Top 2020 Summer Activities In & Around Cape May, NJ
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Top 2020 Summer Activities In & Around Cape May, NJ
Last Updated June 2, 2020
As summer quickly approaches, many families are looking to book safe getaways to beach towns like Cape May. But is it safe?
Cape May residents and visitors are encouraged by the local government and CDC to get outside, social distance, and take in a deep breath of the ocean air. For the latest on the CDC’s current guidelines for visiting your favorite outdoor area, click here.
So what is there to do in Cape May? To help you, we’ve compiled some of the top 2020 summer activities in and around Cape May and we will be updating the list all summer long, so be sure to check back to stay up to date.
1. Hit the Beach
Obviously, Cape May is all about the beaches! Now that the weather is getting warmer and the beaches are open, visiting the beach it a great way to enjoy the outdoors.
Please be advised of the status of these beach activities:
Sitting and sunbathing are permitted on the beach.
Walking, jogging, and running are permitted on the beach.
Fishing is permitted on the beach.
Surfing is permitted at Poverty Beach (Wilmington Avenue), The Cove, Surfing Beach (Gurney Street), and South Queen (Queen Street).
Swimming at the beach is currently allowed at certain beaches when a lifeguard is on duty. Guarded Beaches include Poverty, Hughes, Philadelphia, Queen, Jefferson/Howard, Stockton, Steger, Windsor, Mogck (Grant Ave), 1st Ave, and The Cove. For more information, click here.
2. Play Some Tennis
The Cape May Tennis Center fully opened its doors again and is welcoming all who enjoy the game of tennis. Open from 8:00 am to dusk, the Tennis Center offers members and visitors 16 courts to play on with family or friends. To make a reservation at the Tennis Center, you can call the Clubhouse at 609-884-8986. for a reservation or come visit us to play at our beautiful 16 court facility at 1020 Washington Street in Cape May. We look forward to seeing you!"
Photo Credit: Cape May Tennis Club
3. Go for a Cape May Bike Tour
Did you know that Cape May is known to be a very bike-friendly town? It’s flat, wide streets make it ideal for leisurely riding around town, to the beach, or riding on one of the popular self-guided coastal bike tours.
Here are some of our favorite biking tours for you to download and follow:
As part of the Cape May Strong movement, Cape May MAC donated a digital copy of their bike tour booklet. You can download it for free and use it to bike around town and learn about more than 50 historic landmarks along the way. Click here to download the PDF.
Are you looking for a longer bike tour? Maybe one that visits Cape May’s historic and iconic lighthouse? This biking trail, the Cape May Shoreline Ride starts and ends at the Cape May Lighthouse and in total is 42 miles! Click here to see the map.
If you’re looking for a safe, local bike trail, then this one is for you. The Bike Cape May Map features key landmarks, safe biking streets, so you and your family can bike around and explore Cape May. Explore Cape May and explore key landmarks Click here to download the PDF.
Starting at Seashore Road (Erma, NJ) and ending at the Cape May Courthouse for a 9-mile ride, the Cold Cold Spring Bike Path is a nice tree-lined path for bikers. You’ll also pass by the Cape May Winery where you can stop by and pick up some wine between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm daily.
4. Go for a Walk or Run
If you’re looking to stretch your legs and get some fresh air, consider going for a walk or a run around town. Cape May’s streets are filled with historic landmarks, breathtaking views, and beautiful gardens. So you can really walk down any street for a beautiful sight.
But if you’re looking for something a little more structured, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite walking and running tours in Cape May.
The Cape May Promenade offers 1.3 miles of ocean-front walking and running trails. The Promenade asks that you please use a face covering, practice social distancing, and leave your pet at home.
If you’re looking for a guided walking tour, then this one is for you. Curious Cape May is offering a free, guided walking tour through your smartphone. By downloading their free app, you can take their walking tour around downtown Cape May while learning about the town’s history. Click here to download the free app.
Did you know that Cape May has a state park? The Cape May State Park offers visitors three different walking or running trails. The park asks that you practice social distancing. Click here for more info about the three trails.
Part of the 200+ protected acres of critical habitat and freshwater wetland of Cape May, the Nature Conservancy also features a two-mile walking trail, the South Cape May Meadows Walking trail. Click here for more information.
Calling all runners. The Cape May Running Company has outlined a variety of running routes in Cape May that range from four to twelve miles. Click here the running routes out.
5. Whale and Dolphin Watching
Who doesn’t love dolphins and whales? Cape May is filled with great fishing and boat charters for whale and dolphin watching.
Regarded as the original whale watching tour operation in Cape May, founded in 1987, the Cape May Whale Watch will help you explore the Cape May waters. They offer many different tours, like the two and a half-hour “Around Cape May Whale, Dolphin, & Bird Watch” cruise, the three-hour Whale, Bird, & Dolphin Watch, the Offshore Marine Life & Pelagic Bird Trip, and the Sunset Dolphin Cruise. The Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center asks that all passengers wear face coverings and sanitizer their hands before boarding the ship. To help passengers social distance, the Cape May Whale Watch has set up social distancing “pods” on board. Food services are temporarily suspended.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly dolphin watching tour to take your kids to, then the Starlight Fleet Dolphin Watch daytime cruise is for you. This cruise lasts two-hour and sails around the island of Cape May. For the adults, the Starlight Fleet is offering visitors a “Sail & Sip” Cruise, which features appetizers, tasty treats, and freshly brewed beer from Mudhen Brewery.
6. Go Shopping
“You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy local. And that’s kind of the same thing.” - Unknown
Although local retail shops in Cape May are not 100 percent open yet, many store are offering customers their services and goods through their website, self-serve, curbside pick-up, and window shopping. Once retail stores are able to fully open again, we will update you here. In the meantime, here are some of our favorite local retail stores to shop now:
7. Go Out to Eat
Restaurants in Cape May are open for outdoor dining!
Here are a few of our favorite local restaurants to eat out at while in Cape May:
For a complete list of the local eateries that are open for takeout click here.
8. Go to a Winery
There are a variety of top-rated wineries and vineyards in Cape May that offer great wine, good food, and relaxing views. Some of our favorite local wineries and vineyards include:
In addition to offering curbside and contactless wine pickup, starting June 15th some Cape May wineries and vineyards, like Willow Creek Winery, will be open for outdoor dining. We will update you here when other Cape May wineries and vineyards announce their reopening dates.