 Cape May, Jersey's Ocean Jewel and Year-Round Get-Away
The oldest ocean resort in the U.S., Cape May offers unique and compelling charm. Victorian architecture, year-round mild weather, pristine beaches, great restaraunts, amazing fishing, and host of excellent family activities will satisfy all visitors. Whether you visit in winter or summer, Cape May is a special, unforgettable place.
A large portion of the downtown area has been built to Victorian standards. Given its status as one of "America's Top 20 Prettiest Towns" according to Forbes Traveler magazine, a walk through these streets seems like a trip back in time to the mid-1800's.
Shoppers should be sure to visit the Washington Street Mall, a cobblestoned walkway packed with eclectic shops, food vendors and restaurants.  Specialty boutiques and antique shops are abundant.
Other nearby cultural and family attractions include an array of museums, the 157-foot Cape May Lighthouse, the New Jersey Audobon Society Nature Center, the Cape May Zoo, whale and dolphin cruises, and a great many other seaside recreational activities.
Frequent theme events include the upcoming "Spring Festival", the "Cape May Food and Wine Festival" in early September, "Victorian Week", a historically oriented ten day event in early October, and the amazing "Christmas In Cape May" celebration each December.
Ringed by some of the best beaches on the east coast, Cape May has captured the imagination of artists, poets and musicians. Sunset Beach, at the far south end of New Jersey, is a unique experience. Here, lucky visitors may find one of the famed "Cape May Diamonds" - dazzling sea-washed jemstones made into jewelery and found only in this location.
 A popular destination for serious fishing enthusiasts, Cape May is best-of-kind. The Canyon Club and South Jersey Marina (www.southjerseymarina.com) is home to some of the largest and most prestigious fishing tournaments in the world.
This impressive 57-acre facility is a haven for boats, modest to massive, including celebrities' mega-yachts. If you're in this area, be sure to stop by The Lobster House, considered one of the premiere seafood eateries on the east coast.
Other quality restaurants in the area include The Blue Pig Tavern, located inside the impressive and historied Congress Place Hotel; the Ugly Mug, offering traditional pub fare; the Mad Batter, where you'll definitely want to get breakfast (assuming you don't go to Uncle Bill's Pancake House, which is also excellent); and the elegant Butterfly Tearoom, which offers a touch of past grace.
Accommodations are plentiful and varied. One of the "top ten bread-and-breakfast locations in the U.S." according to Coastal Living magazine, Cape May boasts award-winning seaside hotels, inns, rental houses and other options to suit all tastes.
The town is easily accessible: The Atlantic City airport is 40 miles to the north, the Philadelphia airport is 68 miles west, the New Jersey Turnpike ends just north of Cape May and there are many places for boats. For details and information about local accommodations, check out the Cape May Chamber of Commerce's website at www.discovercapemay.com.
by Gary Kolesar
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