As we pass through the beautiful Fall season, my thoughts automatically start drifting to the upcoming holiday season. In fact, it seems to be the favorite conversation topic at the inn these days. That might explain why so many people are booking their Thanksgiving and Christmas reservations.
The holidays are probably the most beautiful time of the year to visit Cape May. With all of these beautiful homes decorated for Christmas, including The Queen Victoria, of course, one can’t help but be impressed. I always am. We’ll start decorating for Christmas in a few days, with plans to be completely decorated by Thanksgiving. Many other homes in town will also be decorated early, as Cape May has its “Christmas Preview Weekend” the weekend before Thanksgiving.
A visit to Cape May is a great way capture the Christmas spirit!
Over the years Cape May has become a major Halloween destination. With all of our old houses and our abundance of ghosts, the event has taken on a life of its own.
Many of you have made a tradition of a visit to The Queen Victoria for Thanksgiving. I have to say I think it is a wonderful tradition. Many of you have a long weekend starting on Thursday, which is a great excuse to sneak out of town for a relaxing get-away. I think that most of our Thanksgiving guests have figured out that a wonderful dinner out in one of Cape May’s fine restaurants beats the heck out of cooking for a couple of days for a 20 minute dinner between football games. On the other hand, many of our “Empty Nest” guests have found their families spending the holidays with their in-laws, giving them the perfect opportunity for a visit to Cape May.
As I mentioned in the “intro” above, as a bonus for our Thanksgiving guests we’ll be completely decorated for Christmas.
Sherlock Holmes Mystery Weekend (Nov 1-3)
Sherlock, Watson and a wonderful cast of characters are returning to Cape May to test your sleuthing skills and provide a wonderful weekend of entertainment.
This wonderful event starts Friday evening with the 1st act of an original “Sherlock Holmes” mystery, where you’ll be introduced to the mystery and the characters. On Saturday afternoon you’ll tour several of the B&Bs in town searching for clues to solve the mystery, where you’ll find the cast (in character) and can discuss the mystery with them. Saturday night you’ll enjoy the 2nd act of the play, which will give you one last chance to solve the mystery before the grand finale late Sunday morning. There are prizes for the best solutions and the “Clueless” prize for the worst. Lots of folks get into the full spirit of the event on Saturday by dressing as their favorite Sherlock character. One of them will be awarded “best costume”.
This is a FUN event every year. If you’re looking for a fun excuse to get away from home for the weekend and come to Cape May, this would be a good one. Careful, though! I’ve noticed that participation tends to become addictive, leaving many of our guests anxious to participate every year.
Dickens Extravaganza (Dec 8-10)
Are you searching for something truly different and interesting to do this holiday season? Every year Cape May hosts the “Dickens Extravaganza”, which is a wonderful 3 day festival exploring the life and works of the ultimate Victorian author, Charles Dickens. As the author of “A Christmas Carol”, Dickens gave us the enduring image of Christmas that we all carry with us today.
Our Extravaganza is filled with feasts, receptions, wonderfully entertaining presentations, lectures and performances, and some seriously fun entertainment and socializing. This is not some type of scholarly pursuit, but you will have a great time learning a lot of interesting things about Dickens and the Victorian era.
We’ve only got a few rooms left for this event, so please call us soon if you hope to attend.
At $160 for 3 days of meals and programming, the Dickens Extravaganza is GREAT entertainment value!
Christmas in Cape May
So what is Christmas like in Cape May? Well, as I’ve mentioned, we get an early start on the season and we pack it full of tours and fun events. Cape May really is the ultimate Christmas Wonderland. A December visit to Cape May is definitely the right way to get yourself into the Christmas spirit. Nobody does Christmas like Cape May!
Here is a list of just some of the things going on during the Christmas season in Cape May:
Christmas Preview weekend
Christmas Traditions lecture
Evening Yuletide Tour (New!)
Physick Family House Tours
Ghosts of Christmas Past Trolley rides
Holiday Inns Tours
Lamplighter Tours
Candlelight Tours
Cape May Christmas Parade
Holiday Crafts Fair
Dickens Extravaganza
Chef’s Dine Around
At the risk of being repetitious, or stating the obvious, a December visit to The Queen Victoria is a wonderful way to experience the Christmas season!
Celebrate the New Year at The Queen Victoria!
Have you noticed that I’m always full of reasons to plan a visit to The Queen Victoria? It’s a gift.
Anyway, it occurred to me that you might still need another travel planning idea and I’ve got a great one for you. Celebrate the New Year in style in Cape May! Brilliant idea, isn’t it? If you’re looking for crowds and noise and hysteria, then you might want to take a pass on Cape May. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a relaxing, elegant and romantic way to spend New Year’s Eve with the one you love, then you can’t do better than Cape May (and The Queen Victoria, of course).
If you already have other plans for New Year’s Eve, but still want to do the “relaxing, elegant, and romantic” thing, then plan a couple nights at The Queen Victoria between Christmas & New Year’s Eve. The town will be full of happy people (including you!), the shops will be open and the restaurants will be performing their culinary magic.
Upcoming Events
Great Reasons to Return to The Queen Victoria
Designer Show House through Oct 31
Halloween Happenings Oct 18-31
Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery Weekend Nov 1-3
Exit Zero Jazz Festival Nov 8-9
Christmas in Cape May Nov 22 – Jan 1
Dickens Extravaganza Dec 8-10
Christmas at The Queen Victoria Dec 24- 25
Channeling with Craig McManus Jan 11, 2014
Channeling with Craig McManus Feb 8, 2014
Wine Lovers Weekend (blending party) Feb 22, 2014
“Big Cheesy” Cheese Tasting Party Mar 8, 2014
Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery Weekend Mar 14-16
2nd Annual Whiskey Challenge Mar 22
Room of The Month
Princess Beatrice
Did you know that we have rooms with ocean views? If not, you do now. The Princess Beatrice room happens to be one of those rooms, as you can see looking at this photo. If you look closely you can see the beach and ocean, just beyond the big “witches cap” turret in the distance. We’re 1 block from the beach, so it isn’t panoramic, but it is still a pretty good view (this photo is too small to do it justice).
The Princess Beatrice is also our “value” room. That is an elegant way of saying it is the least expensive room at the inn. While it is the smallest room in the inn, it is still very comfortable. Because the space is so efficiently used, it actually has more usable space than almost all of our more expensive “standard” class rooms. In fact, it is the only room in it’s class that we can do an in-room massage in, with plenty of room for the massage table.
We just re-papered the room last year, so it has a very fresh, updated feel to it. It also has a beautiful carpet, which gives it a very elegant feel. I also really like the fact that the sink is not in the bathroom, which allows one person to use the facilities privately, while allowing the other to use the sink. Perfect! All in all, this is a very comfortable, cozy room with all the basic amenities that all of our rooms come with.
If you’re looking to save a little money on your next visit and want to get an ocean view, you should definitely consider the Princess Beatrice room.
Gift Shop Featured Item Tissue & TP Covers
Are you looking for an elegant touch for your home? Our beautiful new custom made covers are a great reminder of your visit to The Queen Victoria and looks great in any room of the house (I suppose the toilet paper cover is probably best suited for a bathroom, but there are no rules about these things).
Our Price: $20 each
Favorite Photo
A Stunning Cape May Sunrise
A Stunning October Sunrise
Many of you are aware of my morning “power walks” along the beach every morning. I usually don’t slow down for anything, as I’ve got to get showered and be back for breakfast, but this sight stopped me in my tracks. I simply had to take a moment to capture it so I could share it with you. What an amazing way to start the day!
Playing at Cape May Stage A Walk in the Woods (through Nov 16)
Cape May Stage’s current production, “A Walk in the Woods”, opened last week. A departure from the comedies Anna Marie and I are so fond of, it is a Pulitzer Prize nominated drama filled with unexpected humor and extraordinary humanity.
Time Magazine put it this way: “A Walk in the Woods” is an absorbing, revealing, and brilliant debate on the eternal hope and relentless futility of high-stakes politics. Two superpower arms negotiators- one a witty but cynical Russian veteran and the other an idealistic American newcomer – meet informally in the woods after long frustrating hours at the bargaining table. “A work of passion and power with the ring of political truth.
A night at the wonderful Cape May stage theater is a great way to spend a Fall or Winter evening in Cape May. I suggest you explore the “Dinner and a Show” discount packages available at several local restaurants.
Wine Tasting Season
Always, but especially November Though May
So you’re ready for a trip to Cape May, but you’re wondering how you’ll fill your day in Cape May now that the beach is not really an option for you. My first suggestion is to go wine tasting.
Perhaps you are unaware of the growing wine industry in Cape May County. We currently have 6 wineries within a 20 minute drive of Cape May, with one of them located a little over a mile from The Queen Victoria. Most of them are open for tastings 12-5 or 6 daily, with tours on weekends.
Anna Marie and I love to go wine tasting when we travel. We also love to sneak over to one of our local wineries if we have a free afternoon during the non-beach season. Sometimes we’ll take a lunch with us to Cape May Winery and take advantage of the very comfortable seating, perhaps next to the fireplace, or on the deck overlooking the vines and enjoy a leisurely lunch with a glass of our favorite wine. It doesn’t get much better than that!
Christmas at The Queen Victoria
People are often surprised (pleasantly, I hope) to learn that The Queen Victoria is open for Christmas. We’ve discovered that MANY people are looking for a special place to celebrate Christmas. The Queen Victoria certainly fits that bill. Last year about 60 people (30 rooms) spent Christmas at The Queen Victoria.
For some, it is a perfectly central place to celebrate with other family members with nobody responsible for cooking & cleaning. For others The Queen Victoria is a perfect place to celebrate while their own children are with the in-laws. Some of our guests who don’t celebrate Christmas still enjoy the festivity and cheer of the holiday in a neutral, welcoming environment.
If you’re searching for the perfect place to celebrate the holiday, for whatever reason, give us a call. We’ll be sure to make your Christmas a good one!
Restaurant of the Month Freda’s Cafe
You are looking at a picture of the “Best Crab Cakes on the Planet”. Yes, I really just said that. I hope that my friends from Maryland will excuse this bold statement. Hopefully they will take solace in the fact that this is simply my opinion. I’ll also mention that they are entirely different from Maryland Crab Cakes, which are magnificent in their own special way.
OK, here it is. There is virtually NO filler in these crab cakes. I have no idea what holds them together long enough to cook, but somehow they manage it. They are always perfectly sauteed and served on a bed of garlic mashed potatoes along with perfectly steamed string beans. Chef Steve then smothers them with a mango drizzle, which completes the epicurean delight you see here.
Having said all of that, I must admit that I don’t order the crab cakes very often anymore. I’m not tired of them, but I love to explore all the other wonderful dishes available at Freda’s, including a dizzying line-up of wonderful specials that vary frequently.
Freda’s Cafe is my personal favorite restaurant and it is definitely at the top of Anna Marie’s list too. Freda’s is located just steps from The Queen Victoria, and is also a BYOB, which you know that I favor. What more could you ask for? Great food, convenient location, charming decor, and BYOB. The truly have it all!
Visit The Queen Victoria Soon!
Cape May’s Premier Bed and Breakfast
Make your reservations today for a romantic getaway at The Queen Victoria Bed and Breakfast. We are looking forward to helping you plan your next visit!
Sincerely,
Doug & Anna Marie McMain, Owners/Innkeepers The Queen Victoria Bed & Breakfast
