Cape May, NJ

[Hidden_Mickey]

DH and I are going in October for our 15th Anniversary. We visited for the day when we went to Wildwood for a week last summer and loved the "painted ladies".... We vowed we would come back in the fall to stay in one for a weekend. So, DH picks one randomly today off the internet... the Queen Victoria... OMG.. It's rated #1 of all the B&B's in CM by Trip Advisor. I'm so there! We just made the reservation online!

So, what is there to do? We are not used to doing romantic stuff without the kids, lol. Looks like we just missed Victorian Week, but that's OK. I assume the rates and crowds will be lower.

I definitely want to do the Ghosts of Cape May walking tour.. Duh, it will be late October! And I love that stuff. Has anyone done the tour, and did you like it?

Can anyone recommend any restaurants? We do not need anything fancy, just something better than burgers.

TIA!

 

[mlynn]

I love the Washington Square Mall. Not sure about Rest. I like a bar called the ugly mug( but you wanted more than burgers)
You can tour the Cape May Light house. You can also take the ferry to Lewis De to the outlets. They have a bus from the ferry to the outlets.
Have a great time. Cape May is so pretty.

 

[phisigprincess]

That's one of our favorite places to vacation and has been since i was little. We love Uncle Bill's Pancake House for breakfast. Definitely check out all of the tours they offer. We're always there in the summer, so we spend most of the time at the beach, but I've always wanted to go in the off season to do the tours. Sounds like its' going to be a great trip!

 

[LuvOrlando]

I really enjoy renting bicycles to ride around through all the tours, I think my B & B might have had some on site. We stayed at the Angel by the sea. No one restaurant stands out in my memory, most of them are pretty nice, the B & B will give you a list of places they recommend when you arrive. Have fun!

PS_ my one caution would be important only if someone in your party has Asthma or allergies. Many, but not all, the places down there LOVE their potpourri and candles and air fresheners. If someone might have trouble with strong fragrance then you might want to call ahead and ask them to remove stuff like that and leave the windows open in your room before you get there. Just a tip if it matters to you, if not forget it.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Lots of good places to eat in Cape May!

One of my favorites is Godmother's. They have the BEST homemade pasta I've ever had!

http://www.godmothersrestaurant.com/

 

[Teacher510]

I love Cape May!I just had to cancel a 3 day trip for the end of the month '*** my kitty has mouth cancer and and I don't want to leave her. I have always stayed at the Inn of Cape May. It's within walking distance of the mall and across the street from the beach. The restaurant there is called Alethea's and has good food and ocean views. It's nice but not stuffy and not cheap but not crazy expensive. The Mad Batter is also nice for breakfast. I haven't eaten there for any other meals. Have fun-I'm jealous!

 

[swanmom]

We had a very nice, very tasty dinner here for our anniversary.

http://www.virginiahotel.com/ebbitt.html

Have fun! and congratulations!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Elaine's Dinner Theatre for sure. They put on some fantastic, funny shows. We go every time we're there. Also, you could go for a nice horse and carriage ride which starts near the mall. Just strolling the streets at night, particularly at that time of year, is a pleasure. I've done the Ghost Tour. It was fun, but nothing crazy -- no ghosts coming out etc. The craziest thing that happened was some poor woman fell off the curb and hurt herself. No ghosts were involved in that event though.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

We went one year in October. Sorry to dissapoint you, but we left early. There was nothing, what-so-ever to do anywhere around there other than eat. Yes, they did have good restaurants (expencive restaurants), but that was it. The only thing we could do was go to that discount mall over in Delaware. Hope you have a better time than we did - then again we went about 7 years ago, so maybe they have more stuff to do in the off season.

 

[Nennie]

I love Cape May! We go about 3 times a year (2 trips are off-season). There is so much to do if you just like strolling around, looking at the beautiful houses and B&Bs. Several of the B&Bs are on the ghost tour too.

Definitely do the shops on Washington Street, and nearby is Congress Hall hotel which has some nice shops inside, as well as the Blue Pig restaurant. There's a good cuban-themed restaurant that is by the ocean, forget the name but it has a martini bar attached to it. I also second the suggestion about Godmothers (had my rehearsal dinner there when I got married!).

Have a great trip!!

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

We went one year in October. Sorry to dissapoint you, but we left early. There was nothing, what-so-ever to do anywhere around there other than eat. Yes, they did have good restaurants (expencive restaurants), but that was it. The only thing we could do was go to that discount mall over in Delaware. Hope you have a better time than we did - then again we went about 7 years ago, so maybe they have more stuff to do in the off season.

Honestly, a leisurely walk on the beach and a nap would be fine with me

Thanks everyone... I think we will stop in Wildwood for a pie at the Ravioli House... OMG those pies are the best....

 

[npmommie]

Love Cape May, I used to live there! spent all my summers there, and met my dh there

anyway. I second the recommendation for Godmothers......awesome italian food!
try the Mad Batter ........great breakfast........
McGlades is also good, up on the "boardwalk", the Ugly Mug is fun for drinks and bar food,

there used to be a really great pizza spot, I forget the name, ( Louie's maybe) it was right around the corner from the movie theater.

as for things to do.
we have done the ghost walking tour, and it was good.
you can go out to the point to the lighthouse, and also take a walk out on the beach at the cape may point state beach to the old bunker, rumour is its haunted
the washington mall is nice for shopping, there are some nice shops in Congress Hall too, and its a really cool old hotel to check out
you could go down to Sunset beach and pick up "cape may diamonds"

 

[Goofy22]

There's a nice Italian Restaurant on the Mall called La Cucina Rosa, Mad Batter Definitely worth the money to do Breakfast here it is awesome I'd highly recommend it! Washington Inn is very good also a lil pricey depends on what you are looking to spend,
also there are Bars and they usually have bands playing or something going on the 3 Poplar one's are Ugly Mug, Carney's and Cabanas!( All serve food!) The Beach is also right there always nice to take a walk on the beach no matter what month it is! I'm sitting here picking my brain! I live about 10minutes from Cape May! What kind of things do you like to do? They have Horse and Buggy Rides. Another good place to eat not on the mall but close by is the Seaview. They have lots of different tours and dinner shows. There is also Cold Spring Village which is not so far they usually have something going on their also and their restaurant The Olde Grange is very good and not very pricey at all. If you eat in Cape May Unfortunately it's going to be pretty pricey, You could venture out a lil and there is the Lobster House very good nice priced restaurant on the waterfront! There is also a restaurant called Lucky Bones bar and grille very good also! There are not many things to do but definitely like someone else said check out the tours and check nearby places like I mentioned Cold Spring etc.. that time of year their may also be Harvest fest going on! Ask some things and i'll see what I can do for you if I don't have an answer i'm sure I can find one for you from friends etc... Hope this helps some!

 

[jasliv]

Love Cape May! Stayed there many times during the Christmas season and it is awesome! The inns are beautifully decorated and so much to do.
We have stayed in the Queen Victoria and it is beautiful! You will love it. Last trip we stayed at The Southern Mansion. It was gorgeous.

Have eaten at the Mad Batter many times for breakfast since we used to stay with loads of family and friends in the Carol Villa which is attached to the Mad Batter. Have also eaten at La Cucina Rosa, very good! Horse and Buggy rides are fun, shopping, tours, special events always going on= I am sure there are a lot of schedules of events available on line. Enjoy!

 

[onelilspark]

Mad Batter for breakfast.

Is Moreen's still open?

 

[gina2000]

Tour the Emlen Physick estate.


http://www.capemaytimes.com/history/physick.htm

 

[golfgal]

I love Cape May!I just had to cancel a 3 day trip for the end of the month '*** my kitty has mouth cancer and and I don't want to leave her. I have always stayed at the Inn of Cape May. It's within walking distance of the mall and across the street from the beach. The restaurant there is called Alethea's and has good food and ocean views. It's nice but not stuffy and not cheap but not crazy expensive. The Mad Batter is also nice for breakfast. I haven't eaten there for any other meals. Have fun-I'm jealous!

I am sorry about your kitty but I am dying to know what your kitty's name is that it gets bleeped by the word censor here .

I was in Cape May when I was 11, I got an ear infection and some guy at a restaurant put a clove of garlic in my ear-it helped. We spent the entire time at the beach but I remember loving the area. I would like to go back some day.

 

[ndelaware]

If you meant Maureen's, that is long since gone. Loved Maureen's, we went there the night we got engaged (popped the question at sunset at Cape May Point), the first night of our honeymoon, and many other times. The Maureen's/ Summers building now has a Cuban restaurant upstairs and a large bar downstairs.

We always go in the off-seaon. My niece was just married at the Grand Hotel last October and we made a week of it. We have also done a couple of family Thanksgiving weekends down there.

We hit the Washington Street Mall almost every day when there. Always have at least one meal at the Ugly Mug. Lunch at the Blue Pig at Congress Hall is also a must do. At the bar in Congress Hall you can find the best Bloody Mary ever made.

There are loads of tours depending on the season. We usually are there when the Christmas tours start up. There are also horse and buggy rides around town.

You can also get tea at the Emlen Physick Estate. It's a beautiful old Victorian house that also has tours.

This website has alot of info on what to do in Cape May:
http://www.capemaymac.org/index.html

Have a great time!

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

Thanks everyone, we are psyched!