Cape May
A Victorian resort at New Jersey's southern tip, rebuilt in gingerbread after an 1878 fire and a major migration point for birds.
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Cape May was a resort from the early 1800s, and a fire in 1878 destroyed much of the town; the rebuilding happened at the peak of the Victorian style, which is why several hundred gingerbread houses with turrets, porches and painted trim went up in a few years. The whole town is a National Historic Landmark district. Its other reputation is ornithological: the cape funnels migrating birds down the peninsula before the water crossing, and the autumn hawk watch and songbird passage make it one of the most important migration sites in North America, with a research station counting since 1976. Beach access requires a paid tag in season.
What you actually see
- Several hundred Victorian houses - rebuilt at once after the 1878 fire.
- A whole-town historic district - a National Historic Landmark.
- The autumn hawk watch - one of the major migration counts.
- Beaches with paid tags - required in season.
When to go
May to October for the town; spring and autumn for migration. A full day.
Honest expectations
Beach tags are charged and enforced. Summer weekends fill the town and the parkway. Most Victorian houses are private homes or inns. Migration quality depends entirely on the wind.
Nearby
The lighthouse and the point are west; Wildwood is north.
What to pack for Cape May
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.