Cape May Beaches
Cape May NJ is a
peninsular city, spectacularly situated
at the southernmost point of the South
Jersey Cape between the Delaware Bay and
the Atlantic Ocean. From Ocean City NJ
down to Cape May Point NJ, a 30 mile
ribbon of sandy white beaches draws
millions of visitors to Cape May's gentle surf,
boardwalk fun, 600 plus
Victorian style homes,
and fabulous Jersey
Shore Fishing. Cape May
NJ is the gem of the
South Jersey Cape and
Bacchus Inn is located
within walking distance
of the best beaches and
attractions of Cape May
NJ.
Cape May Beaches embody
picturesque, serene
ocean beauty. A
perpetual, cool breeze
drifts over the white,
sandy beaches offering
enjoyment for the whole
family. New Jersey
Beaches are known for
being nationwide leaders
in beachgoer safety, and
Cape May County Beaches
maintain some of the
highest standards in the
nation for
clean waters, ocean
monitoring, and public
notification.
 Bacchus
Inn is ideally located between Cape May
and West Cape May, offering convenience
to attractions of both
areas and the best of
Cape May Beaches. Take a
short stroll to
Convention Hall Beach,
Grant Avenue Beach,
Windsor Avenue Beach,
Congress Hall Beach,
Broadway Beach, and
Queen Street Beech; all
located off Beach Avenue
and the fantastic Cape
May Promenade. The
Promenade runs parallel
with Beach Avenue, and
its smooth pavement
allows you to enjoy the
beauty of the Beach
Avenue Cape May Beaches
without getting sandy!
Enjoy a leisurely jog,
bike, or evening stroll;
at all times of the day,
the Cape May Promenade
is a refreshing
experience. Bacchus Inn
is .2 miles from Beach
Avenue and its
accompanying Cape May
Beaches and only 3 miles
from the Cape May Point
Beaches and
Cape May
Point State Park.
Below, we have provided
information about a few
of Cape May’s most
popular beaches, aside
from the Cape May
Promenade beaches. Bacchus
Inn is located just a
stone’s throw from the
best of Cape May
Beaches. Come stay at
our premier
Cape May Bed
And Breakfast and enjoy
the best of sandy fun,
ocean beauty and warm
accommodation.
Poverty Beach
Poverty Beach is located
at the eastern end of
Beach Avenue. Like many
of the landmarks in the
Cape May National
Historic District,
Poverty Beach enjoys a
rich history. In the
early 1900s, the Army
Corps of Engineers
converted the marshy
inlet of the eastern end
of Cape May into an
accessible, enjoyable
beach district. The
inlet was dredged and
the deposits were cast
ashore creating new,
developable land.
Poverty Beach is the
least accessible in town
and hence a favorite for
surfers. With fast,
hollow waves breaking
steep and close to the
shore, it has
spectacular swells for
intermediate and
advanced surfers. The
Poverty Beach area
remained largely
unpopulated through the
1900s, as the center of
Cape May to the west
entertained the
burgeoning influx of
tourists. Today, Poverty
Beach remains a wildlife
sanctuary and a favorite
for bird watchers. Birds
such as Common Eider,
King Eider, Razorbill,
Black-legged Kittiwake,
Harlequin Duck and
Purple Sandpiper are
sighted often.
Cove Beach
On the opposite western
end of Beach Avenue and
the Cape May Promenade,
lies Cove Beach. This
Cape May Beach is
another favorite among
surfers and kayakers.
With a dynamic,
vacillating shoreline
shifting from fifty to a
hundred yards within
weeks, Cove Beach wafts
up and exposes loads of
shells for the eager
shell lover. Located at
the southwestern edge of
Cape May, Cove Beach
offers an unobstructed,
breathtaking view of the
sunset and Cape May
Lighthouse. Cove Beach
features hard sand and a
broad, at times 50 feet
deep, beach which begins
at the southernmost
jetty in Cape May and
continues to the Bunker
in Cape May Point State
Park. Beach walkers,
joggers, and bike riders
relish this 2.3
round-trip route. If you
so choose, the
Cape May
Point Lighthouse
provides a longer round-trip track.
Unlike Poverty Beach, the water is
shallower along Cove
Beach with gentler waves
for beginner surfers and
kayakers. Anglers will
delight in the Cove’s
beautiful and bountiful
waters, as do dolphins!
Keep your eye to the
sea and you may witness
Cape May dolphins' playful and
familial behavior.
 Sunset Beach
Cape May's Sunset Beach
and neighboring Higbee
Beach to the north are
located around the horn
of Cape May Point, past
the Cape May Point State
Park and Lighthouse, on
the harbored waters of
Delaware Bay. Sunset
Beach is famous for its
sunken warship Atlantus,
“Cape May Diamonds,” and
amazing sunsets. Follow
Sunset Blvd from Cape
May to the west and find
your very own “Cape May
Diamond!” "Cape May
Diamonds" are quartz
crystals, usually clear
or light pink in color,
that originate from a
Pennsylvania mountain.
After falling into the
Delaware River near
Delaware Water Gap, the
crystals drift through
fast currents, past
Trenton and
Philadelphia, being
smoothed and polished by
obstacles along the way,
until they reach
Delaware Bay. This
process happens over
hundreds and thousands
of years, producing
smooth quartz that
resemble a diamond. The
WWI ship Atlantus was
constructed of concrete
due to a shortage of
steel during the war but
was soon
decommissioned because
of her weight and slow
speed. Plans
were made in 1926 to
intentionally sink
Atlantus at the opening of the
Cape May Canal as a
breakwater for the
canal’s protection.
During a storm on the
Delaware Bay, the Atlantus broke free of
the tug boats guiding it
and washed a mile
downstream and landed in
the waters just off
Sunset Beach. Today,
Atlantus is half
submerged just a few
hundred feet offshore,
and more than a
spectacular sight, she
diverts the Delaware Bay
tides and brings the
“Cape May Diamonds” to
shore. Come search for
you very own Cape May
Diamond, courtesy of
Atlantus!
Cape May Beaches are
open from 10 am to 5 pm,
7 days a week. Beach
tags are required for
ages 12 and older from
Memorial Day Through
Mid-September. You can
purchase daily, weekly
or seasonal beach tags
at the Information Booth
on Washington Street
Mall at Ocean Street,
the Convention Hall at
Beach Drive and Stockton
Place and all beach
entrances. Prices are
per person and are
currently $5 a day, $10
for 3 days, $13 for 8
days and $25 for the
season. Beach wheel
chairs are available for
no additional charge.
|
Cape May Welcome &
Information Center |
Cape May Convention Hall |
609 Lafayette Street
Cape May, NJ 08204
609-884-9562 |
714 Boardwalk
Cape May, NJ 08204
609-884-9565
For Beach Wheel Chairs
information call
609-884-9520 |
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us
at 609-884-2129 or 866-844-2129,
email us, or use our
online request form. |
To help you make
your trip a
special one,
please let us
know your coming
by making a
reservation!
We have put
together a few
specials to help
you out with
your special
getaway!
Check
the calendar to
see if the room
you would like
is available,
and then let us
know!