There's Nothing More Enchanting Than A Winter Getaway To This New Jersey Small Town
By Meghan Byers|Published January 19, 2023
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Meghan Byers
Author
A New Jersey native, Meghan is passionate about travel and enjoys finding off-the-beaten path destinations. You're most likely to find her at a coffee shop, or hitting the trails with her dogs. She graduated with a creative writing degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and has been writing professionally for over a decade.
Of all the winter getaways in New Jersey, Cape May is one of the most charming. Yes, Cape May is known as an iconic summer destination, but the truth is that this enchanting New Jersey small town makes for a wonderful getaway year-round. In the wintertime, the crowds are few, but plenty of places are still open and welcoming travelers. By visiting in the off-season, you’ll get to see a side of this beloved coastal town that most never experience.
Cape May is well-known as a summer vacation spot. Its history as a resort began all the way back in the 1700s, with visitors often traveling from Philadelphia. By the 1800s, it was attracting visitors from New York, Baltimore, and Washington as well. Today Cape May averages over 10 million visitors a year.
Perusing the shops and restaurants on the Washington Street Mall is a delight in the wintertime, especially when it's all decorated for the holidays. You'll skip the crowds but still get all the charm.
The area doesn't frequently see much snow, so it can make a nice change of pace if you're traveling from snowier climes. But significant snowfall does occasionally occur, so be prepared just in case!
Museums like the Emlen Physick Estate are open year-round, with tours offered on weekends. The Physick House Museum offers an in-depth look at Victorian architecture and the Victorian lifestyle.
Also worth a visit is the Harriet Tubman Museum, located on a block that was once home to prominent anti-slavery activists. Although the Harriet Tubman Museum is closed for the month of January, it reopens in February for both guided and self-guided tours.
No trip to Cape May is complete without a stop at the West End Garage. Here you'll find all kinds of artisan-made goods, antiques, vintage memorabilia, and more. Be sure to stop by the adjacent Beach Plum Cafe for a cup of coffee or a pastry as well (or both).
Round out your trip with an invigorating but beginner-friendly hike at South Cape May Meadows. Known as "a birder's paradise", you may glimpse all sorts of birds here along the flat and easy trails.
