Look at the thin strip of land off the East Coast between Maryland’s Assawoman Bay and the Atlantic Ocean and you’ll find Ocean City, a Mid-Atlantic resort town situated along 10 miles of sun-kissed shorelines.
With a name like Ocean City, it’s no surprise that beaches are its biggest draw. Plus, stretching nearly three miles along the beach is the Ocean City Boardwalk—named one of the top 10 boardwalks in the U.S. by National Geographic and considered America’s best by The Travel Channel.
“When people arrive in Ocean City, they often describe an instant feeling of relaxation,” said Kim Mueller, director of sales for Ocean City, MD. “There’s a lightness in the air—a sense of ease that washes over you. When associations, incentive groups, company retreats and board meetings come to town, attendees can meet, recharge in their rooms and wake up to the refreshing ocean air and sunrise. We have a vibrant nightlife, a diverse array of restaurants and 11,000 hotel rooms—all the infrastructure needed to host successful meetings.”
What Ocean City has to offer goes beyond the beach, especially for groups.
“While the beach and its activities are a big draw, what’s often overlooked is the charm of the nearby small towns and unique venues just minutes outside Ocean City, offering a quaint and peaceful contrast to the lively beach scene,” Mueller said. “Take Berlin, for example. This historic town has been recognized as one of the most charming towns in America and one of the Best Places to Vacation—and it’s just minutes from Ocean City.”
Berlin offers a quintessential “Main Street” experience, with small boutiques, local breweries, farm-to-table dining and antique shops.
“For groups visiting during Ocean City’s shoulder season—from September to early June—the weather is ideal, the crowds are thinner and room rates are more affordable,” Mueller said. “This makes it easy for attendees to explore all the area has to offer—whether it’s the sandy shores and iconic boardwalk, the natural beauty of Assateague National Park or the quaint charm of Berlin—all at their own pace.”
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4 Fantastic Offsites
This Maryland Farm Brewery is nestled on 17 acres between Ocean City and Assateague Island National Seashore and features farmhouse ales made with the blueberries and apples grown on the farm, as well as grains from across the Mid-Atlantic region. Sinepuxent offers a tasting room and brewery and can accommodate groups of 1,000-plus people. “This is where companies want to come,” Mueller said.
“Right in Ocean City, we have one of the largest nightclubs in the U.S.,” Mueller said. Founded in 1988 as a “locals-only” bar, Seacrets has expanded to a 21-bar, nightclub and restaurant facility featuring live entertainment every summer night. Located on the bay, Seacrets Events offers 16 unique venues between Seacrets, Seacrets Distillery, Area 51 and Your Seacret Beach with space for up to 2,000 people.
Windmill Creek Vineyard & Winery
Once taking over 150 acres and now occupying 12.5, Windmill Creek’s history dates back to 1858 when the farmhouse was originally built by Lemuel Showell II, founder of his namesake town seven miles from Ocean City. “It’s on the National Registry of Historic Places,” Mueller said. “They can host any event up to 600 people and have live music, wine tasting and a historic home with a refurbished interior that you can go in, sit down anywhere and socialize.”
The Links at Lighthouse Sound may be one of Golf Magazine’s top 100 golf courses, but it also doubles as a unique offsite event venue for groups looking to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown Ocean City. The Lighthouse Sound Restaurant overlooking Assawoman Bay is an ideal spot for a reception with views of the Ocean City skyline and a casual upscale dining menu featuring “Maryland’s best crab cakes,” according to its website.
[Related: 6 Outdoor Event Venues With a View in Maryland]
Getting There
Ocean City is approximately 139 miles from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, 137 miles from Philadelphia International Airport and 150 miles from Ronald Regan Washington National Airport. The closest airport is Salisbury Regional Airport, about 27 miles away.
