In most cases, a jewelry store is just that—a jewelry store (not that we’re knocking them!). But in the case of Payton Jewelry, in the heart of Cape May, it’s a little bit of a destination unto itself. Founded by Kristi Payton, Payton Jewelry has grown from humble beginnings—think crafting […]
At the north end of the county, Jakes Landing Road, part of the Dennis Creek Wildlife Management Area, meets Route 47 just south of the turning to Woodbine (Washington Avenue). About a mile and a half long, this road has been famous among birders, fishermen, and hunters for decades. A […]
The charming Chalfonte Hotel dates back to 1876, when Colonel Henry Sawyer, a war hero who escaped imprisonment and execution, paired his vigor and passion with a second chance at life and new beginnings to build what is recognized today as the oldest hotel in Cape May. The word “old” […]
File this one under, “That’s incredible!” From the street, Northlandz in Flemington looks like a big, nondescript banquet hall. Inside, it’s no less than the culmination of one man’s unlikely dream: to construct the world’s largest model train exhibit. According to Northlandz lore, starting in the early 1990s, computer entrepreneur […]
The Inn at the Park is more than a charming retreat in a picturesque setting. It’s also a glimpse of a bygone era, beyond the Victorian caricature of ladies in bustles and gentlemen in frock coats. The property was built in 1893 for sea captain Henry Walker Hand, of the […]
Washington Street Mall has long been home to some of the most eclectic, swoon-worthy boutiques in the area. From specialty stores like The Cheese Shop and Bath Time to beloved gift shops and whimsical candy stores, to jewelry, to shoes, to clothing, Washington Street Mall is a dream shopping destination […]
For an easy-breezy resort stay, it’s hard to beat the Sandpiper Beach Club, at Beach Avenue and Grant Street in Cape May. The condominium hotel is home to 51 individually owned residences that double as hotel suites. As a result, guests can expect all the comforts of home—not just beautifully […]
In summer and fall it’s not uncommon to come to work and find a large mesh cage set up in the middle of the building, with one or more specimens of some special creature crawling around inside. Most of the time these are moths, and sometimes they’re something entirely different, […]
For more than a century, members of the Reed family worked a modest farm in rural Atlantic County. In the mid-2010s, the last generation of farmers passed on, and the next generation declined to follow in their footsteps. The 80-acre tract in Egg Harbor Township might have been sold for […]
The movement of sand down the shoreline, known as longshore drift, creates an ever-changing landscape at Stone Harbor Point and the North Wildwood inlet. Every year both these places get closer; perhaps they will meet one day! While the steady southward movement of sand is obvious, one big storm could […]
Correspondence via postcards sent to Sandy and Orville Miller from different members of their family, including her brother Bob and sister-in-law Marta, were kept safe by Sandy in her comprehensive collection of historic Cape May postcards. Coincidentally, the first three cards came annually in the month of August, all featured […]
In a small community, it’s not unusual to see family-run businesses. After all, it’s how communities were built, long before big box stores entered our collective consciousness. From pet stores and restaurants to gift shops and ice cream parlors, Cape May Magazine is no stranger to featuring locally owned, often […]
It took a little arm-twisting to get Philadelphian Dave Ripoli to Cape May. But once he came, he never wanted to leave. Many times over the years a childhood friend urged Ripoli to visit the island, saying, “’Cape May, Cape May, Cape May, it’s the best.’ But I didn’t go.” […]
Exploring Cape May’s open seas is always an exquisite sight, from broad daylight to sunset to midnight, as illustrated on the following cards. Many floating vessels have cruised across Cape May’s waters, by methods like luxurious yachting, a humble pleasure boat hobby, shipping, fishing, and more. Regardless of the objective, […]
Historic Smithville, in this case, refers not to the quaint shopping village in Atlantic County, but a bygone industrial town in Burlington County, named for New England business magnate and inventor Hezekiah Bradley “H.B.” Smith. In the post-Civil War era, Hezekiah bought the former textile town of Shreveville, New Jersey, […]
When most people go to buy a home, they look for a general area, a nice house, often somewhat near work, and where amenities are good for their life. For me, it is a Google Earth pick. Where is the best place for birds and migration? Then I look for […]
With demand high and supply low, our family decided to throw our hat into the rental ring and invest in a camper that we would live in from June through August. We had a site in West Cape May where we could put it, only a few blocks from our […]
When wild animals are hurt or orphaned, they have little hope of survival without a bit of help from their (human) friends. For many years, New Jersey wild things had a true friend in school teacher Betty Woodford, whose influence lives on at the sanctuary that bears her name. In […]
Most of Cape May County is bordered by marshes both on the bay and the ocean. They are such beautiful places. Really high tides just before sunset on the coastal marshes is one of my favorite experiences in the area. The sun reflecting off glass-like water and dark green marshes […]
I don’t even know how to write about this place. This little-known jawn is so local, I don’t even know how to tell you where to go. I mean, if you look on a map, it’s the green spot bordered by Fulling Mill Road to the north, the Villas to […]
If you’re not one of the 45 million Americans estimated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to be active birders, you may not realize how much avian activity there is in Cape May County. In fact, birding has increased nationwide, spurred on by an uptick in outdoor activities during […]
Victorian beach garb is a historic element that can easily date a photograph like the ones presented on these postcards. The distinctive summertime attire from the early 1900s prioritized preserving modesty, contrasting with today’s less conservative standards. What were the ladies to do at the beach if they were not […]
Spanning a full block overlooking the ocean, the Marquis de Lafayette Hotel has matchless views of sand, surf, and much of the city. From the uppermost level, visitors have a bird’s-eye view of the beach, the water, and a horizon that seems to stretch on forever. In the other direction, […]
“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” That sentiment, from science writer Loren Eisley, is emblazoned on a wall inside the Adventure Aquarium on the Camden waterfront. And the proof of it is all around. With 15,000 amazing inhabitants—from tiny tree frogs to hippos as […]