Usually I spend New Years Eve relaxing at home and going to bed early. This year, Stacy and I spent NYE in Cape May! Neither of us have been here before, and it was a wonderful experience! We arrived in the afternoon of New Years Eve and checked into the Marquide De Lafayette. The hotel was quaint and clean. The room was small, but sufficient. The furniture was wicker, and there was a balcony that faced the beach. The view of the beach was very nice! It was relaxing to sit on the balcony and just listen to the waves. Even though this was the main street, there was not a lot of traffic or noise.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
We arrived around 3:00 and were able to check-in fast. After getting settled in our room, we walked to Washington Mall, which was about 3 blocks. This hotel was perfectly placed, as almost everything we wanted to do was within walking distance. There are many little stores and shops in the mall. We went to the Information Center (which is at the opposite end from Congress Hall,) and got out tickets for the Holiday Lights Trolley Tour and the Victorian House Trolley Tour. We’ve done trolley tours in Boston and Nashville, and found them to be a wonderful way to see the sights and get information about the history of the area. After some shopping, we went to Mass in the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea. After Mass, we had time to grab a warm drink, then just on the trolley for the Holiday Lights Tour. When we returned, we did a little more shopping, then headed back to the hotel to get washed up and ready for dinner at the Mad Batter. The Mad Batter was a very nice restaurant. Personally, I am not a “foodie,” and I would have liked to see some more simple beef or chicken options on the menu, rather than the fancy seafood dishes. However, our waitress was very nice (and patient!) She was very kind to explain everything on the menu to us. Following dinner, we moved to the bar area, where there was live music and a small crowd ready to watch the ball drop on tv. We left about 12:30 to walk back to the hotel. On the way, we passed a few small crowds of other party-goers. If you want to be someplace for New Years Eve, but not in a large party center, Cape May is a very nice location!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
On New Years Day, we did a little more shopping at the Washington Street Mall, then got on the trolley for the Victorian Tour. This tour lasted 45 minutes and took us all over town. The guide pointed out all the different architectural designs and why they are the way they are. He would also answer our general questions about life in the Cape May area. After the tour, we walked around Congress Hall for a few more pictures, then back to the hotel to pick up the car and drive out to Sunset Beach in Cape May Point. The winds and waves were much rougher in this area, but the view was amazing! A little shopping here, then off to get a picture of the Cape May Lighthouse. To finish our trip, we stopped at the Cape May Winery to try a few wines and enjoy lunch. We had Nashville Hot Chicken sliders, to reminisce about our Nashville vacation!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Cape May is obviously very different during this time of year than it is in the summer. We found it to be a charming, relaxing town, and it is on our list for a return trip as well!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n