20 Things To Do In Wildwood NJ

On the shores of Cape May County lies Wildwood, NJ, a gorgeous seaside town famed for its white sandy beaches and relaxed vibe. The beaches in Wildwood are the widest on the Jersey Cape, making them perfect for a relaxing day by the sea. During the summer, expect Wildwood to be busy with tourists and locals flocking to this seaside escape to make the most of the warm weather, soft sands and inviting waters.

The famous Wildwood boardwalk is a sensory overload. Take your time here and allow yourself to be drawn in by the sights, sounds and smells. If a quieter day by the ocean is more your speed, take the time to discover the history of Wildwood or explore the wealth of natural beauty of the area. Regardless of when you time your visit, there is something for everyone in Wildwood. There are numerous block parties, festivals, car shows and more to get involved in throughout the year. Here are the things to do in Wildwood.

Wildwood, New Jersey

20 Things To Do In Wildwood

1- Explore Morey’s Piers and Beachfront Water Park

Morey’s Piers and Beachfront Water Park is a six-block beachfront amusement park perfect for a day out with the kids or exploring at night with friends.

The park includes three amusement piers packed with rides and games and two water parks.

Morey’s Piers is a great place to spend the day as a family, as there is plenty to occupy kids of all ages.

There are also zones where kids can be safely left so parents can get a well-deserved break at one of the spas or cocktail bars.

There is plenty to eat at the piers, too, with six restaurants and bars on site.

Choose from a whopping 24-inch pizza at Jumbo’s Grub & Pub, or spice things up with the family and dog-friendly Pigdog Beach Bar B Q for the best BBQ on the beach.

Morey’s Piers and Beachfront Water Park is at 3501 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ 08260.

2- Shop At The Downtown Wildwood Farmers Market

Downtown Wildwood Farmers Market is held every weekend from Memorial Day at Byrne Plaza.

The market is tightly packed, with more than 60 vendors attending.

The produce available includes traditional farmer’s market fruits and vegetables, delicious bakery items, plants, flowers, and craft spirits.

While exploring the farmers market, make the most of the ready-to-eat food stands.

Enjoy a coffee while you explore and sample produce from guacamole to hot sauce.

Wildwood farmers’ market is also an open-air gift shop where you can find handcrafted candles, soaps, personalised items and art.

Downtown Wildwood Farmers Market is at Byrne Plaza, 3400 Pacific Avenue, Wildwood, NJ 08260.

3- Treat Yourself At The Original Fudge Kitchen

A visit to Wildwood wouldn’t be complete without stopping by The Original Fudge Company.

The Original Fudge Kitchen has been based at Boardwalk for over 50 years.

In their kitchens, they whip up sweet and sticky treats from chocolates and creamy fudge to salt water taffy.

Call into The Original Fudge Kitchen to pick up a souvenir or for a sweet treat for your vacation.

Try their unusual molasses paddles smothered in milk or dark chocolate, or buy a gift box of mixed salt water taffy and fudge.

The Original Fudge Kitchen is at 4120 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ 08260.

4- Walk Along The Wildwood Boardwalk

Wildwood’s award-winning boardwalk stretches for 38 blocks.

This seafront destination is packed with shops, rides, restaurants and water parks.

It began as a small stretch of promenade covering 150 yards in the 1890s.

Despite its small size, the boardwalk was the centre of entertainment and activity for the town, and as its popularity grew, so did its size.

To walk the entire length of the boardwalk takes around one hour, however, this is without stopping to absorb the energy and take part in activities along the way.

Be sure to check out the boardwalk at night when it is lit up with vibrant coloured lights and neon signs.

5- Feel The Sand Between Your Toes On Wildwood Beach

Unlike other beaches on the Atlantic coastline, access to Wildwood is completely free.

As a result, locals and tourists flock here in summer to make the most of the warm weather.

Wildwood Beach stretches for 5 miles (8.05 kilometres) and is packed with soft white sands.

USA Today named Wildwood Beach the ‘Best Beach in New Jersey’, and it is easy to see why.

There is something for everyone at the beach.

Activities include surfing and boogie-boarding, frisbee, beach volleyball and more.

Stretches of Wildwood Beach are dog friendly too.

Numerous events are held on the beach throughout the year, including the National Marbles Championships and the Wildwoods International Kite Festival.

6- Enjoy A Ferris Wheel Breakfast

Eat breakfast on the Ferris wheel at Wildwood’s boardwalk for an unusual start to your day with an impressive view.

Breakfast in the Sky is a unique dining experience on Morey’s Piers’ giant Ferris wheel.

The experience is stunning.

Each wheel car can seat four people at a table covered in white linens and set with fine china.

Try the shrimp and lobster omelette for something appropriate from the ocean, or choose crisp and fluffy Belgian waffles with fresh Jersey fruit and maple syrup.

While you dine, enjoy the sun rising over Wildwoods.

Reservations are incredibly limited so booking ahead is a must.

Breakfast is ordered in advance to ensure that your food is also ready as you arrive and are seated to allow diners the most out of their experience and help servers keep to a tight schedule.

Ferris Wheel Breakfast is at Morey’s Piers and Beachfront Water Parks, 3501 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ 08260.

7- Ride The Sightseer Trams

Sightseer Trams opened in 1949 and has been ferrying visitors to Wildwood up and down the boardwalk since.

This bold yellow tram operates from May till the close of the season.

Each tram drives two miles along the boardwalk from 11 am till the amusement piers close.

The trams are a great way to start your visit to the boardwalk as you take in many sights.

Rides are reasonably priced, with a one-way ticket costing you only $4 for a 30-minute journey.

Sightseer Trams is at 5308 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ 08260.

8- Visit The Wildwood Historical Society and Museum

One of the best things to do in Wildwood is to absorb the history of this fun-filled seaside town at the Historical Society and Museum.

This free-to-enter museum is packed with local history and culture.

The museum has exhibitions focusing on music, local history and Wildwoods boardwalk fame. Don’t miss Tuffy the Lion and the Golden Nugget Cactus.

The museum hosts regular history, art and culture workshops and offers various educational programs.

Wildwood Historical Society and Museum is at 3907 Pacific Avenue, Wildwood, NJ 08260.

9- Cycle The Wildwood Crest Dunes Bike Path

Wildwoods Crest Dune Bike Path covers a 12-mile (19.31 kilometres) loop from the boardwalk to the North Wildwood sea wall.

There are plenty of spots in Wildwood to hire a bicycle from before heading out on the path.

As you cycle, there are plenty of wonderful views of the natural landscape surrounding Wildwood, the ocean and beaches, and of course, the town itself.

Take your time on the journey and make plenty of stops at cafes or bars or to explore more of the area.

Wildwood Crest Dunes Bike Path is at Wildwood, NJ 08260.

10- Eat Pizza At Sam’s Pizza Palace

Sam Spera, an Italian American, opened Sam’s Pizza Palace in 1957, and the pizzeria has been serving hungry people since.

Sam’s has a simple menu, but one that locals and visitors alike keep coming back for.

Opt for a plain pie, or choose your favourite toppings, such as pepperoni or classic Italian meatballs.

Sam’s serves large pizzas however pizzas are available by the slice too.

Sit in and soak up the atmosphere at a table, or take away and find a bench along the boardwalk to enjoy the view.

Sam’s Pizza Palace is at 2600 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ 08260.

11- Go On The Dark Star Pirate Cruise

For the perfect thing to do in Wildwood for families, try the Dark Star Pirate Cruises.

This authentic pirate-themed cruise departs several times a day out into Sunset Lake.

Dark Star is part of the Starlight Fleet and is their newest addition.

Michael Lemole, a naval architect, designed the boat, completing it in only 5 1/2 months.

49 passengers can sail aboard Dark Star at one time.

The crew dress in pirate attire and rally the passengers on their hunt for treasure.

You may even see the ship’s water cannons fired during your cruise.

Dark Star Pirate Cruise is at 6200 Park Boulevard, Wildwood Crest, NJ 08260.

12- Drink Craft Beer At 7 Mile Brewery

Located in neighbouring Rio Grande, 7 Mile Brewery is worth a detour during your visit to Wildwoods.

This small brewery aims to produce great beer in small batches.

Through experimentation with a range of hops, malts, grains and sugars combined with unique flavours, 7 Mile Brewery has an interesting and unusual range of drinks.

The brewers consider drinking beer their main hobby while making quality brews their job.

Head to the brewery bar to sample some of their latest drinks.

7 Mile Brewery is at 3156 Route 9 South, Rio Grande, NJ 08242.

13- Visit The Cape May Bird Observatory

A short drive away from Wildwoods is the scenic Cape May Bird Observatory.

The observatory was founded in 1975 and has been educating bird watchers and interested visitors on the avian residents on the Jersey coast since.

The observatory carries out research into the habitats and patterns of birds within their immediate area and encourages conservation and education through a range of campaigns and educational activities.

Visit the observatory during spring or fall as thousands of migrating birds pass through Wildwoods and the surrounding areas.

This is a great time to see unique species that would not normally be sighted in the area.

Cape May Bird Observatory is at 701 E Lake Drive, Cape May Point, NJ 08212.

14- Ride The “Largest Speedboat On Earth”

Thrill-seekers should book ahead to travel on the ‘largest speedboat on Earth’ with Silver Bullet Tours.

This unique sailing tour takes eager visitors onto the ocean on dolphin-watching tours.

Other marine life and nature can be seen during the tours, including a wide range of sea birds.

During the tour, your knowledgeable guide will share the history of Wildwoods and interesting facts about the area.

Each tour lasts approximately 90 minutes and runs three times a day.

Silver Bullet Tours is at 508 W Rio Grande Avenue, Wildwood, NJ 08260.

15- Visit Hereford Inlet Lighthouse

Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is a uniquely designed working lighthouse.

The lighthouse itself at first appears to be a quaint and traditional American wood-panelled home, but with an unusual tower.

Climb to the top of the lighthouse, where the views out to the Atlantic Ocean are worth seeing.

Visitors to the lighthouse will learn about lighthouse keeping during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Surrounding the lighthouse is a park packed with more than 200 species of plants.

The gardens have won many awards for their design and variety, including the Pennsylvania Horticultural Suburban Greening Award.

Take the time to explore the gardens after marvelling at the view from the top of the lighthouse.

Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is at 111 N Central Avenue, North Wildwood, NJ 08260.

16- Admire The Doo Wop Preservation League Collection

Wildwood’s Doo Top Preservation League has been protecting and educating on the Doo Wop design and architectural trends of the 1950s and 1960s since 1997.

This unique building preserves the largest mid-20th-century resort architecture collection in America.

Their collections showcase the best of each decade through architecture, music, design and pop culture.

The Doo Wop Preservation League hub is open seasonally from June to August.

During this period, they run bus tours each evening around the Wildwood area to show off the Doo Wop architecture still seen in the town today.

Doo Wop Preservation League is at 4500 Ocean Avenue, Wildwood, NJ 08260.

17- Drink Wine At Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery

Take a day away from the coast and head to Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery, only a short drive away from the Wildwood coast.

The vineyard is the perfect place to spend an afternoon surrounded by vines, wines, and knowledgeable sommeliers.

The Hawk Haven wine bar and tasting sessions are available daily.

After sampling the wines, head to the vineyard shop and buy a few bottles to take home.

The vineyard hosts various events each year, including concerts, dining experiences and Sangria Sundays during the summer months.

Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery is at 600 S Railroad Avenue, Rio Grande, NJ 08242.

18- Enjoy The Waterfront At Sunset Lake

Wildwoods is surrounded by water. To the east is the North Atlantic Ocean, and to the west lies Sunset Lake.

Head to the waterfront, walk along the shore and relax on one of the benches.

If you visit on an evening, the sunsets are breathtaking.

While exploring the lake, visit Turtle Gut Park and Memorial.

Here there is a small memorial to the seamen and officers of Brigantine Nancy who lost their lives during a Revolutionary War battle in 1776, the only battle of the war fought in Cape May County.

Sunset Lake is at New Jersey and Miami Avenues, Wildwood Crest, NJ 08260.

19- See The Exhibits At NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum

The NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum is a must-visit for aviation and history fans.

This museum is set inside a real World War II hangar.

The museum explores the history of NAS Wildwood from its opening in 1943 to the present day through a range of exhibits, including planes, photographs, and even missiles.

The most treasured exhibits are the museum’s propellor planes.

The museum houses a TMB Avenger and a F6F-3 Hellcat, which are two aeroplanes in their collection of more than 20.

Other exhibitions include a display on life in Wildwood during WWII and access to an actual air traffic control tower.

NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum is at Cape May Airport, 500 Forrestal Road, Cape May, NJ 08204.

20- Have Fun At Ocean Oasis Water Park & Beach Club

Ocean Oasis Water Park & Beach Club is part of Morey’s Piers.

This water park is packed with a range of rides, activities and more.

If you are feeling brave, ride Cliff Dive, a water slide that drops five stories in three seconds.

For something a little calmer, grab a pool float and let the calming current of the Endless River carry you gently away.

Ocean Oasis is perfect for families, with its activity pool filled with water, floats, obstacles and more. For adults, visit Water Lilies Swim Up Bar.

This adults-only area of Ocean Oasis has drinks on tap and a spa environment to add to the relaxing experience.

Ocean Oasis Water Park is at 2501 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ 08260.