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Cape May sits at the southern tip of New Jersey, where Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic. One of the oldest seaside resorts in the country, it is known for its large collection of Victorian buildings, many rebuilt after a major fire in 1878. The entire town is a National Historic Landmark District, and its gingerbread-trimmed houses now host inns and bed-and-breakfasts.
The Washington Street Mall, a pedestrian shopping street, forms the heart of the town, and Beach Avenue runs along the shore with a paved Promenade beside the sand. Visitors take trolley and walking tours through the Victorian streets, and the Emlen Physick Estate is a restored mansion open for tours. The Cape May Lighthouse rises within Cape May Point State Park, where trails pass through marsh and dunes. Sunset Beach is known for its views over the bay and for the wreck of a concrete ship offshore. The area is one of the most important bird migration spots in North America, making birding a major draw. Historic Cold Spring Village recreates rural life, and boat tours head into the harbor, salt marsh and offshore waters to look for whales and dolphins.
Cape May suits couples, families and birders. Summer is busy, and shoulder seasons are quieter and pleasant.
WiserMap travel guideCape May New Jersey Victorian Streets and Sunset BeachDiscover Cape May: Victorian streets, the 1859 lighthouse, Sunset Beach and the concrete ship, world-class birding, Washington Street Mall and the Lewes ferry.Read the guide
A three-block pedestrian mall in the center of Cape May's historic district, lined with gift shops, boutiques, fudge and saltwater taffy shops, ice cream parlors and restaurants. It has been car-free since 1971. Visit in the evening when the shops stay open late in summer, and look for trolley tours that start nearby.
Cape May's main oceanfront road runs alongside a paved promenade of about two miles, with arcades, snack bars and shops on one side and wide sandy beaches on the other. Beach tags are required in summer and are sold at the entrances. Walk or bike the promenade early in the morning for sunrise over the Atlantic.
A beach on Delaware Bay at Cape May Point known for its sunsets and for the wreck of the SS Atlantus, a concrete ship from World War I that ran aground in 1926. Visitors hunt for Cape May diamonds, small polished quartz pebbles, on the shore. From late spring to fall a flag-lowering ceremony is held at sunset.
A historic hotel first built in 1816 and rebuilt in brick after a fire in 1878, facing the ocean at the end of the Washington Street Mall. Several presidents stayed here, and Benjamin Harrison used it as a summer White House. Even if you do not stay, have a drink on the long veranda or visit the Blue Pig Tavern.
A 157-foot lighthouse from 1859 in Cape May Point State Park, still an active aid to navigation. Climb the 199 steps of the spiral staircase to the gallery for views of the peninsula, the ocean and Delaware Bay. The tower has no air conditioning, so on summer days go early in the morning and bring water.
An 1879 Stick Style Victorian mansion designed by Frank Furness, now a house museum run by Cape May MAC. Guided tours show rooms with period furnishings and explain life in a wealthy seaside family in the late 1800s. The estate is also the starting point for trolley tours and for many of the town's Christmas events.
An open-air living history museum just north of Cape May with about 26 restored historic buildings set in a recreated 1800s South Jersey village. Costumed interpreters demonstrate crafts such as blacksmithing, tinsmithing and weaving. It is open in summer and on some fall weekends, and is a good outing for families.
Fire Control Tower No. 23, a concrete tower built in 1942 near Sunset Boulevard to spot enemy ships approaching Delaware Bay. It is the last of its kind on the New Jersey coast and is now a museum run by Cape May MAC. Climb the stairs inside to the top for views of the coastline and the lighthouse. Check seasonal hours.
A state park at the southern tip of New Jersey with beaches, dunes and freshwater ponds, crossed by about three miles of trails and boardwalks through marsh and woodland. The hawk-watching platform here is famous during the fall migration. Parking and entry are free, and the lighthouse and a World War II bunker are on site.
Cape May is one of the top birding spots in North America, on a major migration route where hawks, songbirds, shorebirds and monarch butterflies gather each spring and fall. The Cape May Bird Observatory runs guided walks and sells guides. The Meadows preserve and the state park hawk platform are top places to watch.
A long-running whale and dolphin watching boat that sails from Cape May harbor into the Atlantic and Delaware Bay. Bottlenose dolphins are seen on most summer trips, and humpback and fin whales appear in some seasons. Trips last about two to three hours; bring a jacket and sunscreen, and book ahead in July and August.
A free zoo in Cape May Court House, about 12 miles north of Cape May, with hundreds of animals including giraffes, lions, snow leopards and red pandas, plus a reptile house and a walk-through aviary. The surrounding county park has playgrounds, picnic areas and trails. Donations are welcome, and weekday mornings are quietest.
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