Our top-rated tour operates nightly year-round, allowing you to experience the city’s haunted history regardless of the season. As you walk approximately a mile of Cape May’s haunted streets, you’ll visit iconic locations steeped in ghostly lore, including the Macomber Hotel, the historic and supposedly cursed Captain May’s Inn, and the historically haunted Columbia street where at least six houses are rife with paranormal activity. Your knowledgeable guide will share meticulously researched stories, revealing the long-hidden secrets of these haunted landmarks. Though we don’t enter the buildings, you’ll feel the chilling atmosphere of these sites as if you’ve stepped back in time, where scandals, hauntings, and historic intrigue still linger in the air.

Proudly USMC Disabled Combat-Veteran-Owned and women and minority-led, we are dedicated to providing a unique and inclusive experience for all. Whether you’re looking for a memorable night out with friends, planning a private group event, organizing a bachelorette party, or seeking something special for a unique occasion, our ghost tours offer a spine-tingling adventure tailored to your needs. Come for the ghost stories, stay for the history, and leave with unforgettable memories of Cape May’s haunted past!

Tours held nightly year-round. Call or text (609) 536-3004 to book or for more info!

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.

All of our cruises are BYO, so feel free to bring your favorite food and drinks. Alcohol is permitted for guests 21 and over. Our boats come fully equipped with coolers, speakers, comfortable seating, and even a bathroom on two of the boats for ultimate convenience.

With accommodations for groups as small as 1-2 people or as large as 49 (or more if you book multiple boats), there’s no better time to set sail. Book your cruise today and make unforgettable memories on the water!

Book now at info@jerseyshorecruises.com or call us at 609-200-6656 for more information

We’ll show you marine life like no other can!

Welcome to The Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center located at 1231 Route 109 in South Jersey Marina. The Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center was the original eco-tour operation in Cape May, starting in 1987. We were the forerunners in exploring our surrounding waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay for whales, dolphins, migratory birds, and all aspects of marine life with an emphasis on their interconnectedness to our ecosystem. We layer this experience by underscoring the importance of the conservation of our local marine ecosystem, and couple that with hands-on research experience like no other.

When you step onboard the American Star, you are not only boarding a Whale & Dolphin watching vessel but a floating marine Research Center. Our team of undergraduate college interns collects data on all of our trips fueling our photo-identification research efforts. Our onboard Marine Naturalists and Biologists give an in-depth narration of both the Biology and historical significance of everything occurring right before your eyes! Our passengers become part of the research team on board and through their patronage support our ongoing research and conservation efforts!

On these eco-cruises, you will be amazed by the amount of wildlife that a salt marsh can support. Over 400 species of birds, more than 300 species of fish, and even more marine invertebrates inhabit New Jersey and many of them call the salt marsh their home. Whether you are observing and photographing a “life bird” to add to your list or holding a blue claw crab for the first time, you will discover why these ecosystems are vital, not only to the survival of the animals and plants that live there, but also to ourselves.

Our trips are fun, educational, and led by experienced crew members with backgrounds in Ornithology, Marine Biology, Ecology, and Environmental Education.

In early 2014, the HCSV Foundation Board of Trustees voted unanimously to pursue the development of a small brewery on the Village grounds with the name Cold Spring Brewery. To this end, and in keeping with the mission of the Historic Cold Spring Village, an 1804 three bay English-style Cape May County barn from Upper Township was purchased. Stillwell and Elizabeth Corson, a familiar name in the County, built the classic building. Permission to restore and reconstruct the barn, board by board, and place it on Village property was received from both the Lower Township and County of Cape May Zoning Boards along with approvals to utilize the barn in connection with the proposed brewery.

Although the barn/brewery is located outside the Village fencing, it remains part and parcel of the 30 acres that are located between Seashore Road and Route 9 in Cold Spring, containing 27 restored historic structures. Funding for the project was secured through HCSV Foundation’s fundraising events, donations, memberships, retail sales, corporate sponsorship for programs and gate revenue. Its purpose is to stabilize the museum for future generations to enjoy.

Trolley tours are perfect for every age, too, with a variety of tours especially geared to the younger set, and themed tours for holidays and special events.

The Cape May Carriage Company offers (weather and business permitting) half-hour tours on weekends during the spring and fall months, daily during the summer and during the Christmas season. All carriage tours leave from the corner of Ocean Street and the Washington Street Mall.