Last week John and I spend a short getaway celebrating our anniversary at the southern New Jersey beach town, Cape May. Though just an hour and a half drive from our home, neither of us had ever been to this lovely area that is a National Historic Landmark due to its concentration of well-maintained Victorian buildings. It is one of the country’s oldest vacation resort destinations.
This is Angel of the Sea Bed & Breakfast. It is where we stayed.
A lovely, sprawling, 1850s Victorian home with a view of the ocean, Angel of the Sea didn’t always sit at this location. In fact, the house was moved twice! The first time, in 1881, it was pulled in two sections on rolling tree trunks with mule and horse power.
In 1962 a powerful Nor’easter ripped through New Jersey and devastated the city of Cape May and in 1981 the home was declared uninhabitable. This once magnificent structure was left abandoned to vandals and the elements until December of 1988. It was purchased and renovated. You can read more of its history here.
The dining room where breakfast and afternoon tea are served.
Our room
View of the Angel of the Sea from the beach.
and a view at night
We walked to the beach to watch the sunset
and we were all alone
too beautiful to miss
After returning to the B&B, we ran to the third floor balcony just in time to see the NASA rocket taking supplies to the International Space Station. Because it was launched from Maryland we were able to get a glance of it.
Then, the next morning, we rose early and returned to the beach to watch the sunrise.
The weather was unseasonably warm and since it is off-season, there were no crowds.
As a tidal pool drains back into the ocean, we look across a small inlet toward the Cape May Lighthouse.
Cape May Lighthouse
It was just before closing so we were unable to climb this lighthouse.
Off to the top right of this photo you can see an old, concrete bunker. It was built in 1942 as a military structure during World War II and still sits out on the beach in Cape May.
Cape May Bird Observatory
A trip to Washington Street Mall in the heart of Cape May was all decked out in autumn’s best.
The Fisherman’s Memorial which overlooks the bay into Cape May Harbor, is a statue of a Fisherman’s wife holding her two young children facing the bay and harbor entrance, waiting for the return of her husband from fishing.
While on the beach we noticed our shadows and, well, who can resist an anniversary kiss with your beloved.
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Such a lovely anniversary get-away! Thank you for sharing this special place – and that kiss – with us.
~Adrienne~
What a beautiful B and B and glorious views. It all sounds wonderful. So glad you were able to go and enjoy! Wishing you both many, many more years together! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
Happy Anniversary to both of you:)
what a lovely place for a getaway and know it was a most special time. Enjoyable post!
Awe,what a lovely getaway! Those times are so special. Enjoyable post!!!!
What a wonderful place to celebrate your anniversary.
Cape May is a delightful town and the perfect place for an anniversary getaway! I love your selfie-shadow kiss at the end!
Happy anniversary to you both!
What a wonderful, wonderful anniversary getaway. I am so happy that someone purchased and rehabbed that beautiful old Victorian house. I love the way it is all lit up at night, too.
What a perfect place to spend some alone time-on a quiet beach when all the 'touristas' have gone home.
I hope you have many, many, many more happy anniversaries. xo Diana