Somers Point answers a question that Ocean City visitors eventually ask: where do you get a drink in a dry town? The answer is across the 9th Street Bridge, where Bay Avenue's waterfront bars have served Ocean City's alcohol needs since Prohibition ended. This bayside city functions as Ocean City's mainland counterpoint—everything the family-friendly island intentionally lacks, concentrated along a half-mile of waterfront decks overlooking Great Egg Harbor Bay.
Bay Avenue is legendary for a reason. Gregory's Restaurant & Bar has anchored the strip since 1946, serving fresh seafood on outdoor decks where the sunset views compete with any beach town. The Crab Trap handles steamed crabs in no-frills fashion. The Anchor Inn books live music on summer weekends. Charlie's Bar operates as the neighborhood tavern for locals who live here year-round. Figure $20-35 for casual waterfront dining, with bar tabs adding whatever you choose. The scene runs until 2am on summer weekends.
The boating access gives Somers Point utility beyond bar-hopping. Multiple marinas offer slips and boat ramps into Great Egg Harbor Bay—the back-bay system that connects Ocean City, Margate, and Longport. Fishermen launch here for flounder, weakfish, and crabbing that requires no ocean boat. Kayakers and jet skiers rent equipment at the marinas. Sunset cruises depart from the commercial docks.
The geography creates an affordable accommodation strategy. Somers Point's Residence Inn and other mainland hotels run 30-40% cheaper than Ocean City beachfront properties, with the barrier island 5 minutes across the bridge. Families who prioritize pool and suite space over oceanfront proximity find the value proposition convincing.
Shore Medical Center, the primary hospital serving the beach communities, sits in Somers Point—a fact that matters more to year-round residents but explains the city's infrastructure beyond tourism.
Ocean City is dry. Somers Point, five minutes across the bridge, is not. That geographic fact built Bay Avenue, and Bay Avenue has been running at full speed since 1946. The waterfront decks at Gregory's and the Crab Trap face west across Great Egg Harbor Bay — sunset, cold drinks, steamed crabs. Boaters launch from the marina and disappear into the back bays. Budget travelers book the mainland hotels and pay 30-40% less than beachfront rates. The beach is still five minutes away when you want it.
