Peter Shield's Inn Cape May
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BED & BREAKFASTS IN CAPE MAY – PART II

This post is the second part of a prior post, Bed & Breakfasts in Cape May – Part I. I am focusing on some of the smaller Bed & Breakfasts, but no less lovely. Like with the other post, I will be covering them in order of size. In totality, there are approximately 22 B&Bs in Cape May. The eleven that I will be discussing here have between nine and four rooms, and are all located in Cape May. I personally love staying in a Bed & Breakfasts for their personal, romantic, and intimate feel. The smaller ones are just that and more.

Rhythm of the Sea on Beach Avenue is the only oceanfront Bed & Breakfast in Cape May! This Swiss Chalet-style bungalow is beautifully appointed with gorgeous mission oak furnishings from Stickley, as well as mica lamps, art glass lanterns and more. There are 8 rooms each with a private bath, as well as a pet friendly carriage house in the rear of the property. The most sought-after room is the Oceanfront Balcony room with magnificent ocean vistas. The list of amenities at Rhythm of the Sea is long including a full breakfast each morning, essential oil bath products, beach towels & chairs, bicycles and more. This was the first place my husband, Gerard and I stayed when we fell in love with Cape May! It was our first wedding anniversary, and it couldn’t have been more perfect.

Peter Shield’s Inn on Beach Avenue is overlooking the ocean but is set back a bit from the street. Many of the 9 rooms do have ocean views as well as gas fireplaces and all have en-suite bathrooms.  This Georgian Revival style home was built in 1907 for Peter Shields, a wealthy businessman from Pittsburgh. After the tragic death of his 15-year-old son in a boating accident, the family returned to Pittsburgh. It is said that the son haunts the property to this day as well as a few others friendly spirits. In addition to the lovely guest rooms, there is also an award-winning restaurant that is one of our absolute favorites in town. As full breakfast is served daily, as well as afternoon wine and cheese. They offer a variety of amenities for guest convenience. I especially appreciate the beach chairs, towels, and umbrellas, as well as the bikes.

The Hugh (named for the original owner of the home built in 1883) on Washington Street is unlike any other Bed & Breakfast in Cape May. This upscale boutique features 8 vividly colored rooms each named for their respective all color. Cutting edge art can be found throughout the property and adds an cosmopolitan flair to the guest experience. The owners originally came from the fashion industry and more recently added culinary expertise to the mix. In addition to a fabulous breakfast, there is an award-winning, innovative restaurant on site Jardin (they also own Le Maison Bleu on Mansion Street.) Amenities offered include beach tags, chairs, and umbrellas, as well as high end bath products.

The Pharos Inn and Harrison Inn are next door to each other Columbia Avenue and are owned by the same innkeepers. They also own Casablanca listed in my previous B&B post, as well as The Ashley Rose later in this post. There are 20 rooms between the two properties, as I must confess it was a little confusing to me as I was exploring the property.  All rooms are either king or queen and are luxuriously appointed in beautiful calming, neutral color palettes with stunning wallpaper gorgeous bathrooms. Some rooms have fireplaces, or Jacuzzi tubs. The Summer Cottage at The Harrison property has a lovely private patio with an outdoor seating area and its very own garden area! All rooms provide made to order breakfast, afternoon tea, the use of bike, towels, and beach chairs. Beekman toiletries are also provided for that added touch of luxury.

Highland House on Broadway is an extremely doggie friendly Bed and Breakfast (learn more about taking your dog to Cape May in my pooch post.) This property has 6 rooms of that include efficiency suites as well as guest rooms. It is important to note that the Blue Room and Burgundy Room share a bathroom but are often booked together.  The outdoor spaces at Highland House include porches, pecks, patio and even a screened in gazebo. The innkeepers are known for their warm and friendly approach to their guests, as well as providing yummy breakfasts. Reservations cannot be made online, but a quick phone call will do the trick!

The Ashley Rose (mentioned above) on Columbia Avenue consists of a main house and 4 “cottages” which vary in size and have either a kitchenette or full kitchen. It is not a true B&B, as the breakfast aspect if an optional add on. Housekeeping services are also optional. Many of the spaces have private or semi-private outdoor areas such as decks or a private roof terrace. All have washer and dryer (some shared). The cottages have shared access to a side garden with grills and outdoor showers. There is also an optional small dog (30lbs or less) fee for the cottages.

The Inn at The Park on Washington Street actually includes the Victorian main house as well as a cottage each having 3 rooms. The Victorian Main house was formerly the Henry Walker Hand House and was built in 1893. Fun fact—the owners also have Cape May Peanut Butter, Cape May Olive Oil and Spice Cellar (do you love those shops as much as I do?).  Guests are treated to special VIP discounts. All rooms have either a king or queen size bed and a few also have fireplaces for those sometimes chilly nights at the shore. They offer plenty of amenities in addition to a gourmet breakfast and afternoon tea, such as complimentary beach chairs and towels, bikes, onsite parking and an outdoor shower.

Beauclaire’s Bed & Breakfast on Ocean Street close to the beach is intimate Victorian property with 6 elegant room—some with ocean views. The original Queen Ann style house was built in 1879, as the original was destroyed in a fire in 1878. The rooms (one suite) are beautifully furnished with antiques, and some include special extras like a fireplace or Jacuzzi tub. There are several lovely common spaces on property as well, such as the beautiful wrap around porch, a sun room, library, and the Turret room with the “Widow’s Watch” overlooking the ocean and the historic section of Cape May. They are known for their amazing breakfasts and afternoon tea and also offer wine and cheese events on select dates. Other amenities include complimentary off-street parking, beach chairs and tags, bikes and more.

Luther Ogden Inn on Kearney Avenue is just two blocks to the beach. The most intimate of the bunch with only 4 romantic guest rooms (all named for flowers) is sure to please. This Colonial Revival style home was built in 1900 by Luther Ogden as a wedding gift for is wife Mary. The innkeepers have over 25 years of experience and are extremely active in the community—giving it an extra special feel. Each room is lovingly furnished and has a shower only bath, some have fireplaces. There is a common Hospitality Room with a large desk refrigerator, microwave, and an assortment of beverages. In addition to the amazing award-winning breakfast, they offer free parking and complimentary beach chairs. It is important to note: they do not accept credit cards.

Following is a great map to show you each location!

Trip map created with Wanderlog, a trip planner on iOS and Android

Have I inspired you to book a getaway at a B&B in Cape May? If so, which one strikes your fancy?  I decided to skip attempting to give any pricing information because it varies widely based on time of year and type of room. There are a variety of prices, and each B&B website gives you online booking options. If you want to compare easily, I have a collaboration with Booking.com on my website. One question that is sure to come up is —are children allowed? Each property has their own specific age limit, but I didn’t see any that specified no children. I would love to hear about any great experiences you may have had at Bed & Breakfasts in Cape May!

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