While there are several beaches and spots to go swimming around DC that aren’t public pools, a new ranking done by TripAdvisor claims that one of the DMV area’s beaches is one of the top 10 beaches in the United States!
What is the best beach in the DMV Area?
According to this latest ranking, coming in at the #10 spot when ranking America’s best beaches was Ocean City Beach in Ocean City, Maryland! The beach set itself apart from other beaches both in the DMV and across the country, including many beaches in states like Hawaii, Florida, or California, because of its spacious nature, peaceful atmosphere, spectacular views, and the number of local businesses aimed at facilitating a great day at the beach!
A few of the factors that particularly stood out for Ocean City Beach amongst the reviews from the rankings included that the beach is very wheelchair accessible, has a great local food scene, and has lifeguards on duty, making it a great beach destination for groups of friends or families that may have unique restrictions that would typically impact their trip to a generic beach. These factors, plus the area’s natural beauty, led to Ocean City Beach’s high national ranking and why it’s considered a top destination in America for a beach trip!
Things to do at Ocean City Beach or in Ocean City, Maryland
Driving from D.C. to Ocean City, Maryland will take nearly three hours depending on the traffic, which is strongly impacted by when you decide to make the drive (both in terms of day of the week and time of day). So, if you plan to make the trip and would like to make the most out of it, we highly recommend you plan to spend at least one night in a town at a local hotel, motel, or maybe even Airbnb. Once you’re in town there are a ton of fun things for you to do aside from just lay out in the sun and work on your tan, especially when the sun goes down!
1. Explore the boardwalk
Home to one of the best boardwalks in the country, the Ocean City boardwalk, which stretches roughly two miles, is filled with fun stores, spots, and great restaurants!
2. Go to Jolly Roger at the Pier
Jolly Roger at the Pier is one of the DMV area’s premier amusement parks and it just so happens to be located right off the boardwalk with a handful of locations including one on the southern side of Ocean City Beach and one in central Ocean City, which happens to have a Splash Mountain Water Park right next door! You can enjoy your afternoon riding a couple of roller coasters and enjoy the view from the top of their iconic Ferris wheel!
3. Venture into the Atlantic Ocean or the Isle of Wright Bay for some fun on the water
Readily available along Ocean City Beach, you can rent kayaks, paddleboards, or even jet skis to venture out and explore the area from the water! You can even take in Ocean City and its beach from a bird’s-eye view if you opt to try your hand at parasailing along the beach, another fun activity worth trying out, but if that isn’t your speed you and your friends can also go tubing for some splash heavy good times.
4. Experience Ocean City’s dining and nightlife
With a great scene for both young adults looking for fun and families trying to find something everyone can enjoy, Ocean City has something for everyone. For the former crowd, young adults coming to Ocean City for a good time have no doubt already heard of (or at least will soon) the fun to be had at Seacrets, the local bar/club that is considered an institution that’s been around for years! For the latter, families can find solace in knowing that you don’t have to stray far from the boardwalk for a long list of family-friendly activities including arcades, mini-golf, and of course plenty of restaurants that will be happy to accommodate you.
5. View the fireworks display on the beach
Naturally, this will depend on the date that you visit, you may want to ensure you have checked the local Ocean City website to confirm where and when fireworks are going to be displayed. Ocean City Beach will host a fireworks display every year on the 4th of July, but in past years, they’ve also held what they called “Sundaes in the Park” at Northside Park on 125th Street, which often included some sort of Fireworks display.
No matter the occasion, if you have the opportunity to go to one of the nation’s top 10 beaches to get cozy and watch fireworks, you’re not going to want to miss it!