Memorial Day Adventures: Farms, Feathers & a Hidden Gem Bar

-

While everyone was packing their coolers and rushing down the Parkway to the Jersey Shore for Memorial Day Weekend, we made a different call. As locals, we know better than to get caught in beach traffic on a holiday weekend. Instead, we went off the beaten path—to where hooves, feathers, and good food await.

First Stop: Funny Farm Animal Rescue

Our Saturday adventure started with a road trip to Funny Farm Animal Rescue & Sanctuary in Mays Landing, NJ. If you haven’t been, this place is pure magic—and it’s all thanks to Laurie Zaleski, the heart and soul behind the operation. Laurie, a passionate animal advocate, opens her sanctuary to the public and hosts events throughout the year to raise funds for the hundreds of rescued animals she cares for.

This weekend’s visit came with a special treat: we met the sanctuary’s newest resident—a baby emu who needed a little help with its footing after a rough hatch. Visitors were welcome to gently pet the emu and interact with the pack of friendly dogs that roamed the property like it was their kingdom (because it kind of is).



After a quick chat with Laurie, we made our way to the souvenir barn, stocked with buckets of feed for visitors to hand out. My husband, an animal-feeding enthusiast (seriously), dove right in. From Yogi the enormous bull to ducks, chickens, pigs, and goats, he made sure everyone got a taste of his apple and carrot stash. If you’ve never fed a horse a carrot from your hand or had a goat try to eat your shoelaces, you’re missing out.

The best part? Every dollar from souvenir and feed purchases goes straight to the care of the animals. It’s a feel-good way to spend the day—and you get to pet a pig.

Second Stop: A Hidden Gem Bar Called The Pickwickian Tavern

After our barnyard bonding session, we were ready for a bite. We didn’t want anything fancy—just something close, casual, and quick. A little Google Maps magic pointed us to Pickwickian Tavern, just three minutes down the road.

We weren’t sure what to expect. The parking lot was empty, which made us pause. Closed for the holiday? Or had we stumbled upon a hidden gem?


Spoiler: It was open. And quiet. Gloriously quiet.

Inside, we were greeted by Dan, the solo bartender on duty who welcomed us like old friends. He handed us menus, offered drink suggestions, and gave off a relaxed, “I got this” vibe that was just what we needed after the chaos of goats and kids (the human kind, too).

There was no mocktail menu, but many of the drinks, buckets, and specials looked like they could be made virgin. Dan confidently said he could whip up anything. Whenever there isn’t a Mocktail menu, I say, “dealer’s choice.” I leaned into his creativity and asked for something refreshing. Many of the drinks had watermelon listed as an ingredient, and I was in the summer mood. After a consultation with Dan, he believed their strawberry was much better than the watermelon. Who am I to fight him? He served up a fizzy strawberry lemonade with Sprite and a lime wedge. It was perfect. My husband’s virgin piña colada (aka their coconut mocktail) hit the tropical mark too. They were the perfect taste of summer after a long day in the sun.


What We Ate

We kept it simple but satisfying:

  • Bavarian Pretzel with Pub Cheese – Visually fun (served hanging on one of those classic metal hooks), but taste-wise, standard bar fare. If you’ve had one at any South Jersey pub, you’ve had this one.

  • Cheese Curds – These were the surprise winner. Crunchy, melty, and somehow not greasy. A+ snack food.

  • Buffalo Wings – According to my wing-loving husband, these were top 3 status. And that’s saying something. He’s a regular at Atlantic City’s Wing Wars and keeps an internal ranking system. These wings? Mild, meaty, perfectly cooked, and falling-off-the-bone tender.

The Pickwickian isn’t trying to be trendy or flashy. It’s just solid, friendly, and exactly what we needed after a day at the farm.



Home Sweet Home

With happy bellies and lots of new animal friends in our hearts, we headed home. There was plenty of grilling that awaited us! 

Until Next Time,

The Sober Party Girl



The final Sober Party score: 8 out of 10. It was good and we will be back!


Pros

Cons

Very kind and enthusiastic Bartender

No Mocktail Menu

Good food and Happy Hour Specials

I didn’t explore, but it looks like the restaurant is split in 2? Maybe a dining room area and we were in the bar area? Not an official con, but worth mentioning.

Beautiful space, nice decorations, and clean bar



Post Originally written on Memorial Day weekend of 2025
Location: Mays Landing, Hamilton, NJ 08330, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Toast to the Hero Campaign: Mocktail Magic at Josie Kelly’s

-
Image
It’s officially Herotini Season in Atlantic County—one of my favorite parts of summer! Hosted by the HERO Campaign, this annual challenge invites local restaurants to craft creative mocktails while raising money to promote designated driving. The community votes for their favorites with a donation, making it a fun and meaningful way to support a vital cause.  The Hero Campaign was started by Bill and Muriel Elliott after their son,  John R. Eliott was killed in a head-on collision with a drunk driver 2 months after graduating from the US Naval Academy. You can read all about their story and efforts at www.herocampaign.org. This year, I drove to Josie Kelly’s Public House in Somers Point to enjoy their HEROtini Happy Hour. As soon as you walked into the party room a group of jovial volunteers were there to greet you. I signed in at the table and bought my raffle tickets. Bill and Muriel Elliott welcomed me to the event as I walked in. It’s thanks to their hard work and dedicati...
Read more

Sugar Factory, Atlantic City, NJ

-
Image
  Kicking this blog off with a bang! The Hard Rock Hotel Casino in Atlantic City is, probably, one of the best casinos in Atlantic City. Is it because of the brand? The familiarity? I don’t know what it is, but this place always feels like home to me.  My husband and I were excited to return to Hard Rock to see the “My Big Gay Italian Casino Adventure.” A crazy whirlwind play that had the perfect mix of love, lust, and laughter at the Sound Waves Stage. We have walked past the venue a million times, but we never walked in. The bar greets you as you walk through the doors. We were running late to the party, so we did not take a look at the menu. Instead, we were greeted by security and shown our seats. The theater was clean and set up beautifully. The gorgeous chandeliers gave off a warm light and we even got to see the disco ball in action. Overall it was a wonderful production and we will look forward to the next show! Before the show, we had to lose some money… It is a casin...
Read more

Welcome to the Party!

-
Image
 Hello!!  I am happy to officially welcome you to the sober party blog!  Who am I? After many years of wanting to share my experiences as a sober partier, I took the leap and just did it! I don't know why it took years, but it did. We're here now!  I am a long time straight edge girl who enjoys a nice party, but with a mocktail or shirley temple in hand. I have known for years that alcoholic drinks just weren't for me. My control freak side could never. That doesn't mean you can't have fun and enjoy the party all day and night!  I have watched friends over the years end up in some pretty dark places and I thank God so many of them were able to find a path to sobriety. It is common, during this journey, to have a hard time bein around a bar, social engagements, or  just others that are drinking. For them, some places just aren't understanding or accommodating to their situation and that can be detrimental.  I am also a big believer in "family friendly" ...
Read more