The first step in planning the perfect summer vacation is finding a spot that will keep everyone in the family happy from beginning to end. So we challenged our travel writers and their children to nominate places that are geographically distinct, loaded with cultural activities and most of all, fun.
Whether you prefer lounging by the seashore, camping in the wilderness or lazing in a tube on a sun-splashed river, we found a magical destination that appeals to a variety of tastes and interests. One of our top spots is Cape May, New Jersey, a seashore town that offers profound natural beauty, dozens of recreational options and family-oriented food and lodging. To make the most of your visit to this area, read on for the inside scoop.
JUST BEACHY
Whenever my family heads to the shore, the first question my children ask is usually, "Where's the beach?" Not on our trips to Cape May, New Jersey, however. Although the beach--all seven miles of it, bordered by a pretty promenade--is grand, my kids want to know, "Where's the bike shop?"Within minutes of our arrival, we rush out to rent a bicycle rig called a surrey, complete with fringe on top. For $10, we shove off in our four-wheeled Flintstones-mobile for an hour-long glide through the streets of this lovely Victorian town. "This is the most fun thing I've ever done," said my six-year-old son, Anton, giddily ringing the surrey's little bell on our trip two summers ago. "When can we come back here?"
Cape May is the sort of place you start making plans to return to before you've even left. My family has hung our beach towels out to dry from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras, but this cape is the one we call ours. On our surrey, we love cruising by the coolest collection of Victorian houses in the country (the whole town is on the National Register of Historic Places). Cape May is so bedecked with flags, banners and flowers that it looks like a movie set. There are plenty of ways to soak up the area's natural beauty as well, and my wife, Lynn, ten-year-old son, Edwin, Anton and I made the most of them during our three-day jaunt.
Although Cape May is a bird-watcher's paradise, the boys found the pastime a bit subdued ("Dad," Anton warned me, "if you make me look at birds, I'll throw up"). However, they loved the nature walk at the Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory (609-861-0700). A chatty ranger led us along a boardwalk by the beach, where we got a close-up look at horseshoe crabs, then on to another area teeming with butterflies. Later, we stopped at the Nature Center of Cape May (609-898-8848), also connected with the Audubon Society, for a free nature class.
Edwin and Anton took turns pulling a net through a shallow section of the bay, then examining their catch--hermit crabs, moon snails and a big blue crab. The next morning, we hopped 
aboard the town's brightly colored trolley, zipped over to the wharf and climbed aboard a fishing boat--giving my sons a first-hand look at a real fisherman's catch. We also took an exciting three-hour whale watching trip with Cape May Whale Watcher (call 888-531-0055 for rates). No Moby Dick here, but there were plenty of dolphins frolicking in the ocean.
As with any popular beach town in summer, finding a place to stay can be a challenge. The Welcome Center (609-884-9562) and the Cape May County Department of Tourism (800-227-2297) can help you locate lodging in your price range.
My family suggests the Thorn and the Rose (609-884-8142), a lovely Victorian inn featuring apartments and suites. Many local inns don't allow children under age 12, but this one is part of a group of family-friendly places known as Victorian Guest Accommodations (609-884-9199). Rates for a family of four start around $135 a night. For that price, we checked into an enormously comfortable three-room apartment with a kitchen, a deck, a glimpse of the ocean and loads of wicker furniture.
Every evening after dinner, we hopped in the car for the three-mile drive to Sunset Beach along the Delaware Bay. Here, the pebbles on the beach rather than the sun are the real attraction for children. Known as Cape May diamonds, these pieces of smooth, clear quartz (some as large as grapes) can be scooped up for free. My kids love to find the biggest ones and stuff them in their pails to take home as souvenirs. "How many carats do you think this one is?" asked Edwin, holding up a dazzling specimen that sparkled in the pink light of the setting sun. He returned with a big collection of diamonds, and was thrilled to hear that Abraham Lincoln, one of five presidents who has strolled Cape May's famous beach, had once done the same.
For further information on Cape May, contact the Cape May Chamber of Commerce.
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated June 2005.
