Page 45 - 2025 Southern NJ Vacationer

CAPE MAY
America’s Timeless Seashore Resort - A Year-Round Getaway
AT THE SOUTHERNMOST TIP of New Jersey sits Cape May, once considered a “hidden gem,” but now well-known for charming Victorian housing stock, superlative dining, fabulous beaches, vibrant nightlife, and first-rate shopping. Cape May, America’s oldest seashore resort, is a bustling destination throughout the year.
Named for Dutch explorer Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, who explored the area in the early 1600s, it wasn’t until the mid - to late - 1800s that the city began asserting itself as a top destination. The entire city is a National Historic Landmark because of its large con- centration of Victorian architecture that has been expertly and lovingly preserved. In fact, there are more than 600 late 18th - to 19th - century frame buildings. Many of these beautiful gingerbread-trimmed homes and hotels have been upgraded with modern conveniences while keeping their historical significance intact, and a large portion of them operate as hotels or bed and breakfast inns.
The heart of Cape May City is the Washington Street Mall, which has more than 75 shops, boutiques, eateries, bars, and fine dining spots. The entire city is walkable and many people enjoy strolling along the tree-lined streets or bicycling tours to take in the victoriana and enchanting neighborhoods.
Cape May has more than two miles of pristine beaches, watched over by the “Seven Sisters” seven identical cottages built, according to legend, for the seven beloved daughters of a wealthy Cape May builder.
And while there is a multitude of folks who visit the resort in the summer so they can take advantage of the beaches and cooling Atlantic Ocean, there are few places more spectacular than Cape May during the holidays. The resort’s charm and artsy vibe is magnified with the illumination that comes from a city fully-lit with twinkling lights, and the world- famous Congress Hall has a lawn that serves as a winter wonderland with artisans, small amusement rides, hot and cold libations, and an overall festive atmosphere.
The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (MAC) coordinates all kinds of tours from its headquarters at the Emlen Physick Estate on Washington Street. MAC offers a plethora of tours throughout the year, from trolley and house tours, to ghost tours, walking tours, garden tours, boat and nature tours, and maintains the Cape May Lighthouse.
The theater offerings are also coordinated by MAC, including Cape May Stage on Lafayette Street, and East Lynne Theater on Franklin Street. Both professional theater companies offer superb productions, whether original scripts or new twists on time-honored favorites.
Now in its 45th season, East Lynne formerly focused on revivals of older shows. Today, East Lynne proclaims to be a theater of the American past, present, and future, dedicated to telling the stories of all Americans. Recent hits have included Driving Miss Daisy; Tea for Three: Lady Bird, Pat & Betty; and Citizen James, Young Man Without a
Country, Kyle Bass’ one-man show about James Baldwin. This year, East Lynne will present a hybrid season, hosting events and art installations at the soon-to-be-completed Clemans Theater on Franklin Street, while continuing to present full productions at Cape May Presbyterian Church.
One of the city’s newest arrivals in the historical arena is the Harriet Tubman Museum Tubman lived in Cape May in the early 1850s, working to help fund her missions to guide enslaved people to freedom. After her initial journeys conducting freedom seekers to Canada, she returned to the states, and earned money in Cape May by working in hotels and families as a cook.
Many people who visit the area understandably include the boroughs of West Cape May and Cape May Point, as well as portions of adjacent Lower Township, when they mention Cape May. West Cape May, adjacent to Cape May to the west (go figure!) is a quaint community that is primarily residential. Not only is West Cape May home to the popular Willow Creek Winery, it hosts the annual Lima Bean Festival each autumn, and a Christmas Parade that helps all of the Cape Mays kick off the holiday season.
Just north of America’s Oldest Seashore Resort is the North Cape May section of Lower Township, which boasts several wineries, including the busy and highly- regarded Cape May Winery, as well as the location of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, and miles of pristine bayside beach.
Cape May Point is a residential borough, reachable via Sunset Boulevard in Cape May. Here, an historical landmark that first fired up its beacon in 1859. Visitors are welcome to climb the 199 steps to the top of the light and take in the astounding vista of the Cape Mays, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Delaware Bay.
Just a stone’s throw away from the lighthouse, on a 1.5-acre property that was once a seashore retreat for the Sisters of St. Joseph, St. Mary’s-By-the-Sea, is the Cape May Point Arts and Science Center, dedicated to preserving the environment. Here, visitors can learn about raptors, dolphins, horseshoe crabs, the evening sky, and view local artwork.
Whether you plan an entire vacation in the Cape Mays or elsewhere in the Southern Shore Region, make sure to include America’s Oldest Seashore Resort and its surrounding communities on your itinerary. l
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