The walkway is flat and wide with some inclines. This is a kid-friendly experience, but be careful when it’s windy! Hats can easily blow off with no way to retrieve them.

The park is next to Cape May Elementary School. If you plan to walk the trails, keep in mind no dogs are permitted (though service dogs are okay). Bikes aren’t allowed on the trails, but there is a bike rack at the entrance.

Cape May’s historic district was designated a National Historic Landmark on May 11, 1976, and is a showcase of late-Victorian-era architecture. Take your camera on a stroll through town to capture these beautiful preserved buildings from the 1800s.

According to the archived form prepared by Carolyn Pitts, the architectural historian who nominated the historic district for recognition by the National Parks Service in the ’70s, these buildings reflect the fashion of the times. They incorporate improvised elements from various traditional architectural styles such as Gothic, Queen Anne, Italianate, and Greek Revival. “Many of the buildings in Cape May must have been designed by creative local carpenters using the handbooks of construction that were standard reference,” Pitts wrote. As such, the architecture here isn’t strictly traditional. It’s a reflection of late-Victorian trends interpreted by local builders.

Tours through the historic district are available through Cape May MAC.

What buildings are in the historic district?

This is not an all-inclusive list, but some buildings that contributed to Cape May’s designation as a historic landmark include:

• The George Allen House (known today as The Southern Mansion) at 720 Washington Street
• The Carroll Villa Hotel – 19 Jackson Street
• The Chalfonte – Howard & Sewell
• The Colonial (known today as The Inn of Cape May) at Ocean and Gurney
• Congress Hall on Beach Avenue
• Cook’s Villa (known today as The King’s Cottage) at 9 Perry Street
• Jackson’s Clubhouse (known today as the Mainstay) at 635 Columbia
• The Baronet at 819 Beach Avenue
• The Emlen Physick Estate at 1048 Washington Street
• New Jersey Trust and Safe Deposit Company at 526 Washington Street (you might know it as Winterwood)

Also included on the original list was the Windsor Hotel, circa 1879, a second empire style hotel designed by Stephen Decatur Button. The Windsor burned down in 1979.

Where exactly is Cape May’s historic district?

Here is the description of the historic district’s boundaries straight out of the February 10, 1976 nomination form prepared by :

Beginning at the point where the incorporated city boundary meets the Atlantic Ocean shoreline at the west end of Cape May City, the national historic landmark boundary follows the shoreline in an easterly direction to the west boundary of the U.S. Coast Guard Receiving Center; thence north along the west Coast Guard property line to the shoreline of Cape May Harbor; thence westerly along the shoreline of the Harbor to the mouth of Cape Island Creek; thence southwesterly along the incorporated city boundary line, which follows the center line of the Creek, to the north property lines on the north side of Myrtle Street; thence northwesterly along these property lines to their intersection with Park Boulevard; thence south along the east curb of Park Boulevard to the intersection with West Perry Street; thence westerly along the southern curb of West Perry Street (Sunset Boulevard farther west) to the west property lines of the properties on the west side of the last residential street on the west end of Cape May City; thence southerly along the west property lines to their intersection with the incorporated city boundary; thence southwesterly along the incorporated city boundary to the beginning point.

The garden is named for Mike Shouvlin, a member of the Water Advisory Commission and garden’s first keeper.

The preserve offers six trails ranging from 0.2-0.5 miles in length, and a two-mile perimeter loop along the forested edge–four miles in total. Explore year-round on foot or by bicycle. Sights vary by season, with bird migration peaking in the spring and fall, and the wildflower field blooming from May through July. Beginning in late August into the fall, Monarch butterflies stop here to feed before their journey south.

Preserve amenities include a mobile bird blind, welcome kiosk, shaded pavilion with picnic tables, benches and picnic tables along the trails, and three adjustable art easels. From November 1st to March 1st, leashed dogs are welcome. Because this is a preserve, the Nature Conservancy does not provide trash receptacles. Be sure to take anything you’ve brought with you.

Explore its nearly two miles of nature trails (experienced hikers on Alltrails.com call them easy and scenic, and be ware of overgrowth), featuring two viewing platforms with views of the fields and forest, or explore the beach along the Delaware Bay. In the warmer months, you’ll want insect repellent when hitting the trails.

Here are a few things you should know:

This information is adapted from the NJDEP site:

• All state WMAs are carry-in, carry out and do not provide trash cans or recycling bins. Make sure to take anything you bring with you.
• You may not camp, swim, picnic, dump, cut or damage vegetation, have or consume alcohol, metal detect, geocache, paddleboard, paintball, or light a fire.
• Drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are prohibited
• Dogs are permitted on Higbee Beach between September 1st and April 30th (the off season)
• Higbee is closed to hunting from September 1st until the Monday after the Six-day Firearm Deer Season each year
• Non-motorized mountain bikes are allowed on existing WMA trails and secondary (woods) roads from March 1 to April 15, and from June 1 to September 15, as well as on Sundays. Mountain bikes are permitted year-round if engaged in legal hunting and fishing activities.
• Yes, you can get married on Higbee Beach!
• Certain events and activities may require a permit

Learn more about Wildlife Management Area Regulations

Directions to Higbee Beach, provided by the NJDEP:

Follow the Garden State Parkway south to mile 0 and exit to the right for Route 109 North. Take Route 109 North to Route 9 south. Turn left onto Route 626. Cross the bridge and turn right onto New England Road. The road dead ends at Higbee Beach.

Higbee has a small gravel parking lot.

One more note: Due to its remote location and historic lack of local jurisdiction, being state owned, Higbee Beach long had the reputation of being a nude beach. The state ruled on this in 1996 and conferred power to municipalities to make and enforce rules and regulations in order to police state land, which means Lower Township’s ordinance 230-6 banning indecent or nude exposure is in effect at Higbee Beach. They fine violators.

The South Cape May Meadows, a 200-acre preserve protected by the Nature Conservancy, serves as a refuge for native and migratory birds, making it a must-see for serious birders visiting Cape May. The preserve is located between the Cove Beach and Cape May Point State Park, in an area that was once the town of South Cape May.

Explore the trail system along this undeveloped beach, which offers short hikes along flat trails that wind past freshwater wetlands and dunes–two miles in total. The Rain Garden features native plants, and the preserve offers amenities including observation platforms, an 80ft floating blind for birders, a bike rack, information kiosk with trail map, a gravel parking lot, and an accessible port-a-potty (April-October), and benches along the trails. Staff is on-site from April through October.

For the protection of wildlife, pets, bicycles, and motor vehicles are prohibited in the Meadows.

A note on accessibility: The Nature Conservancy’s website states that “trail sections on the beach and those behind the dune are through soft sand and may not be accessible by visitors with strollers or wheelchairs.”

Reach the 244-acre Cape May Point State Park by bike, car, or foot if you don’t mind a hike down the beach. The park is home to iconic landmarks including the Cape May Lighthouse, Fire Control Tower 23, and Battery 223 (aka “the bunker”), the remains of a harbor defense battery from World War II.

The park is free to the public, an ideal location for birding, picnics, painting, photography, and nature walks. Explore ponds, coastal dunes, marshes, and forest habitat on one of the three hiking trails that range from 0.5 to 2 miles in length. Along the trails are occasional benches and birding blinds. Wear sturdy walking shoes if you’re headed down the Yellow or Blue trails, as parts of the trail will take you through wooded areas that may be muddy! The shortest, the Red Trail, is entirely on a raised footpath and wheelchair accessible. Download a detailed trail guide from the state’s website.

There’s no swimming on this beach due to underwater hazards, but surf fishing is permitted. Being a state park, smoking (including vaping) and alcohol are prohibited.

Gather with friends at picnic areas and shelters. Groups of 20 are asked to reserve facilities at least five days in advance. If you have a large group, you can reserve a picnic area with a shelter and restrooms for up to 60 people.

It’s okay to bring your pet along, with some restrictions. Pets must be leashed at all times. Because the beach is home to endangered birds, pets are not permitted on the beach from April 1–September 15. And at no point are pets permitted on the nature trails.

There are no park or entry fees, and the park has a large, paved parking lot available.

Combined, Cold Spring Bike Path (2.7 miles) and Middle Township Bike Path (8.9 miles) will take you from Historic Cold Spring Village all the way to the Cape May County Park and Zoo.

The southernmost part of the path runs parallel to Route 9 and Seashore Roads, through Lower Township and into Rio Grande. From there, the path grows wooded and continues up to Cape May Court House. You’ll pass residential areas, campgrounds, and wineries. The asphalt path is dog and bicycle friendly.

There is a small parking area available at the start of the trail, which begins at Sandman Boulevard just off of Route 9. If you’re starting out in Rio Grande, there is a tiny parking area at the end of Railroad Avenue (behind Walmart) that you can also reach from Route 9 via Satt Boulevard (the road near Winterwood).

Below is a Google Map showing the beginning of the Cold Spring Bike Path.

The working farm, studio, nature sanctuary and sculpture garden of artist Stan Sperlak has become one of the most popular “Art & Nature” destinations in the country. Here, where the forest and fields meet the marsh on the Crow Creek, in Goshen, NJ, you can find yourself that piece of sanity and inspiration you’ve been looking for.

Noted for his dramatic and sublime landscape paintings in pastel of the Mid Atlantic, Stan has them displayed in his authentic Amish barn that sits on 37 acres of very well kept nature trails, he is a retired landscape architect and contractor, and an internationally acclaimed artist and teacher, whose travels influence so much of the work here.

From painting, photography and music workshops, to the occasional private concert, movie nights, lectures and celestial observance events, (and now tours) you have many ways to enjoy this attraction. Only 20 minutes from Cape May and free parking.

Cape May’s promenade runs parallel to Beach Avenue and stretches for nearly two miles, taking you on a scenic walk or run past Cape May’s beaches. Though it’s sometimes referred to as a boardwalk, our promenade is actually paved (the last wooden boardwalk was destroyed in the 1962 nor’easter).

The promenade is your gateway to the beach and unparalleled views of the ocean. There are a handful of businesses along the way, including candy stores, arcades, and ice cream.

Features

• You don’t need a beach tag to access the promenade. It’s open to the public
• There are access ramps
• Public restrooms are located along the promenade approximately every half mile
• There are plenty of benches
• The promenade is lighted in the evening
• The covered Sunset Pavilion overlooks the Cove beach and is a popular location for weddings.

Policies

• Bicycles, e-bikes, and roller skates are restricted from May 16 through September 14. You can only ride or park them on the promenade from 4am to 10am in-season.
• Dogs are permitted on the promenade from September 15 through May 15, during the winter months. They must be leashed.
• Stay hydrated, but alcoholic beverages are not permitted

City Code: City of Cape May ordinance 158-9