Cape May, NewJersey - Aug 2023

 

Cape May, New Jersey

There are so many things to do in Cape May, one of the safest towns on the east coast. A local citizen bragged that there is no crime, except a few stolen bikes every year, that tend to get recovered, when the tourist season is over!

Here is a list of my favorite Cape May things to do.

 Sunset Beach ( check and see if they are doing “taps” and the flag lowering ceremony- they used to do it every night but not anymore). It is a nice beach to stroll on and look for Cape May diamonds as you wait for the sun to set.

you can see the sunken concrete ship at Sunset Beach- it was built in 1918. Steel was too expensive during the war so they experimented with concrete- and as you can see it didn't go well. This ship the SS Atlantus got hit by a storm and sunk.  It is now great marine habitat.

You can climb a WWII watchtower.  (99 stairs) There were 15 towers built along the shore watching for the enemy off the coast.

There is also a good grill there to eat lunch or dinner (fairly inexpensive – and a view of the ocean and the concrete sunken ship).

Nearby is the Cape May lighthouse, which was a beacon for the slaves crossing the bay on the Underground Railroad. You can climb the 199 stair lighthouse for a fee.  

 Once you have visited the lighthouse, go over the dunes and see the  WWII bunker that used to be covered in sand (erosion took sand away). You can walk out and explore the bunker. 

There is also a wetlands hike (take the blue trail for a nice 2.25 mile hike) Red and yellow trails are shorter.  All the trails let you see birds, rabbits and great marsh plants- and hopefully no snakes. Most of the hikes are on raised boardwalks- the end of the blue trail is hard dirt and a bit of sand. There are view point platforms along the way as well.

We also visited the Scientific Research Center around the block from the lighthouse. This center just opened. The building was a former convent retreat, a hospital and an old folks home.  Our tour was on the history and biology research going on in Cape May. It was very interesting. But if you had kids with you, you would want to do one of the hands-on classes that they offer.

 

Dolphin watching- I really enjoyed this Cape May Whale Watcher tour.  It starts in the bay side and cruises up a wide canal and then to the bay and then the ocean.  We saw eagles and egrets and tons of dolphins (whales were not in season).  It was cool seeing the  NJ coastline. I usually don’t like things like this – but it was really worth the money- sit UP FRONT!!,      Easy parking in their lot- on Friday the  first boat that goes out is buy one get one half off(must buy at their ticket office.)

  There are many beaches to visit in South Jersey- for most of them you need to buy a day pass, called a beach badge- they check them as you enter the beach from the stairs, or patrols check on the beach- it supports the life guards and the beach cleaners. You can rent chairs and umbrellas at many of the beaches. I really like the beaches right in Cape May and Stone Harbor a few miles north.

 

Cape May MAC (Museums Arts Culture ) has a website for all their tours      

The tour I took through MAC  was The Golf Cart Tour - very informative guide person! Though the carts can sit 6 guests, the 2 in the back will be facing backwards- very hard to see what the guide is talking about, but I survived because I had the back seat to myself, so I could turn around.

Also through MAC I took the Historic Haunts Combo tour - a night time trolley ride past a bunch of haunted homes- with creepy stories (highly recommend -loved it so well done!)  Here the docent was discussing the seances that are done twice a year, in the parlor at the Emlen Physick Estate.

Harriet Tubman Museum (there is a MAC trolley tour that eventually takes you to this museum- but in my opinion, the MAC Tubman tour was just okay- I think the guide didn't know the info well enough to be a guide) but the museum tour was really great. It was given by the deacon of the church next door- he grew up in Cape May, so he had a great perspective and lots of Cape May history tidbits. There are timed dated tickets for this museum.  Buy the tickets for just the museum at their website .

I would have liked to have done the MAC Architecture Tour or the Painted Lady House Tour- both are walking tours. There are over 600 historical houses in Cape May, and most are within walking distance of each other. And many are BnBs or the whole house is for rent!

                                                         

Cold Spring Historic Village-(and Brewery). check their calendar of events, because they have musical festivals and themed weekends that sound great. The village by itself was interesting because all the houses were moved to this tree shaded village from all over NJ- they have docents in each house telling the history of the buildings. I would love to return or a music or theme day.

 You can take a short drive up to the Wildwoods

 You can visit the historical (1873)  The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse and Gardens. You can park for free in their parking lot and view the gardens and walk back to beach seawall for a beautiful stroll with an ocean view.  

Behind the lighthouse we met a man sitting on the bench on the seawall with a binder of history- he was so charming and informative and he didn't have a tip jar, he just wanted to talk history. 

 

The Boardwalk at Wildwood- if you have never been to a Jersey Shore boardwalk, you are in for a treat.  Tons of rides and games and arcades and food. Something for everyone!

Cape May Zoo- Free and really well done 

Cape May Ferry- you and/or your car can go to Delaware for the Day- or continue southward

Pedal Railroad- 4 miles round trip

Cape May Winery - I was told that the Sangria was top notch on a hot summer day!

I would also suggest renting bikes- it is the best way to get around- traffic moves slowly and lots of bike lanes and places to park and lock your bike.

Restaurants- The restaurants in Cape May are pretty pricey. I enjoyed The Ugly Mug in downtown. Be sure to go inside and see the mugs and learn the fisherman history of the mugs.

 I liked The Lobster House. We sat on the boat part of the  restaurant tied to the dock. We watched all the other boats come and go from the marina. The lobster salad roll and a cold beer were great

South 9 (wood fired pizza), 

Exit Zero Filling Station - be advised it opens most days at 3 pm. (except Sat and Sun at noon)

I hope this blog inspires you to consider Cape May N.J. for your next vacation