Fly Into Cape May and Enjoy a Seaside Vacation in Victorian Ambiance

Are you in the mood for a seaside vacation in a historic town? If you are, you may want to consider visiting Cape May. The seaside town of Cape May is located on the Cape May Peninsula in New Jersey. The historic resort area got its name from Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, who was a Dutch explorer in the 1600s. He sailed over to the New World around 1614 and explored the area of Cape May in 1621. At that time, the area was primarily occupied by the Kechemeche Indians, who used the area for hunting. However, just nine years after Cornelius Jacobsen Mey discovered the seaside area, colonists were purchasing land from the Indians and setting up the area’s fishing and whaling industry. From there, the area grew in population and popularity, and by the mid-1700s, Cape May was being advertised as a place to rest, recoup, and relax. By the 1800s, Cape May was known as a place where guests could enjoy a wonderful seaside retreat. Today, Cape May is known as America’s First Seaside Resort. Let’s explore why this historic seaside town is so popular with tourists and why you might want to consider it for your next vacation.

How Cape May Got to Be America’s Original Seaside Resort

When Cape May was first discovered, the Kechemeche Indians were hunting and living on the land. The first known explorer to locate the area was English explorer Sir Henry Hudson. He discovered the Cape May peninsula in 1609.

After Sir Henry Hudson’s discovery of the peninsula, Dutch explorer Cornelius Jacobsen Mey explored the area of Cape Island, New Jersey. After Mey’s exploration, colonists started purchasing land from the Indians. Their goal was to develop the area’s fishing and whaling industry, and by the turn of the century, the industry was thriving, and more colonists were buying land and moving into the area to farm.

By the early 1800s, Cape May was being advertised as a beautiful and serene place to enjoy fresh oysters, crabs, and fish while bathing in the sea. However, at that time, Cape May wasn’t quite ready for an influx of vacationers. The accommodations were minimal and often rustic, including very rustic cabins, rooms in taverns, or renting rooms in the homes of Cape May’s early residents.

Of course, it didn’t take long for the residents and investors to realize the need for more accommodations, and by 1834, six boarding houses had been built and opened, but it didn’t stop there. In 1842, a new hotel, named The New Atlantic, opened, and it boasted being able to host up to 300 guests. This prompted additional investors to start building ballrooms and music venues.

The area’s capacity increased further when construction began on the Mount Vernon Hotel. It was going to be the largest hotel in the area with room for an estimated 3,500 guests. Construction began in 1852 and continued through 1856. At that time, the hotel was accommodating up to 2,100 visitors. Unfortunately, a severe fire burned the hotel down before it could be completed.

While the loss of the Mount Vernon Hotel was tragic, it wouldn’t be the worst fire in Cape May. In 1878, a massive fire broke out that destroyed all the buildings from Congress Hall to Ocean Street near the coast. It was 35 acres of flaming devastation. However, the residents and investors were undeterred. Instead of backing out and looking for other opportunities, they saw an opportunity to rise out of the ashes. After debating their options, they decided to build smaller.

Up until that time, they were trying to build increasingly bigger. The investors and residents were trying to attract vacationers with the biggest hotels, biggest venues, and biggest homes. This time, they decided that building smaller would be better. The resulting buildings were built in the Queen Anne style, and this is why Cape May has so many Victorian homes and buildings.

Today, the Victorian architecture and ambiance are part of what draws people to the area. Of course, there are also plenty of places to dine, shop, and relax. Not to mention, there’s a beach for every style of vacationing, including beaches with lots of amenities and beaches where it’s just you, your family, the sand, and the water.

Flying Into Cape May County Airport (WWD) in Wildwood, New Jersey

If you’re a pilot or own your own airplane or business jet, you should consider flying into the Cape May County Airport (WWD), which is just a short 15-minute drive from downtown Cape May. The airport welcomes corporate and recreational flights, as well as helicopters and charter flights. WWD has two runways. Runway 01/18 is 5,252 feet long and 150 feet wide. Runway 10/28 is 5,000 feet long and 150 feet wide. Both runways are in good condition, and pilots can purchase 100LL and Jet-A. The airport also offers minor repair services for airframes and powerplants, and there are hangars and tiedowns available.

While You’re at the Airport, Stop by Historic Hangar #1

Historic Hangar #1 is home to the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum. The Naval Air Station Wildwood (NASW) at Hangar #1 was a historic training center for dive-bomber crewmembers during World War II. Today, the hangar is home to an amazing aviation museum. Visitors can enjoy traversing 92,000 square feet of displays and educational exhibits that feature historic aircraft, airplane engines, and amazing interactive displays.

Traversing Cape May

The easiest way to explore Cape May is by foot or bicycle. The area is highly walkable, and there are e-bike and bike rentals available. The island also offers a free shuttle service, and there are taxis, Uber, and Lyft rideshares available.

Relax on the Cape May Beaches

Cape May is home to 2.5 miles of amazing, family-friendly beaches, and they run parallel to Beach Street. Visitors to the area can enjoy more than 15 beaches. Lifeguards are on duty from 10 AM until 5:30 PM from July 1 to Labor Day, and guests must purchase beach tags from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year. Some popular beaches include The Cove, Congress Beach, and Poverty Beach.

The Cove

The Cove is one of the most popular beaches in Cape May due to its proximity to restaurants and shopping. Guests at this beach can enjoy the soft, smooth sand and ever-changing landscape, due to its jetties and tide pools.

Congress Beach

Congress Beach is next to the Congress Hall Resort. If you’re a guest of the hotel, the resort sells beach tags and provides services on the beach, including yoga, cabanas, and towels. It’s important to note that while the hotel provides beach services, the beach is open to the public.

Poverty Beach

Despite its name, Poverty Beach is stunning. It’s located at the southern tip of the peninsula and is known for being a quiet, laid-back beach. Its name comes from the fact that it was designated as the beach for the ‘help’ and poor residents of the town because it was located away from the main beaches that offered amenities. More recently, in the 1950s and 60s, Poverty Beach was used as a garbage dump. Thankfully, that didn’t last long, and today, the beach is neat, clean, and popular with guests who want to enjoy the beach and water at their own pace in a quiet, relaxing environment.

Visit the Cape May County Park and Zoo

The Cape May County Park and Zoo can be found just off Exit 11. The zoo is free to visit 364 days a year. It’s closed on Christmas. This wonderful zoo is home to more than 500 animals, including snow leopards, lions, alpacas, bears, bald eagles, howler monkeys, camels, zebras, giraffes, red pandas, lemurs, and gray titi monkeys, as well as many other animals. While you’re there, stop by the Safari Cafe and Gift Shop for some souvenirs and snacks, like ice cream, brownies, bagged candy, burgers, hot dogs, French fries, and pizza.

Take a Ghost Tour in One of the Most Haunted Cities in the United States

Did you know that Cape May is one of the most haunted places in the US? It could be because of all the fires and shipwrecks, but the seaside resort of Cape May has a reputation for being haunted, and as a result, it attracts ghost hunters, paranormal experts, and guests who love a good scare. If you’re interested in ghosts and spirits, you may want to visit the Emlen Physick Estate, Congress Hall Resort, Hotel Macomber, the Inn of Cape May, and Cape May Lighthouse.

You could also opt for a ghost tour. One of the companies that offers nightly ghost tours is Cape May Continental Ghost Tours. This particular tour company schedules ghost tours every night of the year. Each walking tour is approximately one mile long and lasts about an hour. During the tour, you’ll learn of Cape May’s history and visit places like the Macomber Hotel and several houses on Columbia Street. Additionally, Ghost Capers also offers a walking tour.

Take a Day Cruise

There are several day cruises available at Cape May. You can go birding by boat, take a pontoon pedal boat, enjoy a half or full day of fishing, or take a dinner cruise, which is provided by the Spirit of Cape May. The dinner cruise ship can accommodate up to 400 passengers and includes a lounge and a dance floor.

Staying in Cape May

There are an incredible number of places to stay in Cape May. You could choose a hotel, a bed and breakfast, or a guest house. Of course, if you’re interested in Victorian history and architecture, you might want to stay in one of the many bed and breakfasts, like the Southern Mansion, Hotel Macomber, The Queen Victoria®, and The Mason Cottage. Not to mention, the Southern Mansion and Hotel Macomber are both rumored to be haunted.

The Southern Mansion

In addition to being haunted, the Southern Mansion provides guests with a fantastic location that’s just a five-minute walk to restaurants, beaches, and shops. The B&B offers gourmet breakfasts, private bathrooms, and beach chairs.

Hotel Macomber

Hotel Macomber was built around the turn of the century. It’s rumored to be haunted by ‘the trunk lady.’ Of course, that’s only her nickname. In life, the trunk lady was Irene Wright. She would frequently visit the hotel with a large steamer trunk and stay in Room 10. Guests of the hotel often say that they can hear her dragging her trunk down the hall. The hotel is also rumored to be haunted by Sarah Davis, the original owner, who took her own life in 1934, and a waitress who worked at the hotel during the Great Depression. The waitress was known for stealing food, and unfortunately, she choked to death on a bone from a stolen piece of chicken. Needless to say, she wasn’t too pleased with that and now haunts the hotel.

A fly-in vacation in Cape May is sure to be fun for your whole family, whether you’re looking for architectural history, aviation history, or haunted history. There are an amazing number of places to stay, boutique shops, excellent restaurants, and ice cream stores, like Fine Fellows Creamery, Peace Pie, and Dry Dock Ice Cream Bar and Grill.