A Weekend in Cape May, NJ

There is a lot to do in this charming coastal town at the southern tip of the New Jersey coast (exit 0 on the Garden State Parkway).  Cape May is a national historic landmark city, a treasure with over 600 Victorian homes in the historic district, but it also has a fun and relaxed beach town vibe.

We headed over there for a three day weekend, arriving Saturday afternoon and leaving Monday after lunch.  It was just enough time for an unforgettable and romantic getaway for two.

Saturday

We arrived at The Inn of Cape May, a recently renovated Victorian-style Inn located steps away from the beach. 

The room on the second floor, while basic, was pleasant and we had access to the balcony with an ocean view.  In the morning the first thing we did was get our coffee and tea from The Porch & Coffee Bar downstairs and bring them up to drink on the balcony or on the hotel’s wrap-around porch, all with ocean views.

After checking in we walked down Ocean street to the start of the Washington Street Mall.  This is a paved street lined with shops and restaurants and is great to walk down and explore.  We decided on lunch at Quincy’s Original Lobster Rolls, which also has a location along Beach Avenue.  It was packed, so we ate outside.  It was early summer, a little on the chilly side, and we were starving – which is to say the clam chowder really hit the spot. The lobster rolls were good enough that we wanted two!

Other restaurants to check out on the Washington Street Mall are Cape May Fish Market, and the very popular Delaney Irish Pub & Grill.  For dinner you might want to come back and try Fins Bar & Grill.

The Cape May Trolley Tours is a great thing to do on your first day to get a taste of the historic district.  You can buy tickets (around $20) at the booth at the base of the Washington Street Mall, and the trolley will pick you up across the street from that booth.  We caught one at 2:45pm and for the next half hour or so we drove around viewing the various Victorian homes with an informative guide at the helm.

It was interesting to learn that some of these homes were built prior to modern plumbing, so when it came time to install a bathroom sometimes it would get hoisted up to the second floor and was built outside the home as an extension! 

There are many other tours available in Cape May, to explore them click here.

Along the corner of Beach Avenue and Congress Avenue you will arrive at Congress Hall, America’s first seaside resort, fully renovated and one of the best places to stay in town. 

We had dinner here at The Blue Pig Tavern, a wonderful place to get burgers and beer in an upscale setting. 

Then a leisurely stroll along the new boardwalk that runs along part of the 2 ½ mile stretch of sandy beach and ocean, before heading back to the hotel.

Sunday

It being off season, it was not quite beach weather yet, which is too bad as the beach is lovely here.  Pale gold sand, plenty of room to stretch out, well maintained and free.  I did roll up my khakis, take off my sandals, and stroll for a while near the surf, picking up a seashell or two.  Then I put my sneakers on, because at 70 degrees and sunny it was perfect weather for a bike ride.

After a quick breakfast of bagels with scallion cream cheese at Bagel Time Cafe, we headed to Shield’s Bike Rentals, family owned and operated for over 30 years.  We rented our cruisers for the day at around $20, including helmet and lock, and set out to the Cape May lighthouse.  It was an enjoyable bike ride through mainly residential areas, with some biking along Sunset Boulevard which had traffic and not much of a bike path, but it was manageable. 

First, we took Sunset Boulevard out to Sunset Beach, which of course is famous for its sunset views but also nice to visit during the day. 

They had a great gift shop there, and a food grill for a quick bite if you wanted.  We stopped to take in ocean views for a few minutes and rest, then went back to briefly visit the World War II Look out Tower located on the left just as you approach Sunset Beach.

After that, taking a right onto 629 took us to Cape May State Park and the Cape May Lighthouse.  After locking up our bikes, we paid the $12 entry fee for adults and headed up the 199 steps to the top of the still-functioning lighthouse.

A nice workout, and worth it for the views!

Afterwards we took a brief rest on a park bench (whew!).  Getting back on our bikes, we headed back down Sunset Boulevard to W. Perry street and the West End Garage.  We got a snack and some coffee at their bakery and café, then went inside to shop. 

The surprisingly large space is the place to get something distinctive for your home or as a gift, including art, decor and beachy clothing. 

After that it was time for a late brunch, so we biked over to the Mad Batter, one of the best places to eat brunch in town. I had a delicious crab cake sandwich, a meltingly tender crabmeat cake on a fresh brioche bun with lettuce and tomato. The Mad Batter also does lunch and dinner.

After returning our bikes and taking a well-deserved nap, we got dressed for fancy dinner date night at the Ebbitt Room, by far one of the best meals I’ve ever had.  Chef Jasin Hanin creates dishes with a farm to table focus, often highlighting ingredients from their own Beach Plum Farm.  I had the Miso Wild Halibut, which sat atop Tuscan Kale surrounded by beetroot molasses.  It was divine!  Prepared so perfectly, the fish was flakey and moist, the kale was tender but crisp, the sauce highlighted the entire dish so well.  With a glass of wine from their exemplary wine list, it was a meal to remember.

Other top restaurants to try for date night are Peter Shields and the Magnolia Room.

Monday

We thought about getting breakfast at Uncle Bill’s Pancake House, but we’d had such a good experience at the Mad Batter, that we ended up going there again for a lunch of juicy burgers and fries.

Then it was back to Washington Mall, first to get some coffee for the road at Magic Brain Cafe.

Then we picked up some delicious melt-in your mouth Fralinger’s Seafoam Rocky Road fudge at James Candy, and sweet and creamy honey and chocolate peanut butter at Cape May Peanut Butter Co. , to take home.

I’d say a sweet ending to a pretty sweet weekend getaway!

Other things to do

Whale and Dolphin Watching

Board a boat run by the Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center for regularly scheduled cruises to watch for Whales, Dolphins and Birds.  This eco-tour is led by onboard marine biologists and naturalists who are trained in the responsible methods for viewing these species in their natural habitat.  Adult tickets run around $40.   

Museums

• Emlen Physick Estate
• Harriet Tubman Museum

Other

Willow Creek Winery and Vineyard

Cape May Brewery

Beachy rooftop drinks at Harry’s Bar & Grill

Date of trip: May 2023

Hi! I’m Irena Springer, a travel writer based in New York who’s passionate about sharing packed itineraries that make the most out of every trip I take – helping readers to experience and enjoy each destination to the fullest as well.

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