Things are getting busy here in town and we’re readying our Cape May Bed & Breakfast for your visit. Coming up in March, April, and May is a slew of fun Cape May events and of course, wonderful sights to visit. What are our top picks for Cape May sights to see this spring and summer?
The Best Cape May Sights to See
Colonial House
The Colonial House, built C. 1720, is the oldest house in Cape May. It survived the fire of 1856 and now displays authentic period furnishings and household items. Here you’ll find pieces that date back to Cape May’s days as an important whaling town. The Colonial House also offer several programs for visitors. Some upcoming are: Civil War Program, The Society commemorates the Year of Suffrage with “Someone Must Wash the Dishes”, and Just in time for Hurricane Season: A Mighty Wind: Cape May Hits and Misses.
West Cape May
Most visit Cape May to appreciate its Victorian heritage and village charm, but just beyond downtown is a quiet rural community with many small farms. European colonists first cultivated this land for agricultural use in the 1600s. Later, it was used for the Cape May dairy, as well as for lima bean and soybean farms. Visitors will enjoy bike riding in West Cape May which is not too far from town center. Birdwatchers will appreciate the lookout decks and hiking trails at South Cape May Meadows, which includes 200 acres of protected habitat for wildlife.
Also in West Cape May is Beach Plum Farm which supplies fresh produce to many local restaurants. The operation grows over 100 varieties of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. You can buy fresh produce here or enjoy breakfast or lunch at the Farm Kitchen. You may also enjoy their shaded picnic area (perfect for sunny days), farm-to-table dinners, and charming cottages in which visitors can stay overnight.
Cape May State Park
Cape May Point State Park is an ideal place to visit for refreshing morning and afternoon jaunts in Nature. Here you can birdwatch, bike, and visit historical sites. There are three trails you can follow through the park which lead visitors to the best features including ponds, wetlands, dunes, and the Cape May Beach. Keep an eye out for birds as the park is well known as a great place to view fall migration each year, but different species can be seen year-round!
Cape May Lighthouse
The Cape May Lighthouse, built in 1859 and automated in 1946, was restored and still operated by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (MAC) until the 1990s. Presently, it’s open for visitors from April through November and on weekends throughout most of the year. Visitors can take a tour up the 199-step spiral staircase for a view of Cape May City and the famous Wildwood to the north from 157 feet up. Sometimes you can even see Cape Henlopen in Delaware to the west! Don’t forget your camera!
WWII Fire Control Tower No.23
Fire Control Tower No.23 was left abandoned and exposed to the elements for decades after World War II. Although it resembles an abandoned lighthouse, the tower is actually a defense post from when concerns about German ships and submarines shut down Cape May’s actual lighthouse and kept the coast dark a night. During the war, towers like No. 23 were equipped with guns and placed up and down the banks of the Delaware River and other spots in Cape May County. A restoration by Cape May’s Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities was completed in 2009. Plus, a memorial to World War II veterans from the Cape May area can also be found here.
The Queen Victoria is ideally situated at the center of town just minutes from the best Cape May sights to see. To book your room, visit our Queen Victoria Rooms page. We looking forward to welcoming you soon!