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Ocean City is a popular tourist destination, and in summer the beaches are overflowing with locals and tourists trying to catch some rays and surf. But, during summer peak season the restaurants are full, the traffic is backed up, and you and your beach-neighbor are almost sharing a towel because of the cramped beaches.
Winter is a magical time in Ocean City, away from the crowds. You get to explore the many sights of the city unbothered by throngs of tourists and long waiting times at eateries. Sure, you might not dive into the ocean during winter, but there are still plenty of things to do during a winter weekend.
Atlantic City, home to glitz, glamor, and gambling, is just a 30-minute drive away from Ocean City, meaning it is the perfect day trip on a dreary-weather weekend. Atlantic City is home to nine casinos, offering a variety of games and gambling opportunities away from the biting cold.
If the roads are wet or you don’t feel like leaving the house, you can experience that Atlantic City vibe without leaving home thanks to the prevalence of reputable online casinos. Gamers and Discord users will especially enjoy logging into an online Discord casino where you get to interact with a community while playing some of the best games using crypto. Sure, Atlantic City is nice, but staying in your pajamas while getting the casino experience is even nicer in winter.
Getting out of the cold and playing some games from your childhood is always fun. There are two boardwalk arcades in Ocean City, Jilly’s Arcade and Hollywood Arcade. The latter is only open on weekends, so just plan accordingly.
These two establishments offer hundreds of games between them, from Pac-Man to Skee-Ball. There are retro games, modern games, pinball machines, driving games, air hockey, and pool tables, making it the perfect family day out during winter. As Jilly’s Arcade says: “Life is short, play more!”.
Shopping is an easy way to escape the winter cold, and in Ocean City, you can shop brand names, trinkets, and souvenirs. The Boardwalk along the seafront is full of unique stores. Here you can pick up jewelry, T-shirts, and novelty items. Of course, stepping outside to reach the next store can be a bit chilly, so you can also head over to the Surf Mall. This is a shopping experience like no other. For the first half of its century-long existence, the venue hosted a movie theatre. It has been run by a family for the past 40 years, and today you can find collector's items, fireworks, vinyl records, and Bohemian beach gear for when summer comes around.
There’s no shortage of museums in Ocean City and the surrounding areas. The Ocean City Historical Museum is a great attraction during winter, showcasing artifacts from the city’s founding in 1879 to recent history. You can explore shipwrecks around the coast, learn about princesses who have visited, and also the impact that religion has had on the region.
There are also photographs of the city’s origin, from the building of the first boardwalk to the founding family.
The Discovery Seashell Museum is another fascinating nook to explore, away from the cold wind. You can take a picture inside a shark’s jaw bones and marvel at over 10,000 sea shells and coral. Just note that the museum is seasonal, and only open between April and October, so only those heading over to Ocean City in early winter will be able to check out this extensive collection.
The Ocean City Arts Center is where you can let your creativity blossom. Not only are there art exhibitions from local and foreign artists, but the center also hosts several classes and workshops where you can get your own hands dirty.
Most of the workshops span over the course of a few weeks, but sometimes they have a single-day event, so make sure to check ahead. And it is not just about paint and mosaic either—the center has a music room and dance studio, where both adults and children can learn to dance, attend fitness classes, and get musical instruction.
There are also adult and youth art classes, that include graphite and pen portraits, crocheting, Gelli print-making, acrylics, watercolor, and “loose and creative” classes where you get to play with art supplies without instruction.
There are several lighthouses near Ocean City that you can visit, including Absecon Lighthouse, Cape May Lighthouse, and Barnegat Lighthouse. These beach attractions are great during winter as you get to enter the structure and head up to the observation deck, where you can admire the stormy ocean from up high.
There is even an annual Lighthouse Challenge, where visitors have to attempt to visit 10 lighthouses, three life-saving stations, a museum, and a virtual site over the course of a weekend.
Ocean City may be quieter in the winter months, but there are still plenty of annual events happening that the locals and visitors participate in:
