A getaway to Cape May

To those who reside in the US, summertime is synonymous to beach vacation, and a beach getaway is something Americans look forward to every summer. This year, we explored the historic Cape May, New Jersey, which has some of the most beautiful beaches in the country.

Cape May's beaches are consistently ranked as some of the best in America, and even the world. They are not only family-friendly, but also clean, quiet, safe, and have easy access to restrooms and restaurants. But visitors have to buy beach tags to lounge on the soft, white sand. I understood that the revenue from the beach tag sales goes toward safeguarding, maintaining, and improving these beautiful beaches.

Photo: Wara Karim

Cape May, which is a peninsula, is the southernmost point of New Jersey, a Mid-Atlantic US state. Besides its beaches, the place is also known as a birder's paradise. Forests, wetlands, and marshes make it a top destination for migratory hawks, songbirds, and seabirds.

We set up our beach tent on the white velvety sand of the Cape May Point State Park beach. We took a kite with us to fly, but it did not take us long to find out that we were terrible kite runners! As my daughter played in the sand and tried to build a sand castle, I laid in our tent, relishing the smell of salty water, the sounds of waves crashing onto the beach, and the Atlantic wind caressing my face. We screamed with joy when we spotted a pod of dolphins; it was a sweet surprise.

The place is also famous for one more thing — its lighthouse. Located at the Cape May Point State Park, the lighthouse was built in 1859, and is functional to this day. By purchasing a ticket for $10, you can climb the 199 steps of its cast iron spiral staircase to reach the top. We did the same, and enjoyed a breath-taking panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding areas. It was very windy up in the watch gallery, but after climbing 199 steps in the August heat, this wind was exactly what we needed to soothe our sweaty selves.

Photo: Wara Karim

We had a hearty lunch at a harbourfront seafood restaurant called The Lobster House, located on Fisherman's Wharf, over charbroiled salmon, grilled vegetables, mashed potato, and large shrimps stuffed with crab meat. 

People who visit Cape May should not miss watching the spectacular sunset from the aptly named Sunset Beach. Although we missed it this time, we look forward to going back to watch the sun drop into the blue-green water of the "Sea of Atlas!"