10 Ways to Spend Your Time in Ocean City, New Jersey
Ocean City, New Jersey is popularly known as America’s Greatest Family Resort. As it’s become one of my family’s favorite vacation spots, it’s hard for me to argue with that nickname.
Part of what makes Ocean City so special is how much there is to do here. Besides the scenic beach, Ocean City has a 2-mile boardwalk with plenty to see and do, surfing, a pristine state park and more to keep you and your family busy.
You may just want to spend your time sitting by the beach taking in the views, but if you’re looking for more out of your trip, here my top 10 things to do in Ocean City, New Jersey!
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Visit Ocean City’s Beaches
This list has some great things to do in Ocean City, New Jersey, but of course, the top thing you need to do is visit the beach. After all, it’s why you’re here.
Ocean City, New Jersey offers 8 miles of what many people consider the best beaches in the northeast. The most popular beaches are right in the thick of things along Ocean City’s famous boardwalk, but you can find less hectic spots to sit in the sand towards the southern and northern parts of the island.
One of the things that makes Ocean City beaches so nice is they aren’t packed with people looking to party. Because Ocean City is a dry town, you’ll find people drinking alcohol they brought but typically not getting nearly as rowdy as at other beaches. This is part of what makes Ocean City, New Jersey such a great family destination.
Like most beaches along the east coast, expect Ocean City’s water to be on the colder side till about June. Around this time, the water starts to warm up and stays that way through August. You can also expect to see lifeguards patrolling the beach from Memorial Day through mid-September.
Don’t forget to get a beach tag before hitting the beach if you’re visiting during the summer season. These can be purchased online in advance or in several locations around the boardwalk.
Bike Up and Down Ocean City’s Boardwalk
A popular way to traverse the Ocean City boardwalk is by bike. You’ll see all sorts of people peddling along the boards at any given moment during the day. Sometimes it even seems like there are more people on bikes than walkers.
You’ll see all sorts of bikes, too. It’s not just the standard two-wheeler but tandem bikes, surrey bikes, trikes, and more. Finding a bike for your needs from one of the many rental companies around shouldn’t be a challenge.
So, grab a bike and feel the salty wind blow through your hair as you make your way down the boardwalk. It may end up being one of your favorite moments from your time in Ocean City.
Play Mini Golf on the Boardwalk
One of my favorite pastimes at Ocean City, New Jersey is to hit the links. No, not 18 holes of stressful and frustrating golf, but rather golf’s much less frustrating, family-friendly miniature version.
With several different options right on the boardwalk and another near Ocean City Bridge, you’re spoiled for choices when you want to get some putt-putt in. My personal favorite is Haunted Golf between Eighth and Ninth Streets. This mini golf course takes you through 18 holes of hauntingly good fun. Don’t worry if you have kids. It’s mostly just silly fun with no real scares to be had.
If you aren’t in the mood for the haunted theme, you have several other options. Pirates, the jungle, old cartoons, the medieval period, and more genres are available to fill your mini golf needs.
Eat to Your Heart’s Content
What’s a trip to the beach without overindulging a bit with delicious food? Ocean City, New Jersey has most cravings covered.
The three most popular eateries on the boardwalk are almost certainly Browns Restaurant, Oves Restaurant, and Manco & Manco Pizza. Oves and Browns are two sit-down restaurants featuring American diner-style staples. The breakfasts here are especially well-liked among frequent visitors. You won’t want to miss the donuts at Browns!
Manco & Manco Pizza is one of my favorite pizzerias. It’s not the best pizza ever, but it’s one of the things I most look forward to when a trip to Ocean City, New Jersey is coming up. Their pizza is big, cheesy and greasy – perfect after a day at the beach.
Besides those three restaurants, Ocean City has a wide variety of typical beach food: fries, ice cream, seafood, taffy, burgers, and more. Included in “and more” is Quincy’s Original Lobster Rolls, one of the best lobster rolls I’ve ever had.
My one complaint about eating in Ocean City is that it lacks restaurant options for dinner. There’s Oves, Browns and a few other locations, but that’s about it. The first time we visited, I found that fact a bit jarring. I’ve gotten used to it since then, though.
Surf Ocean City, New Jersey’s Waves
Even though I’ve been to Ocean City, New Jersey several times, I never realized how popular of a surfing spot it was till my most recent visit. Perhaps it was the time of year, but the beach at 16th street was packed with surfers each morning and afternoon.
I’ve since found out Ocean City, New Jersey is one of the top surfing spots on the East Coast. With its well-maintained coastline and consistent waves, surfers come from all around to ride the waves here.
Surfing is possible at any beach in Ocean City, but the two most convenient are right off the boardwalk at 16th and 7th streets. Parking at each spot is readily available, and the beaches here are dedicated entirely to surfing.
And don’t worry if you forgot your board. You can find plenty of places around town to rent surfboards for various lengths of time. Lessons are also available for anyone looking to try surfing for the first time.
See a Show at Ocean City’s Music Pier
The Music Pier near Eighth Street is a unique venue where you can see a live show during your time in Ocean City, New Jersey.
Highlighting this part of the Ocean City boardwalk is an old-fashioned building extending along the pier that houses a music hall where shows are put on. Large windows line the walls to give showgoers dramatic ocean views. It can’t get much better than that for a relatively small music venue.
The mainstay of Ocean City’s Music Pier is the Ocean City Pops. This orchestra performs shows throughout the summer months featuring a variety of musical genres including classical, pop, oldies and more.
The Music Pier also features stand-up comedy, musicals and even the occasional popular national act like the Beach Boys.
Ride the Rides at Playland’s Castaway Cove
Families in need of a change of pace from the beach will love Playland’s Castaway Cove. This amusement park has all sorts of fun rides and games to keep both parents and children entertained.
It’s hard to miss Playland’s Castaway Cove with its various rides looming large over the rest of the Ocean City boardwalk. If that’s somehow not enough, you can look for the large pirate ship hanging atop the rafters of the boardwalk’s shops. Kids will certainly not let their parents pass it by without pointing it out.
Playland’s Castaway Cove has a number of amusement park rides to satisfy children of all ages. These range from thrilling roller coasters to a child-friendly merry-go-round with plenty of variety in between.
Besides the rides, Playland’s Castaway Cove also has go-karts, a large arcade and three different miniature golf courses.
Walk Along the Ocean City Bridge
One of my favorite things to do in Ocean City, New Jersey is to take a run over the Ocean City Bridge. The bridge spans 2.3 miles as it crosses Great Egg Harbor Bay connecting Ocean City to the mainland. Along the way are fishing piers, a welcome center and great views of the bay.
More importantly, the Ocean City Bridge is a nice way to escape the more crowded boardwalk. I can’t vouch for the bridge in the afternoon, but it tends to have very few people in the morning. With the exception of a handful of other people, it’s always been just me, the bridge and the bay.
If you make a visit out to the bridge, be ready for a bit of a workout. It’s not overly difficult, but it has a couple pretty steep inclines in each direction to allow boats to pass by underneath. Considering these inclines and the length of the bridge, it’s a good workout whether you’re running, biking or walking across.
You may see this bridge referred to by a few different names: Ocean City Bridge, Ninth Street Bridge, the World War Memorial Bridge, Howard S. Stainton Causeway and the Route 52 Causeway. While confusing, they all refer to the same bridge.
Step Back in Time at Corson’s Inlet State Park
If you want to experience what Ocean City, New Jersey used to be like before the boardwalk, head to the southern part of the island to visit Corson’s Inlet State Park.
Corson’s Inlet State Park was created in 1969 in an attempt to leave this small stretch of the Jersey Shore undeveloped. As such, this state park is an ideal spot for birdwatching or seeing some of the area’s wildlife.
Corson’s Inlet has several recreational activities for guests. Fishing is a popular option, but boating, kayaking, and canoeing from here are possible, too. The park also has a few short trails for walkers to explore the natural dunes and undeveloped beachfront.
Take a Trip to Atlantic City
One of the unique things about Ocean City is that it’s a dry town. That means no alcohol sales at all. There are no bars, no distributors, no booze anywhere. While that may seem like a downer, the lack of alcohol is a big reason why Ocean City stays so nice and has such a chill vibe. Unfortunately, that also means Ocean City doesn’t have much of a nightlife, especially in the offseason.
But fortunately, just a short 30-minute drive from Ocean City is Atlantic City, New Jersey’s beachside version of Las Vegas. The main draw for most visitors is, of course, Atlantic City’s casinos. Some of the most notable franchises have casinos here, including Caesar’s, Harrah’s, Bally’s and Hard Rock.
Besides the casinos, a trip to Atlantic City from Ocean City offers visitors a number of high-end restaurants, and, of course, many bars and clubs to choose from. It’s a nice option to have for people looking for a fun night out whether they plan to gamble or not.
While you can’t buy alcohol in Ocean City, you can bring it in with you. Make sure to stock up beforehand. You can find distributors right outside of town, but expect these to be pricier than your local shops.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ocean City, New Jersey
Is it expensive to visit Ocean City, New Jersey?
Yes and no. It depends on what kind of trip you want to take. If you want to stay right off the boardwalk in a house overlooking the beach, it will be expensive. If you want to eat out for every meal, Ocean City will be expensive.
On the other hand, you can make a trip to Ocean City, New Jersey relatively inexpensive by staying somewhere a bit farther from the beach and bringing groceries to prepare your meals wherever you’re staying. Bringing groceries with you is important, though. Don’t plan to purchase them at the grocery store in Ocean City because it tends to be more expensive here than wherever you’re coming from.
Is Ocean City, New Jersey family friendly?
Because of Ocean City’s designation as a dry town, this beach is very family friendly. You’ll see people drinking, but it tends to be pretty low key when compared to other beach towns. You won’t see any rowdy bars or nightclubs, either. Further, all the attractions along the boardwalk are designed for the entire family in mind.
When is the best time to visit Ocean City, New Jersey?
New Jersey residents usually don’t start visiting the shore till June through August when the water finally warms up under the summer sun. These are the best months to visit if you want to get in the water for some beachy fun.
We usually visit later in the year around September or even October. While the temperatures are cooler, the beach and boardwalk are both much less crowded. It’s a nice time to visit if you want a bit more peace and aren’t interested in getting in the water.
Are the beaches at Ocean City, New Jersey free?
It depends on what time of year you visit. During most of summer, Ocean City requires beachgoers over 12 to purchase a beach tag. These can be purchased on a daily or weekly basis. Visitors coming to Ocean City any other time of the year can use the beach for free.
Depending on where you park, you may need to pay when visiting during the summer season, too.
Book Your Trip to Ocean City, New Jersey
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