Summer Weekend Guide: Ocean City, Maryland

*This is a sponsored talk written by me on behalf of KAYAK. Opinions and text are mine.

I recently decided it was time to start traveling closer to home. There are a few places on my local travel bucket list that I absolutely must cross off. I think we all might have a spot or two that are the same. You know, ridiculously close and incredibly popular, but you just didn’t get there. For me, that place is Ocean City, Maryland. So when I saw that it was the 5th most popular summer weekend in the US, according to KAYAK’s Summer Travel Hacker Guide, I knew I had to start planning a trip.

If you’re looking to plan your own summer weekend getaway, check out KAYAK’s TravelHacker guide. It features a list of 10 cities that are among the most popular destinations for summer weekend trips based on data from KAYAK users. It also shows average airfares by month, tells you when is the best time to book to each destination, and has some great travel tips. It greatly simplifies your ability to plan your trip with one simple guide. Not sure where to go this summer? This guide is for you! Pretty cool, right?

So, after reading Kayak Ocean City Maryland TravelHacker’s guide, I decided to go ahead and create a summer weekend itinerary in Ocean City, Maryland. I wanted to explore Ocean City and put my travel goals in writing. KAYAK does have a great planning tool called Trips. which I used to create my itinerary (just email your booking receipts – no matter where you booked [email protected] and KAYAK will arrange them for you in one route – for free). Even though I hadn’t been there yet, I was able to pinpoint exactly what I wanted to do on my first weekend in OC.

Founded in 1875, the resort town of Ocean City is, as you might imagine, famous for its beaches and 2.5 miles of historic boardwalk. It welcomes up to 8 million visitors each year and is one of the most popular vacation spots on the East Coast. If you like being near the water, this is the place for you.

USA Today consistently ranks The Ocean City Boardwalk has been recognized as one of the “Best Boardwalks to Eat” and has been named one of the “10 Best Boardwalks to Visit in the US” National Geographic. Did someone say great food? I’m so in!

Besides relaxing on the beach and walking the boardwalk, I wanted to do a few unusual things in Ocean City. Don’t get me wrong, I love miniature golf and water parks as much as the next girl, but those places can wait. From surfing to jet skiing and fishing boats, Ocean City is definitely a water sports enthusiast’s dream. But on my route to Ocean City, I made time for a morning stand-up paddleboard class (I can’t wait!).

On Sunday I found time for a boat trip to nearby Assateague Island to catch a glimpse of the island’s famous wild horses. The horses are believed to have survived from a Spanish ship that sank off the coast. Something I’ve always wanted to do.

When it comes to dining, Ocean City seems to have too many great options. I chose restaurants that had great reviews and menus to match. And who can resist hot, fresh fries?

So here’s a summer weekend itinerary in Ocean City, Maryland that I put together using KAYAK Trips. For those who have been to Ocean City, MD and have any suggestions, please comment below. We’d love for you to share yours Ocean City, Maryland Travel Tips!