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?
Get a healthy and hardy breakfast fix at Duffer’s of Wildwood’s Pacific Avenue. Nothing says “Good morning!” like a short stack of Duffer’s light and tender pancakes topped with whipped butter, old fashioned maple syrup, and your choice of warm apples, blueberries, or strawberries. Or check out their selection of Country Fresh Eggs made to order and served with potato pancakes and your favorite type of toast.
From there, head south down Park Boulevard until you hit scenic Lakeview Docks on Sunset Lake. Soak up the sun’s strong morning rays aboard a Lakeview kayak. Peace and quiet have never felt as good as aboard a kayak on this Jersey Shore waterway. Only $20 per hour for a single and $30 per hour for a double, Lakeview kayaks can be great for exercise and even better for relaxation. New to kayaking? The Lakeview staff provides professional pointers on rowing, helping you get started.
Head downtown once again for a day of fun in the sun minus the sand. The Boards are always a blast. And after playing a few games and winning a few prizes, take a dip at Wildwood’s own island getaway. On the beach behind Surfside Pier lies Ocean Oasis Waterpark and Beach Club, the perfect blend of fun and tranquility. Chill out in a private family cabana or indulge in a refreshing beverage with friends. Water attractions include a Bonsai Beach children’s themed area, tons of speed and tube slides, an endless river and adult relaxation pool with a swim up bar.
After drying off, take an evening ride. Hit the streets of downtown Wildwood Thursday through Sunday with “Dolly the Trolley”. This free trolley service sponsored by the Wildwood Business Improvement District runs from 5 p.m.-11 p.m. on Atlantic and Pacific Aves. Stops are located at various spots along the route which extends from 26th to Cresse Aves. Clearly marked “Dolly”, she runs North on Pacific and South on Atlantic.
When it comes time to grab a bite for dinner, your options are practically limitless. Red Oak Restaurant, in business for 40 years, serves the finest all-you-can-eat sea & land dinner buffets to satisfy the entire family at the most reasonable prices. The dinner buffet offers over 60 items – soups, a complete salad bar, pasta galore, stuffed flounder, broiled tilapia and grouper, hand carved beef and ham, chicken tenders, ribs, meatballs, chicken cordon bleu, roast stuffed turkey, macaroni & cheese, rice pilaf, fresh vegetables, homemade desserts and even more. Craving Chinese cuisine? The Dragon House of downtown Wildwood is a fan favorite. Chinese Pizza is the nickname for the Scallion Pancakes appetizer, a must-try choice. Also available for free delivery, discover Dragon House’s taste sensations for yourself.
Over on the waterfront at Schooner Landing, Beach Creek Oyster Bar & Grille offers contemporary coastal cuisine, with an international flair. Make time to sample one of the day’s Beach Creek oyster specialties, with at least three different oyster dishes offered daily. Beach Creek’s extensive dessert and signature martini menu boasts some of the island’s most innovative cocktails. Cool off with the Shore Breeze specialty martini or sample the crowd favorite Pineapple Upside Down Cake.
Just over the Rio Grande Avenue bridge, Juicy rocks the deck at Lighthouse Pointe this Saturday night starting at 6 pm. Can’t make it Saturday? Get in the mix with DJ Johnny Vee the 25th starting at 3 pm and create your own “Sunday Funday”.
Over in Cape May, Sunday night is primetime for haunting…Take a ride on the Tales of Terror trolley and get to know the ghosts whose spirits have never fully left this quaint, Victorian town. The setting is perfect for a scary story, after dark on streets lit by flickering gaslight. For more information, contact MAC of Cape May at 609-884-5404.
If you’d rather read your own spine-tingling tale, the guys of Cape Atlantic Books in Cape May’s Washington Street Mall can help you out with that. We personally recommend Stephen King’s “Joyland” which can be found in the store’s display of NY Times Bestsellers. Set in a small-town North Carolina amusement park in 1973, this story details the experience of college student Devin Jones as he works as a carny for the summer. Devin is unexpectedly faced with the legacy of a vicious murder and the fate of a dying child…
Spend the next day on the green courtesy of Heritage Links in Marmora. Open to the public, this 9-hole golf course features 2,100 yards of golfing area, 30 par and 113 slope. This is a great place for beginners and challenging enough for experts as well. Only minutes away from Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Avalon and Stone Harbor, Heritage Links allows you to play a quick game before you hit the beach for the day.
Over in Stone Harbor, grab lunch at the town’s newest luxury resort, the Reeds. The Reeds invites all of Stone Harbor to join them at the Water Star Grille on Tuesday, August 27, from 10 am to noon for watermelon-themed treats, drinks, crafts, contests and more at our 2nd Annual Reeds ‘n Seeds event. Don’t miss the crowning of the new Reeds ‘n Seeds King and Queen…
Offshore, find all you need for that night’s cocktail hour at Gleeson’s Discount Liquors of Ocean View. Be sure to check out Gleeson’s display of DiBruno Bros. cheese spreads, aged artisan cheeses, spreads, Crostini crackers, and more. Established in 1939 by Italian immigrant brothers Danny and Jo, DiBruno Bros. cheeses are unique treasures of the rich culture of Philadelphia’s 9th Street Italian Market and a true treat for any wine and cheese tasting. For a Cape May Court House, the Country Club Tavern has you covered. CCT features great-value specialty nights five days a week. Test your trivia skills at Monday’s Balls ‘n Brews and Quizzo night. Tuesday Taco Night at the Tavern features 3 tacos for only $3 plus Corona, Corona Light, and Margarita reduced price specials. On Yuengs & Wings Wednesdays, the famous wings are only $3.99 while Yuengling Draft is $1.50 and bottles are $2. On Thursday Cheesesteak Night, wash down a $4 Philly favorite delicacy with $1.50 Coors Light Draft.
By Megan Kummer