Cape May: A Peek Into My Favorite Seaside Town

This post has been a long time coming. Anyone who knows me could easily tell you that if I could choose to be anywhere in the world at any given moment, it would probably be the quaint seaside town of Cape May. I grew up vacationing in Cape May, but never really gained a keen interest in the town until as a teenager I started reading the ghost stories and history of the Victorian houses there. Nowadays, I’m fortunate enough to spend most of my summer weekends down there and know the city like the back of my hand. I could write endlessly about all there is to see and do in Cape May, but here are some key highlights and recommendations for the first-time visitor.

Getting There

Cape May lies at the southernmost tip of the state of New Jersey, the last of a series of resort towns that line the Jersey Shore (but don’t think of the raunchy MTV show – Cape May is much more quiet and classy!). Because Cape May and the other shore towns are only a 1.5-2 hour drive from Philadelphia, this is where most Philadelphia-area residents spend their summer weekends, and you’ll notice everyone says they’re going down the shore, not to the beach. It’s just a Philly thing.

Driving: To get to Cape May from Philadelphia, the most straightforward route is to take the Ben Franklin or Walt Whitman bridge to I-676, to Route 42 South / Atlantic City Expressway, to the Garden State Parkway. Alternatively, from 42 you can take Route 55 South to Route 347.

Public Transportation: Driving is definitely the easiest and most time-efficient way to get to the shore, especially since you will need a car to make the most of Cape May, but there is one way to get into Cape May using public transit. From Philadelphia, you would take a bus or train to Atlantic City, then catch the NJ Transit 552 bus down to Cape May.

Where to Stay

Bed & Breakfast: Cape May has for years been known for its Bed & Breakfast accommodations. Sadly a lot of B&B’s have been closing in recent years to become private homes or rentals, but there are still a good number of them around:

Hotel: Congress Hall is a monumental and historic hotel that has really become the place to stay when you’re in Cape May. It’s received the title of New Jersey’s Best Hotel from Travel + Leisure among many other accolades. Be sure to check out its Blue Pig restaurant.

Weekly Rental: The Baronet is near and dear to my heart because it’s where my family stayed for a number of years. It’s a historic beachfront house with a newer extension off the back and is entirely weekly rental condos. The condos are extremely affordable, and all have access to use the main house’s gorgeous wraparound porch.

Motel: For a no-frills accommodation, the Camelot Motel is a great option. It sits on a beachfront block, has a pool, clean spacious rooms, and the rates are some of the most affordable in town.

Eat

The Lobster House is a must for seafood lovers. It doesn’t get any fresher – literally. The Lobster House sits on the Fisherman’s Wharf, home to a commercial fishing fleet that supplies most of its seafood. There are various dining options here, from the formal dining room to the take-out and raw bar to the Schooner American docked there.

The C-View Inn is one of my Cape May favorites. Cape May’s oldest tavern serves up delicious grub and cold beers, all for a price that you can’t beat. Insider tip: order the wings. They are the best in town!

For breakfast, Uncle Bill’s Pancake House is a Jersey Shore classic. It’s been operating with multiple locations since its 1962 establishment in Stone Harbor. Breakfast is served until close at 2pm, with over fifteen different types of pancakes on the menu (and more!)

Another great breakfast is the Mad Batter, an eclectic restaurant located in the Carroll Villa hotel on charming Jackson Street. The bar there also has one of the best local & craft beer selections in the city!

Is your sweet tooth calling you? Cape May has plenty to keep you satisfied. Sample fudge from the famous Fudge Kitchen or get some salt water taffy (another Jersey Shore favorite). Or check out Peace Pie where you can get a gourmet ice cream sandwich with a layer of pie filling!

If you’d rather drink your calories, head over to Delaney’s or Ugly Mug on the Washington Street Mall for some drinks in a chill pub atmosphere. Or if you’re up for a more lively evening, the music is always going at Carney’s along Beach Avenue.

Things to Do

Probably the number one draw for Cape May is its award-winning beaches. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day you’ll need to buy a beach tag to enter the beaches in the main part of town. If a free beach is a must, Cape May Point State Park’s beach is free to the public although no swimming is allowed.

Beach or no beach, Cape May Point State Park is a must for any first-time visitor, because it’s home to the Cape May Lighthouse. Climb the 199 steps of this historic lighthouse for unrivaled views of the cape. Fear of heights? You might better enjoy the nature trails through the state park where you’re guaranteed to see some interesting wildlife. Cape May is known as the Fall Birding Capital of the USA due to its location on the migration path for numerous species of birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and bats.

Back in the city of Cape May, you’ll want to spend some time exploring the streets of the city, which are lined with a collection of historic Victorian “summer cottages.” The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts offers a variety of trolley and walking tours of the city. They also operate the Emlen Physick Estate, Cape May’s only Victorian house museum.

They say the best things in life are free, and this is certainly true at Sunset Beach in Cape May, where you can watch breathtaking sunsets over the Delaware Bay. You’ll see what remains of the sunken concrete ship, the S.S. Atlantus. Every evening you’ll also be able to see a flag-lowering ceremony there – Sunset Beach only flies veteran’s casket flags, so each night’s ceremony honors a different United States veteran. You’ll also want to scour the beach for a few Cape May Diamonds, tiny pieces of quartz tumbled by the sea that can be shined up to look like actual diamonds. And don’t leave without going to the Sunset Beach gift shop and t-shirt store, you can find some of the best souvenirs on the island there!

For more shopping, there’s no better place to go than the Washington Street Mall, lined with dozens of souvenir and boutique shops spanning three blocks. Its brick walkways are especially charming to wander in the evenings.

These are some of the “musts” for any first-time visitor, but there is so much more to love about Cape May that it’s impossible to put it all in one blog post! Stay tuned for some more posts on all that there is to see and do there. Cape May is full of off-the-beaten-path discoveries, intriguing history, and endless charm that will leave you wanting to come back again and again.