Welcome To Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore
Transportation / Airports    History    Useful Links

Welcome To Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore Region! On this incredible alluring span of beach, you will immediately be relaxed and rejuvenated by the sun, sand and surf!

If you are looking for the perfect home, Ocean City Maryland and the surrounding areas may be for you! It is the place to be for fun all year long. Ocean City is considered the “East Coast’s Number One Family Resort,” with 10 miles of the best white-sand beaches on the East Coast. Adjacent to the beach is a world-famous Boardwalk, stretching some 30 blocks or approximately three miles with many quality hotel and motels, vacation rental homes and condo's and bordered on the West by the inland bays.

There are many family and group activities and events for all age ranges including more than 17 championship golf courses, boating, bay and deep sea fishing, nature tours and preserves, water sports, dolphin watching, amusements, antique and outlet shopping and relaxing walks.  The ocean warms up to comfortable temperatures beginning in May and will remain warm enough to swim in as late as October!

For shopping, Salisbury is known as the commercial "hub" of Delmarva. Offering a wide variety of stores and shops, Salisbury even attracts nearby residents from nearby Delaware and Virginia.  Downtown Salisbury is centrally located and has many high-end specialty shops such as jewelry and antique stores, restaurants and cafes and commercial businesses. There are also many shopping opportunities in the West Ocean & Rehoboth Outlets.

Pocomoke City has a population of over 4,000 residents, which is one of the larger metropolises on the Lower Shore. It provides a commercial and tourist hub with retail outlets, cultural centers, a historic downtown, museums and scenic waterfront, cycling and walking trails, parks and public docking facilities.

Princess Anne, also known as part of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore has been an significant part of of cultural life. Iin the last few decades, The University of Maryland Eastern Shore has been a central meeting point for the arts in the county and serves as Somerset’s leading cultural center.

For the hiker in all of us, the Assateague Island National Park offers four enjoyable miles of paved roads as well as an adjacent bike path. The National Park incorporates 'Life of Assateague' with its self-guided trails with three different barrier island habitats.

Transportation / Airports

Ocean City Municipal Airport is only 2.4 miles southwest of Ocean City, located at 12724 Airport Road in Berlin. For more information, contact (410) 213-2471.

Salisbury-Ocean City- Regional Airport is east of Salisbury, and approximately 30 minutes from Ocean City. For more information, contact (410) 548-4827. U.S. Airways offers regularly scheduled flights to and from Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia.  For US Airways reservations, call (800) 428-4322.

Carolina Trailways Bus Terminal, located on 2nd Street and Philadelphia Avenue with service to and from most major cities. For more information, contact (410) 289-9307.

Ocean City Municipal Bus Service offers twenty-four hour per day bus service, running north to south from the Inlet to the Delaware state line.  Ride all day for $2.00! For more information, contact (410) 723-1607.

Worcester County Ride is a bus service that provides links from Ocean City to points around Worcester County.  Call for schedule and fares, (410) 632-3232.

Shore Transit is the regional public transportation system consisting of Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester Counties. Service includes fixed route, para-transit and ADA. Many destinations to choose from! Call for schedule and fares, (443) 260-2300.

History

Ocean City
Until the mid-1800s, Ocean City was primarily a fishing area with fishermen who would come to the mainland on small rowboats. In 1869, a local farmer, Isaac Coffin built a small inn to accommodate the fishermen and others who were interested in a refuge from city life. Shortly after, other hotel properties arose and when Ocean City became incorporated in 1875, this small fishing village was being transformed into a seaside vacation destination.

Transportation was developing by 1876, as a railroad bridge was built over the Sinepuxent Bay. By the early 1900s, Daniel B. Trimper and his brother who lived in Baltimore, started an amusement park which is still owned and operated by the Trimper family. Spanning from 1900 to 1915, Ocean City's first Boardwalk was constructed.

A violent four-day storm hit Ocean City and cut an inlet through the island in 1933. This inlet now allowed a link from the ocean with the bay. This was a pivotal change in commerce for Ocean City as it soon brought a new industry called ‘sportfishing’ which allowed fishermen a much easier way to catch fish. So much so, that in 1934, the first white marlin was caught and Ocean City now held a title of "White Marlin Capital of the World."

Enjoy a leisurely walk in the oldest part of Ocean City located at the southernmost tip of the island. The area below Division Street exemplifies this time era with the cottages and small hotels. For decades, this area was considered the hub of the resort, i.e., from about 9th Street north, there were only a few lone cottages. As you look around, you will be taken back to a time that reflects the heritage of the early pioneers of this town.

It is amazing how this quiet little fishing village now stretches 10 miles long and encompasses many modern hotels and high-end condominiums as part of the landscape. However, what visitors are most drawn to remains intact: the delightful and rejuvenating smell of the salt air and the grand landscape of the ocean while relaxing on the smooth sand.
 
Salisbury
Salisbury's prime location, at the head of Wicomico River, contributes greatly to becoming one of Maryland's most outstanding cities. As one of Lord Baltimore's colonial outposts, the navigable waterway leading out to the Chesapeake Bay and beyond was the sole means of transportation and communication for the brave and hardy settlers. In 1732, a new official port gradually became a gateway to colonists seeking more land for homesteading. Salisbury became known for it’s most active seaport in Maryland, second only to Baltimore. 

Shortly after, the railroad systems began to develop allowing Northeast industrial growth linking from Boston to Baltimore ensuring service of passengers, and creation of markets for produce, meats and grains to the local farmers. Along with this, came more growth of business activities including banking, merchandising with large stores and commercial activities.

Today, Salisbury is known for striking a balance between preservation and restoration. Although there are changes to the city's landscape, Salisbury has remained one-pointed on smart growth.

Ocean Pines
Ocean Pines began as a resort area around 1968 which transformed the 3,500 acres of farm and wooded land and over nine miles of waterfront property into an place of commerce. To this day, Ocean Pines remains a quiet resort area and is only a five mile distance from Ocean City.