Top Accommodations in Cape May, New Jersey

Cape May, New Jersey boasts its beautiful Victorian past, and if you are looking to stay in the city I guarantee that any of the Bed & Breakfasts, historic hotels, campgrounds or homes-for-rent will suit any varying taste in accommodation. The following is a list of some of the greatest - some lavish and some simple - places to stay while in the heart of the magnificent Cape May.

Although the Great Fire of Cape May, around the turn of the twentieth century, devastated much of the city, some of the grandest buildings are still standing. Among them, the Southern Mansion is perhaps the greatest of them all. Built around 1860, the Southern Mansion is truly an estate right out of a plantation. Featuring authentic and traditional southern architecture, the Mansion houses the most lavish and extravagant rooms available in Cape May, as well as being centered in the historic district and within walking distance of many beaches and shops. http://southernmansion.com/

Also among the highest-class Bed & Breakfasts is the Mason Cottage. The Cottage is also located in the middle of the historic district and boasts itself as being one of the most traditional all-inclusive Bed & Breakfasts in Cape May. Idyllic with wrap-around porch and veranda, the Mason Cottage serves a full English-style breakfast each morning and is located close to beaches, shops and restaurants. http://www.themasoncottage.com/

Another Bed & Breakfast of great renown is the Abbey. The well-known tagline of this Gothic B&B is that "Our furniture is formal but our attitude is unpretentious." Essentially, the Abbey has long stood as a beacon of the past in the center of the city. Able to be seen from a decent distance away, the tower of the Abbey serves as a landmark amidst the Victorian pinnacles of the district. Once again, this quaint and antique structure is only minutes from the beach and restaurants. http://www.abbeybedandbreakfast.com/

Now, while there are hundreds of B&Bs all over Cape May, there are several large hotels featuring both Victorian and Modern tastes to suit any visitor. The Hotel Macomber is a traditional but massive hotel right on the beach front sector of the city. Just across the street from the high promenade and boardwalk, as well as the Cape May Convention Center and main avenue shops, the Hotel Macomber has offered a fantastic atmosphere to any who choose to stay within its shingled walls. Featuring a large solarium and living-room on the first floor, the hotel seems more like a vintage lounge than a hotel, but the spacious rooms and baths upstairs disprove such notions. Rates at the Macomber are usually slightly lower than other hotels in the area, allowing for summer savings even in peak season renting. http://www.hotelmacomber.com/

However, if ever you are seeking the very finest in Cape May accommodation, look no further than Congress Hall. Around since 1816, Congress Hall has stood as one of the most elegant and accomplished buildings in the whole of New Jersey. Offering perhaps the greatest views of the beach and the sophistication of a bygone era, Congress Hall holds within its walls a large selection of high-class restaurants and shops. Just across the street from the beach itself, this hotel is located in such a way as to offer fantastic transit to both the beach, the nearby Washington Street Mall and many other local fares. http://www.congresshallhotel.com/

So, if you are interested in lavish and Victorian flavors, you have the above to choose from. However, your wallet does not need to be sucked dry to enjoy Cape May. One of the greatest ways to enjoy the beach, business and locale is to rent one of the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of houses privately owned and open to seasonal renters.

Before my family purchased a house of its own in Cape May, we rented several different houses and were given the opportunity to try out many of the differing and unique styles of architecture, comfort and accommodation offered throughout the city. This is, in my opinion, the best way to enjoy Cape May. In a city where so many styles and tastes converge, it does not do justice to the place to choose only one location to stay. My family has decided to rent out our own home, to offer to visitors the same joy we have experienced in the past.

So come to Cape May, try out the beautiful, sometimes decadent and sometimes simple accommodations offered in this fantastic city. I guarantee that you will fall in love with this lovely vacation spot on the southern tip of New Jersey.