Avenue, but ocean front places north of the boardwalk may also have Atlantic Avenue addresses.

I'd suggest staying somewhere between 15th and 37th Streets. This will put you near the boardwalk and close to lots of places to eat and other attractions. There are also penty of hotels in this area. Here are a few I recommend (listed in no particular order):

Dunes Manor is a couple of blocks north of the boardwalk at 28th street, all rooms are ocean front with balconies. It has an indoor/outdoor pool. This is one of my favorite properties in OC, and the place I always recommend. My family stays there often. http://www.dunesmanor.com/.

Dunes Motel is at 27th Street, right at the north end of the boardwalk right at the tram station. It is an ocean front hotel with many ocean front rooms with balconies. It is a great, affordable ocean front motel. It also has rooms with balconies that face the bay. They have an outdoor pool. http://www.ocdunes.com/

Courtyard by Marriott at 15th Street is ocean front on the boardwalk. It is a new property built about 3 years ago with lots of amenities including ocean front and ocean view rooms with small balconies. It has an indoor pool. http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sbyoc-courtyard-ocean-city-oceanfront/.

Holiday Inn Suites at 17th Street is right on the boardwalk. Many rooms are ocean front with balconies. The hotel has lots of amenities including indoor and outdoor pools. http://www.ocsuites.com/

Beach Plaza at 13th Street on the boardwalk is a nice boutique-type hotel that was fully renovated last year. No pool http://www.beachplazaoc.com/
Quality Inn and Suites at 33rd street has nice ocean front rooms with balconies and indoor and outdoor pools. http://www.qualityinn.com/hotel-ocean_city-maryland-MD063

The Castle in the Sand at 37th street is a great midtown location. The hotel is ocean front, but they have several building and all types of rooms. They have lots of amenities including an outdoor pool. http://www.castleinthesand.com/home.php

The Spinnaker is right off the boardwalk at 18th Street (ocean block) . It is a great property, and being ocean block it will be bit more affordable. Many rooms have balconies with a view of the beach and ocean. They have an outdoor pool. http://www.ocmotels.com/spinnaker/

The Flamingo is just north of the boardwalk at 31st Street. It is ocean block with 3 buildings and an indoor pool so it will be more affordable than the ocean front places. They have indoor and outdoor pools.  http://www.theflamingomotel.com/

There are some hotels and motels along the bay that offer bay access, but there are no public bayside beaches. Some restaurants, notably Seacrets and Mackey's have in the bay beach dinning. There are lots of opportunities for watersports in the bay.

You can leave your car parked all week and still get around OC easily. The bus runs frequently and is just $3 a day or $1 a ride.

I gave a mix of places to stay to help you find one that meets your tastes and budget. Please come back and ask more questions as you plan your trip to OC!

Probaly for charity events for the Veterans. We just had a small version of bike week and our big one is planned in Sept but I will give you the websites for the Sept. event and perhaps you can get in touch with motorcycle groups through those links to see who is headed down Memorial day weekend. www.delmarvabikeweek.com and check out www.ocbikefest.com  again use those sites to find a phone number to see if any groups will be headed down. Enjoy planning your trip.

Several places rent low rider recumbent bikes, however, many of these are "low riders" and may no be suited for your needs. I know that at least at Bill's Bikes and Wobbly Wheels offer them.

Here is a list of bike rental places in town. You can call them to see if they have the type of recumbent bike you are looking for:

Bill’s Bikes
10 North Division Street
410.289.2155

Jo's Bikes
4 2nd Street
410.289.5298

Dandy Don's Olde Towne Bike
1109 Atlantic Avenue
410.289.2289

Bike World
6 Caroline Street
410.289.2587

Wobbly Wheel Boardwalk Bikes
3 N 1st Street
410.289.2453

O C Bayside Rentals
307 Dorchester Street

Continental Cycles Inc
7203 Coastal Highway
410.524.1313

Eden Roc Motel Bike Rentals
20^th Street
410.289.6022

27th St Bicycle Rentals
2000 North Baltimore Avenue,
410.289.6022

Hours when you are allowed to bike on the boardwalk are limited during the summer. The hours are:

I have a place on Sunset Island so I am very familiar with what you are discussing. You have several options that will work.

First, talk to the people you are renting from, they may be able to get you an extra parking pass. Second, when you check in with the guard ask for an extra pass, you can get one to park in the clam shells, at least for the day.

There is almost always some parking along 67th Street on the way into Sunset Island. You should be able to park there or on one of the nearby side streets (68th and 69th Streets also usually have available of parking) with no problem. I have left my car on these side streets for days at a time with no issue.

Don't park in the parking lots for the World Gym or the Marina, they will occasionally tow. Also, do not park on SI (except maybe in the TH driveway) without a permit. They will often tow, especially on busy weekends.

SI is a great place to stay with lots of great amenities. I hope you enjoy it!

You will need a saltwater fishing license. It is good for the coastal bays, inlet, and ocean. The cost is $22.50 for the season or $12 for 7 days. You can get more information HERE.  You can order your license online HERE.


Oyster Bay Tackle is a great source of fishing information and gear in Ocean City. The also have some good information on fishing licenses here. They also sell fishing licenses or you can buy them online.

The city is friendly for using jet skis, but less freindly for parking them. Here is a list of boat ramps in or near OC (I belive they are all free):
- Assateague Island Park, Rt. 611 at Assateague Island Bridge
- Gum Point Road off Rt. 589, West Ocean City
- OC Commercial Harbor, 12806 Sunset Ave., West Ocean City (rebuilt last summer)
- Little Salisbury Boat Ramp on 87th Street in OC (8am to 6pm - very limited parking)
- At South Point at the South End of South Point Road (south of the Assateague bridge)

You cannot park your trailer on a public street or in most public parking lots. Check with where you are staying to see if you can park in their lot. There is trailer parking available for trailers at the 100th Street Parking lot for $10 a day.

You can check with some of the marinas and see if they will store it for you or rent you a space for the week. I believe Advanced Marine (866.577.3449) on 67th Street offers this service.

If the weather is nice, they are open on the weekends all year (just with limited operating hours).  We have been in OC in October, November, December, March, April, May, June, August, and never ran into a case where we could find nothing open on the boards.

May 10th week - most places will be open - however operating hours may be limited still during the week.

Thank you,
Anna G.

In early July the average ocean water temperature on Ocean City is 67°F. It gets up to an average of 71°F in late July thorough August and drops down to an average of 66°F by late September. However, this summer likely will be warmer. The average for late April is about 50°F, and the water is currently at 56°F (on 30 April 2012).