About the Area - About Cape May
Beaches
Cape May is a seaside town with white sand bathing beaches offering views of glorious sunrises and sunsets.
Boardwalk
The boardwalk, which is really more of a protective seawall, is used for walking, biking, and enjoying arcade games and boardwalk foods.
Art & Culture
Galleries can be found in the shopping district as well as local theater. There are stage presentations and dinner theaters. Cape May hosts a film festival annually as well as workshops for young filmmakers, songwriters, and artists. Other festivals include the Cape May Music Festival and the Cape May Jazz Festival.
Dining
A quant little town, Cape May has been dubbed the Culinary Capital of New Jersey due to its fantastic assortment of fine dining establishments and casual eateries.
Nation's Oldest Seashore Resort
As early as the mid 18th century Cape May began drawing folks from Philadelphia as well as other areas. Vacationers flocked to the town for its beautiful beaches and restorative powers of healthy sea air. Walking along gas lit tree lined streets and watching horse drawn carriages clip clop by grand old homes, one can not escape the charm of days gone by, when life moved at a slower pace in a more graceful era.
National Historic Landmark/ Architecture
The U.S. National Register of Historic Places designated the entire city of Cape May as an official National Historic Landmark for its finely preserved Victorian era architecture, with 600 qualifying buildings. Cape May boasts the largest collection of Victorian style structures on the east coast, ranking second in the nation just behind San Francisco. Students of architecture come from all over to study the wide selection of Victorian structures in Cape May.
Resort For All Seasons
In its heyday Cape May was known as the Queen of the Seaside Resorts operating for the most part as a summer destination. Today Cape May is known as a resort for all seasons. Events begin around Easter and run through the following New Year's holiday, bringing visitors to the area and keeping our local families working as well as entertained.
Cape May and Surrounding Towns
Cape May/ W. Cape May
Towns are closely united. While Cape May has traditionally be a vacation destination for over a hundred years, West Cape May and become home to its workers. Cape May is now a bustling vacation destination that attracts visitors with accessible bathing beaches, world class restaurants, local theater, music concerts and festivals, fabulous local fishing, and of course, beautifully preserved Victorian architecture.
West Cape May
On the other hand is a town close to all the Cape May has to offer. So close in fact that it's even difficult for natives to determine where the borough line ends and the city line begins. The Borough has a number of lovely older homes that have been restored and many new homes with all the modern conveniences. More of a bargain for accommodation size, West Cape May offers fine dining and good shopping as well.
Cape May Point
Sets within the borders the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay. Nature lovers delight in trails to various ponds, coastal dunes, and marsh habitats as well as beautiful white sand beaches. A great area for walking and biking, Cape May Point is close to all that Cape May has to offer.
Offshore/ Bayside
Homes are located by the shores of the Delaware Bay, offering spectacular sunset views along its beaches. Affordable homes can be found here, yet remaining a short drive to Cape May.
Fishing and Other Wildlife
Fishing
Cape May offers recreational and deep sea sport fishing, with high dollar tournaments for those more experienced with a rod and reel, and local sponsored tournaments for fisherman of all skill levels. The Atlantic Ocean meets the Delaware Bay at Cape May Point. This body of water on the southern most tip of New Jersey is better known as The Rips. The Delaware Bay estuaries offer an excellent nursery and breeding ground for numbers of bait fish, which in turn attract the larger predator fish to The Rips. The large concentration of Atlantic herring, American eel and shad attract a variety of species for some of the best fishing on the east coast. Good surf fishing can be found on the east end of town known as Poverty Beach, or cast off the jetty at the cove on the west side of town.
Bird Observatory
Birding is a major attraction due to Cape May's positioning on the Atlantic Flyway path, or the migratory path where birds cross and concentrate. One of four major flyways in North America, the southern New Jersey coastline has a wealth of necessary food resources as well as temperature differences between land and ocean providing constant breezes helping to give lift to migrants.
Nature
The coastal dunes and marsh habitat provide a perfect setting for back bay wildlife adventures where scholars of all ages explore nesting sea bird colonies and other wildlife from tour boats. Walking trails are provided at Cape May Point State Park to view the delicate marsh ecosystem amid a more casual approach. Designated streets are marked Bikes Only, and a three mile bike path through the natural environment of Cold Spring is available just outside the city limits.
The Garden State
Local agriculture peaks in the summer months where an abundance of Jersey fresh produce can be found in farmers markets and roadside stands, acknowledging New Jersey's designation as the Garden State. The West Cape May Farmer's Market, held weekly in summer months, is popular with visitors and locals alike, with fresh grown produce, food, vendors, and live music. Wine grapes do particularly well given the long growing season and favorable south jersey climate. Four local wineries have enjoyed much retail success as well as offering wine tasting sessions and festivals at the vineyards.
Shopping
Shopping
The Washington Street mall is a visitor's favorite. Unique shops line both sides of the cobble stoned street, with quaint water fountains and Victoriana. Closed to automobile traffic, the pedestrian mall is three blocks of shops, restaurants, and historically significant architecture. In addition, other shopping districts are located about town featuring gifts, art, and antiques.
Fun
Water sports such as surfing, jet skiing and parasailing are enjoyed off the beaches and area waterways. Bird watching, fishing, eco-tours, biking, golfing, horse and buggy rides, theater, music and craft festivals, mini golf are available in Cape May and surrounding areas. However, bathing in the Atlantic Ocean and relaxing on pristine beaches remain the number one attraction of Cape May.
A Little History
History
Although the first European to discover the Cape May coast was Henry Hudson in 1609, the town bears the name of a Dutch captain exploring the Northeast Passage for merchant trading, Cornelius Jacobsen Mey. The spelling was later changed to what we now know as Cape May. 2009 marked the celebration of 400 years from the founding of Cape May.
The time to buy is NOW. The place to be is HERE - Cape May, New Jersey.
Become a Local
Retire
Cape May has been ranked among the top 10 places to retire. And for grandparents, you can be guaranteed the kids will visit with the grandchildren. Everyone wants to come to the shore.
Security
Cape May is a peaceful community where residents feel safe.
Climate
The climate here is relatively mild, with warm summers and cool winters. The summertime is cooler because Cape May is a peninsula, having the benefit of breezes coming off the ocean and bay. The winters are similar to coastal Virginia which has been labeled Humid/Temperate.
Taxes
Property taxes are relatively reasonable compared to other shore towns or even compared to surrounding towns in the state of New Jersey.
Friendly
People who have visited other areas return to Cape May and say they feel like they came home. They find the townsfolk friendly, accepting, and open.
Stay Active
A multitude of volunteer opportunities can be found with the local Kiwanis, Rotary, and Optimist organizations. There are gardening clubs... and many other activities with which to share talents. Biking is a favorite pastime of residents and visitors alike.
Fun Facts about Cape May
Cape May is also home to the United States Coast Guard Training Center, the guardians of the sea. Recruits can occasionally be seen in the early morning hours jogging along the beachfront, American flag hoisted high. We all feel a debt of gratitude to these young men and women representing our country.
Trip Advisor selected Cape May in their annual Travelers' Choice Awards for 2010 as the 4th best Beach & Sun Destination in the U.S.
Cape May was picked as one of the prettiest towns in America by Yahoo Travel.
AAA recommends Cape May as the place to visit in the off season.
Come see for yourself what all the fuss is about. You won't be disappointed!