Cape May is an ideal home base for an adventure-filled vacation. Here are just a few of our favorite day trips from Cape May, New Jersey.
Summer will be here before we know it, and everyone is making their plans for a Jersey Shore getaway. Whether you have a week for vacation or just a day or two, the shore has something for everyone. I know I'm looking forward to it, and I'm already thinking about my home base. My favorite spot has to be Cape May, the perfect place for solo travelers, jam-packed with culture, food, and attractions. But my favorite thing about it has to be the way it makes a fantastic launch point for bigger adventures nearby. Some are within the town boundaries but feel like a world away, while others are a reasonable drive from the city—and one is even a ferry ride out of the city to a hidden gem in Delaware!
1. Cape May Whale Watcher Cruise
One of the best things you can do from a home base in Cape May is to take to the water on one of the town's cruise lines! The most famous is the Cape May Whale Watcher, which offers various cruises that hopefully allow you to see whales and dolphins off the coast. The most popular option is the sunset dolphin cruise, which takes two hours.
2. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
One of the biggest surprises when planning a trip to Cape May was that I could easily access a beach in another state: Delaware's Rehoboth Beach! Home to a small amusement park, Funland, and a great variety of restaurants and stunning beaches, it's typically much more laid-back than New Jersey's beach towns and makes a refreshing change of pace. It can be reached via a direct ferry to Lewes, Delaware, which runs daily during the summer.
3. The Pine Barrens
Possibly the most impressive natural wonder in New Jersey, the Pine Barrens are certainly the largest, a sprawling 1.1-million-acre natural preserve that spans several state parks and forests and hundreds of hiking trails and bodies of water. It's an incredible spot for hiking, fishing, and bird-watching. You probably won't see the Jersey Devil...but if you want an up-close encounter with the legendary creature, make sure to drop by Lucille's Luncheonette for breakfast.
4. Storybook Land
If you've got young kids, you won't do better than a day trip to Storybook Land, only a 40-minute drive from Cape May. This rustic, old-fashioned theme park pays tribute to the world of fairy tales and nursery rhymes, and while the rides may be small-scale and geared towards the younger set, the elaborate and highly-themed decor at this park will be impressive for all ages.
5. Cape May County Park & Zoo
My absolute favorite spot in the Cape May area, the Cape May Zoo is an impressive zoological park not only for its size but also because it's completely free. Attached to a nice county park perfect for a sunny day, it's renowned as a great place for animals and offers plenty of educational programs. Best of all, it has a Red Panda enclosure—because is any zoo complete without those little guys?
Have you taken any of these amazing day trips near Cape May, New Jersey? If not, tell your travel partner about this article and see which one fits your interests for this summer's adventures! If you're looking for a place to stay during your Cape May vacation, we highly recommend Congress Hall, a beautiful and historic hotel not far from the water.