Cool Things About Cape May, N.J. – America’s Oldest Beach Resort

Cape May, New Jersey is a wonderful city to visit and vacation.

It is America’s oldest seaside resort and it is packed with great history and attractions to visit and enjoy as a family together.

Did you know that Cape May should be spelled Cape Mey?

It was named after a Dutch captain named Cornelius Jacobsen Mey … because it was misspelled in the original paperwork … it officially and mistakenly became Cape May, New Jersey.

Here is just a partial list of cool things about and fun things to do in Cape May City, New Jersey.

Touring the various mansions is a lot of fun. You can do so in a leisurely walk or by trolly car.

They are beautiful and there is so much history.

Here’s a tour at The Emlen Physick Estate, located at 1048 Washington Street in Cape May City. It is a really enjoyable, immersive tour.

You’re transported back to 1879, when you walk through this 17-room mansion.

You can grab one of the best hotdogs anywhere in the state of New Jersey right in Cape May City, just off of Beach Avenue at Tommy’s Hotdogs.

Visitors are willing to wait in a very long line for these.

There is great shopping at The Washington Mall and all over Cape May City.

There are great miniature golf courses, like this one at Sunset Beach, owned and managed by The Larry Hume Family and located right at the point in Cape May City.

Christmas time in Cape May is absolutely beautiful. Here is the Great Lawn at Congress Hall.

Congress Hall is America’s oldest seaside resort … first opening its doors in 1816 and rebuilt in 1879 after the “Great Fire” in Cape May City.

It was originally by Ellis Hughes and called “The Big House.”

The dining in Cape May City is fantastic and ranges from fast, comfort foods, through the finest gourmet meals.

There are various great boutique shops for men and women clothes shopping.

Located right at Cape May Point, is a World War I Cape May lighthouse … Fire Control Tower No. 23, at Cape May Point State Park.

Look at this breathtaking site. This lighthouse has withstood the test of time since 1858.

Here are both daytime and nighttime views (directly below).

A picture really does paint a thousand words. Wow.

Here are four fast fun facts about Cape May City, New Jersey:

• There's a legend that pirate Captain William Kidd left buried treasure somewhere in Cape May, New Jersey.
• Pirates traveling up the coast regularly dropped anchor on the shores of Cape May.
• The Lenni Lenape were the first to inhabit Cape May.
• Cape May was named after a Dutch captain named Cornelius Jacobsen Mey.

The Dutch used to refer to South Jersey as the "New Netherlands.

The Cape May Rockets were the city's first semi-professional sports team.

Cape May was once the second largest fishing seaport on the Eastern seaboard.

In 1964, the first ferry was implemented to connect Cape May, New Jersey to Lewes, Delaware.

It allows travelers a scenic route to head south and avoid congested U.S. Route 40 and the Delaware Memorial Bridge slog.

Here is this worthy vessel that transports both cars and people. Dining is available on this ship.

Cape May has a great promenade, which used to be a boardwalk until it was destroyed in March, 1962 by a major storm.

It is now a concrete walk path that runs parallel to Beach Avenue and is about two miles long.

There are shops and a convention center that are adjacent to the promenade.

We attended a recent concert there. It’s a fabulous venue (see directly below).

This is just our quick at a glance overview of the many great things about and things to do in Cape May City, New Jersey.

It is my hope that you enjoyed our virtual tour.

SOURCES: Hurley Family Cape May encyclopedia, CapeMayCountyNJ.gov