Best Things to do in Cape May, New Jersey for a Day Trip

Looking for the best things to do in Cape May, NJ? Here’s the perfect Cape May day trip

Cape May is a quaint little beach town on the southern tip of New Jersey. It’s a beautiful place to visit for a day trip or a weekend getaway in the summer! There are tons of shops, restaurants, sweet treats and more to explore in Cape May.

On a casual Monday morning my boyfriend says to me, “Hey babe, do you want to go to the beach?” I’m always down for a beach day, so of course I said yes! As we’re driving down the garden state parkway, he goes: “Do you mind if we go a little farther?” “Sure, why not?” And 3 hours later, I ended up in Cape May, NJ. The adventurer in me can’t resist exploring the unknown–well, at least unknown to me!

Our little road trip down to Cape May was new to both of us. As a jersey boy he’s always wanted to go, and I’m pretty sure I’ve heard about it in movies or books.

We arrived in town with no set plans, no itinerary, just a desire to see somewhere new. In this post I’ll show you how to have a a perfect day trip to Cape May, NJ!

things to do in cape may day trip — Cape May Clock

The first thing we did was check out the neighborhood. There are gorgeous victorian homes all around, and tons of adorable bed & breakfasts. Next time we’re out there, I’d love to stay in one of them!

Day Trip to Cape May

We headed back into town to explore some more. The main strip on Washington St. has a bunch of small shops, cafes and restaurants.

cape may new jersey — @actuallyarielletravels sitting outside Louisa’s chocolates

things to do in cape may nj — Cape May Promenade

To help plan your trip to Cape May, I put together a map of my favorite stops in Cape May. This includes shops, places to eat, beaches, and sweet treats! Make sure to save this map of Cape May, NJ before you visit!

I definitely recommend renting a car when coming down to Cape May! While the town itself is walkable, you can get around on your own timing to visit other areas like the light house and different beaches.

Things to Do in Cape May:

Shopping in Cape May

Here’s a few shops I recommend checking out:

Fralinger’s Salt Water Taffy

Such a cute old-timey candy shop. With taffy flavors like peaches & cream, piña colada, sour grape and more.

cape may nj day trip — Fralinger’s Salt Water Taffy Exterior

things to do in cape may new jersey — Fralinger’s Salt Water Taffy Exterior

Louisa’s Chocolate Bar

Can you tell we love sweets? A tiny shop selling artisan chocolates & caramels. They also have a farm-to-table restaurant next door with a menu that looks absolutely phenomenal!

cape may new jersey day trip — Louisa’s Chocolate Bar

cape may new jersey things to do — Louisa’s Chocolate Bar

Coffee Tyme

Coffee Tyme is definitely a popular coffee spot–the line was out the door when we went! I saw someone order a peanut butter mocha shake that looked awesome!

I ended up getting an iced coffee with oat milk. I love visiting coffee shops whenever visiting a new place.

coffee tyme cape may nj — Coffee Tyme coffee shop

A Place On Earth

This was a unique gift shop that sold bath products like different soaps, candles, bath bombs and more! Stop by here if you like handmade bath and body products and want to support a small family-owned business.

Cape May Peanut Butter Co.

Peanut butter lovers this one’s for you! This shop sells peanut butter in a variety of different flavors– think Honey Roast, Choc Choc, Cappuccino and limited small-batch flavors. I bought a jar of the butterscotch!

You can also order peanut butter sandwiches from here, jams, jellies and other sweet treats. They also sell other nut butters like Almond, Sunflower and Cashew butter as well.

Beef Jerky Outlet

Interestingly enough, our first shop that we stopped in was the beef jerky outlet. For whatever reason we’ve been into jerky lately! After numerous tastings, we decided on the sweet & spicy traditional flavor.

We loved it so much that we went back and got another pack, this time in the Cherry Maple variety. Highly recommend buying both at once so you can get a deal. Trust me, you’ll want more!

The man that worked there was so helpful & gave us some ideas for what to do in town. He recommended a winery that’s not too far, but we ended up saving it for next time since many of the shops close early around here. That winery is called “Willow Creek Winery & Farm”

Cape May Lighthouse

Another beautiful spot to go to is the Cape May Lighthouse. I really enjoyed this beach because there wasn’t many people & it reminded me a lot of Montauk actually.

The waves were too rough to go in the water and apparently this area is known for sharks, but it was so calming and peaceful to just sit in the sand and enjoy the views.

Cape May Beaches

Cape May Point State Park

There are tons of great beaches along Cape May! We opted for Cape May Point State Park because it was right next to the lighthouse. This state park is free for the public and perfect for strolling along the beach, birdwatching, picnics and more.

We also learned that Cape May Point State Park was once a military base. There’s an abandoned bunker from World War II called “Battery 223.”

Places to Eat in Cape May

Exit Zero

For lunch we stumbled upon this really unique restaurant called “Exit Zero” It’s an old gas station made into a restaurant with a 50s diner theme!

We sat outdoors near the gas pumps, listening to live music while little kids played corn hole behind us. The blackened salmon burgers we ordered were so good and seasoned well, served with perfectly crisp waffle fries.

What to order:

🍔 Blackened Salmon Burger (comes with waffle fries!)
🍸 Key Lime Colada

Cape May Hotels

Looking to extend your trip? Here’s a list of Cape May Hotels! When booking your hotel or bed & breakfast, I recommend booking one within walking distance of Washington St.

There is such a variety of places to stay in Cape May from Victorian homes to beach side resorts and cottages.

No matter what you choose, I recommend booking through TripAdvisor to search for hotels. It’s such a great tool to search for deals and look at reviews and you can also book directly on TripAdvisor!

Conclusion

Although we did so much in one day, there’s even more to do! Cape May is a wonderful beach destination and day trip from NYC or NJ.

Cape May is a great summer destination for families, couples and solo travelers! I definitely will be visiting Cape May again.

FAQ

Is Cape May, NJ worth visiting?

Cape May New Jersey is definitely worth a visit! Especially in the summertime, it’s a beautiful seaside town to sightsee, shop and eat!

Is Cape May a walkable town?

Yes Cape May is a walkable town for the main town area, however I recommend renting a car as an easy mode of transportation to get to the lighthouse and see other areas.

What are the best months to visit Cape May?

The best months to visit Cape May are from May to September.

Is there a boardwalk in Cape May?

There is a promenade in Cape May which was initially built as a boardwalk that dates back to the 1860s.

The first of its kind in New Jersey, this wooden structure was eventually destroyed by decades of coastal storms and a nor’easter that also damaged several town properties in 1962. Eventually, the boardwalk was replaced by a seawall, topped with a concrete walkway, known today as the Cape May Promenade.
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Is Cape May a Good Day Trip?

Cape May is an excellent day trip. There are tons of attractions, beaches, shopping, restaurants and historic landmarks to keep you busy for a fun filled day by the seaside.