JCMAN320
September 20th, 2007, 07:10 PM
Cape May holiday perfect for summer's end
NyDailyNews.com
Tuesday, September 18th 2007, 8:50 PM
http://www.nydailynews.com/img/2007/09/15/amd_capemay_physikestate.jpg
http://www.nydailynews.com/img/2007/09/15/amd_capemay-boats.jpg
Even the most ardent beachgoer may be surprised to learn that the oldest and most historic seaside resort in the United States isn't in New England, Florida or California - and it's certainly not the Hamptons.
America's tradition of spending summers languishing at the beach was born right next door in good ol' New Jersey, in charming Cape May, and at Congress Hall, the town's nearly 200-year-old signature hotel.
An increasing number of Gotham sun worshippers have discovered the distinctive charms of Cape May, a three-hour drive from Manhattan on the Jersey Shore.
While Cape May offers many of the amenities of any topnotch seaside vacation spot, it is also undeniably unique - and diverse. Situated on a peninsula, its 30 miles of beaches include small inlets with smooth sand and calm waters, swaths of shoreline with demanding waves for surfing and rocky jetties that are perfect for daydreaming.
Cape May also has the largest collection of authentic Victorian structures in the country, a tradition reflected in many of the town's finest hotels, B&B's and private homes.
Though it's a popular summer destination, many visitors to Cape May say that fall is their favorite season to go. Not only do the beaches become far less crowded and the lines at restaurants disappear, many hotels slash their prices considerably after mid-September, making a trip to the Jersey Shore even more attractive.
The town is also abuzz with a variety of activities, including film, music and culinary festivals, plus world-class bird and butterfly watching. For info on all fall events, visit www.discovercapemay.com:
See why Cape May has been called the restaurant capital of New Jersey at the Cape May Food & Wine Festival, through Thursday. The event includes a wine cellar tour and tasting, a gourmet marketplace and a beer-tasting dinner. For more information: (609) 884-5404.
The yearly celebration of Victorian lifestyle returns from Oct. 5-14 during Victorian Week. Activities include house tours, antiques and craft shows, glass-blowing demonstrations, concerts, workshops and lectures.
Cape May Wine Festival, a new addition to the town's autumn "festival season," is held Oct. 6-7. Hosted by the Garden State Wine Growers Association, the fest presents 20 member wineries and offers the chance to sample award-winning Jersey wines. There's also live music, seminars, gourmet food and a Kids Zone to keep young ones busy. www.newjerseywines.com/festivals.html.
From Oct. 19 through Halloween, the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (MAC) presents Haunted Cape May Halloween, featuring ghost-related tours and events - especially at the Emlen Physick Estate, an 1879 Victorian mansion said to be haunted. For info, call (609) 884-5404 or 1-800-275-4278.
Many people may not realize that Cape May is one of the best bird-watching sites in the country - and fall is the best season to break out the binoculars. Audubon Weekend, Oct. 26-28, features three days of field trips, boat excursions, indoor programs, workshops and plenty of bird-watching during the peak of fall migration. www.njaudubon.org or (609) 884-2736.
What better way to end a day spent walking the shore than listening to some great music afterward? The Cape May Jazz Festival will be held Nov. 9-11. This year's lineup includes the Duke Ellington Orchestra, T.S. Monk, Houston Person, and Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers. Call (877) 726-5299, or www.capemayjazz.com.
Make sure to reserve a seat at the 2007 New Jersey State Film Festival at Cape May, Nov. 16-19. The event showcases actors and filmmakers with a Garden State connection. (609) 884-6700; www.njstatefilmfestival.com.
NyDailyNews.com
Tuesday, September 18th 2007, 8:50 PM
http://www.nydailynews.com/img/2007/09/15/amd_capemay_physikestate.jpg
http://www.nydailynews.com/img/2007/09/15/amd_capemay-boats.jpg
Even the most ardent beachgoer may be surprised to learn that the oldest and most historic seaside resort in the United States isn't in New England, Florida or California - and it's certainly not the Hamptons.
America's tradition of spending summers languishing at the beach was born right next door in good ol' New Jersey, in charming Cape May, and at Congress Hall, the town's nearly 200-year-old signature hotel.
An increasing number of Gotham sun worshippers have discovered the distinctive charms of Cape May, a three-hour drive from Manhattan on the Jersey Shore.
While Cape May offers many of the amenities of any topnotch seaside vacation spot, it is also undeniably unique - and diverse. Situated on a peninsula, its 30 miles of beaches include small inlets with smooth sand and calm waters, swaths of shoreline with demanding waves for surfing and rocky jetties that are perfect for daydreaming.
Cape May also has the largest collection of authentic Victorian structures in the country, a tradition reflected in many of the town's finest hotels, B&B's and private homes.
Though it's a popular summer destination, many visitors to Cape May say that fall is their favorite season to go. Not only do the beaches become far less crowded and the lines at restaurants disappear, many hotels slash their prices considerably after mid-September, making a trip to the Jersey Shore even more attractive.
The town is also abuzz with a variety of activities, including film, music and culinary festivals, plus world-class bird and butterfly watching. For info on all fall events, visit www.discovercapemay.com:
See why Cape May has been called the restaurant capital of New Jersey at the Cape May Food & Wine Festival, through Thursday. The event includes a wine cellar tour and tasting, a gourmet marketplace and a beer-tasting dinner. For more information: (609) 884-5404.
The yearly celebration of Victorian lifestyle returns from Oct. 5-14 during Victorian Week. Activities include house tours, antiques and craft shows, glass-blowing demonstrations, concerts, workshops and lectures.
Cape May Wine Festival, a new addition to the town's autumn "festival season," is held Oct. 6-7. Hosted by the Garden State Wine Growers Association, the fest presents 20 member wineries and offers the chance to sample award-winning Jersey wines. There's also live music, seminars, gourmet food and a Kids Zone to keep young ones busy. www.newjerseywines.com/festivals.html.
From Oct. 19 through Halloween, the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (MAC) presents Haunted Cape May Halloween, featuring ghost-related tours and events - especially at the Emlen Physick Estate, an 1879 Victorian mansion said to be haunted. For info, call (609) 884-5404 or 1-800-275-4278.
Many people may not realize that Cape May is one of the best bird-watching sites in the country - and fall is the best season to break out the binoculars. Audubon Weekend, Oct. 26-28, features three days of field trips, boat excursions, indoor programs, workshops and plenty of bird-watching during the peak of fall migration. www.njaudubon.org or (609) 884-2736.
What better way to end a day spent walking the shore than listening to some great music afterward? The Cape May Jazz Festival will be held Nov. 9-11. This year's lineup includes the Duke Ellington Orchestra, T.S. Monk, Houston Person, and Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers. Call (877) 726-5299, or www.capemayjazz.com.
Make sure to reserve a seat at the 2007 New Jersey State Film Festival at Cape May, Nov. 16-19. The event showcases actors and filmmakers with a Garden State connection. (609) 884-6700; www.njstatefilmfestival.com.