The oldest coastal resort in the US is said to be in the peninsula in Cape May County. The city of Cape May New Jersey was officially founded in 1620, and it grew in popularity with visitors because of the beaches and the number of Victorian period buildings. These houses and public buildings have been looked after with care and the city was given National Historic Landmark status in 1976.

This gives all the historic buildings the security of being protected for generations to come. The city offers a diverse mix of history, scenery and culture, with events enthusiastically supported by the local business community.

The population of around 4,000 is increased greatly in the summer season by tourists, tourism being the major contributor to the local economy. The area is also an important center for commercial fishing. Cape May New Jersey has the sole recruiting center in the country for the United States Coast Guard. The beaches have an unusual element in that clear quartz pebbles wash up from the nearby river. People like to collect them from the beach or buy them in their polished form from local stores

There are many attractions for visitors to the region. It’s a popular destination for sport fishermen and birdwatchers come to see migrating birds at the internationally famous Cape May Bird Observatory at Cape May Point. The Cape May New Jersey Lighthouse is a working lighthouse that doubles as a maritime museum. There is a terrific view at the top after a short climb. There are also a number of local wineries for wine lovers to tour. The Cape May Firemen’s Museum traces the history of the fire service in the area with memorabilia on display.

Two events appear on the city calendar that draw more visitors in. The Jazz Festival is bi-annual, in April and November, and is supported by great musicians. Each Festival picks a Jazz great to pay tribute to and past luminaries whose music has been played have included Wes Montgomery, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. There are workshops in addition to the performances. The Cape May New Jersey Film Festival is also well established. The four-day event is an opportunity for New Jersey filmmakers to show their features, shorts or documentaries. There is a champagne reception on the first night and actors and producers etc. give talks and run workshops.

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