Nature lovers will find the area to be perfect year-round. Spring and fall bring thousands of migratory birds to the shores of the Cape. In the fall, Cape May is the number one spot in the country to spot migrating hawks and other raptors. Visit the beautiful botanical gardens or hunt for "Cape May Diamonds", sail the bays or experience Cape May County and each of the of the Jersey Cape’s areas offers a wide variety of activities for seashore getaway of culture and heritage, broadwalk amusements, fishing and bird watching. Also great boating, wide beaches and whale-watching cruises, exciting nightlife, many award-winning cultural attractions, plus fine restaurants and not to mention the wonderful bed and breakfast in the area and the gracious living that New Jersey Southern Shore is world-renowned for.
At the southern tip is the town of Cape May, Capital of Victorian gingerbread architecture and is a National Historic Landmark with more than 600 Victorian-era buildings. Shop along cobblestone streets; ride in horse-drawn carriages and trolleys through this quaint Victorian town that reminds the visitor of a by-gone era. The waters off Cape May are home to thousands of Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphins that come here to breed and give birth during the summer months. It also acts as a migratory funnel for millions of song, shore and sea birds, birds of prey and sea mammals each year and the site of one of the oldest functioning lighthouse. Visit the marvellous bird observatory, go on a nature trail and see the natural history museum of Cape May Court House a 300-year-old 19th century building. One of the most beautiful gardens located on the East Coast can be found at the base of Cape May Lighthouse where you take a trail through the woods and reeds, then end up on the beach, the gardens are dense with plants that attract many species of butterflies and dragonflies to the area, a very unique and wonderful place. Perhaps you’ll enjoy a harbor safari, marsh boat cruises or bike and kayaking tours.
Up the coast is Ocean City, America's family fun center and magical nights where you’ll also find every possible water sport you could think of - including surfing, parasailing, jet-skiing and boating-plus every type of fishing, from deep-sea to back-bay! Kids will love the amount of fun available, of course, you can also just sit on the sand and "soak up the rays" - it's all up to you! Ocean City offers eight miles of beautiful beaches full of rides, games, or even play golf in the great selection of world-class courses only minutes away. Other historic sites and points of interest include the Tenth Street Train Station, the Ocean City Historical Museum, the Ocean City broardwalk, the Music Pier and a seafood lovers’ heaven. Then there is Wildwood and it’s beachfront Raging Waters waterparks that just buzz with excitement, rides, games and attractions than Disneyland are ideal for the kids and provide a spectacular family recreation experience within the unique beachfront amusement piers. With its wide, white sandy beaches, similar to Florida, but without the heat, it is also ideal for in-line skating, jogging, cycling and power walking. Or try a dolphin and Fin-backed whale watching tour, these whales can grow to be approximately 80 feet long and were once called “the greyhounds of the sea” since they travel at speeds of 30 mph. There’s also a touch tank filled with marine life on board that children can experience with the guidance of a marine biologist. Take the Indian Trail, once called King Nummy Trail, after the Chief of the Kechemeches tribe. The Kechemeches hiked this trail from the Delaware Bay where they fished for clams and oysters. The Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary is a must. Check out the diamondback terrapins, a unique salt marsh turtle only found on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. There are also aquarium exhibits, lectures and films on salt marsh ecosystems, hikes around the marsh, an educational gift shop and a lookout tower atop the institute. Bridgeton offers a wealth of historic attractions that will appeal to the entire family; after soaking up the quaint downtown ambiance how about satisfying your palate at one of the fine seafood restaurants and enjoy the town’s special events and recreation facilities with over 30 miles of wide sandy beaches, or simply opt for Sea Isle City and Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church which was built in 1884 and the pretty seashore resort of Avalon where the former Avalon Lifesaving Station was built in 1894. Experience the stylish and comfortable Victorian bed and breakfasts by the sea in New Jersey Southern Shore, a region that will beckon you back again and again!
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