Active Pursuits

Biking

An early-morning ride down the boardwalk is traditional for lots of families. Boardwalk biking is allowed between 2 and 10am in summer, and anytime in the off season. Cyclists on Coastal Highway share a lane with the buses. A headlight and rear reflector are required on all bikes on the road after dark. Rental rates vary, but expect to pay $6 an hour for a two-wheeler, $12 an hour for a tandem, and $8 for "funcycles" (recumbent tricycles). Two good sources are Continental Cycle, 73rd Street and Coastal Highway (tel. 410/524-1313), and Mike's Bikes, 10 N. Division St. (tel. 410/289-5404).

Coast Cruises

For sightseeing at top speed and a splash, Sea Rocket, Dorchester Street at the bay (tel. 410/289-5887), and the O.C. Rocket, Talbot Street Pier (tel. 410/289-3500), offer a great diversion from the beach. Both are 70-foot 150-passenger open-top speedboats that zoom along the waters of Ocean City and beside Assateague Island. The trips last about 50 minutes; they cost about $16 for adults, $8 for children 7 to 10. Departures run every hour or two from late May to September. Tip: People in the very back tend to get very wet (people in the front get less wet, and those in the middle get the least wet). Save this ride for a warm day, when a little sea spray is a welcome thing.

Discovery Cruises (tel. 410/289-2700) offers nature cruises to Assateague Island three or four times a day. These 90-minute tours, which leave from the pier at First Street and the Bay, include 30 minutes on the island, where you can scoop up aquatic life with a hand net. The cost is $8 to $12; everybody pays an additional $1 landing fee. Reservations are suggested.

Duckaneer (tel. 410/289-3500) departs the Talbot Street Pier on a pirate adventure several times a day. Daytime cruises are geared to the kiddies; adults might find the evening cruises more fun. Cruises cost $9 for ages 1 to 4 and $19 for everybody else. Reservations are not necessary (but a good idea).

Fishing

Since Ocean City is surrounded by the waters of the Atlantic and four different bays, fishing boats abound. Departures usually run from April to October. Rates range from $250 for make-up charters up to $2,000 for tuna or white marlin. Trips leave as early as 5am, so call for departure times. Rod rentals are available.

Most boats set sail from one of O.C.'s three main fishing marinas: the Ocean City Fishing Center, in West Ocean City (tel. 800/322-3065; www.ocfishing.com); the Bahia Marina, on the bay at 22nd Street (tel. 410/289-7438; www.bahiamarina.com); and the Sunset Marina, 12911 Sunset Ave. (tel. 877/514-3474; www.ocsunsetmarina.com). Call them for information on the kinds of boats available, as well as their rates and departure times. The Angler (tel. 410/289-7424), a reliable headboat, also takes morning trips from the Talbot Street Pier on the bay.

The Fish That Didn't Get Away -- For 1 week in August, Ocean City is the center of the angling universe. Even if you didn't bring your 50-foot yacht and your thousand-dollar entry fee, you can join in the excitement of the White Marlin Tournament, where the winning fish can garner a prize worth $1.5 million or more. Head to the docks for the nightly weigh-in. The boats come in between 4pm and 9pm -- with most arriving around 7pm. See the fish that didn't get away: blue and white marlins, wahoo, and dolphin-fish (mahimahi), all of impressive size. Entrepreneurs set up booths for food, drink, and mementoes. The city provides a shuttle from the convention center, relieving visitors of the worries of where to park and where the heck this dock is.

For something sweet, Candy Kitchen specializes in fudge and saltwater taffy and has numerous locations. If you're down near the inlet, stop in Wockenfuss Candy, First Street and the Boardwalk (tel. 410/289-5054), for fine chocolates.

Surf Fishing

Surf fishing is permitted on all public beaches. However, between 9am and 6pm you cannot fish within 150 feet of swimmers or of anyone on the beach, which, in peak season, can be impossible. Public fishing piers are at Inlet Park (this one charges a tiny fee), as well as on the bay side at the Third Street Pier, Ninth Street Pier (which is lighted), and Northside Park (at 125th St.). For fishing supplies, visit Bahia Marina, on the bay at 22nd Street (tel. 410/289-7438).

Surfing

The beach between the fishing pier and the inlet has been set aside for surfers on all summer weekdays. On weekends, different beaches rotate as designated surf beaches. K-Coast Surfshop, on 35th Street (tel. 410/524-8500), or on 78th Street (tel. 410/723-3330), keeps an up-to-date schedule and also offers lessons.

Watersports -- From April through October, O.C. is a hotbed of sailing, parasailing, windsurfing, jet-skiing, power-boating, waterskiing, and more. For information on jet skis, contact Bay Sports, on the bay between 21st and 22nd streets (tel. 410/289-2144). For skiff and pontoon-boat rentals, try Bahia Marina, on the bay at 22nd Street (tel. 410/289-7438), or O.C. Parasail, Talbot Street Pier, near the inlet and at 54th Street and the bay (tel. 410/723-1464). In West Ocean City, call Bayside Rentals (tel. 410/289-7112) for a wide variety of water-sport rentals. Check the visitor center for brochures with up-to-date information.