Labor Day Weekend, Wildwood Swag & a Surprisingly Amazing Mocktail at Ocean Drive

It’s Labor Day weekend, and I’m officially asking: HOW did summer go by this fast?!

Time flies when you work every day and somehow haven’t even had a proper beach day yet. 😂 But honestly, I can’t complain too much. This summer has been packed with new places, new adventures, great food, and plenty of weekends spent partying with Corona.

We even found time to catch the Breaking Benjamin Concert on the Camden Waterfront.

And now we’re down to the final weekend of summer!

Labor Day Weekend Fun in Wildwood

This weekend is the last WMGM event of the summer where we’re giving away swag and $500, and we’re going out with a bang!

Actually, we're giving five people $500 today! 💰💰💰

So, if you’re looking for something fun to do in Wildwood this Labor Day weekend, come on out to Keenan’s and join us for some fun.

I haven’t scoped out the mocktail situation yet, but you KNOW if there’s one available, I’ll be having it. 🍹

Because even when everyone else is partying, this Sober Party Girl still wants something fun in her glass!

A Stop at Ocean Drive in Sea Isle City

We recently did one of these events at Ocean Drive in Sea Isle City, and while I didn’t get to have an actual dinner, my amazing husband, Joe, was happy to share his snack with me, and, of course, supply me with a mocktail.

A husband who knows how to keep his Sober Party Girl hydrated? 10/10. 😂

The Mocktail 🍹

Now, let’s get the bad news out of the way.

There is no mocktail menu at Ocean Drive.

BOOOOO. 👎

However, the bartenders at the outdoor bar were absolutely wonderful. They were incredibly sweet and more than happy to make us something without alcohol.

And then…

LOOK AT THIS DRINK!

Fresh orange juice, pineapple juice, and cranberry juice came together to make one seriously gorgeous, fruity mocktail.

And yes, I know what you’re thinking: "Girl, that's just juice."

I KNOW. But my god, it was GOOD. 😂

It was fresh, fruity, refreshing, and exactly what I wanted on a summer evening at the shore. Sometimes you don't need fancy syrups, nonalcoholic spirits, or a 12-ingredient cocktail creation.

Sometimes three good juices and a bartender who knows what they're doing are all you need.

This was easily one of my favorite simple mocktails of the summer.

Sober Party Girl approved! 🍹💃

The Food: Chicken Tenders & Fries 🍗🍟

Now, I’ll be completely honest.

This isn't exactly a fair food review because we weren't sitting down for a full meal. We grabbed chicken tenders and fries to share while I was running around giving out free raffle tickets.

But even for a quick bite, I was impressed.

You know how sometimes you order chicken tenders and fries at a beach bar and you get a handful of greasy fries and chicken that's been cooked into oblivion?

You eat it anyway because… Beach bar food. 😂

That was NOT the case here.

The chicken tenders were cooked to have the perfect crispy outside and juicy thick chicken insides, and we had several different sauces to choose from. The fries were crispy on the outside with that nice fluffy potato in the middle.

No limp, greasy fries here!

It was basically a simple kids-meal-type order, but the kitchen clearly still cared about putting out a quality plate. And honestly, I appreciate that.

You don't have to order the fanciest thing on the menu for a restaurant to show that they care about the food.

Ocean Drive in Sea Isle City: Final Thoughts

Overall, we had a great time at Ocean Drive in Sea Isle City.

The mocktail was a total hit, the food was surprisingly good for a quick bar bite, and the atmosphere was exactly what you want from a South Jersey shore night.

We even got to meet a Flyers Alumni, which was pretty darn cool! He also has his own cigar company, so if you're into that, check out @guffawcigars on Instagram.

Between the event, the food, the mocktail, and the people we met, it was definitely a successful night.

⭐ Sober Party Girl Score: 9/10

Would I go back?

Absolutely.

Would I love to see a dedicated mocktail menu?

Also absolutely. 😂

Honorable Mention: Charlie’s Bar in Somers Point 🍗

We also made another stop at Charlie’s Bar in Somers Point, and I have to say… This visit was even better than the last one!

You can read my previous full-length review of Charlie’s, and keep an eye out for my upcoming article in Shore Local Newsmagazine.

The wings were, as always, fantastic. 🍗

The mocktail was still fabulous. 🍹

Joe and I ordered our wraps again, and this time they weren't soggy! Hallelujah! 😂

And my mom absolutely loved her cheesesteak.

So yeah… Charlie’s still has it.

Of course they do! This Somers Point institution has been part of the local scene for more than 80 years, so they must be doing something right.

There’s just something special about those old-school South Jersey places that have been serving generations of locals.

And just like that, summer is winding down.

Labor Day weekend always feels a little bittersweet. The shore is still buzzing, the weather is still warm, and there are still plenty of things to do, but you can feel fall creeping in.

For this Sober Party Girl, though, the adventures aren't stopping anytime soon.

There are still plenty of restaurants to visit, mocktails to drink, events to attend, and trouble to get into.

Until next time,

💋 The Sober Party Girl

🍹 Pros

• 🌴 Perfect South Jersey shore vibes — Ocean Drive in Sea Isle City delivers that classic summer atmosphere.

• 🍊🍍 Delicious mocktail — Fresh orange, pineapple, and cranberry juices made a surprisingly fantastic drink!

• 💕 Sweet, accommodating bartenders — Even without a mocktail menu, they were happy to make something alcohol-free.

• 🍗 Great chicken tenders — Crispy, juicy, and cooked just right.

• 🍟 Crispy fries — No sad, soggy beach-bar fries here!

• 🥫 Sauce options — Several sauces made the simple chicken-and-fries combo even better.

• 🏒 Flyers connection — Getting to meet a Flyers Alumni was a pretty cool bonus!

• 🎟️ Fun event atmosphere — Raffles, giveaways, and $500 prizes make for a fun night out.

• 🍹 Sober-friendly — You can still have a fun drink in your hand without the booze!

👎 Cons

• 📋 No dedicated mocktail menu — Major Sober Party Girl disappointment!

• 🍽️ Limited food experience — We only had chicken tenders and fries, so I can't give a full review of the menu.

• 🏃‍♀️ I was too busy working the event — Not exactly the relaxing dinner-and-drinks experience!

• ☀️ Summer is ending — And I am NOT emotionally prepared for that. 😭

• 💸 $500 giveaways aren't guaranteed — But hey, somebody has to win… might as well be you! 💰

⭐ Overall: 9/10

🍹 Great mocktail + 🍗 surprisingly good food + 🎉 fun atmosphere = a very successful Sober Party Girl outing!