At one time, Assateague Island, the long thin barrier island on which Ocean City sits, stretched in an unbroken line all the way into Virginia. In 1933, a major storm created the broad inlet that now divides Ocean City from the near-wilderness of Assateague Island National Seashore. One of the few areas of the Atlantic coast protected from commercial development, Assateague Island offers some 37 miles and 10,000 acres of hiking, swimming, camping, canoeing, clamming, and bird-watching. Swarms of voracious mosquitoes, and a lack of fresh water, keep the crowds to a minimum.
To reach the island from Ocean City, follow US-50 west for two miles and turn south on Hwy-611, which loops around Sinexpunt Bay before arriving at the visitors center (daily; 410/641-3030). The center has a small aquarium as well as maps, guides, and up-to-date information about the national seashore.
