100 Free Things to Do in Ocean City, Maryland

It’s hard to run out of things to do in Ocean City, but in the worst-case scenario, here’s a handy list where you can close your eyes and point your finger at any one of these 100 things to do. Rain or shine, considering the beauty and the abundance of things-to-do on this peninsula, you’ll find something that’s free and fun to occupy part of your family vacation.

1. Watch the sunrise over the ocean
2. Collect seashells on the beach 
3. Dip your toes (or your whole body) into the water
4. Watch the Ocean City Beach Patrol train (but give them their space!) 
5. Go for a stroll in Northside Park 
6. Throw a sandcastle building competition with your friends and family…
7. Catch a family flick at a Free Movie Night
8. Make sand angels. 
9. Tour the Life-Saving Museum during the Open House
10. Enjoy the bright, colored lights illuminating the beach on summer nights
11. Organize a beach-themed scavenger hunt 
12. Keep your head tilted up during the OC Air Show!
13. Write us a blog about your Ocean City experiences and memories
14. Just graduated? Senior Week
15. Peruse all the Cruisers when they’re on display
16. Find some shade on a hot day 
17. Walk around the galleries in the Ocean City Center for the Arts,
18. And attend one of the Art League’s First Friday receptions
19. Round up a team for beach volleyball
20. Eat a Sundae in the Park
21. Toss a frisbee around
22. Read up on all the creatures that call Ocean City their home
23. Celebrate Independence Day with music and fireworks.
24. Read up on some Ocean City Oddities 
25. Dance the night away at a Sunset Park Party Night
26. Count how many horseshoe crab shells you can find on the beach…
27. …Or how many seagulls sneak french fries in a day (best not to feed them, though)
28. Watch beach fireworks light up the summer sky
29. Pretend you’re a local and read one of the free newspapers in town
30. Take a romantic sunset walk along the Route 50 bridge
31. Simply lay out on the beach (sunscreen recommended)
32. Catch a weigh-in at the White Marlin Open (and plenty of other fishing tourneys)
33. Look out for artists painting OC en plein air
34. Watch boats come and go from the West Ocean City marinas
35. Wave at one of the webcams all over town
36. Try crabbing with a hand line 
37. Fly a kite!  Kite Loft has lots of options!
38. Take in the smells of caramel popcorn and Thrasher’s fries on the Boardwalk.
39. Catch sculptors creating detailed religious sculptures in the sand
40. And see kites from all over the world at the Kite Festival
41. Go boogie boarding
42. Chat up a biker during Bike Week
43. Gaze upon the Inlet Indian statue 
44. Get lost in a Beach Maze when Halloween rolls around
45. And when it’s Howl-o-Ween, watch costumed dogs parade down the Boardwalk
46. During the winter, enjoy all the lights downtown…
47. …And be sure to see the OC Christmas Parade
48. Appreciate all the local culture at Art X
49. If you brought a skateboard, hit the Ocean Bowl Skate Park 
50. Let your dog frolick in the sands of “Stinky Beach” (AKA Homer Gudelsky Park)
51. Browse books at the Ocean City library
52. Branch out, explore historic Berlin, Maryland
53. Drop a line at the Ninth Street Fishing Pier 
54. Spot egrets in the wet marshes 
55. Bring the kids to the beach playground…
56. …Or just let them climb on Wally the Whale
57. See how many painted utility boxes you can spot downtown 
58. Window shop at Tanger Outlets
59. Enjoy the music of local musicians and cover bands at Concerts on the Beach
60. Birdwatch by the bay
61. Have a picnic at Isle of Wight Park 
62. Jog along the Boardwalk (or bike during posted hours, if you packed your bicycle)
63. You don’t have to be Irish to watch the St. Patrick’s Day parade
64. Lay on the beach at night and stargaze
65. See a Shakespearean Drama by the Brown Box Theatre troupe
66. Head to Salisbury, Maryland and visit the free Salisbury Zoo
67. Look for dolphins jumping around
68. Gaze at the fireworks on the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve
69. Say hello to the White Marlin Statue and Water Fountain
70. Pick up a few brochures at the Visitor Center, located in the Convention Center
71. Pick up a game of basketball at Little Salisbury Park 
72. Take plenty of pictures (including selfies) to build up your vacation albums
73. Wave at riders on the balcony of the Haunted House
74. Visit Assateague Island on a fee-free day
75. Learn about beach safety by reading about it online or striking up a conversation with a lifeguard 
76. Walk the beach and, if you’re lucky, spot a seal laying out (just keep your distance!) 
77. Watch the Boardwalk buskers busking
78. Submit your Ocean City vacation photos to us for a chance to win prizes
79. Rollerblade on the Boardwalk
80. Leave only your footprints! (It costs $0 to pick up your trash) 
81. You can also help out by picking up beach trash in the morning
82. Dig for sand crabs
83. See the annual Fireman’s Parade 
84. Connect with fellow Ocean City lovers on Facebook
85. Come for Jeep Week and watch them crawl the beach
86. Browse eclectic wares in the Inlet Village
87. Vote for your favorite businesses in Ocean City 
88. Play tic-tac-toe in the sand
89. Look out over the sea with a pair of binoculars 
90. Set up shop on a bench and people watch
91. Keep an eye out for public art projects
92. Stop by a Spring Arts & Crafts Show
93. Take in the ornate, decades-old rides at Trimper’s
94. Run laps around South Gate Pond in Ocean Pines 
95. Wake up before everyone else and enjoy a peaceful walk along the shoreline
96. Watch surfers riding the waves
97. Pretend it’s the 1960s as you walk down Motel Row 
98. Make summer memories at Sunfest
99. Play on the playground at the Bayside Park at 3rd Street
100. End the day with a bayside sunset