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The Jersey Cape, A Vacation Wonderland For Children Of All Ages

Cape May County, New Jersey, which has come to be known as "The Jersey Cape," is a vacation wonderland for children of all ages. Known for some of the best beaches in the world, Cape May County combines natural beauty, excitement, educational opportunities, relaxation and a profusion of things to do for families.

Easily accessible from nearby states of Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware and Maryland, Cape May County is a vast resource for a family vacation.

Cape May County is rapt with offerings for recreational and outdoor activities that range from crabbing on the back bays to thrilling amusement rides on the Cape's amusement piers and horse and carriage rides to view stately Victorian inns.

Just south of Atlantic City, Cape May County contains barrier islands on the east, and more rural bayside communities to the west.

From mid-May through the end of September, the beaches on the Atlantic Ocean are the preferred spots for those whose like nothing better than lazing in the sun, basking in the salt air, and creating spectacular sandcastles. For those who can't seem to sit still, the beaches invite long, leisurely walks, and host communities have created special beaches for surfing, rafting, volleyball, and other beach games, such as bocce and paddleball.

Area beaches are well-protected from June through September, and nearly all are open from about 6 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Whether it's collecting seashells, watching the dolphins frolic in the surf, people-watching, boogie boarding, or soaking up the sun, the area's beaches are a clean, safe, fun way for the family to spend a day together.

There are beaches on the western side of the peninsula as well, though more suited to quite walks , fishing and simple appreciation of nature.

One of the more uncommon beaches in the region is Sunset Beach at Cape May Point, the southernmost part of the Cape, home to Cape May Diamonds and a concrete ship, the USS Atlantus.

Small pieces of quartz, rounded and smoothed through hundreds of years traveling down the Delaware River, converge on this beach. When polished, these quartz rocks resemble diamonds. Hence the name "Cape May Diamonds." For generations youngsters have been hunting Cape May Diamonds - an activity that is almost a rite of passage for any youngster who has visited the southernmost point of Cape May County.

Boardwalks adjacent to the beaches can be found in the resorts of The Wildwoods and Ocean City. Afternoon or evening, these wooden walkways are often the hub of activity. Lined with hundreds of eateries, gift, and specialty shops, the boardwalks in The Wildwoods also feature arcades and carnival-like games of chance. Boardwalks can also be found in Avalon and Stone Harbor, and similar walkways called "promenades" line the beaches in Sea Isle City and Cape May.

Next to the pristine beaches, Cape May County's biggest attractions are the amusement rides.

Here you'll not only find the usual merry-go-round and roller coaster, you'll be treated to full-scale water parks, lightning-fast roller coasters that twist, turn and go backward, seven-story high Ferris wheels, and more rides that the youngsters can smile on and wave from than a case of film can capture in one evening. In Sea Isle City, amusement rides are just off the beach.

After a few days on the beach and visits to amusement parks, a family may want to spend a day fishing or crabbing (convenient from anywhere in the county), shopping in any of the high-quality shopping districts in the area, taking a nature tour, visiting Victorian Cape May at south tip of the Cape, visiting some of the historical sites such as Historic Cold Spring Village in Lower Township or spending a day at the zoo.

The Cape May County Zoo often surprise visitors by the variety of animal species, the cleanliness of facility and the ease with which they can move through the zoo.

The Cape May County Zoo is situated on 128 wooded acres and contains more than 170 species of animals with an African Savanna and a new aviary as the hallmarks of the zoo. Charlie the Camel, Jerome Giraffe, Max and Ellie Lion, and an array of lemurs, monkeys, American bison and alligators are familiar residents of this "best kept secret" on the Jersey Cape.

Historic Cold Spring Village in Lower Township is a living history museum reminiscent of a scene from the 1850s. Here, craftsmen and artisans hone their skills the old-fashioned way as visitors stroll the stone streets around the 19th century fishing village. The village comes complete with a general store, a blacksmith, a one-room schoolhouse and many other workshops so kids of all ages can learn how things were done "in the olden days."

Families can also learn a bit of history - some recent and some not-so-recent - in the communities of the Wildwoods and Cape May. The Wildwoods are known for having the greatest amount of "Doo Wop" architecture in the nation. Here, styles popular in the late 1950s and early '60s, when the world was embarking on the space age, can be found everywhere.

In Cape May, the oldest seashore resort in the United States, Victoriana is the norm, reflected in the city's many quaint bed and breakfast inns, fine restaurants and charming pedestrian walking mall.

At the entrance to Stone Harbor is the Wetlands Institute, an entertaining and educational facility dedicated to the marine environment. The Wetlands Institute offers "hands on" activities for its visitors, most of which leave with more knowledge about the local environment and all of them having a greater appreciation for their surroundings.

The inland portion of Cape May County is filled with forests, lakes, and inland waterways perfect for fishing, crabbing or kayaking.

Boat rentals for daylong excursions or guided sightseeing or fishing trips are available throughout the barrier islands in the county.

As the sport of golf grows in popularity, so too, do the number of golf courses in Cape May County. Scattered throughout the Cape are some of the best golf courses in the country, all with reasonable rates.

The style of golf popular for families with little ones is a favorite pastime in Cape May County as well, with miniature golf courses in all shapes and sizes beckoning even the most serious of duffers for an afternoon or evening of fun.

When the daytime activities are exhausted, families will find that Cape May County is fraught with fine restaurants that pride themselves on catering to families.

What's best about Cape May County is that, while there's so much to do, it doesn't all have to be done in one trip. Convenient to metropolitan areas such as Philadelphia, New York City, Baltimore and Virginia Beach, it's a family vacation that can be taken again and again.

For more information about these activities or special events call the Cape May County Department of Tourism at 1-800-227-2297

EDITORS: For photos of any of these events or attractions please contact the Cape May County Department of Tourism at 1-609-463-6415 and we will be happy to supply whatever photos are needed.

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