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 this summer’s FINAL edition of Complete Island Hopping, our map of suggestions for a great week of Cape May County fun.
Grab a few of the heartiest breakfast sandwiches known to the shore for the entire family to enjoy pre-beach only at Blitz’s Market in Cape May Court House. Get your day started the right way with a Blitz’s signature featuring a meat of your choice, melted cheese, and lots of eggs for extra fuel! Feed the whole crew at Blitz’s, where family comes first. From there, hit the beach of your choice and ring in Labor Day weekend with some waterfront relaxation.
Sick of the sandy scenery? Take a beach break in the afternoon and swing by Tiki Topz at Flip Flopz for a pool party to remember. Tiki Topz Poolside is a tropical paradise open to the public, offering an elevated pool with live palm trees from Florida giving the air of being on an island while enjoying the ocean views. Lunch is served daily by the pool featuring tropical salads and delicious, made-to-order burgers that perfectly complement their many signature frozen cocktails. Tiki Topz hosts a dance party with beachgoers every Saturday and Sunday all summer long with DJ entertainment starting at 2 p.m.
Spend the late afternoon “making waves” with Lakeview Docks’ great deals on Wave Runner rentals. Available in singles, doubles, and triples, slice through the waves solo or let a friend do the driving. $65 for a single, $70 for a double, and $75 for a triple per half hour, Lakeview’s brand new Wave Runners reach top speeds while looking the sleekest of sleek. Hop aboard with the help of a skilled employee and prepare feel the rush of the wind on your face and the salt water spray.
For a post-cruise pick-me-up, hit one of Wildwood’s many excellent Happy Hours. Enjoy drinks with a world-class view of the Intercoastal Waterway at Boathouse Restaurant located on the Wildwood Yacht Basin. Relax with a bite of lighter fare and signature drink in hand at during their daily Happy Hour from 4 to 6 p.m. The Marina Deck is also home to live daily entertainment by talented local musicians. Check the weekly Entertainment Grid for the latest on The Boathouse’s entertainment schedule. Or enjoy happy hour Two Mile-style at The Crab House daily from 2-5 p.m. or Two Mile daily from 4-6 p.m. With discounts on patrons’ favorite drinks and apps, there’s no wonder Two Mile Landing needed four total bars.
Summer penny pinchers can save even bigger by bringing the party to their own home with the help of Gleeson’s Liquors. Gleeson’s Liquors of Ocean View features their very own craft beer collection including Lindemans, Victory, Rogue, Magic Hat, and Samuel Smiths just to name a few. They also offer a large number of imports from around the world including Peroni, Sapporo, Boddington, and Smithwick.
For those with plans for a home-cooked meal, make a pit stop at H&H Seafood Market for the freshest local catches. Nestled on the harbor between Cape May and Wildwood Crest, H&H features a full service seafood market offering only the freshest clams, shrimp, scallops, softshell crabs, oysters, fresh fish, and conch. The market also offers a number of unique specialty items and hand-picked crab meat.
No backyard seafood cookout or barbecue is complete without the perfect dessert. Let Hankins’ Fudge do the work. The Hankins’ namesake and claim to fame – their homemade fudge – has been perfected throughout its history. Only the freshest all-natural ingredients are used in its production. Made on the store’s premises daily, the fudge is slow cooked using copper kettles. Hankins’ homemade fudge flavors include chocolate, chocolate nut, vanilla, vanilla nut, rocky road, chocolate vanilla swirl, chocolate peanut butter, cookies and cream, and sugar-free chocolate.
Craving a taste of Italy for a hearty dinner? Little Italy of Wildwood Crest brings the unique personality of the boot-shaped nation’s sights, sounds, smells, and tastes to Cape May County. Its nearly endless menu of pasta possibilities includes a choice of five of the freshest pastas and twelve sauce and toppings options from classic Marinara to Italian specialty Agilo e Olio Broccoli & Chicken.
Elsewhere in Wildwood, Red Oak Restaurant serves the most extensive buffet at the Jersey Shore. Can’t decide on just one type of dinner cuisine? Red Oak is the perfect choice. Sample their fresh, steaming mussels and their homemade macaroni and cheese all in the same meal. At Red Oak, comfort food and fine dining combine for the most varied dining experience in the county.
Offshore, The Back Bay Café at the Tuckahoe Inn offers an outdoor casual dining experience and features breathtaking views of scenic Great Egg Harbor Bay. The Café serves a light fare menu Wednesday through Friday from 5 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 1-9 p.m. Happy Hour at the Cafe kicks off at 5 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday and features .$50 off all drinks until 8 p.m. Visit the Boat Bar, relax with a refreshing cocktail around the Gazebo Bar, or dance the night away to live music on the deck Wednesday through Sunday or inside Monday through Wednesday.
For those who prefer to stick to Seven-Mile Island, The Water Star Grille at The Reeds provides a memorable dining experience in stylish, comfortable surroundings. Try their all-new shared-plate concept for dinner. Rather than offering individual starters and main courses, the Water Star Grille serves dishes and specialty drinks during dinner service that are designed for sharing and are brought to the table steadily and continuously throughout the meal. No reservations needed – come as you are!
For a post-dinner cocktail in a calm, upscale ambiance, set your sights on Marie Nicole’s Grill at Diamond Beach. Enjoy one of their famous hand-crafted cocktails at the extended bar featuring a casual bar menu. In addition to the finest of wines, Marie Nicole’s offers an excellent Martini and Drink Menu. Sample the “Marie Nicole Martini”, made with pear vodka and ginger puree or the “Marie Nicole Rita” made with Patron Tequila, lime juice, agave, and a few other secret ingredients to make it “simply perfect”.
Diamond Beach’s latest gem, Coastal Blue Oceanside & Grill, plays host to a late night Reverse Happy Hour that is the perfect way to end the night. From 10 p.m. to close, enjoy $4 featured beer as well as the $5 featured wine and $5 featured cocktail of the evening. When late night cravings strike, Coastal Blue’s Reverse Happy Hour answers with deals on BBQ Chili Wings, Braised Short Rib Nachos, Calamari Tempura, and more.