Cape May’s tourist attractions

July 26, 2022

Cape May is known for their exciting tourist attractions and activities. This beach provides a different experience compared to other beaches because of Cape May’s historical sights and city-like mood. Some popular attractions in Cape May include the Washington Street Mall, the Promenade, the Lighthouse, the private carriage rides, and the ferry trips.
The Washington Street Mall serves as Cape May’s town square and includes 75 establishments. This mall is filled with a variety of restaurants, famous desert places, boutiques, small shops, historical markers, bistro-style string lights, benches, gardens, and so much more. Two popular shops include A Place on Earth and Bath Time which sell bathing products and soaps. There are also some trendy clothing stores such as Beach Bum and Cape May Boutique. Kohr Bros. Frozen Custard and Ben and Jerry’s are popular ice cream places at night, but you better get there quick before the line goes out the door! The mall also hosts and sponsors events such as sidewalk sales, concerts, and parades which are fun to attend with friends and family.

The Cape May Promenade is a 2 mile long paved road along the beach. Tourists enjoy strolling through the Promenade and visiting the various businesses including candy stores, ice cream shops, and arcades. The Promenade used to be a boardwalk until it was destroyed in 1962. The Promenade was then built in place of a new boardwalk. Beach tags aren’t needed to walk on the Promenade, and it’s open to the public. Ramps are also available. There are public restrooms every half a mile as well. On the Promenade are plenty of benches, lights for the evenings, and a pavilion which overlooks the Cove Beach. Although the Promenade is open to the public, there are a few policies. Bicycles, roller skates, and in-line skates are only permitted from May 1-October 31 from 4am-10am. Dogs are allowed to stroll with their owners in the months of November, December, January, February, and March. Lastly, alcohol is prohibited in the Promenade.
Another very popular historical attraction is the Cape May Lighthouse. The lighthouse is located in Cape May Point State Park and is open from 10am-5pm. The whole building consists of 199 steps up a spiral staircase. Once tourists reach the top of the lighthouse, they will see a beautiful view of the Delaware Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, the surrounding nature trails of Cape May Point State Park, and the Cape May Point Borough. Panels are placed in and outside of the lighthouse and give information about the Lighthouse Keepers, the surrounding area, how the lighthouse functioned previously, and how it functions currently. The Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture) opened the lighthouse to the public in 1988, and since then, over 2.5 million tourists have climbed to the top. Adult tickets are $12 and child tickets are $8.
The Cape May Carriage Company offers carriage rides around Cape May while the tour guides explain facts about this cities’ history. The company offers carriage tours on the weekends in spring and fall, then daily in summer and during the Christmas season. The tours leave at Ocean and Washington Streets. One of the most popular tours is the Historic Cape May Carriage Tour which takes people around Cape May’s historic district. This tour can be either 15 or 30 minutes long, and the carriage options available to choose from are a Vis-a-vis, a wagonette, and a Cinderella carriage. Another popular tour is the Holiday Lights Carriage Tour which takes people around the beautifully decorated homes for the holidays. The 30 minute tours are $80 for 4 people and $10 for extra guests. Small children receive free admission.
Finally, another popular attraction in Cape May are the ferry trips. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry provides 85 minute cruises through the Delaware Bay, while connecting the New Jersey peninsula and shore towns with Delaware’s beaches. People can look out for historic lighthouses, harbors, oceangoing vessels, native and migratory seabirds, whales, and dolphin escorts while on the ferry. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry sails daily, and even hosts community events, festivals, and fireworks cruises.
Cape May is full of educational and entertaining attractions. Aside from these popular attractions, Cape May has a beautiful beach like no other. Cape May is so unique because it has everything one could ask for: relaxing beaches, beautiful scenery, an outdoor shopping mall, ferry trips, historical landmarks, and so much more. Visiting Cape May will always leave you feeling refreshed and relaxed.

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