Saturday, July 27, 2013

Cape May, New Jersey





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


Things I want to try next time:

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...


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