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| The Depot Travel Park Cape May, New Jersey |
Cape May County
A quaint Victorian town dotted with historic homes and fronted by sweeping stretches of white sand, Cape May is one of the Garden State’s most alluring resort communities. The area stretches for 20 miles offshore between the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay at the southern tip of New Jersey, with roots of colonial settlement going back to 1620.
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Architectural Treasure Trove
The town’s rich architectural heritage, which features over 600 stunning Victorian-era gingerbread buildings, can be toured by carriage, trolley or bike. Many of the homes were owned by the nation’s 19th-century blue bloods, and preservationists lovingly maintain the structures.
Beachcombing and More
Cape May’s best beach is at Cape May Point State Park, two miles south of town, where a pristine ribbon of white sand is unblemished by commercialism, and whales can be spotted off the coast from May to December. The park’s diverse ecosystems, including wetlands that draw myriad bird species, can be accessed along three miles of hiking trails.
Hiking Haven
The 1.6-mile novice loop trail meanders through idyllic woodlands carpeted with wildflowers, picturesque beaches and fertile marshlands. Birders won’t want to miss the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge, a 212-acre sanctuary rated as one of the nation’s finest birding areas.
On the Water
Cape May’s calm waters and wide, white sand beaches lure East Coasters in search of family fun and solitude. Popular with locals, Sunset Beach at Cape May Point boasts swimming coves and curious views of the SS Atlantus, one of 12 concrete ships built during World War I. The Atlantus ran aground in 1926.
Watch for Flipper
Dolphin-watching cruises are popular during summer in the Delaware Bay Estuary, a sanctuary for myriad marine life species. Look for humpback whales, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, manta rays, harbor porpoise and seals.
For More Information
Cape May Chamber of Commerce
609-884-5508
New Jersey Department of Tourism
609-599-6540