Is Cape May the Most Underrated Beach Town in America?

Back in the 1800s, the idea of going on a beach vacation was still a relatively new concept for most Americans. So when an ambitious developer named Thomas Hughes opened a 100-room beachfront hotel in 1816 in Cape May — an idyllic retreat on the southern coast of New Jersey — East Coasters in need of a sunny getaway started flocking to America’s first seaside resort. The property was later renamed Congress Hall and over the years, the iconic hotel attracted no less than five presidents. And yet, while Cape May — with its colorful Victorian mansions, charming town center and beautiful beach — has recently been rediscovered by A-listers like Oprah and Tina Fey, it has remained blissfully off the radar of many travelers.

On a recent summer weekend, I was looking for an easy and fun getaway from New York City for my family and decided to check out Cape May. My husband and I kept asking ourselves why we hadn’t come sooner (and had to apologize to friends for posting photos on Instagram and giving away their secret spot). Our 6-year-old daughter Lucy loved it, too.

Check out these reasons why we think this overlooked beach town is such a paradise for families.

An Easy Escape

No need to enter the address into the GPS. Cape May is at the southernmost spot on the New Jersey shore —Exit Zero on the Garden State Parkway, to be exact. It’s easily accessible from some of the biggest East Coast cities: a 90-minute drive from Philadelphia, two-and-a-half hours from New York City and three-and-a-half-hours from Washington DC. The best part: It’s worlds away from any of those places. When you arrive in Cape May, with its ocean breezes, clean sea air and perfectly preserved Victorian houses, you’ll feel like you’ve truly escaped from it all. Summer is the high season, but Cape May is lovely any time of the year.

Congress Hall

At the heart of Cape May is the stylish Congress Hall, the oldest seaside resort in the country. Having hosted Presidents Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Ulysses S. Grant, Chester Arthur and Benjamin Harrison, the hotel used to be called the Summer White House. These days, it’s a welcoming place for families who return year in and year out. When we were there, we overheard a family making reservations for 2020, requesting the same room that they’d been staying in for the last dozen or so years. It’s no surprise: What kid wouldn’t want to come back year after year for bonfires with s’mores, croquet on the lawn and a pizza parlor hidden away in the basement? For mom and dad, there’s a new Rosé Bar, as well as the recently renovated Brown Bar, which was the first cocktail bar to open in Cape May after Prohibition. Any time of the day or night, guests love to hang out in the wooden rocking chairs on Congress Hall’s sprawling porch, just like they’ve been doing for hundreds of years. And the hotel’s up-to-the-minute, quirky-chic decor will make you want to go home and redecorate immediately. (I am still dreaming about the bright-green walls in the lobby and the shell-art anchor hanging above the fireplace.)

The Beach

Just across from Congress Hall is Cape May’s stunning beach, with sparkling white sand as far as the eye can see. In the afternoon, dolphins frolic in the waves offshore. Congress Hall can set you up with a private yellow-and-white striped cabana for the day, complete with food and beverage service. You won’t ever want to leave.

Downtown Cape May

This is small-town Americana at its finest. Downtown Cape May looks like it could have been the inspiration for Disney’s Main Street, U.S.A. Three blocks of the main thoroughfare, Washington Street, have been converted into a pedestrian-only zone lined with brick pathways, fountains and an old-fashioned town clock. Boutiques sell everything from totes made from old sails to antique jewelry. Lucy couldn’t decide which candy store she liked better: the red-and-white striped Cape May Sweet House, which looks like it was designed with Instagram in mind, or Fralinger’s, which has been selling saltwater taffy and sea foam fudge since 1885.

Fun in the Sun

What’s not to love about a place with all the quintessential beach vacation amenities, from a kitschy putt-putt golf course to a classic arcade with — your guessed it — Skee-Ball. The appropriately named Family Fun Arcade was a major hit with Lucy, thanks to its old-fashioned games and its breezy beachfront location.

Beach Bikes

A great thing about Cape May is that it is very bike-friendly, so you don’t need a car to get around. Congress Hall’s bike shop rents out picture-perfect yellow two-wheelers, as well as vintage-style surreys that are a great way for the whole family to explore the area together.

Tropical Vibes

At The Rusty Nail — a restaurant and bar with sand floors and picnic tables outside and an open-air bar area — you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to the shores of the Bahamas. Want to spend the night? Right next door is The Beach Shack, a retrofitted motel with bright and airy rooms overlooking all the action.

Beach Plum Farm

Set on 62 acres less than two miles away from the center of Cape May, Beach Plum Farm is a family favorite. The farm provides many of the seasonal ingredients used in the delicious food served at Congress Hall’s restaurants and the Rusty Nail. And those heavenly smelling products in Congress Hall’s rooms? They’re sourced from the natural herbs grown at Beach Plum Farm. Kids love feeding the chickens and exploring the acres of gardens and fields. Mom and dad love having cocktails at the Tree Bar, as well as the farm-to-table dinners. For families who can’t get enough, Beach Plum Farm also has charming farmhouses for rent.

By Laura Begley Bloom