The Queen Victoria: Don and Jeannie’s Experiences

Luxury Bed and Breakfast in Cape May

Published on June 06, 2016

In our last loyal guest profile, we shared the experiences of Wayne and Joyce and this time we’re proud to share the adventures that Don and Jeannie have enjoyed with a stay with us at The Queen Victoria.

For almost 10 years, Anna Marie and I have had the pleasure of hosting this wonderful couple as they discover Cape May and pretty much every room we have at our property! See why Don and Jeannie have come to call our bed and breakfast their very special place and some advice on visiting Cape May.

How did you find out about The Queen Victoria?

Don and I discovered the beautiful Queen Victoria Bed and Breakfast almost 10 years ago when we first began vacationing in Cape May. At that time, we were actually staying at another B&B because we decided very last minute to plan a weekend in Cape May and that particular B&B had availability.  Little did we know the Queen Victoria Bed and Breakfast would go on to be “Our Very Special Place.” While we were staying at the other B&B, we took a stroll down beautiful Columbia Avenue and immediately discovered the spectacular Queen Victoria! We went up to the porch and grabbed a brochure. It just felt right. We knew the Queen Victoria would be where we booked our vacation the following summer, and we did. The following July we stayed at the Queen Victoria, and it has been love ever since!!

How many times have you stayed over the years?

We try and average 4 to 5 trips a year to the Queen Victoria. I would say so far we have probably stayed at the Queen about 40 times, but that will continue to grow. We look forward to each and every visit! We first stayed at the Queen Victoria July 2007. This July will be 9 years that have been staying at the Queen!

What interested you in Cape May?

Don and I love traveling and visiting quaint Victorian towns, and we love the beach, so Cape May is the perfect place for us! We just adore the wonderful Victorian architecture, homes, and inns which make Cape May so special. Cape May has such a wonderful history, and it has so much to offer. The beaches are beautiful and serene, the restaurants, bars, and lounges are fabulous and always a unique dining experience, and I never get tired of shopping in Cape May. I simply love all the antique shops and the Washington Mall shops too. Also MAC, Mid Atlantic Center for Arts and Humanities, has wonderful tours and activities all year long that Don and I enjoy participating in.

What season is your favorite to visit?

Well, that is a tough question because every season is unique and special in Cape May. We would have to say our favorite season is summer because we love the beach and riding bicycles everywhere. One thing Don and I enjoy so much is going to Cabanas at lunchtime sitting up front with the doors open hearing the ocean and smelling the sea salt air while drinking our favorite cocktails and eating nachos. We also enjoy going to get our “Hot Dog Tommy’s” and frozen root beer at lunchtime. Our most favorite place to be though is sitting on the Queen Victoria porch relaxing at night on what Don and I call “Our Swing” watching the trolley cars and horse and carriages go by while we sip some wine and have some cheese or fudge!

What is your favorite place to dine?

Another tough question. Don and I have never had a bad meal in Cape May! The restaurants are all superb, but our top 5 favorites are: The Washington Inn, The Ebbitt Room lounge and porch for small plates, Frescos, Freda’s Cafe, and The Merion Inn. Don’s favorites are sesame crusted Ahi tuna at Freda’s and lobster bisque with rock shrimp at Washington Inn. I love the gorgonzola ravioli and fried olives at Frescos. We both love the cheese board and burger at the Ebbitt Room. Washington Inn wine bar has a great burger too and delicious olive bread.

Which room is your favorite and why?

This is another difficult question because we love all the rooms. Don and I have stayed in all but 7 rooms at the Queen Victoria. We are on a mission to complete staying in all of the QV rooms. We would have to say our most favorite room is the actual Queen Victoria room which is on the first floor of the QV building. It gives you the feeling of being a king and queen, and it has direct porch access which we love. It is filled with beautiful antiques as are all the QV rooms, and the bed is sheer royalty! In fact, this is the room Don and I stayed in when we celebrated our “10 year Vow Renewal” at the Queen Victoria. We renewed our wedding vows on June 1, 2013 on the gorgeous grounds in front of the famous Queen Victoria sign. It was simply one of the most wonderful and cherishable moments of our lives. We knew years before that we wanted to renew our vows on our 10 year anniversary at the Queen Victoria. It was everything we imagined it would be!!

What is your favorite breakfast dish?

My favorite breakfast dishes are Potato Hash Bake and Eggs Colorado. Don’s favorite is Blueberry stuffed French Toast. They are all scrumptious dishes as are all tea time sweets and savories. I tend to love savory while Don loves sweet.

What do you love most about The Queen Victoria?

The Queen Victoria Bed and Breakfast is truly a magical place, and what makes it so magical and what we love most are the wonderful innkeepers, Doug and Anna Marie, and the wonderful staff. The QV is heaven on earth and thanks to Doug and Anna Marie and the terrific staff, it has become “Our Home Away From Home.” You are treated with the warmest hospitality from the moment you walk in and are greeted. Don and I actually call the QV “Our Shore House.” It truly is “Our Special Place.”

Doug and Anna Marie, innkeepers, are the greatest! They are so warm, welcoming, and helpful and make each and every guest feel like the Queen Victoria is his/her home. They are always available and help to make everyone’s stay fun and memorable. They truly love what they do!

The staff at the Queen Victoria is the finest staff you can meet. They too extend themselves to every guest making his/her stay as memorable as can be. Don and I love the QV so much that we renewed our wedding vows on our 10^thAnniversary, and it was just spectacular! Doug and Anna Marie helped us plan a beautiful ceremony right on the gorgeous QV grounds and gardens.

The Queen Victoria architecture is so amazing and charming and every building and room is decorated beautifully with gorgeous antiques, furnishings, and draperies. QV has unbelievable attention to detail, and there is always something new to discover on every visit! The entire inn is impeccably maintained and the cleanest inn you will ever find. The grounds are beautiful with luscious flowers and landscaping. It is difficult to travel to other places because we are constantly comparing every place to the Queen Victoria. Breakfast and tea are scrumptious and give you a warm and fuzzy feeling. Everything is always delicious! The beds are so comfortable, the bathrooms are fabulous, the towels are so soft, and there are even makeup removal towelettes. How awesome is that!

Queen Victoria has a fantastic location very close to the beach, shops, and restaurants. It doesn’t get any better than that not to mention the convenience of having great bicycles to ride, beach chairs, beach towels, and even outdoor showers which you can use on your day of departure. It’s no wonder the Queen Victoria is the Best B&B in Cape May!

Finally, Don and I feel so well when we are at the Queen Victoria. It is truly great for your soul! We enjoy meeting new guests, and we have made some nice friends from staying at QV. We are proud to say that Queen Victoria is “Our Go To Place” and truly feels like home!!

What piece of advice would you give to a first time visitor to Cape May?

The best piece of advice we can give to a first time visitor to Cape May is to book your stay or your next stay (if he/she is already in Cape May) at the Queen Victoria- you will be glad you did! It becomes addicting! Don and I always look forward to our next visit!!