3-Day Weekend Idea: Crab Cakes, Concerts and Fireworks in Ocean City, Maryland

Wondering what to do on your 3-day weekend? Few towns can match the triple-play of entertainment being offered in Ocean City, Maryland over the Fourth of July holiday weekend this year. Independence Day highlights will include a free patriotic concert on the beach followed by a spectacular seaside fireworks display. The boardwalk concert will start at 8 p.m. with the fireworks immediately afterwards at 9:30 p.m. Of course, the sights and sounds of any fireworks display are impressive, but when the color-laden explosions splash against the darkened backdrop of the coastal horizon-- reflecting and showering down onto the surf below, it's somehow even more thrilling and all the more memorable.

On Sunday, July 6th, the town will also host a Beach Boys concert at the Ocean City Convention Center. The internationally-known band will perform a variety of their hits spanning five decades of music and lyrics. Step back in time and sing along with classics like Surfin' Safari, Good Vibrations and Fun, Fun, Fun. Tickets are available at $35.00 and $50.00 levels and can be purchased at the Convention Center Box Office, Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800.551.7328.

In between the concerts and fireworks, there is an endless array of dining and entertainment opportunities competing for your attention. While it is well beyond the scope of this article to create an exhaustive list of all the area has to offer, there are a few places that must be singled out for their sheer uniqueness. As such, they are the places you enjoy not only in the moment, but leave you with a smile each time you think of them, even years later.

At least once during your stay, try to make it over to Seacrets. Tucked away, hidden at the end of 49th Street, the restaurant's facade mimics an old run-down, island-style food shack. Inside, the facility expands into a much larger, but equally eclectic dining venue. Visit Seacrets for the view and you won't be disappointed. Go for the food and you'll be counting the days until your next smoked tuna appetizer. Sitting mere inches from the bay, sand under foot and surrounded by swaying palm trees, you'll discover how jerk chicken and an ice-cold Red Stripe conspire to bring a little slice of Jamaica to the Maryland shore.

For a town deriving its name from the ocean, it's not surprising that the area yields up dozens of dining locations that concentrate a significant portion of their menu towards fresh fish, lobster and crab dishes. If it's crab you're craving, there's one place in the area that stands out above the rest. At Phillips Seafood, you will find fast, friendly service and well-seasoned crab cakes made with very little filler. Their skilled kitchen staff also know how to produce pan-seared fish and scallop dishes, cooked to perfection-- something most restaurants claim, but rarely deliver. With four locations to choose from in Ocean City, Phillips offers great food in a casual, family-friendly environment.

Obviously, as a resort town, there's no shortage of places to stay in Ocean City, Maryland. Highrise hotels, motels, inns and condos line the beach up and down Coastal Highway from Fenwick to the boardwalk inlet. With all that competition, there's an array of good travel bargains to be found. Still, from time to time, there may be a desire to make a trip all the more special by choosing a unique and different kind of place to stay. For those inclined to make their holiday weekend or summer vacation indelibly memorable, there's the Lighthouse Club Hotel located at 56th Street, bayside. Twenty-three well appointed rooms make up the low-rise lighthouse structure which sits directly on the waters of the Isle of Wight Bay. The private and elegant rooms feature marble bathrooms with whirlpool jacuzzis, custom furniture, wet bar and refrigerators stocked with an assortment of beverages. There's no need to drive to dinner. Simply walk across the small, wooden footbridge connecting the inn to Fager's Island Restaurant. While perhaps not the first choice for bargain hunters, those looking for stylish excellence and pure romance will find the rooms and views at The Lighthouse to be truly unparalleled.

If you're looking for adventure, turn to OC Bayside Rentals. From laid-back to pulse-pounding, there's something for everyone. Care for a few relaxing hours on the bay crabbing for blue claws? Rent a bayskiff. If you prefer, enjoy all the bay has to offer while cruising around on a family-sized pontoon or deckboat. Those seeking high-flying adventure can try their hand at parasailing. With a perfect safety record, OC Bayside Rentals offers both wet and dry landings with flights ranging from 400 to 1,200 feet. Be sure to peruse the company's website before your visit to check for current specials and money-saving coupons.

No trip to Ocean City would be complete without visiting one of the many Candy Kitchen stores lining Coastal Highway. Each shop has an extensive selection of old time and current favorites for those harboring a sweet tooth. They carry everything from black licorice and gummy sharks to candy dots and chocolate-covered caramels. You'll also find giant twisted lollipops, Jelly Belly jelly beans and incredible gourmet fudge available in two dozen different flavors. Nonetheless, the real reason to visit Candy Kitchen is for the salt water taffy. Everyone has a favorite flavor, with choices including chocolate, peppermint, orange, lime, banana, root beer and peanut butter, to name just a few. If you have had salt water taffy before, your mouth is no doubt already watering. If you have not yet experienced this indescribably good, chewy confection, it's all the more reason to visit Ocean City this summer.

The places listed above are merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to things to do and places to stay during a visit to Ocean City, Maryland. This year's 4th of July celebrations will no doubt prove to be exciting and fun for all who venture to the seaside town. The patriotic concert, fireworks display and the Beach Boys will be highlights, but the in-between times can also be filled with an array of activities you and your family will remember and cherish for years to come. Walk the boardwalk. Wander into an arcade and play pinball or a video-game you haven't seen since high school. Hit one of the t-shirt shops and treat yourself to something you would never wear to work. Check out the most unusual art gallery you will ever see. Take a ride on the upside down roller coaster or one of the country's few remaining haunted house 'dark rides'. Spend some time sitting on the beach or on a bench, just staring out at the ocean and breathing in the salt air. And before you head home, take a drive down Coastal Highway, look for the tall man, bayside and take a ride on the old-fashioned double-decker carousel. In Ocean City, the memories of a lifetime are yours for the choosing.