Globe Corner Blogs

Walking amongst the inns, hotels, and bed-and-breakfasts that line several streets in Cape May, New Jersey is like walking through Candy Land. The giant old mansions ramble around the blocks with their wrap-around, plant covered porches, intricate lattice-work, and what one can only describe as outrageous paint jobs. I saw yellow and orange, orange and blue, blue and pink, and pink and pink. The bright colors towered above us on gables and turrets and shown through the trees that lined the narrow streets.

Originally a whaling town, Cape May started to become a resort town in the 1850s. The Moon Handbook to New Jersey says that such “luminaries” as Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Harrison, and Franklin Pierce visited the vacation spot. And now it’s one of my favorite spots. I’m guessing none of them got as sunburned as I did…or even body surfed the icy waves. But I do wonder how Abe would fare against me in a game of bocce. Beating people in the game is one of my favorite new Cape May traditions.

More of my favorite new Cape May traditions include eating loads and loads of fresh seafood. My hosts being the wonderful chefs and accommodating people that they are, we did just that. There’s nothing like an inch-thick slab of cod straight from the water to the grill to your mouth. Another tradition is, as mentioned before, staying on the beach long enough to get grilled yourself. Though select embarrassing splotches of my body turned an angry red, it was worth it to frolic in the chilly waves that no other grown-ups were stupid enough get near.

My last favorite new tradition is walking along the beach at night. Last year we did it though it was chilly and overcast. This year it was warm and the moon shone across the water like it does in brochures for romantic tours on tropical islands. We waded in the water, jeans rolled up to our thighs, and watched the horizon tugged closer to us by the moon. The waves were high and powerful and loud and our pants got wet anyway. Even far up the beach the suction of the waves heading back out to sea was enough to knock us off balance. So we stood there as long as we could, just watching the tide come in. I can’t wait to go back.

Read more: Art & Architecture, Cape May, Eastern US, New Jersey, Tradition, Travel


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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