A Girls Trip in Cape May

I have some wonderful memories from my Girl’s Trips in Cape May. It is always a much-needed break from the day-to-day, where you can just relax and have fun. One of the great things about Cape May for a Girl’s trip are so many options of things to do and places to eat or grab some cocktails. A girl’s trip can have a theme or be just a mishmash of all sorts of activities. Below you will find some great suggestions on ways to fill up your time.

Relaxing

The beach is the ultimate in relaxation in my opinion. The sun on your face, sand on your toes and ocean sound to sooth you. Cape May has that in spades!

The next most relaxing thing to me is a spa visit. And a spa visit with your besties is even better. This is an activity that should be booked well in advance regardless of how large your group is.

The Cape May Day Spa on Jefferson Street is a great option. They have packages and escapes that combine some of their most popular services. You can also just go for a massage, facial or hydro & body therapy. There is quite a bit to choose from. All of their raving 5 star reviews don’t lie!

The Sea Spa in Congress Hall on Congress Place is another possibility for a little pampering. They offer a variety of experiences, facials, messages and body treatments. Scheduling a group is easy by emailing a special request.

The Well Massage Center in West Cape May on Park Boulevard has a bit of a different slant on relaxation. In addition to fabulous messages, they offer reiki, psychic medium readings, numerology and more. Raving fans often describe their experience as calming or healing.

Exercise (I think I can hear the groaning on this one, but you never know.)

If you are visiting from Spring through Fall, renting bikes is a great way to get around town and get a little exercise into your trip. There are so many options in Cape May that there is almost no excuse not to do it. My post Ultimate Guide – Biking in Cape May gives you all the details. You can rent individual bikes, electric bikes, surrey’s or even go on a Railbike Ride. Railbiking is a super fun activity that will definitely give you a workout and some great photo opps.

Kayaking or paddle boarding are other activity that will give you a little exercise and is a ton of fun.

Miss Chris located at the marina off of Wilson Drive is a great location for kayaking to explore the salt marshes or so some bird or whale watching.

Aqua Trails on Delaware Avenue offers rentals as well as a variety of tours. There are even sunset and full moon tours. Jeff Martin, one of the owners, is an award winning oceanography and marine biology teacher at the local high school. So, you will even be tossing a little education into your trip.

Cape Kayaks in Cape May Harbor on Ocean Drive also offers a few tours with experienced guides, as well as rentals to paddle at your own pace.

SUP Cape May also located on Ocean Drive has more of a focus on stand-up paddle boards (thus the name). They offer tours and even an ocean excursion (not recommended for beginners).

Wineries and more…

There are several wineries that would be great stops for a girl’s trip. Instagram is full of pics taken of just that. Cape May, Willow Creek and Hawk Haven all have great outdoor and indoor seating. Willow Creek does Firepit Fridays, which is great fun. Schedule a tasting, share a bottle, enjoy a wine flight, and grab a little food while you’re at it. Please check on the individual sites for any reservation recommendations.

If wine is not your thing, maybe Cape May Brewery might be to your liking offering an awesome selection of beers and seltzers. The tasting room is a ton of fun, but it often really packed. Their Brewtanical Garden is open during the day on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00pm to 5:00pm (last call is 4:45 pm). They do not sell food (NJ Laws on production facilities), but they have a very open bring your own food policy. The Cape May Cheese Shop on Washington Mall would be a great place to find snacks to bring!

If you are in the mood for a little something stronger, there are two local distilleries that are worth a try. Nauti Spirits is just plain fun, with plenty of space indoors and out to hang out and sip a cocktail. They have some pretty amazing food trucks that stop by, but you can absolutely bring your own. Cape May Distillery is another place to stop for a cocktail in their cozy tasting room or outside.

If you want to make it super easy on yourselves and have built in designated driver, check out Day Sipper Tours. They will pick you up and drop you off too!

Beach Plum Farm may not have alcohol, but it is a really awesome spot to walk around, grab a little food and take in the beauty of nature.

All of these venues typically have live music. They are also a great place to pick up a little something to bring home for yourself or a friend.

Restaurants

My head spins with all the options available for dining. From fine dining with full bars, to BYOBs to fun beachy spots that scream Cape May. Here are a couple of suggestions for each. If you want to splurge on fine dining with a bar, The Ebbitt Room on Jackson Street and The Washington Inn on Washington Street are the two top choices. The BYOB selection in Cape May is varied and impressive. Peter Shield’s Inn on Beach Avenue is always a treat, but on the pricey side, as is 401 Bank Street on (of course) Bank Street. Other options in the more fine dining category is Union Park and Primal on Beach Avenue. Tisha’s on Washington Mall, YB on Beach Avenue, Vintage on Washington Street, and Iccara Italian Bistro on Mansion Avenue are less pricey solid options. If you are looking for casual and fun, I suggest trying The Rusty Nail on Beach, Carney’s on Beach Avenue or The Ugly Mug on Washington Mall. Frankly I just scratched the surface with my suggestions.  For a quick view of the restaurant options on Cape May – go here. I highly recommend getting reservations whenever possible to avoid potentially very long waits. Many Cape May restaurants are on OpenTable. Brunch is always fun on a girls trip—The Mad Batter and The Blue Pig both have wonderful breakfasts and bloody marys and mimosas.

Bars

I am going to go out on a limb here, but most girls’ getaways include at least one stop at a bar. As with the restaurant scene, bars are plentiful and fun in Cape May. Each one really does have their own personality and vibe. If you want sophisticated and dare I say classy, The Brown Room in Congress Hall and The Virginia Hotel bar are outstanding. If you are in the mood to just have some fun and get a little fresh air (and possibly an ocean view), The Rusty Nail, Elaine’s on Lafayette Street (one of my personal favorites!), The Barefoot Bar at Marquis de Lafayette Hotel and Harry’s at the Hotel Montreal are all great choices. For an indoor super fun atmosphere check out The Blue Batter Bar at the Mad Batter on Jackson Street, Fins on Washington Mall, Boiler Room in the basement of Congress Hall or The Ugly Mug. Many have live music! Again, the list is much longer than what I mentioned, but I chose ones that were in the spirit of the occasion.

This was a really fun post to write, especially since I am currently planning my next girls trip in Cape May with a few great friends. We are all looking forward to it and I have no doubt it will be filled with fun, laughter, good food and great cocktails. Cape May really is a quintessential spot to get away with friends. You may have noticed I didn’t cover where to stay. There are a lot of great places, but for me, renting a house if the best option. You have more time to hang out together and just chill. I have a great guide for finding a Cape May beach rental. You can grab it on my homepage. If you would like suggestions on where to stay at a hotel, Bed & Breakfast or Inn, reach out and I will give you some ideas!

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