Outside of the North Pole, there is one destination that simply lives the Christmas Spirit — and it’s in New Jersey, just a little over two hours from where you live.
Anyone who has visited the Victorian wonderland that is Cape May can understand how beautiful the historic homes embellished with intricately carved “gingerbread” and brightly colored paint become when layered with the twinkling lights of the season.
Cape May, America’s only National Historic Landmark City, embraces its title as one of the most iconic Christmas towns each year with events that allow you to celebrate the season as a romantic getaway, a fun-filled family long weekend or a deep-dive vacation for lovers of history, shopping and fine dining.
The holiday festivities occur from late November to just after New Year’s Day and are directed by the Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture), which promotes the preservation, interpretation and cultural enrichment of the Cape May region.
With so much to do, you can come back year after year and plan an itinerary that looks different than years past. City Lifestyle journeyed to New Jersey’s Winter Wonderland to give you what 36 hours in Cape May during the holidays could look like.
Want to stay in a historic inn? Take your pick! Cape May Lodging can help you find the perfect place to rest and allow sugar plums to dance in your head. Our choice: The Southern Mansion, an 1863 mansion-turned-B&B, with well-manicured grounds and filled with heirloom furnishings and artwork. Just step into the Southern Mansion during the holidays and be transported: The roaring fireplaces, the floor-to-ceiling sparkling Christmas tree and cozy seating in the expansive lobby beg you to grab a bottle of wine and tuck in for a long winter’s night after exploring the town. Not staying here but pass by with your jaw agape? The Southern Mansion also gives tours.
To start your visit, book a seat on a trolly for a Historic District tour to get your bearings and delight in the city’s collection of 19th-century seaside wood-framed buildings (note the houses you wish to come back to on foot to examine more closely!). The guide will explain the variety of styles of Victorian architecture and give the town’s history and fun facts. (Did you know Cape May is an island?) Our trolley might not have been filled with choirs of angles, but we filled the night air with carols as we wound our way through the streets. The tour ended with our guide reciting “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (aka ’Twas the Night Before Christmas) by heart.
Next, head to Washington Street Mall to browse the shops and dining options. Your travels will certainly lead you to the iconic Congress Hall, a seaside resort established in 1816 by Thomas H. Hughes, a prominent Cape May businessman. Originally called “The Big House,” the hotel was renamed in honor of Hughes’ election to Congress in 1828. Today, it welcomes travelers who tuck into tables at one of its restaurants (tip: Grab a table at the Blue Pig Tavern by the windows for great people-watching!) or relax at the spa.
If you’re looking for an adventure to get your body moving, head over to the 1859 Cape May Lighthouse and Oil House and climb the 199 steps up the original cast iron spiral stairway to the top for a breathtaking view of the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean, the surrounding nature trails of Cape May Point State Park and Cape May Point Borough.
Book your stay so you can grab a seat at Cape May Stage in the evening. Housed in a church built in 1853 in the Georgian Vernacular style by Peter Hand, a descendant of one of the city’s founding families, the equity theatre produces shows with casts of nationally recognized actors and musical performers from Broadway.
By Day Two, you’ll have the lay of the land and will be ready to take a deep dive into history – with some Christmas fairy dust, of course! The self-guided Holiday Inns tour gives you entrance to several Cape May properties decorated for the holidays with garland, bows, trees and more. Although all the properties are walking distance, a trolley shuttle makes a continuous loop to all destinations, such as The Bedford Inn (1883), where you can delight in counting the dachshunds and cats on an all-encompassing mural in the dining room. (The guides know how many but do not ask; they will not tell you!)
After, visit the jewel of Cape May: the Emlen Physick Estate. Built in 1879 for Philadelphia physician Emlen Physick, the 18-room mansion-designed by noted American architect Frank Furness-is one of the nation's best examples of Victorian Stick Style architecture. In 1970, Cape May MAC formed to save the estate from demolition. Today, its first- and second-floor rooms are restored with period-accurate furnishings, décor and housewares. Here you'll find ghost stories and tales of Christmases long ago. The estate embraces the wonder of Victorian Christmas and its ghostly reputation through house tours, including the "In the Voices from Beyond Tour," which explores the property's legends and long-told stories collected by Cape May MAC staff. Visitors will also learn about the lore surrounding Dr. Physick's dogs as part of the estate's folklore.
Book a table for discussion over what you saw at The Cricket Club, housed in the 1885 building where the city’s beloved Merion Inn operated until closing in 2022. Reopened by the owners of The Mad Batter, another Cape May institution, the Cricket Club gives a nod to history: The name is a reference to The Merion Inn’s association with The Merion Cricket Club. Watch the calendar for its live music schedule.
Finish your exploration of Cape May by stepping aboard an evening Holiday Lights Trolley ride along the lovely streets in the historic district, viewing the houses resplendent in lights.
And if you look up, you may just hear the jingle of bells of eight tiny reindeer over the shoreline.
"To start your visit, book a seat on a trolly for a Historic District tour to get your bearings and delight in the city’s collection of 19th-century seaside wood-framed buildings." - Patti Zielinski
"The estate embraces the wonder of Victorian Christmas and its ghostly reputation through house tours, including the 'In the Voices from Beyond Tour,'"- Patti Zielinski
Learn about all the holiday events and purchase tickets by visiting capemaymac.org, book a historic accommodation at capemaylodging.com and get information on restaurants, accommodations and shopping by calling the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May at 609-884-5508.