Cape May. New Jersey – Cape May is considered one of the most exclusive, upscale resort towns at the Jersey shore. The streets are full of historical, Victorian homes and bed and breakfasts for you to tour. The shopping is not so much tee-shirts and seashells as it is fine arts and crafts. The dining is more elegant, the accommodations are more luxurious.
Generally speaking, you’ll see more couples and fewer families, more adults and fewer teens in Cape May. A lot of the bed and breakfasts in Cape May restrict the ages of their guests, so if you’re planning a family getaway, you may have to look a little harder for a place to stay. But if you’re looking for a romantic escape, a Cape May bed and breakfast can’t be beat. You’ll be dazzled by the luxurious, antique furnishings and sumptuous meals. Most bed and breakfasts have a porch where you can relax and watch the world go by, or a garden where you can admire the flowers, or a sun room for gazing at the ocean. The atmosphere is classy, but relaxed.
The bed and breakfasts in Cape May really do offer a lot for the money. Many provide beach chairs and towels and even bicycles so you can get around town without fighting for parking spaces.
If history is your passion, then Cape May will be the perfect destination! You can stay in a restored Victorian bed and breakfast, and take tours of the historic district. Check with the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts to find out more about tours and the annual music festival. Even the shopping at Washington Street Mall is historic — be sure to visit the legendary James’ and Fralinger’s Salt Water Taffy. The shops at Washington Street Mall have been family owned and run for generations, and you’ll find a variety of fine shops and fine dining. And for a good case of the shivers, look for a haunted Cape May tour to hunt ghosts of tourists past.
But Cape May isn’t all history and shopping… you’ll find many ways to get in touch with nature. Visit the Cape May Bird Observatory to get a closer look at some of New Jersey’s non-human residents. At the Northwood Center, you can pick up any birding supplies you may need, and sign up for a guided tour or just enjoy the views over Lily Lake. And you can join a whale watching and sight seeing cruise at Schellenger’s Landing.
Cape May also has its very own zoo! The Cape May Zoo is free to the public and is open year round. More than two hundred species of animals call the zoo’s many acres home. The Cape May County Park also offers a variety of recreational activities like walking paths, picnic areas, and the occasional outdoor concert.
If you’re looking for the boardwalks, the arcades, the neon lights, the roller coasters, and the crowded beaches… you’re going to have to look somewhere else. Cape May is one of the oldest shore resorts in New Jersey — and one of the most dignified. Keep Cape May in mind for a romantic escape, not so much a family thrill ride. And if you are going to spend a day or two on the beach in Cape May, keep in mind that you’ll be needing a beach badge.