Cape May, NJ

Cape May, a charming town filled with gaslights, gingerbread and gables, is often called America’s oldest seaside resort. Most of the sprawling beach-front community looks much the same as it did when it was the summer White House for several presidents and John Phillips Sousa entertained on the front lawn of Congress Hall during summer evening concerts. Now a National Historic Landmark, the little seaside town is filled with dozens of restored Victorian buildings, as ornate outside as inside, that are open to the public for tours. The Emlen Physick Estate on Washington Street, a restored Victorian home of the 1880s, is Cape May’s Victorian House Museum and tours -- walking, trolley and carriage -- give visitors a glimpse of life in this resort more than a century ago.

Ocean breezes keep Cape May cool through the summer and the beach is never more than a few minutes from almost anywhere in town. Bike riding is a great way to get around and see many of the splendid houses and gardens tucked away on side streets. The open-air Washington Street Mall,  Whale Watching, professional theater, the annual Cape May Music Festival and a wealth of other cultural events add to the town’s popularity.  There's always plenty to do in Cape May!

Ocean-front hotels, beautifully decorated bed and breakfast inns and luxurious guest houses provide the best in accommodations and the town has become well-known for its many award-winning gourmet restaurants, with The New York Times calling Cape May "the restaurant capital of New Jersey."

-Courtesy of the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce and www.capemay.com