Bring on the blue crabs and Old Bay!

Maryland’s Eastern Shore offers a fun-filled selection of historic sites, scenic byways, and sandy beaches—from Ocean City and Berlin to Cambridge, Assateague, and Salisbury. Whether you’re taking an armchair exploration or a full-fledged expedition, it’s time to escape to Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Here are a few things we think you should do.

Ocean City Boardwalk

698 N. Ocean Atlantic Avenue / Ocean City, Maryland 21842

You can’t beat a good boardwalk, and Ocean City has one of the best. Between the cotton candy, salt water taffy, and boardwalk fries, you might miss the midway games, vintage roller coaster, and attractions like Ripley’s Believe it or Not! But don’t. They’re all awesome. Dating back to 1902, the wooden boardwalk is nearly 2.5 miles of fun and nostalgia with souvenir shops, restaurants, hotels, and a fishing pier. Don’t forget Fisher’s Popcorn!

Assateague Island National Seashore

11800 Marsh View Lane / Berlin, Maryland 21811

Our second stop is a favorite of horse people everywhere. It’s the setting for Marguerite Henry’s 1947 Misty of Chincoteague, which takes place on nearby Chincoteague, Virginia (you pass through the tiny town to get to Assateague Island). Assateague Island is between the Atlantic Ocean and Chincoteague Bay. There are two entrances to the island—near Ocean City and via Chincoteague, Virginia.

Home to the world-famous annual pony-penning event, island attractions include the Assateague Island Lighthouse, hiking trails, nature viewing overlooks where you just might see the island’s famous wild horses. It’s not unheard of to see them walking down the beach as you’re playing in the waves.

Ocean Downs Casino

Courtesy of Ocean Downs

10218 Racetrack Road / Berlin, Maryland 21811

We bet you’ll like this next one. Ocean Downs Casino, owned and operated by Churchill Downs, offers live harness racing, as well as more than 850 slot machines and table games such as poker, blackjack, craps, and roulette. Live harness racing takes place June through September, but there are races simulcast year-round. There are several restaurants and a pub where you can enjoy a meal overlooking the race track.

Salisbury Zoo

755 South Park Drive / Salisbury, Maryland 21802

Spend some time among the wild things. Creatures at the Salisbury Zoo include Amazon parrots, bald eagles, alpacas, capybara, deer, jaguars, ocelots, alligators, wolves, and more. Walk along wooded walkways and learn how the zoo protects and implements conservation efforts. There’s a playground with picnic tables, so your wild ones can burn off some energy.

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

2145 Key Wallace Drive / Cambridge, Maryland 21613

Sometimes referred to as the Everglades of the North, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1933 as a waterfowl sanctuary for migrating birds along the Atlantic Coast. It’s the largest breeding area for bald eagles on the East Coast (north of Florida) and makes a great spot for hiking, birdwatching, and nature viewing. The visitor center has bird exhibits and an osprey cam. Habitats include tidal marshland, shallow waters, and forests filled with evergreen and deciduous hardwood trees. Keep an eye out for the formerly endangered Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel.

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway

Courtesy of Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway Facebook page

2 Rose Hill Place / Cambridge, Maryland 21613

Whether your ride is a Ranger, Raptor, Mustang, or Edge, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway makes a great road trip for history buffs or nature enthusiasts. Check out the exhibits, theater, and gift shop at the visitor center or drive the Scenic Byway, a self-guided driving tour that travels 125 miles through Maryland where Tubman guided enslaved people to the North. There are 45 historic sites along the way as well as a museum. Historic buildings include Brodess Farm, the Bucktown Village Store, and the Tuckahoe Neck Meeting House. Along the way, there are spots to stop and go hiking, biking, dining, shopping, and kayaking. After leaving Maryland, the trail continues into Delaware for 98 miles and ends in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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While you’re on the Shore, don’t forget to chow down on lots of fresh local seafood (with plenty of Old Bay seasoning, of course!).

Did we mention your favorite Eastern Shore attraction? If not, tell us about it in the comments.