A Solo Visit to Ripley's Believe It or Not! in Ocean City, Maryland
For years, I've noticed the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum at the Inlet on the boardwalk in Ocean City. I've debated visiting it. Would it be interesting or a waste of time? I decided to make the jump and check it out.
Read on for the pros and cons of visiting this quirky museum full of the strange and usual.
The Pros
1. This is a fun stop for curious minds. If you've been on OC's boardwalk, you'll know that there's many attractions from arcades and rides to souvenir shops and seaside snacks. This attraction offers something different. Ripley’s is tailor-made for anyone who enjoys weird facts and bizarre exhibits. There's optical illusions, odd inventions, and preserved oddities. As an adult woman, I found myself lingering at the unusual displays and I noticed people of all ages, kids and adults fascinated by the unusual displays.
A motorcycle made from car parts
Another sculpture made from car parts
A robot made from car parts
A coat hanger giraffe
Jigsaw puzzle portrait of Lady Gaga
An Elvis Presley portrait made from pennies
A wedding dress made from cupcake cups
2. Ripley's is great for people of all ages, singles, couples, friend groups, and families. Unlike high-intensity rides or age-restricted activities, Ripley’s appeals to a broad range of ages. Young children will enjoy the visual oddities and interactive areas, while teens and adults can appreciate the strange trivia and unusual artifacts. I felt comfortable exploring it by myself. My two favorite areas was the mirror that changes your face, making you look completely different and the optical illusion pictured below.
A cool optical illusion to walk through
An interactive exhibit
Try to read this
A car covered in pennies
3. A visit to Ripley's provides a weather-related break. Walking on the boardwalk can really exacerbate the weather as it is not covered, so if it's a sunny day, you feel that sun; if it's a cold and windy day, you'll feel that, and who wants to walk a long boardwalk when it's pouring down rain? Ripley’s offers a climate-controlled indoor attraction that’s a nice break from the sun, heat, or rain. It’s an easy way to stay entertained without worrying about the weather.
4. You can have your phone out and take pictures of whatever exhibits you want. As you can see from above, I took lots of pictures.
5. Getting a ticket is easy. Just walk up to the booth right in front and you'll be able to pay. Right after paying I was immediately able to go right in.
The Cons
1. The museum is fairly small. There is an upstairs and a downstairs. I looked at everything and spent less than an hour inside for over a cost of over $20 for an adult ticket.
I love the boardwalk and beach but this museum was a fun break from being outside! The displays were pretty cool and not boring at all. I would definitely recommend checking it out especially on a day when you need a little break from the weather.