Globe Corner Blogs

When you leave the city of Cape May on the southern tip of New Jersey and start north on the Garden State Highway, a large green sign greets you: “Welcome to New Jersey!” And that’s exactly how it feels. Cape May is its own entity. Rows of Victorian houses painted like Easter eggs, rambling old hotels wrapped in latticed porches that belong in New Orleans, those weird bike things that five people can pedal along on at once–everything you need for a lovely weekend away from the sweltering city. Everything including nature: I saw dolphins! Dozens of them arcing out of the ocean, blowing spray into the air, and causing general panic among the beach-goers who thought they had spotted a shark. And the birds! Cape May happens to be the home of the World Series of Birding. (Yes, there is such a thing.)

From Boston the trip is one of those Planes, Trains, and Automobiles-esque journeys that involves every kind of transport known to us North Americans too poor to fly everywhere. I played the role of John Candy, babbling and bumbling along, annoying the hell out of my travel-mate who played Steve Martin’s tight-ass, exasperated white guy to a tee.  But as soon as we pulled into the driveway–just after midnight–and listened to the ocean from the porch, martinis in hand, all was well.

The rest of the weekend was spent in a delicious blur of relaxation. What an unusual and wonderful feeling! My hosts prepared seafood fresh from the Atlantic every night. I beat all my friends at bocce in the bumpy back yard (beginner’s luck) while bunnies bravely darted across the lawn. Our last night there my boyfriend and I took a starlit stroll on the beach and climbed up the lifeguard tower. Somewhere in the west a storm threatened and lightening glowed over the horizon. We sat in the dark, lights of the city’s main strip at our backs, the ocean before us, invisible but for the white foam frothing along the shore.

Read more: Cape May, Eastern US, New Jersey, Travel, Weekend-getaway


Llalan specializes in all things Ohio, but has funny stories from all over the US and Canada, plus a few snort-inducing ones from Thailand. And not only does she read books from around the world, she also samples beers in as many languages as possible. Favorite style: the multi-national American Double IPA.

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