Cape May is a small coastal town at the southern tip of New Jersey, historically known as America's first seaside resort. It became a summer destination for Philadelphians in the mid-1700s, and after Congress Hall opened in 1816, the town rapidly grew into a major resort. Today, the city is known not only for its beaches but for its historic homes and elegant old hotels. "It's a great place to live if you love the beach and you love history," says Emily Marchese, owner of Marchese Real Estate. "When it's not tourist season, it can feel a little out of the way, but for a lot of people, that's the point."
Victorian homes and modern beach houses
The city is known for its historic architecture. In 1878 a fire burned down much of the town, and the rebuilding that followed left Cape May with hundreds of Victorian-era homes. the entire city is a National Historic Landmark noted for one of the largest existing collections of late 19th-century architecture in the country. While Victorian houses make up a sizable chunk of the local housing inventory, a variety of home styles can be found around town, including midcentury ranch-style homes, coastal condos, and towering beach houses. Condos in the city generally sell for $500,000 to $1 million, while more modes of 20th-century properties usually go for $750,000 to $1.3 million. Historic Victorian homes and modern beach houses can sell for anywhere from $1.5 million to $5 million.
Cape May's pristine beaches
Cape May maintains over two miles of Atlantic Ocean beachfront, which are staffed with lifeguards throughout the summer. These guarded beaches lie behind a paved promenade that runs nearly the full length of the town and is popular with walkers and runners. Cape May Wetlands State Natural Area borders the town to the west, separating it from nearby Cape May Point. The Natural area is home to miles of trails and is a popular birdwatching spot during migration seasons. There are also a number of inland green spaces in town, like Kiwanis Community Park, which features a pond, playground and basketball courts.
The bustling Washington Street pedestrian mall
Downtown Cape May is centered around Congress Street, Jackson Street and the pedestrian Washington Street Mall and serves as the local retail and restaurant hub. It's also home to the local ACME Markets, Cape May's only supermarket. The Washington Street pedestrian mall hosts dozens of quaint local shops, selling everything from books to cheese to clothing. Both the mall and the streets surrounding it are home to a variety of cafes, restaurants and bars, many of which have been part of the fabric of the community for decades. Nearby Beach Avenue is lined with hotels and restaurants, offering patrons an unobstructed view of the Pacific.
Cape May Schools
The city is served by the Cape May City School District for elementary and Lower Cape May Regional School District for middle and high school. Cape May City Elementary has a B grade on Niche, while Richard M. Teitelman Middle School has a C-plus. Lower Cape May Regional High School has a B and offers dual credit courses through nearby Atlantic Cape Community College.
The Exit Zero Jazz Fest and other events
Every year, the city holds a beachfront Fourth of July fireworks display launched from a barge off Congress Hall, and an Independence Day parade marches down Beach Avenue. The Exit Zero Jazz Festival is held twice a year in spring and fall and brings national and international jazz performers to stages at Convention Hall and seaside bars. Autumn in Cape May features Victorian Weekend, an annual October festival that includes house tours, costumed events and vintage baseball games. In winter, the city hosts the West Cape May Christmas Parade.
Getting in and out of town
While most residents rely on cars to get around, Cape May is compact enough that many residents prefer to rely on bikes or their own two feet during the warmer part of the year. The city runs a free shuttle service from Memorial Day through Labor Day, connecting to many of the more heavily touristed parts of town. The city is at the end of a peninsula, so getting out of town generally means heading north, either along the Garden State Parkway toll road or State route 9. The one alternative to this is the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, which takes about 85 minutes to cross the Delaware Bay and runs from April through October. It's about 45 miles from the city to Atlantic City International Airport and 90 miles to Philadelphia.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
