Cape May sits at the southern tip of New Jersey, where Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. It’s the nation’s oldest seaside resort, welcoming sun-seeking vacationers since the mid-18th century, then touted as a “healthy place for sea bathing” by the Philadelphia Gazette.
Today, Cape May draws visitors for its walkable downtown, pristine beaches, easy access to nature and well-preserved architecture. A National Historic Landmark, Cape May is home to more than 600 candy-colored Victorian style buildings, including inns, cottages and shops. You’ll find the second largest collection of Victorian era structures in Cape May, just behind San Francisco.
Whether you arrive by way of the Garden State Parkway or the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, you are in for a real treat.
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Begin in the Cape May Historic District, where the town’s architectural identity is on full display. Guided walking and trolley tours educate visitors on structural hallmarks, including intricately designed gingerbread trim, large wraparound porches and steeply pitched gabled roofs.
If you prefer to explore on your own, focus on Hughes Street and Columbia and Beach avenues for the highest concentration of restored buildings. These streets showcase some of the best preserved “painted ladies,” a term used to describe Victorian structures painted in three or more colors to emphasize their decorative features.
One of the more notable Victorian homes is the George Allen House, known as the Southern Mansion, a grand estate dating to the 1860s that now operates as a bed-and-breakfast. Public tours are offered daily at noon for a small fee, offering insight into upper-class life at the time.
For a closer look at the period, tour the Emlen Physick Estate, Cape May’s only Victorian house museum. Built in 1879, this 18-room mansion offers guided tours that focus on architecture, daily life and the Gilded Age elegance of the home.
Pedestrian Friendly Hub
Cape May’s pedestrian-only Washington Street Mall serves as the town’s central hub. Spanning three blocks, from Ocean Street to Perry Street, it’s lined with more than 75 boutiques, gift shops, bookstores, cafes and scoop shops.
The Mall features brick-paved paths, plenty of benches, landscaped gardens, gas lamps and twinkling string lights. Browse specialty shops like Whale’s Tale for shore-theme gifts, Louisa’s Chocolate Bar for artisan chocolates and Madame’s Port for home accents and apparel.
Hungry? Dining ranges from casual to upscale, and there’s something for every palate. Enjoy fresh seafood at the Cape May Fish Market, sample elevated cuisine like curry mussels and filet au poivre at Tisha’s or stop in for wine tastings at Washington Inn & Wine Bar. For dessert, it’s got to be Uncle Charley’s Ice Cream, serving up 48 homemade flavors.
Cape May Beaches
Cape May city beaches stretch 2½ miles along Beach Avenue. The Cove is popular for its wide sandy shoreline and reliable surf, as well as its close proximity to the Cape May Lighthouse. For a relaxed beach day, head to Broadway Beach for fewer crowds and great waves. All city beaches require beach tags, which can be purchased in town, for admittance between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Sunset Beach offers a different vibe. This free beach (no beach tag necessary) features calm waters and colorful sunsets over the Delaware Bay. It’s best known for Cape May diamonds — small quartz pebbles polished by the water. Visit at low tide for the best chance of finding them.
Just offshore, you’ll see the remains of the SS Atlantus, an experimental concrete ship built during World War I that ran aground in 1926, about 150 feet offshore. It’s a photo-worthy landmark and a curious piece of local history. In summer, locals and visitors alike gather for a nightly flag-lowering ceremony at dusk to honor veterans.
Cape May Point
At the southernmost tip of the peninsula is Cape May Point State Park, which offers a quieter, nature-focused alternative to the beach scene. This 244-acre park includes sand dunes, freshwater ponds, marshes and maritime forest. Admission is free, making it an easy add-on to your itinerary.
There are three main trails (red, yellow and blue), ranging from a half mile to 2 miles. The red trail is fully accessible via a raised boardwalk, while the blue and yellow trails wind through marshes and wooded areas. Birding is a major draw, thanks to the park’s location along a migratory route that regularly attracts raptors, shorebirds and monarch butterflies.
The 160-foot-tall Cape May Lighthouse is the park’s most visible landmark. Built in 1859, it remains active. Visitors can climb 199 iron steps to the top for panoramic views across the Cape May peninsula. Interpretive panels on the grounds, at the base and on the climb share stories of lighthouse keepers, as well as how the lighthouse functioned historically and today. The remnants of a concrete World War II bunker are also visible on the beach, once designed to protect the Delaware Bay and Philadelphia from German submarines.
Hotels in Cape May
Plan your Cape May road trip with a AAA travel advisor and rent your car with Hertz. AAA members can save up to 20% on Hertz rentals.
Have you ever been to Cape May? Share your favorite things to do in Cape May in the comments!
All photos courtesy of CapeMay.com.
Last updated on May 7, 2026 by AAA Staff
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