Cape May, NJ - recommendations on hotels/sights etc or Ocean City, MD

[lisaross]

Looking to go to Cape May, NJ for a long weekend mid September. Never been - live a couple of hours away. Will be going for my 50th bday weekend with husband and 2 teenage boys 15 and 17. Would love to be able to hit beach if we are lucky - I know they have a nice zoo - maybe whale watching? Any other ideas or recommendations so kids won't be bored. Thanks

Now a friend mentioned Ocean City MD might be more to do with teenagers and perhaps cheaper hotel rates? Any recommendations for this area?

 

[Lvsdisney]

I've never been but my good friend raves about Congress Hall.

 

[CMNJ]

Looking to go to Cape May, NJ for a long weekend mid September. Never been - live a couple of hours away. Will be going for my 50th bday weekend with husband and 2 teenage boys 15 and 17. Would love to be able to hit beach if we are lucky - I know they have a nice zoo - maybe whale watching? Any other ideas or recommendations so kids won't be bored. Thanks

There is a cute outdoor "mall" that is fun to walk around for shopping and dining (called the Washington Street Mall).

You can rent bikes or those surreys to ride around and see the town.

There are tours run by Capemaymac including ghost tours (i.e. telling ghost stories of cape may not looking for ghosts) which I think teens might like. Their website is https://www.capemaymac.org/

There is the lighthouse too they may like climbing and as you said lots of boat tours at he marina like dolphin and whale watching.

Also there is an airplane museum at the cape may airport that is cool if the boys would be into old airplanes. We went a few years ago and if I recall correctly they had a few army jeeps, helicopters, etc too.
Their website is
http://www.usnasw.org/visit/

There are a few mini golf places they could hit too if they like that

You could also take a short drive up to Wildwood if the boys are bored and they want the traditional Jersey boardwalk with rides. It is not that far from Cape May.

We Cape May and go to Cape May every summer.

 

[CMNJ]

I've never been but my good friend raves about Congress Hall.

Congress Hall is a beautiful historic hotel with a great location but it is typically rather expensive.

 

[CMNJ]

Perhaps @bobbiwoz might have suggestions too. She typically posts on the DVC boards but she lives in Cape May now.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We spent a weekend at the Queen Victoria B&B a few years ago and loved it. It's in a great location, has beautiful Victorian decor and the owners were wonderful. I'd love to go back.
Most rooms only sleep 2 though so it would be pretty expensive with teens. We have teens too but they stayed with my parents that weekend, though now I think they'd appreciate it.

I'd look on TripAdvisor.com for ideas.

 

[mjkacmom]

Wildwood is a very short drive from Cape May, your teens would probably love the boardwalk, lots to do! We are heading down tomorrow with 8 teens for a week, between the ocean and boardwalk they will be very entertained. You can kayak, whale watch, fish, mini golf, zoo....

 

[maciec]

I have never been to Wildwood, but live in Ocean City. It looks like everything you can do in Ocean City you can do in Wildwood. I would advise you to check out the events happening in each town. In September on the weekends we have several weekends of events. One of them being Bike Week and the other H2Oi. Bike week is loud because of the motorcycles and H2Oi is a bunch of kids that come into town with their import cars and act like idiots. However, we do have Winefest as well as Sunfest.

 

[Judique]

You may have a hard time getting a reservation as you are rather late booking for the weekends.
If you can go mid week prices are very reasonable starting Sunday night.

I think either town is a good choice.

 

[amcnj]

As PP mentioned, Cape may does "extend the season" with weekend events in the fall. Agree that teenage boys will probably like Wildwood Boardwalk above all else in the area. But aside from things already mentioned, you can also look into the Emlen Physick estate (tours available, if such things appeal to you), ghost tours, other tours of Cape May, there are wineries in the area (for the adults!), Cape May Lighthouse, Sunset Beach (home of the "Cape May Diamonds" and what is left of a concrete ship from WWII). There is also a WWII bunker that was manned to keep an eye out for subs and ships. An aviation museum a few miles to the north. Cold Spring Village (one of those historic village places) is opened weekend in September I believe.

Check out capemay.com

 

[maxaroni]

I have never been to Wildwood, but live in Ocean City. It looks like everything you can do in Ocean City you can do in Wildwood. I would advise you to check out the events happening in each town. In September on the weekends we have several weekends of events. One of them being Bike Week and the other H2Oi. Bike week is loud because of the motorcycles and H2Oi is a bunch of kids that come into town with their import cars and act like idiots. However, we do have Winefest as well as Sunfest.

You also have the MS150 City to Shore the weekend of the 23rd. My 81 year old dad did the ride up until 5 years ago when my mom got very sick. My mom was sick for quite a number of years but things got much worse and my dad was her primary caregiver. DH & I were taking care of mom when dad was riding but dad just got to the point he didn't want to leave her. He was going to get back to it after she passed away (2014) but then he went into the hospital right before the ride. My dad did the ride for 12 years and we'd meet him at the finish line in OC. It's incredible. My dad would ride back Sunday and we'd meet him at the finish line here.

We love Ocean City, NJ. Such a great family destination. We love just walking the boardwalk, Kohr Brothers and Johnsons popcorn.