7 Sensational Reasons to Visit Berlin, the ‘Coolest Small Town in America’

More than a decade ago, downtown Berlin was named an official Maryland Arts & Entertainment district, and while every visit to Berlin is sure to stir the soul, the second Friday of every month is when Berlin’s artists come out to shine. Walk the streets with outdoor entertainment, great galleries, and local food and drinks. 

The brewers at Burley Oak take both their beer, and their planet seriously. That’s why they’ve worked with soil scientists and Eastern Shore farmers to grow indigenous ingredients for their organic Home Grown Ales. The Burley Oak Taproom is the perfect place to enjoy a glass (or take home a growler) of Burley Oak’s finest, with good food, great music, and new friends.  

July 4 may be our Independence Day, but July 7 is when we REALLY celebrate, Berlin-style at the annual Bathtub Races. One of the greatest spectator sports on Earth, and a true, only-in-Berlin tradition, the Bathtub Races pit daring teams of sudsy racers against one another for the title of Fastest-Tub on the Shore! It’s like bobsledding for people who hate snow (and, if we’re being honest, speeds above six miles-per-hour.) 

At the heart of Berlin’s funky, thriving Main Street is the Globe Restaurant & Bar. For more than a century, the Globe Theater brought everything from vaudeville to honkey-tonk to downtown Berlin-- now the restored movie theater dining room features an elegant coppertop bar, fantastic fair from Executive Chef Duane Douglas. Catch a film, enjoy a murder mystery dinner, and see local art on display on your trip to The Globe.

Take flight in an open cockpit bi-plane and live your Red Baron fantasy over the Atlantic. See the wild horses of Assateague and the revelers on the Ocean City boardwalk from the cockpit of a vintage aircraft with Ocean City Plane Rides in Berlin You may think you’ve seen the shore, you haven’t seen it this way.

This beautiful brick mansion overlooking Sinepuxent Bay at Assateague Island has stood for nearly 300 years witnessing passing Spanish Galleons, Barbary pirate ships, and the Revolutionary War. Now a public museum, Rackliffe House offers a fascinating look into the history of the Eastern Shore. 

It seems like there’s always something happening in downtown Berlin. Home to unique eateries like Blacksmith, a funky gastropub featuring unusual takes on Eastern Shore classics and Fins Ale House and Raw Bar, notorious for great food, an excellent selection of oysters  and local craft beers on tap. Watch artisans turn fire into magic at the Jeffrey Auxer Designs blown-glass studio. Or catch some of the great events like the New Year’s Eve ball drop, outdoor movies, the legendary Bathtub Races and more!