As much as we’ve tried to persevere in the face of the seemingly endless stretch of rainy days this spring, it’s time to face the music and accept the fact that sometimes, it rains at the beach. While a day or two of getting caught up on sleep or Netflix marathons is enjoyable, after the long stretch of winter, stir craziness can kick in pretty quickly. During the unexpected rain yesterday, we decided to take stock of our list of rainy day activities and share them with you all. From a round of indoor mini golf to challenging the family to a game of laser tag, there’s plenty of rainy day activities in Ocean City.
Thanks to Old Pro’s two indoor golf courses, mini golf doesn’t necessarily have to be a sunny day activity. Old Pro has two indoor locations in Ocean City, one on 68th Street and the other on 136th Street, both of which offer plenty of fun for the whole family to enjoy, from mini golf to the on-site arcades.
Movies on a rainy day may seem like the obvious choice, but that’s because it’s an excellent rainy day activity! Even at the beach, we like to take a break to enjoy a good movie, particularly in those super comfy seats at Fox Sun & Surf! The renovations in 2015, which included the addition the large leather recliner seats, yielded a greatly improved movie watching experience.
While rainy days may wash away any chance of cruising the boardwalk in Ocean City, there is still plenty to enjoy along the boardwalk, including Marty’s Playland! Whether you have kids in tow or simply want to act like a kid again, spending a few hours at the arcade is always a good idea. Skee ball is our favorite of course, but there are tons of games to choose from before running over to Thrasher’s or Dolle’s to nab some goodies for the ride home.
Another obvious but classic choice, bowling is fun for all ages at just about any time of the year. Ocean City’s bowling alley, Ocean Lanes, provides food, drinks, and plenty of lanes for bowling.
When the rain starts to fall and we’re feeling particularly lucky, we head to the Casino at Ocean Downs to try our hand at gambling. Between the simulcast racing, the slots, the dining, and the events, you can easily lose yourself for a few hours at the Casino, forgetting all about your rainy day blues!
If you’re a local in the area with young children, than you’re well aware of the saving grace that is Beach Bounce in West Ocean City. When the rain, snow, or in climate weather hit and you’re trapped inside all day with the little ones, the Beach Bounce is the perfect place to take the kids to let them blow off some steam. There’s games, a mini gym, a climbing area, and plenty of bounce houses to keep even your most active child happy. For parents, there’s free WiFi and a lounge area where you can kick back and relax while keeping an eye on the kiddos via their extensive camera system.
Planet Maze celebrated it’s 20th anniversary last year, which means they have been keeping parents sane when the rainy weather hits for 20 years in Ocean City. With an arcade, a climbing maze, and lasertron, families can easily spend an entire rainy day happily entertained at Planet Maze.
Another rainy day activity to enjoy on the boardwalk in OCMD is Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Venture inside and enjoy the Auditorium, Mirror Maze, or Laser Race…OR opt to enjoy all three with their combo deal. It’s family fun while still getting to feel like you’re enjoying some boardwalk action. And who knows, maybe by the time you come out the sun will be shining again (which means it’s time for a funnel cake from Golden Plate and some ice cream from Dumsers!).
Dining…Maryland Style
When in doubt, feast! We enjoy having a crab feast in the sunshine as much as the next guy, but a rainy afternoon or evening can be brightened up by a crab feast. Roll up your sleeves, order a pitcher of your favorite (preferably local) beer, and get ready for a few hours of crab picking. We’re partial to Belly Busters, The Crab Bag, Crab Alley, and Hooper’s, but there are PLENTY of excellent crab houses to chose from in our area.
Retail Therapy
Nothing cures the rainy day blues quite like a few hours of retail therapy. Head to the Tanger Outlets in West Ocean City or spend the afternoon checking out the local shops in Ocean City. Ish Boutique and Ragamuffin are personal favorites for unique and stylish selections for women. For surfers, check out Malibus, Chauncey’s, or Endless Summer. If you’re looking to really splurge, treat yourself to fine jewelry at Kokkinos in uptown Ocean City. Finally, check out all of the options at the Ocean City Towncenter at 67th Street. The Spice & Tea Exchange, Sweet Frog, Summer House Trading Co., Atlantic Gold, Dolle’s Candyland, Alexis Jade, Mione’s, Longboard Cafe…you could spend several rainy days (and paychecks) enjoying yourself here.
For a challenging rainy day adventure to enjoy with a group, we suggest checking out the Escape Room in Ocean City. It’s a new attraction to the area and involves one hour of putting your brains to the test. The real-life escape room challenges you to escape by solving a series of multitask puzzles, finding hidden clues, and escaping in under 60-minutes.
