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“On the Way to Cape May…”
By Carol Reed
Cape May,
America’s
oldest shore resort, is located at the southernmost point of New Jersey
where it juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. Perhaps that little bit of
remoteness fashioned the magic that has preserved Cape May’s seaside with
its charming atmosphere and storybook Victorian architecture. Add to that
the beaches, dunes, wetlands and ponds. Mix in forested hiking trails,
bike rides, opportunities for bird and dolphin watching, delightful shops
and restaurants, and the results are a perfect
day-trip or a destination for an extended break. The town is a national
historic landmark and a year-round vacation spot with attractions for
everyone.
One
of the most enjoyable ways to get to
Cape May (with or without your car) is on a trip aboard the Cape
May-Lewes Ferry, which crosses the
Delaware Bay
from Lewes, Del., to Cape May. Besides being a shortcut, the 17-mile trip
offers 70 minutes of picturesque boating and an exciting ride for children
with a snack bar and restroom available.
www.beach-net.com/ThingsCMferry.html
Cape
May is known throughout the country as a seasonal fly-by for thousands of
birds, and the
Cape May
Point
State Park
accommodates visitors who want to join the “flock.” From September through
mid-November, the park provides the best place in the eastern states from
which to see migrating hawks. There is an elevated watchers’ platform
where a guide from the Cape May Bird Observatory is available most days to
help spot and identify raptors as they fly by. Be sure to bring
binoculars! More than 45,000 hawks were counted from the hawk watch
platform in 2003. On Saturday and Sunday mornings in late September
through October, watch a hawk banding demonstration. Newly banded hawks
are released during a lecture and presentation for spectators. As the hawk
migration slows down in early to mid-November, American Bitterns, owls,
freshwater ducks, sea ducks and many other species continue their fall
migration. From mid-September through October, thousands of Monarch
butterflies also migrate through southern
New Jersey
and pass the Park before flying off to Delaware. Monarch banding
demonstrations are held daily during peak migration. Imagine trying to
band a butterfly!
Also
in the State Park, the
Cape May lighthouse has marked the entrance to the
Delaware Bay since 1859.
For a small fee, climb the 199 steps up to the top. Or, walk along the
boardwalk and marked trails through
New Jersey ’s wetlands. Learn about the plants and animals that live
there. Spot the dolphins that play offshore through September.
For
more information on
Cape May
Point
State Park
and its programs, go to:
www.capemaytimes.com/nature/capemay-park.htm or call
(609)
884-5404.
For
those interested in Victorian architecture with its characteristic
“gingerbread” trim, turret rooms and gardens,
Cape May is THE place. Special house tours are offered. “The George
Allen House,” built in 1863, has fantastic carved moldings, 14-foot gold
leafed mirrors, elaborate marble fireplaces, original gaslight chandeliers
and a ballroom. Call
(609) 884-7171 or e-mail
mansion@jerseycape.com for
further information on tours.
The
Emlen Physic House and Estate (1879) offers stick style architecture by
famous Philadelphia architect Frank Furness with elaborate chimneys,
dormers and trim. This building has undergone restoration and is open in
spring, summer, fall and weekends in the winter. The house contains Cape
May’s museum of Victorian furniture, clothing, toys, tools and artifacts
and is located at 1048 Washington Street.
There is also the historic “Cold
Springs
Village”
where, whatever the season, visitors can share a bygone era and become
directly involved in the daily life of a
New Jersey village of a century and a half ago. Chat with the “locals”
in the Dennisville Inn or watch the printer produce pamphlets. Village
craftspeople demonstrate their skills using traditional tools. See the
blacksmith’s forge, the weaver and the spinner or the potter at work. Many
of the craftspeople will invite you to become involved.
www.hcsv.org/VillageEntrance/Village_Enter.htm
September is one of the loveliest months to visit Cape May. The summer
crowds have gone, the days are clear and warm, and the beach is tranquil.
There are charming bed and breakfasts for a romantic weekend, or family
friendly accommodations to fit your needs. As the seasons change,
Cape May remains a welcoming haven to visit again and again.
www.capemay.com
Carol Reed is a middle school teacher and freelance journalist who
specializes in travel writing. Carol’s journeys have taken her as close
to home as the New Jersey Pines and as far as the islands in the
Caribbean, New Zealand and Australia.
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