Destination: Cape May, NJ

At the southernmost point of New Jersey in Delaware Bay is the idyllic seaside town of Cape May, which is centerally located near New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. About 2.5 miles of stunning shore run between the Atlantic Ocean and Beach Avenue, home to waterfront shops and restaurants. The beach is speckled with sunbathers, volleyball nets, and designated fishing and water sport areas.

Plenty of beach options await on the Bay side, covering 30 miles of shoreline around the end of the peninsula. The sun rises out of the ocean revealing dolphins playing in the surf and dreamy dusks on the Bay side. For more wildlife, hop aboard whale watching tours or visit the county park and zoo. Cape May is also a popular destination for bird watchers, complete with a bird observatory.

If your ideal vacation is more along the lines of shopping and dining, the Washington Street Mall and Carpenter’s Square Mall are a retail paradise. To showcase the local food scene for a bargain, the town holds Restaurant Weekend in the fall.

In addition to the summer beach scene, colorful Victorian buildings and prime locale, the town is steeped in a rich history. Harriet Tubman worked in Cape May for a few years in the early 1850s, saving money to free enslaved people on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. While crossing Delaware Bay, she used the light from the Cape May lighthouse as a guiding beacon for her journeys. Cape May attracted Philadelphia abolitionists who are memorialized at the Harriet Tubman Museum, Stephen Smith House and the Cape May Underground Railroad Trolley Tour.

The restoration and preservation of historic Cape May began in the 19th century, eventually earning the town the status of a National Historic District with over 600 preserved Victorian buildings. Around the same time, the Emlen Physick Estate was built as a beautiful example of Victorian architecture, and it now accommodates scavenger hunts, ghost tours and murder mystery parties.

To feel as though you stepped back in time, visit the Historic Cold Spring Village that brings you face-to-face with some of the first Americans shortly after independence in this living history village.

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Where to Dock

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South Jersey Marina

609-884-2400

Located on the southern side of Cape May Harbor and easily accessible from the Atlantic, ICW or Delaware Bay, this full-service marina offers dockside services, upscale amenities and 75 slips with state-of-the-art floating piers. Its new restaurant, Brine, presents a brunch and dinner menu with fresh seafood, American classics and internationally inspired dishes.

Canyon Club Resort Marina

609-884-0188

Situated on the northern end of Cape May Harbor, Canyon Club is a full-service marina that offers transient dockage up to 125 feet, an award-winning service department, and sports fishing tournaments.

Cape May Marina

609-435-5757

Located right off the Delaware Canal with slips up to 75 feet, this marina offers water sport equipment rentals and is ideally located within walking distance of many Cape May restaurants.

Utsch’s Marina

609-884-2051

A family-owned and operated, full-service marina east of Cape May Canal, Utsch’s staff holds a deep knowledge of the area and offers charter and party boats, as well as amenities such as a bath house and laundry.

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Where to Dine

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410 Bank Street

609-884-2127

Established in 1984, this BYOB restaurant blends upscale-beachy atmosphere in an 1840s carriage house with French New Orleans cuisine peppered with a Caribbean flair. Menu showstoppers include fresh seafood and mesquite-grilled steaks.

Beach Plum Farm Kitchen

609-459-0121

Visit an organic, working farm plush with herbs, vegetables, fruits, chicken and other livestock to experience dishes inspired by the changing seasons. Summer Harvest dinners are enhanced by the smokey aroma of an evening bonfire.

Tisha’s

609-884-9119

Located in Washington Street Mall, Tisha’s has prepared excellent New American cuisine for more than 30 years and offers indoor and outdoor dining spaces.