Grabbed my beat-up backpack stuffed with sunscreen and water bottles this morning, dead set on figuring out if there’s actually fun stuff to do near those Columns by the Sea everybody snaps pictures of in Cape May. Parked my ancient Honda near Beach Avenue – easier than I thought for a Tuesday.
Getting the Lay of the Land First
Walked straight to the Columns themselves. Okay, yeah, they’re pretty – kinda grand just standing there facing the ocean. Snapped the obligatory pic, obviously. But then I thought, “Alright, what next?”. Turned around and spotted the beach path right there. Figured, why not? Kicked off my sandals right there on the sand, feeling that cool, damp morning sand underfoot. Walked east towards the Cape May Convention Hall. Saw some folks fishing off the jetty rocks nearby – looked chill but slippery. Passed for now.
That Walk Turned Up Some Gems
Hopped off the sand near Congress Street and boom – realized I was basically back in “town.” Decided to ditch the beach for a bit and explore the streets behind the Columns. Here’s what popped up within legit walking distance:
- Washington Street Mall: Seriously, it’s like five minutes stroll inland. No cars, just brick walkways. Wandered past ice cream spots, weird little gift shops crammed with seashell everything, and cafes smelling like strong coffee. Grabbed a cold brew from one place – nothing fancy, but did the job.
- Historic House Galore: Started looking up. Like, really looking. Those Victorian houses? Crazy! Gingerbread trim, funky colors, wrap-around porches. It felt like walking past giant, fancy dollhouses. Spent a good chunk of time just staring.
- Cape May City Library: Totally random find tucked away. Super quaint old building. Popped in just to see. Nice AC blast and they had a little local history section upstairs. Worth five air-conditioned minutes.
- Random Local Eats & Drinks: Passed by a bunch of pubs and pizza places on side streets. Looked relaxed. Saw outdoor tables everywhere. Mental note made for lunch later.
Afternoon Flip: Mansions & Crashing Waves
Lugged myself back towards the water, but aimed west this time. Past the Columns is this cool stretch called Beach Drive. More grand old buildings lining the shore road. Saw the Emlen Physick Estate – that tower thing is hard to miss! Didn’t tour today, but it’s RIGHT there if you’re into that history vibe. Kept walking until the beach got quieter, past fancy hotels. Found a bench just sat for a while, watching the waves hit the sand. Simple, but perfect.
Wrapping It Up as the Sun Dropped
Headed back towards the Columns area as the sky started doing that pink-orange thing Cape May does well. Grabbed a seriously overpriced but decent slice of pizza from a place nearby (no names, just a corner shop with a neon sign). Ate it sitting on the sea wall near the Columns. Watched a bunch of people gathering to see the sunset over the water behind the columns. Classic Cape May scene.
So yeah, learned my lesson. You go for the Columns shot, but the fun stuff? It spills out all around them. Walk a block inland, you get shops and history and coffee. Walk the sand or the shore road, you get ocean views and mansions and quiet spots. You don’t need wheels – just decent walking shoes. Kinda surprised how much was literally on the doorstep of those pillars.
