So if the city is on your birder bucket list, consider this your sign to visit while the Atlanta Flyway is hot (i.e., between the months of September and November for the fall migration and May for the spring migration). This fall, the bird is the word—just ask Matthieu Blazy, whose spring 2027 collection for Chanel, presented at Paris Fashion Week on October 5, featured light-up avian sculptures hanging from the ceiling of the Grand Palais.
Below is our guide to where to stay, what to eat, and other non-bird things to do when you visit Cape May (just in case you visit during a major storm, as I did).
Where to Stay
140 Stevens Street
Every detail at this hotel—situated on a 62-acre regenerative farm—is carefully considered. Guests stay inside individual cottages or the reclaimed bar and get their own golf carts to explore the property. On top of both pool and beach access, guests can help harvest the ingredients that will later be turned into their own food, visit the Beach Plum chickens, and go searching for Cape May Diamonds, and much more.
805 Stockton Avenue
This historic bed and breakfast only has 10 rooms. A stay here is all about peace and tranquility—it’s on the quieter side, in the greatest way possible. Sip your morning coffee in the garden (a Certified Wildlife Habitat) under a veranda and end the day next to the fireplace in the parlor. Each is named after a historical figure from Cape May and is filled with gorgeous period-appropriate antique furniture.
200 Congress Place
Opened in 1816, Congress Hall is the oldest seaside resort in America. Five presidents have stayed inside the hallowed halls, along with other musicians, writers, and more. It’s filled with old-world charm (overstuffed couches, moody lighting) but also turns into a lively scene in the evenings. The Blue Pig Tavern is a great spot to grab a cozy meal, while The Brown Room’s jazz age ambiance and live music will keep you up—and partying—late into the night.
623 Columbia Avenue
This quaint bed and breakfast in downtown Cape May is housed in one of the city’s resplendent Victorian homes. The rooms maintain much of the 1800s charm (working fireplaces framed with gorgeous tiles, antique claw-foot tubs, and a parlor perfect for dining) while feeling like you’re not stepping back in time.
