Wine and Spirits and Beer, Oh My…Read On
It was the Cape May wineries to first hit the scene back in the 90’s, followed by the Cape May Brewery in 2011. Now we proudly welcome Cold Spring Brewery, Cape May Distillery and Nauti Distillery to the scene, along with a tiny boat named Tiki.
A visit to any of these fine establishments, will in no doubt involve some type of tour, a sampling of their creations or both. And while these activities are great, what we are really excited about is their offering of unique, offbeat things to do in Cape May, NJ
I think you will agree with me when I say…
…I am tired of seeing the same-old, boring list of things to do in Cape May continually come up in my Google search.
…I want unique and different things to do in Cape May this year!
So in addition to checking out these establishments and trying some fantastic, wine, spirits and beer, here are some fun, offbeat, things to do in Cape May:
First up, the wineries;
There are six heavy hitters in the Cape May area, they are:
Cape May Winery;
Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery;
Willow Creek Winery;
Jessie Creek Winery;
Turdo Vineyards; and
Natali Vineyards.
While all six of these vineyards are producing quality wines, it’s the first three that we are loving for their line-up of unique, offbeat things to do in Cape May.
CAPE MAY WINERY:
Cape May Winery’s Live Music on Friday Nights, Saturday and Sunday Afternoons: Guests can enjoy some fantastic wine amidst the vines.
When: Every Friday night, starting in July and running through mid September, 5 - 8 PM (21+ Only)
Every Saturday and Sunday afternoons, starting in July and running through mid September, 12 PM - 5:45 PM
Where: Cape May Winery, 711 Townbank Road, Cape May, NJ 08204
Know Before You Go: They do not take reservations for tables (first come, first serve). Tapas menu is available.
Cape May Winery is open year round for tastings and tours: Daily 12:00 – 5:00 PM
HAWK HAVEN WINERY:
Hawk Haven’s ROOTSTOCK Vineyard Concert Series
Take a seat at their picnic tables or bring a blanket and listen to some really great music amidst the vines - + Local Food Truck Eats.
“Named for the essential part of the grape vine, Rootstock combines beautiful vineyard ambiance and intimate performances by world-class musicians.”
When: Friday nights (in Season), July thru Labor Day, 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Where: Hawk Haven Winery, 600 South Railroad Avenue, Rio Grande NJ 08242
Cost: Tickets start at $10 and go to $35, depending on seating
Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery is open year round for tastings and tours:
Sunday thru Fridays, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Saturday’s 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
For more information on Hawk Haven's Events, please visit their Events Page.
WILLOW CREEK WINERY:
Willow Creek’s Fire Pit Fridays
Live music, tapas and wine tasting inside the winery. When you are finished inside, visitors can relax by the roaring fire.
When: Friday nights 5:30 to 9:30 PM
Where: Willow Creek Winery, 160-168 Stevens Street West Cape May, NJ 08204
Cost: Ala carte tapas and wine, free to sit by fire
Know Before you Go: It’s always best to check their calendar, as some Friday nights are closed to the public for private events. Also, seating is guaranteed by reservation only!
Willow Creek’s Comedy UnCorked
Drinks, Dinner and a Show. Delicious 3-course dinner paired to 3 amazing wines and an incredible performance by three stand-up comedians from NYC.
When: One Saturday a Month, November thru April (Off-Season), drinks start at 6:00 PM, Dinner at 7:00 PM and Comedy Show at 8:00 PM
Where: Willow Creek Winery, 160-168 Stevens Street West Cape May, NJ 08204
Cost: $65/per person
Know Before you Go: The show sells out quickly, so book early. Rated {MA} for Mature Audiences – Must be 21 years of age to attend.
Willow Creek is open year round for tastings and tours:
Monday’s thru Thursday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday’s: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM (Menu available until 9 PM)
Saturday’s & Sundays: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Tapas Menu available until 6:30 PM)
For more information on Willow Creek's Events, please visit their events page
...Now that you have the inside scoop of unique, offbeat things to do in Cape May via the wineries, we still have the breweries and a tiny boat names Tiki.
With the wine scene hot in Cape May, a couple of beer guys started asking…
…“Where’s all the beer down here??”
It was from this simple question that the craft-beer scene started to pop up in Cape May.
CAPE MAY BREWERY
One-Off Wednesday’s
Visitors can enjoy craft beer creations by professional chefs who are brought in to infuse an existing Cape May Brewery beer with something completely off-beat, say Chai Tea or Wintergreen.
When: Starting in November. Wednesday’s (off-season), 12:00 – 8:00 PM
Where: Cape May Brewery, 1288 Hornet Road, Rio Grande, NJ 08242 (Just inside the Cape May Airport)
Cost: Price of the Beer
Know Before You Go: Cape May Brewery does not offer food, BUT, the brand new Taco Shop that just opened next door does. So grab a Chorizo Casero Taco to go and head over to the Brewery for a craft beer that’s sure to please.
Cape May Brewery is open year round: Daily 12:00 – 8:00 PM
For more information, please visit Cape May Brewery's Page
COLD SPRING BREWERY
Cold Spring Brewery’s Thankful Thursdays
Newest Micro-brewery providing fresh, local craft-beer. We love drinking beer for a cause. Every week, Cold Spring Brewery hosts their event where the proceeds go to a different cause – changes weekly.
When: Every Thursday, 4:00 – 8:00 PM
Where: Cold Spring Brewery, 733 Seashore Road, Cold Spring, Cape May, NJ
Cost: Price of the Beer
Cold Spring Brewery is a Non-Profit, open year round: Tuesday thru Sunday 12:00 – 8:00 PM
OK, So we’ve learned about the wineries and breweries offbeat things to do in Cape May, now we move onto Cape May Distillery.
CAPE MAY DISTILLERY
Since this place is so new to Cape May, the offbeat thing to do in Cape May is actually go check it out.Things to do in Cape May by the Mason Cottage
Cape May Distillery produces two types of rum: Barrel Rum and Beach Rum, however, it’s their Honey Liquor, made with locally sourced honey, that I am loving!
Where: 371 Route 47 South, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Cape May Distillery is open year round for tours and tastings, Friday’s thru Monday’s 1:00 – 5:00 PM
So you now have learned about the offbeat things to do in Cape May at the wineries, the breweries and the distillery. What’s left you ask?
Well it’s the TINY CRUISE LINE of course…
...the Tiny Cruise Line has two tiny cruise boats that offer daily boat rides in season.
Their first tiny cruise boat is named “Fancy” with her red and white awnings. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing cruise through the harbor to see the Cape May marinas, the US Coast Guard base, waterfront homes, wildlife, etc. or perhaps you may want Cape May Tini Tikito do a sunset cruise. The “Fancy” tiny cruise boat will stop at several of the bars/restaurants along the harbor so that guests can go in for a drink. Stops may include: South Jersey Marina, Harbor View Restaurant & Deck Bar, Two Mile Inn, Osprey Landing and Harbor Cove
The newest tiny cruise boat to join the fleet is the “Tiny Tiki”, Cape May’s first bamboo Tiki party barge! Equipped with all you need for a great day on the water and at the beach! The “Tiny Tiki” is a BYOB, but has coolers, a grill, a fantastic sound system, full sink and even a private bathroom. Kayaks and beach games are included.
When: Daily In-Season
Where: Boats are docked in the South Jersey Marina
Cost: Daily harbor tours $20/per person, Sunset Tours $30/per person, Half day beach trip for $400 for 4 hours.
Know Before you Go: Both ships can accommodate up to 10 people, so if you have a large group please reserve space! Guests can book either one of these tiny boats for private parties. The Tiny Cruise Line offers boat tours in-season only.
…And there you have it folks
If your looking for unusual and different things to do in Cape May this year, I hope that this list will help with just that.
If you have an offbeat activity involving cocktails, please share it with me, I would love to include it in the list.
If your looking for accommodations in Cape May, while checking out these offbeat things to do, the Mason Cottage, Cape May Bed and Breakfast Inn is located in the heart of downtown Cape May, a block from the beach and many fine shops and intimate restaurants. Historical charm with all the modern day conveniences including private, en-suite baths, WiFi, TVs, a guest I-Pad in the parlor and more. Open year-round.