Cape May, NJ: Is it worth considering for a home exchange?
Jun 4th, 2012, 09:19 AM
#1
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Cape May, NJ: Is it worth considering for a home exchange?
We have been offered a couple of weeks in Cape May this September. We looked at the website and it looks charming, but is it worth a plane flight and all the hassles involved. Any thoughts on the town appreciated.
Jun 4th, 2012, 11:42 AM
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Sorry, Dukey1. I had forgotten to mention that I am coming from Southern California. I imagine it is a five hour plus plane flight, plus getting to Cape May from the airport. My husband will probably need some convincing. We have just recently returned from Virginia.
Thank you, Birdie.
Thank you, Birdie.
Jun 4th, 2012, 04:51 PM
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Thank you, msteacher. Cape May sounds like it may be fun. I'll have to see if we can agree on dates and the length of the exchange with the prospective home exchangers. AND, most importantly,I have to convince my husband that he wants to visit Cape May! 
Jun 5th, 2012, 01:54 PM
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Cape May in the summer is much too crowded, but September will be delightful. But, that said, in IMHO a "couple" weeks is too long. You can always do day trips to Philadelphia, NYC, other NJ sites, but unless you want to spend a lot of time just relaxing or birdwatching(Cape May is one of the major birding areas in the US), I woudn't spend that more than 5-7 days there.
Jun 5th, 2012, 06:48 PM
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We are extremely slow travelers so two weeks would not seem long to us. We would stretch it out with day trips and visiting other Jersey shore towns, but it may not happen, we are having problems agreeing on details. Thanks, everyone for your thoughts.
Jun 5th, 2012, 07:32 PM
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"You'r not missing anything if it doesn't work out. Coming from S.CA to the Jersey Shore is no deal."
yestravel: I think you overheard my husband's thoughts on this subject, though, he has never visited any Jersey shore resorts. Nevertheless, Cape May sounds like a pretty place to spend a few days or more.
yestravel: I think you overheard my husband's thoughts on this subject, though, he has never visited any Jersey shore resorts.
Nevertheless, Cape May sounds like a pretty place to spend a few days or more.
Jun 5th, 2012, 07:49 PM
#16
A few days perhaps, but not a couple weeks-so I'm with your husband on this! As u said in your OP its a 5 hour flight and then a drive to Cape May..all this for a cute town with an ok beach at best. I live on the EAst Coast and no beaches here compare with So CA.
Jun 5th, 2012, 08:09 PM
#17
From what I can gather, annetti, you and your husband enjoy taking the time to explore an area of the country you've never seen before and that differs from your everyday life in SoCal.
Did you enjoy Norfolk? Did I steer you wrong there? Granted, South Jersey is very different than Tidewater Virginia but I think you'll enjoy it. I don't think two weeks is too long. I happily spent the entire month of September in Stone Harbor, just north of Cape May, and I'm not even a beach person.
Possible day and overnight trips include: Philadelphia, Atlantic City, the ferry to Lewes, De, and the Brandywine Valley. In addition to the charming Victorian neighborhoods, Cape May is surrounded by beautiful natural areas. There are bay beaches and ocean beaches, the light house, the cute towns of Avalon and Stone Harbor, the kitschy nostalgia of the Wildwoods, the Cape May zoo (one of my favorite zoos).
Does the house come with a car or were you planning on renting one? You would need one. If Philadelphia isn't working out, check out Spirit into Atlantic City. There is a train from Philly to Atlantic City but it's difficult to get from Atlantic City to Cape May without a car.
And you won't have to worry about those crazy birders. May and October are the big months for that activity. The little town is a hopping place during the World Series of Birding.
If you need me to do a drive-by, let me know. I'll be up there in a few weeks.
Did you enjoy Norfolk? Did I steer you wrong there? Granted, South Jersey is very different than Tidewater Virginia but I think you'll enjoy it. I don't think two weeks is too long. I happily spent the entire month of September in Stone Harbor, just north of Cape May, and I'm not even a beach person.
Possible day and overnight trips include: Philadelphia, Atlantic City, the ferry to Lewes, De, and the Brandywine Valley. In addition to the charming Victorian neighborhoods, Cape May is surrounded by beautiful natural areas. There are bay beaches and ocean beaches, the light house, the cute towns of Avalon and Stone Harbor, the kitschy nostalgia of the Wildwoods, the Cape May zoo (one of my favorite zoos).
Does the house come with a car or were you planning on renting one? You would need one. If Philadelphia isn't working out, check out Spirit into Atlantic City. There is a train from Philly to Atlantic City but it's difficult to get from Atlantic City to Cape May without a car.
And you won't have to worry about those crazy birders. May and October are the big months for that activity. The little town is a hopping place during the World Series of Birding.
If you need me to do a drive-by, let me know. I'll be up there in a few weeks.
Jun 5th, 2012, 08:55 PM
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Birdie, This is very kind of you. Actually, my prospective home exchanger wants only one or maybe two weeks, I am requesting three or more. I don't believe we would have difficulty finding things to do. So, I don't know if we can agree on terms. I don't see the sense of flying 5 hrs for a week when we are fortunate to have more time to leisurely explore an area. My husband often drags his feet, never sure if it is the right exchange or not. However, he usually ends up enjoying our exchanges.
BTW, I would love to see the Brandywine Valley. We would rent a car again, though maybe take the train when possible to Phila or NY.
yestravel: Should I hide your comments?
And, no, Birdie, you did not steer us wrong on VA. It was decidedly different than So Calif. Enjoyed it immensely.
BTW, I would love to see the Brandywine Valley. We would rent a car again, though maybe take the train when possible to Phila or NY.
yestravel: Should I hide your comments?
And, no, Birdie, you did not steer us wrong on VA. It was decidedly different than So Calif. Enjoyed it immensely.
Jun 6th, 2012, 07:22 AM
#19
@annetti - I remember reading your TR on your stay in VA. It was rather fascinating to c that area thru someone not from this area. I'm probably being too hard on the Cape May area. It couldn't be much more different than So CA. & from the Norfolk area too. As Birdie points out there are lots of places one can day trip or even stay over night from Cape May. I think I am terribly jaded about the East Coast other than New England. Hope your plans work out for you.
Jun 6th, 2012, 09:23 AM
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A long stay in Cape May would not be interesting but if you are willing to rent a car and travel you could visit Delaware, NYC, Philadelphia, Brandywine Valley, Amish Country, NY Hudson Valley etc. But,you will spend a lot of time in the car. There are more convenient Jersey Shore towns if you want that kind of vacation. Do you have any other options for New Jersey?
