Day trip to Cape May, NJ

[Barb]

If you were going to Cape May just for the day, what are your must dos? What would you see? Where would you eat? Which restaurant has the best seafood? And, just in case you did stay overnight, where would you stay? Thanks!

 

[danacara]

I have a total love affair with Cape May. Did you check out www.capemaytimes.com?

In terms of food, the do-not-miss for seafood is the Peter Shields at Angel by the Sea. We also really like Fresco's (Italian), 410 Bank (French), and the Magnolia Room (Southern).

If I were to stay overnight, I'd take anything I could get for a weekend night - I expect that the entire town is basically booked on weekends through September. Weeknights, a lot of the B&Bs have special "day-of" deals, I'd call around at noon on the day you arrive and see if you can get a really great rate. If you have kids, might want to try the hotels - Congress Hall, Inn of Cape May.

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

We just got back from a 3 day weekend over July 4th. Lovely lovely lovely. We really had a wonderful time. Enjoying the beach is a must and it is GORGEOUS, cool, and secluded in the early mornings and we got to see the dolphins swimming and jumping! Window shopping in the mall area, eating ice cream, then taking a horse and carriage ride/tour thru the historic district was awesome. The next day, we strolled around the historic district ourselves to reiterate what the tour guide had told us earlier. We have small children so we didn't do the Victorian B&B tours, but I hear they are interesting.

We stayed at the Virginia which was just perfect! It is a lovely historic inn, a block or so from the beach, and the service is superb. They provide towels and umbrellas and chairs on the beach for all their guests, and we were served lunch and drinks while out on the beach. Much better than having to carry all that stuff. We ate lunch on the veranda 2 days and people watched. They have a 4 star dining room on the main floor called the Ellis Room which serves to die for dinners. My DH had the lobster and veal and I had the scallops 2 nights and I never tasted anything so good.

Several of the Bed and Breakfasts have good selections for dining as well. We ate at the Peter Shields Inn several years ago and that was really nice. We also heard that the Southern Mansion and the Little Washington (I think it's called?) have wonderful seafood selections. The Mad Batter (much more casual and no air conditioning) was just o.k. There are LOTS of neat outdoor cafes at the Mall area which look nice!

We had a delightful time and hope you do too. Take care!!!

 

[JerseyJanice]

We spend at least a long weekend, often longer, every summer in Wildwood, which is a few miles north of Cape May.

And we almost always go to the Lobster House for dinner one night of our vacation.

www.thelobsterhouse.com

It'll be crowded--expect a wait--but you can put your name in and have drinks on the Schooner a moored schooner boat docked inside the Lobster House complex.

Sitting there with a nice frozen drink, watching the fishing and pleasure boats come in and out of the harbor, is my idea of paradise.

I've never stayed overnight in Cape May, only in the Wildwoods. You can certainly drive up from Cape May and check out the hotels in Wildwood Crest. There's quite a few of them; many are very nice. Ask to see the room they're going to rent you before you pay, though. Some places there are run down.