Things To Do
Ocean City, New Jersey
Growing up, Jenna spent summers with her family in Ocean City and considers it a second home. Although a lot of the beloved attractions at "America's greatest family resort" are closed in November, you can still enjoy a quiet stroll along the iconic boardwalk or some shopping in the adorable downtown. Some of our favorite year-round spots are Kessel's Korner (for any meal, including ice cream), We Make It Personal (for customized gifts and home goods--tell Joy and Ron we sent you!), Dry Island (whose clever clothing pokes fun at the fact that no alcohol is sold anywhere in town) and The Bookateria Two (the perfect used bookstore to discover something new-to-you). If you're a local or a William & Mary alum you might already be in the know about one more hot spot: the cult classic convenience store Wawa! Try Jenna's go-to order, the pork roll bagel melt (a regional special) and a French vanilla cappuccino. Fun fact: the 34th street location is where she worked her first summer job!
"Earlier Than The Bird" Downtown Shopping Extravaganza
Remember how we suggested doing some shopping in Ocean City's adorable downtown? If that's your goal, we want to give a special shout-out to this event that will be taking place there on Saturday, November 22nd from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. If you have some time to kill in the morning before the wedding, make like an early bird and flock to it for great deals and the satisfaction that can only come from getting your holiday shopping done impressively early!
Historic Smithville, New Jersey
Historic Smithville is a quaint destination that looks like it was ripped straight from a Hallmark movie, and it's the perfect place to spend a leisurely afternoon. Wandering its cobblestone streets, you'll find antique stores, taverns, wineries, specialty shops for everything from cheese to garden goods, and beautiful waterfront views!
Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May is a charming town known for its classic shore delights like beaches and boardwalks as well as its beautiful Victorian architecture. It's the town on the Jersey Shore that's furthest south, but if you don't mind a bit of a drive, it's definitely worth exploring. Some highlights to check out are Cape May County Park & Zoo (which has FREE admission), Washington Street Mall (a beautiful walkable downtown with great options for shopping and dining), and The Blue Pig Tavern at Congress Hall (where Jenna has great memories dining with her Nan; after your meal, you can even grab a drink and listen to some live music at the Boiler Room bar downstairs, which Nan enjoyed even more than the restaurant :P).
Lucy the Elephant
If you hear a local fondly refer to their friend Lucy, they might not be talking about a person, but rather this beloved landmark--a six-story-tall elephant! And if exploring this quirky architectural delight works up your appetite, you can grab a bite at Ventura's Greenhouse Restaurant next door.
Escape at the Shore
We're escape room afficionados: we've even started a tradition of doing an escape room together every year before dinner on our anniversary! If you're up for a puzzle-solving adventure, why not find out if you have what it takes to escape?
Casinos in Atlantic City
While nearby Atlantic City is filled with casinos, we'd especially recommend Oceans Casino Resort, The Golden Nugget (which features great live music--our wedding band, The Exceptions, are known to play some of their signature high-energy shows there!), and Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa (which is, of course, extra convenient if you're planning to stay in our room block there).