Cool Cape May 2020-21

A Z The to of Cape May
A famed lighthouse, a world-class amusement park, a nationally acclaimed zoo,
wineries, breweries and distilleries, whale-watching, parasailing, paddleboarding
and a wonderful living history museum. Every day doesn’t have to be a beach day...
ALCOHOL Cape May is becoming a dream destination
for wine enthusiasts, and for good reason. The peninsula’s
climate and geography, according to The New York Times,
help produce “one of the longest and best growing seasons
for European vinifera wine grapes on the Eastern
Seaboard.” In addition to seven wineries located here, the
Cape is also home to Nauti Spirits Distillery, which grows
ingredients on an adjacent 60-acre farm. And no stay on
the Cape would be complete without a stop at one of our
innovative breweries, many of which are also utilizing local
ingredients. Cape May Brewing Company, at Cape May
Airport, has won multiple awards since its inception in 2011,
while Gusto Brewing Company is winning fans at its new
brewery in North Cape May.
BEACHES Second in the nation and ninth in the world
— that’s how Cape May’s beaches stack up, according to
TripAdvisor. Want gnarly surf? Check out Poverty, on the
north end of Beach Avenue, or plant your chair at the Cove
on the south end (great view of the lighthouse). Hoping to
witness some incredible natural phenomena, like horseshoe
crabs mating en masse? Get thee to Higbee Beach on the
island’s northwest tip. Remember, tags are required on all
Beach Avenue beaches between Memorial Day and Labor
Day — separate tags are required for Cape May Point. The
Cape May Beach Patrol, which hasn’t had a drowning in its
109-year history, will provide free surf chairs to people with
restricted mobility. All that’s left to do? Breathe in that salt
air and relax.
CONGRESS HALL You may know Congress Hall as the
place where Tina Fey and Oprah have tucked into breakfast,
and Anne Hathaway has enjoyed cocktails, but it’s
also the oldest seaside hotel in America. Built in 1816 by a
man named Thomas Hughes, it was so big locals thought it
unviable and called it Tommy’s Folly. Twelve years later, the
building was renamed Congress Hall because of Hughes’
election to Congress. Since then, four US presidents have
stayed there, including Benjamin Harrison, who turned the
building into the first Summer White House. The hotel,
which has burned down twice, is now a hub of community
events centered on simple American pleasures and enjoyed
by locals and visitors year-round.
DOG FRIENDLY If dogs are a part of the family, they should
be part of the vacation, too. Not a problem in Cape May,
home to a 1,500-square-foot dog park on Lafayette Street.
Rather bring your pet to the beach? Check out Higbee on
the Delaware Bay. As for accommodations, the Boarding
House, Billmae Cottage, Marquis de Lafayette, Blue Fish
Inn, Madison Avenue Beach Club and Beach Shack all cater
to dogs, as do several restaurants on the island. The Rusty
Nail even offers a doggy menu. Fair warning: Dogs are not
allowed on Washington Street Mall or the main beaches
during summer months.
EAGLES Cape May was recently named the number two
best birdwatching destination in the world by National
Geographic, behind only South Georgia Island, located east
of Chile’s Cape Horn. You can expect a “feathered fashion
show,” according to the story. In fact, this is the raptor capital
of North America, with ospreys, peregrine falcons (the
fastest animals on the planet) and — yes — bald eagles frequenting
our skies. The reason Cape May is, well, for the
birds? During migration, winged creatures like to stay over
land as long as possible before braving treacherous over-