Simple Yet Awesome Off-Season Things To Do in Cape May

Cape May is a not-so-hidden South Jersey gem, famously located at Exit 0 off the Garden State Parkway. While its shore neighbors get a reputation for either being obnoxious or too family-friendly for someone without kids, Cape May ends up being the perfect happy medium. While there isn’t an overabundance of things to do in Cape May off-season, it’s still an awesome place to visit after the summer crowds leave.

Resort towns can be tricky off-season, you either end up in a ghost town or find yourself in a less crowded paradise. I heard many good things about visiting Cape May off-season and I’m here to tell you that those things are not wrong. My simple weekend getaway itinerary will give you enough to do during your little escape and let you relax a little too. I personally visited in mid-October and although a lot of places were winding down for the winter, it didn’t limit my plans too much.

In this guide, you will find some visiting logistics, along with a full two-day plan for your visit.

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Table of Contents show

Quick Cape May Logistics

Transportation

Getting there couldn’t be any easier, just go all the way down the parkway 🙂 No seriously, when you get to Exit 0 you’ve arrived. If you’re coming from the north I actually found a bus route from NYC, first bus 319 to Atlantic City and then 522 to Cape May but with over 4 hours of travel time, I don’t know if that’s a smart choice worth the hassle. If you’re coming from the south you can take the Cape May ferry which goes between Cape May and Delaware. It transports cars too!

The main part of town isn’t that big so if you stay in the heart of Cape May, then everything will be within walking distance. There are a couple of attractions a short drive away too, so just like in most of New Jersey, you’ll need a car.

In-season, you will find a free town shuttle called the Cape May Jitney. It runs between July and the end of September. If you have a special occasion, you can also rent these all to yourself! They run within a certain radius too which won’t restrict you to only staying in Cape May.

How long and where to stay in Cape May

Since there isn’t an overabundance of things to do in Cape May off-season, I would spend 2-3 days there. A weekend is sufficient enough to see the attractions and not feel too bored. I also recommend visiting during the weekend only as many of the attractions close on weekdays during the off-season. In season, however, you can easily spend a week there.

In terms of where to stay, I would simply recommend staying as close to the main part of town as possible. This will allow you to walk everywhere during your weekend escape and not waste time looking for parking. The best thing about traveling off-season is getting amazing hotel rates that in the summer are 3-4x the amount. I was honestly surprised by how expensive hotels in Cape May are during peak months. A simple night at a decent place can start at $300+ for a night during the summer months. Note that a ton of B&Bs has a 2-3 night minimum too. That’s pretty pricey if you ask me.

While price is one thing to consider, another is availability. I booked my off-season trip almost two months out with very limited options. I don’t know if that’s the corona effect, but I strongly recommend booking ahead of time. My choices were limited to a $600 a night hotel and a small family-owned more budget yet still pricey, The Buckingham Motel. I can’t say that there was anything wrong with it, the owner was really nice and the property and rooms were very clean. However, the place is very outdated so if you like a more modern feel with good TVs and nice bathrooms, and updated kitchens (yes some rooms have kitchens), then this isn’t the place for you.

When I mention good rates below, note that this is a pricey town. Good means under ~$300 a night 🙂

IMG 9125 New Jersey — If you’re planning to come back to Cape May over and over, I would highly recommend purchasing this guide.

Options:

Rentals:

Airbnb: If you’re booking far out in advance and traveling with friends, this is a great option for this area. It will save you money, and give everyone space and flexibility.
Cape May Rentals: Like a lot of shore towns, finding houses can be done through local rental agencies rather than Airbnb. The selection will be much larger but a lot of the places are rented out by the week.

Hotels:

Lokal is beautiful and extremely modern with two nights in-season priced at over 1k and off-season a little more than half of that. Its style and atmosphere are really nice.
Congress Hall’s style is just the opposite of the above, screaming class and old money. The prices are similar too. It’s located right in the center of town too but also close to the beach.
Icona, Montreal Beach Resorts, and La Mer are a little under a mile walk to the town but located beachfront. Off-season rates aren’t bad and the proximity to the beach is awesome.
The Grand Hotel is both, close to town and the beachfront. Off-season rates are pretty good for the area.
The Beach Shack is super cute and located close to the beach. It’s booked out months in advance and its off-season rates are great!

Bed & Breakfast

Cape May is extremely charming so staying in an old Victorian B&B is an experience within itself.

The Southern Mansion is pricey but it certainly doesn’t lack any charm.
The Virginia Hotel is a classic in the area and it is an adults-only resort for those not wanting children around.
Rhythm of the Sea has a 2-night minimum and it’s located right next to the beach.
Wilbraham Mansion is an old luxury house with a heated pool and jacuzzi suites. Has a great location too.
The Harrison’s style is awesome, contemporary old money? Is that a thing? Also a great location with pretty ok off-season rates.

beach shack New Jersey — Photo by Beach Shack

the harrison New Jersey — Photo by Beach Shack

Budgeting in Cape May

As mentioned above, traveling to Cape May is not a cheap weekend escape. Although traveling off-season will save you a good amount on your accommodations, it’s still a pricey town. Here is a very basic breakdown of prices. Expect to spend an average nightly rate of $200-$300 a night for off-season and $300+ in-season for accommodations. Restaurants are similar to city prices, $12ish a cocktail, $20+ for meals. Depending on the activity, that could cost you too. Expect to pay around $600 at the very very minimum for an off-season weekend getaway.

Food options

One of my favorite things to do in Cape May was to eat. Honestly, this place has some awesome food spots. Rather than making one list, I will give you my recommendations scattered in the guide below.

Miscellaneous things to know about Cape May

If staying in town is not very important to you, you will find better rates in the neighboring towns. Although Wildwood wouldn’t be my first choice, hotels there are slightly cheaper.
Atlantic City is a little under an hour north of Cape May which could be a good stop on your way home.
When traveling off-season, always check if a place is closed for the season. Although the town stays open for the most part, some places do indeed close.

Perfect Cape May Weekend Itinerary

Day 0

Evening Arrival: Drinks and Dinner

I personally like to arrive Friday evenings and stay until Sunday night compared to arriving Saturday mornings and leaving Monday mornings. That is the plan I will lead with and try to convince you that it’s the best way to travel.

After checking into the hotel and freshening up, head out to town and don’t waste any more time. Arriving later in the day does limit you in terms of which places you can go out to eat since Cape May is somewhat of an “early town.” Here are a couple of good options for your first night dinner and drinks:

Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grill: If you’re near the beach, this is a solid pick for dinner and drinks. It’s pretty casual, the food is great and it’s open till 10 pm or so. When traveling off-season, the rooftop part might be closed later in the day and weekend hours end an hour earlier during certain months.
Fins: Located right in heart of town, this awesome place has a cool vibe with an aquarium inside. It’s casual yet shore trendy. Hours vary by the day but dinner is served until 10 pm.
The Boiler Room is an underground pizza bar that is only open on the weekends. It’s open late and has an awesome ambiance. This should be on your best things to do in Cape May list! It’s located in the basement of Congress Hall. Follow the signs to the bathroom and it will be located right next to it.

Day 1

Normally in most of my guides, I say wake up early and start your day to see the most of each place. This time I’ll tell you that if you’re traveling off-season, don’t feel guilty about sleeping in till 10 am or so. At the end of the day, with the limited about of things you can do in Cape May off-season, it’s important to schedule some beauty sleep in too 🙂

We brunch in Cape May

Brunch is the most important meal of any traveling day. When doing my research, every single blog mentioned MadBatter as the place to eat the “best lunch you ever had.” Whenever I see this amount of recommendations for a place, I get suspicious. Listen maybe it is that good, but it usually ends up being crowded, overpriced, and rushed due to its popularity. You can’t make a reservation there either. Arriving around noon on a Saturday and off-season, the line was still enormous and the wait was under 2 hours. I couldn’t do it.

I ended up opting out for another popular pick The Blue Pig Tavern located at Congress Hall. Although you can make a reservation (which I highly recommend), I walked in and was seated in under 10 minutes. They have an awesome inside room and a pretty garden seating area too and either way they’re both nice. Let me tell you, this place DID NOT disappoint. The food was delicious probably for the reason that their ingredients come from the local Beach Plum Farm. Another popular area pick, their food was delicious and I highly recommend it.

Some other brunch spots for your consideration:

Elaine’s is a hotel, boutique, and restaurant. They have a nice outdoor space and good ratings for lunch.
Uncle Bill’s Pancake House is one of those shore chains everyone raves about. Passing by around lunch, you’ll also see a big line of hungry pancake lovers.
George’s Place is a fancy Greek diner that’s a BYOB and cash only. Make a reservation and enjoy this unique spot.

Shopping time!

Explore Washington Street Mall

Washington Street Mall is a charming area in the heart of Cape May that has tons of shops, cafes, and restaurants. It can get crowded during the day but it’s still a really cute place that has that downtown feel. It’s not that big but don’t forget to explore the side streets which have some hidden gems too.

In terms of shopping, you won’t find chains here but rather a collection of all locally owned shops. You can buy a variety of items ranging from souvenirs, trinkets, jewelry, and clothes to snacks. If you’re more of a people watcher, grab some sweets at Crepe May or Uncle Charley’s Ice Cream or coffee at Coffee Tyme and enjoy the area. If you prefer an afternoon drink while people watch check out The Ugly Mug or Delaney’s Irish Pub. Depending on how much you browse, you can easily spend an hour or two in this area. Here is a website with a list of all the available shops.

More Shopping at West End Garage

After spending some time at the Washington Street Mall, you’ll notice that despite the large selection of products, you don’t see many artisanal or handmade items there. This is why you’ll head to West End Garge which is a large shopping space located about a 10-minute walk from downtown. This whole place is filled with a large selection of local artists’ crafts. It even has a small bakery and cafe on site. As you browse throughout the whole space you’ll notice that each of the small shops doesn’t have cashiers in them. You will actually pay for anything you find there in the first room you enter so don’t get confused 🙂

See Cape May’s Beach & Lighthouse

IMG 9222 New Jersey — Can you spot the SS Atlantus shipwreck from Sunset Beach?

If you’re traveling here off-season, you’ll, unfortunately, miss one of the best things to do in Cape May which is the beach. However, just because you can’t swim, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see its beauty.

Here are a couple of stops for your afternoon in Cape May. Note that the easiest way to see all these spots is to drive between them. They’re about 10 minutes from each other and are all easily seen in one afternoon.

A cool spot to watch some talented surfers (even off-season) is near Sunset Pavillion. There is a ton of them and they’re insanely talented.
Cape May Lighthouse is a local landmark that’s one of those “top things to do in Cape May” things. You’ll need to purchase a $12 ticket online and entry is until 5 pm.
Sunset Beach is located right by the lighthouse and as its name suggests is the place to see the sunset.
If you like the sights of boats against a sunset sky, visit Schellenger’s Landing which houses a couple of south jersey marinas and waterfront restaurants.

Dinner Time

There are many cool places in town to grab dinner. For my pick, I went to a decently rated Italian place in town. I’m obsessed with good pasta so I was looking forward to this. Ugh, as much as I loved talking to the owners and the ambiance of the restaurant, the food was not great at all so I won’t recommend it. So instead, here are other picks that were recommended to me:

410 Bank Street: A New Orleans-inspired stylish restaurant with award-winning dishes.
Sapore Italiano: An Italian gem in town that won’t disappoint.
Elaine’s which is mentioned earlier in the post for brunch has some cool outdoor dining vibes at night.
Lucky Bones is a very popular casual pick in town located a short drive away.

For more picks check out this list of restaurants open year-round!

Bonus – Night Cap time!

If you’re not ready for your day to be over, head out for a drink. These restaurants are open a little later for a nice after-hours cocktail: Ugly Mug, Delaney’s Irish Bar & Restaurant, and Fin’s Bar & Grill.

Day 2

Morning

Get ready for another day of Cape May Attractions. For the start of your day, I recommend grabbing a coffee and something sweet at Madison Bakery on Beach Avenue. I’d pick that location as the in-town one does not have the greatest reviews. At the beach one, however, I had one of the best chocolate croissants around.

The next activity for a nice Sunday morning is renting a bike and exploring the town a little more. Shield’s is a bike rental place right next to the bakery and they offer pretty decent rates for the area. I recommend biking the promenade on which you can bike off-season after 10 am.

Afternoon

For lunch head over to Exit 0 Filling Station, a really cool restaurant that’s a gas station. Since I visited in the early off-season, I was able to get a table outside. If it’s too cold, however, the inside is just as awesome and I suggest this place for a unique dining experience! The menu is unique too, it’s a combination of burgers and curries. Weird yet tasty.

Wineries

One of the more awesome things to do in Cape May in the fall is to visit one of the beautiful wineries. I was really excited to see Willow Creek Winery in the West Cape due to its great reputation and stunning grounds. I didn’t check their website though and when I arrived they closed for a private event. So always check 🙂 I did get to see the grounds a little and they really were stunning. On Fridays and Saturdays, they set up firepits in the evening too!

Another popular winery in the area is Cape May Winery. That’s where I ended up since the above was closed. I do have to say that their way of seating is a little rare, you have to wait to be hostess seated but then you also have to order your food at one window and your wine at another. Can’t say that I loved that setup but the wine was worth the hassle. Prices started in the upper $20s. They have live music on the weekends and a cute little shop on site too.

If wine isn’t your thing, Cape May Brewery offers a nice selection of beers and seltzers. They have a tasting room and beer garden on a first come first serve basis. They’re also open all year round so you don’t need to worry about being there off-season.

IMG 9218 New Jersey — The first four photos are at the Cape May Winery, last two show the beautiful grounds of Willow Creek

IMG 9214 New Jersey — The first four photos are at the Cape May Winery, last two show the beautiful grounds of Willow Creek

Sunday Evening

Rather than heading home, enjoy the last hours of your weekend getaway and stay in town just a little longer. Ignore the Sunday scaries with Mad Batter’s open mic night on Sunday evenings or take a nice stroll on Washington Street when it’s all nice and quiet.

If you’re driving north, another option that’s a little more involved and extra is making a short stop in Atlantic City. It’s about an hour north of Cape May and if you head out in the afternoon, you can squeeze in a couple of hours there too. Casinos don’t close so if you have time, it’s a cool stop to enjoy the gambling paradise of New Jersey.

Map

Bonus Tips for your Cape May Adventure

Winter-Specific Events for Things to do in Cape May

Christmas time is magical even down the shore. Cape May becomes alive closer to the holidays and for a good reason. People flock to Washington Street Mall for Christmas shopping while enjoying the decorations in the mall. The Victorian houses also get decorated nicely for this season. Here are some Cape May winter events for you:

Cape May Christmas Parade: This year it will be on December 4, 2021. The owner of the motel I stayed at highly recommended it for a cute winter activity.
The tree lighting ceremony at Physick Estate is on November 20th.
Congress Hall hosts a Winter Wonderland on its grounds starting December 1.

More Activities

If there is something on my list that you didn’t like, feel free to swap it with the additional off-season Cape May things to do below:

Emlen Physick Estate: If you’re a history nerd, you can visit this old mansion museum for a tour. Closer to Christmas, they decorate the estate to authentically represent a Victorian Christmas. Tickets are $20 for an adult.
Whale and dolphin-watching cruises are very popular down in Cape May. Off-season rates might be a bit better but the air much cooler 🙂 Here are a couple of companies that run these tours.
If theater is on your travel must-do list, check out East Lynne Theater Co which hosts a variety of shows even in the off-season.

Final Thoughts

I hope that the itinerary above gave you a nice plan for some awesome Cape May activities. Although traveling off-season does have its cons, it’s also a unique experience allowing you to see this place without the people and annoyances that come with the in-season crowds. Yes, maybe you will miss the beautiful beaches in the summer, but who says you can’t come back in the summer as well 🙂

Cape May is a gorgeous historic Jersey shore destination. I hope you add this place to your local bucket list and enjoy it as much as I did. Finally, as always, if you have any suggestions any other useful info that you think should be added to my off-season Cape May list, leave them down in the comments!

More Off-Season Guides

I love local off-season weekend travels! Make sure to check out my Newport and Montauk guides for honest opinions on whether off-season travels there are worth it!

And below are some additional local guides too!

5 Comments

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oneearth says:

December 19, 2022 at 12:33 am

Amazing places!. I am desperate to go such an wonderful places. Thanks for sharing

Mari says:

February 26, 2023 at 11:26 am

Thanks for the suggestions! Planning to go in March!

1. Kasia says:
  
  February 26, 2023 at 12:34 pm
  
  Enjoy your time!!