Cape May County is a treasure trove of thrills, games, specialty seafood, happy hour specials, traditional family-style restaurants, beach gear, breakfast favorites, and relaxing rituals. Yet with its six hundred and twenty square-mile span, this Jersey shore county can be quite daunting. With all this ground to cover, where should you even begin? “Blast” is here with our tenth edition of Complete Island Hopping, our map of suggestions for a great week of Cape May County fun.
Start your day the syrupy way with a hardy pancake breakfast courtesy of Duffer’s Family Restaurant of Wildwood’s Pacific Avenue. From banana nut to Swedish, Duffer’s restaurant offers a variety of classic and specialty pancake choices. With its cream cheese filling and topped with fresh strawberries, Duffer’s Stuffed French Toast is another must-try breakfast specialty. Served from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily, breakfast at Duffer’s can be enjoyed by early and late risers alike.
Hit the Wildwoods boards to walk off this fulfilling breakfast and take in the iconic sights and sounds of our shore. While on your stroll, be sure to take a look at the recently erected fire hydrant sculpture located just off the boardwalk at Poplar Avenue. This ode to pups marks the Wildwoods Dog Beach and is often surrounded by lots of happy dogs. It is definitely a sight to see! If hunger happens to strike again, head to Juniper and the boardwalk to “Get your kicks at Route 66!” Prepare to experience Doo Wop like never before. Their cuisine ranges from appetizers, salads, burgers, and paninis to pizza, wraps, full dinners, and desserts. They have even been rated “Top 10 Restaurant in Wildwood by TripAdvisor”.
Looking to escape the Wildwoods crowds and experience a little slice of tropical paradise? Spend your afternoon soaking up the sun and scenery at Tiki Topz at Flip Flopz of North Wildwood. Featuring fabulous views of the Hereford Inlet, Tiki Topz is sure to please with live DJ entertainment and drink of the day specials. Don’t miss the hot Tiki Topz Pool Parties every Saturday and Sunday all summer long.
When Happy Hour rolls around, pay a visit to Atlantic Avenue’s newest eatery. Take seat at Pasta Pesto’s 10-seat, illuminated bar for great service and stellar drinks. Happy Hour is hosted Monday through Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. Enjoy $3 domestic drafts, $4 house wines, a taste from the $6 menu, and $1 off mixed drinks. The most recent addition to the beautifully finished Pasta Pesto bar has been their signature Martini List. Give the Reese’s Pieces Martini a try. You won’t regret it.
Mulligan’s Shore Bar & Grill also proves the perfect place to get “happy”, hosting various Happy Hours throughout the week. Swing by Monday through Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. and Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. and enjoy $1.50 domestic drafts, $2.50 domestic bottles & well drinks, $3.50 premium drafts. Night owls can stop by for Reverse Happy Hour from 10 p.m. to midnight for all the same great deals. Be sure to check out the Mulligan’s Happy Hour menu inlcuding signature flatbreads, clams casino, chorizo queso dip, buffalo chicken croquettes, and even more, all for just $4.95.
Just a few miles away on the Wildwood Crest waterway, The Crab House at Two Mile’s deck stage heats up as night falls. The Two Mile staff made a major effort in the offseason to vamp up this summer’s entertainment lineup, scheduling the most beloved entertainers in the tri-state area. The Chatterband has already graced The Crab House’s brand new stage, and StellarMojo is set to rock the sunset deck this coming Friday, August 29. Complete with lighting, the latest sound technology, and a dance area, the Crab House’s stage offers a full-scale concert experience.
Spend one of your weekend mornings celebrating the maritime culture of our Jersey Cape at Historic Cold Spring Village’s Seafarers’ Weekend this Saturday and Sunday.
The weekend will feature pirates, maritime music, family fun, and a variety of displays and demonstrations of all things nautical. Visitors should be on the lookout for gold coins hidden throughout the Village that can be redeemed for cool prizes. The Sea Dogs, an authentic maritime reenactment crew, will perform sea chanties on both Saturday and Sunday.
Prefer an afternoon shopping trip to mingling with seafarers? The Marketplace at Teaberry, located on Route 9, houses over eighty individual vendors in its 15,000-square-foot establishment! Browse unique product lines and rare finds including a full line of Alpaca clothing products from Gibson Creek Alpaca, one-of- a-kind estate jewelry, and a collection of designs by local artists.
Those who opt for sandier scenery and set up shop on Cape May’s beaches can take a quick lunch break at Harry’s Ocean Bar & Grille. Here, the motto is, “Keep calm and Harry on,” but the excellent line-up of appetizers, salads, and burgers is definitely something to get excited about. Harry’s is home to a panoramic patio bar, live entertainment and an extensive collection of beer, wine and cocktails. Be sure to ask your server about the daily drink special!
Do dinner at home with some top-notch take-out. Fish lovers of a certain age will fondly remember those shacky little seafood places that once covered the New Jersey shore. They were fragrant holes-in-the-wall that served up mostly fried fish and several hearty chowders in minimal surroundings, with seasonal schedules that limited their “catch” to certain months of the year. Tonio’s Seafood Shack in Avalon is nothing like the seafood shacks we remember. Tonio’s Market has all of your seafood cooking needs! They stock the freshest of tuna, new Argentinian red shrimp, new snow crab claws, and the largest scallops in town to make this your “One Stop Shop”.