My
annual tradition started 6 years ago when I decided to treat my (now)
native Kentuckian husband to a weekend get away for his birthday/one
year anniversary/4th of July in my childhood beach town of
Cape May, New Jersey. Typical of a young 20 something, I didn't try
to book the trip until the weekend before, and as you can imagine...
almost all of the town's accommodations were sold out. I called and
called to no avail until I spoke to one inn keeper who said she had
one room left for the weekend... how was it possible that a bed and
breakfast half a block from the beach, and completely affordable, had
availability for the 4th of July? I was nervous, but I
booked it.
Flash
forward 6 years later, we loved it so much that we have stayed there
every 4th of July since. That innkeeper I spoke to, well
she is like an Aunt to me now, and our summers wouldn't be complete
without our annual visit. And now that it's the hight of the season
I get asked several times a week for my recommendations on what to do
in Cape May, so here they are:
Where
to eat Breakfast
The
Mad Batter
Besides
the line, it’s everything you could want in a seaside family
breakfast joint. People watch while sitting on the
porch, or cool off inside, but dive into that stack of fluffy
blueberry pancakes and wash them down with a mimosa.
www.madbatter.com
Aleathea’s
Inside
the Inn of Cape May is a laid-back hotel dinning room relic that
feels like a bizarre-o visit to your great-grandmother’s house if
it had ocean views and crab eggs benedict. Don't forget to pop through the slightly
creepy antique shop in the hotel lobby on your way out.
www.innofcapemay.com/aleatheas.html
Where
to eat Lunch
The
Blue Pig
For
a leisurely lunch, nothing beats relaxing on the porch at The Blue
Pig in Congress Hall. It’s more about the ambiance than the food,
that and the frosty glasses of pinot
grigio. www.congresshall.com/content/bluepigtavern.html
Tisha’s
…or
stop off at Collier’s for a beverage and byo to Tisha’s on the
mall for an Italian sandwich and some people
watching. www.tishasfinedining.com
McGlade’s
If
your feeling self-conscious about being in a bathing suit, step off
the beach and onto the boardwalk for McGlade’s on the Pier. Front
row ocean views, and an unexpected commitment to healthy fare (no
soda or french fries here). www.mcglades.com
Hotdog
Tommys
For an
even quicker lunch, stand in a soup nazi-esuqe line for a fantastic
hotdog and self-proclaimed, “cheerful service and bad jokes”.
www.hotdogtommys.com
Where
to eat Dinner
The
Union Park
A
necessary splurge is The Union Park in the Hotel Macomber. Less
snootie then some of the other fancy restaurants, their menu is
classic, tried and true, and the BYOB factor is an added
bonus. www.unionparkdiningroom.com
The
Lobster House
For
thee quintessential kitschy seafood experience, head to The Lobster
House. Sit in the dinning room, outside or on the schooner in the
harbor… but get there early or be prepared to wait, no
reservations. www.thelobsterhouse.com
Honorable
mentions: The Island Grill, Martini Beach, 410 Bank Street, Frescos
Trattoria...
Where
to drink:
The
Virginia Hotel
Perhaps
my favorite place on planet earth, the front porch at The Virginia
Hotel. Just go, trust me. www.virginiahotel.com/frontporch.html
The
Merrion Inn
For
after dinner drinks, The Merrion Inn has a beautiful old bar where
there is live piano and a legit old-school bar tender.
www.merioninn.com
Where
to Shop:
The
Pink House
Better
then your average beach shop, I’d actually shop here even if it
were in the city. They don’t have a website, but they have the best
collection of women’s clothing and accessories in the whole town.
(33 Perry Street, Cape May NJ 08204)
Victorious
This
small shop room inside Congress Hall has a super covetable mix of
antique and on-trend jewelry, not to mention some seriously cute
purses that I still dream about. www.victoriousantiques.com
Good
Scents
An
adorable little shop with an intriguing selection of books, jewelry,
music, and smelly items. www.goodscentscapemay.com
Fralinger’s
A
perfect old world candy shop where you can stuff a souvenir bag with
tasty saltwater taffy in just about any flavor you can think of. I
recommend the sour grape! www.fralingers.com
What
to do:
Bike
Ride
No
trip to cape may is complete without a bike ride to the point. You
can inexpensively rent bikes at Congress Hall or Shield's Bike Rental
www.shieldsbikerental.com and then be on your way! Along the way,
make sure to stop off at:
• Beach
Plum Farm: hang out with the chickens and smell the fresh hydrangas
• Wilde
Cock Winery: Go for a tour or enjoy a tasting
• S.S.
Atlantas Concrete Ship: Don’t expect it to be floating
• St.
Mary’s by the Sea: an beautiful nunnery worth seeing
• Cape
May Light House: race to the top, or just enjoy it’s shade
Take
a Walk
Cape
May is second only to San Francisco for the largest collection of
Victorian Architecture in the entire country! The entire city of Cape
May was officially designated a National Historic Landmark, making it
the only city in the United States wholly designated as such. In
other words, take a long walk and check out these gorgeous houses.
Walk
Around the Washington Street Mall
Grab
an ice cream and stroll through the art galleries and boutiques
http://www.washingtonstreetmall.com/
Lili’s
Massage
30
minute 30 dolla! Not much English spoken here, but they do a legit
deep tissue back massage and a reflexology session that will have you
floating out the door.
Tour
the Southern Mansion
This
operating B&B gives daily tours where you can catch a glimpse
into the relaxed opulence of another time, and hear torrid tails
about previous guests.
www.southernmansion.com
Take
a historical trolley ride or a ghost tour
By
your tickets earlier in the day if you want to ride at night because
it will sell out.
http://www.capemaymac.org/content/subpage_main.aspx?id=162
Mini
Golf & Arcades
There
is a mini golf on like every corner, or hit up one of the 2 boardwalk
arcades for some classic ski ball
Take
in a show
See
what’s going on at the Cape May Playhouse www.capemaystage.com or
The Cape May Convention Hall
www.capemaycity.com/Cit-e-Access/webpage.cfm?TID=103&TPID=12613
The
Red Store
I
heard several people talking about this place, it sounds like the
real deal.
www.capemaypointredstore.com
West
End Garage
Philly
Mag keeps writing up this indoor shopping market so I can’t wait to
check it out. www.thewestendgarage.com
Enjoy
(PS:
If you want to know where we stay, email me, and if you're lucky
maybe I will tell you ;)
(PPS:We
learned early on that SciFi channel has an annual Twighlight Zone marathon every 4th
of July. To understand why Cape May has extra significance to us
advertising folks, watch the “A Stop at Willoughby” episode here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha0QL-dgqVQ&list=PLXArhh9-YNg_633g7swZYJcvlm26nKr2i
)
Where
a man can slow down to a walk and live his life full measure...
