Overview
The Boarding House is a surf-inspired, dog-friendly hotel in the heart of historic downtown Cape May. And while it is one of the newest hotels in town, it has an interesting history as does the entire town. On this walking tour, you will explore some of Cape May's curious past, visit some of our favorite places, wander past historic buildings, and discover some of the best vistas in town. And along the way, we'll share insider tips to help you make the most out of your time here.
About Your Guide
Hi there! I'm Wendy, co-founder of Curious Cape May. I came to Cape May four years ago to start a new chapter in my life. When I'm not riding my bike around town, or enjoying live music with a cold cocktail, you will likely find me at The Mission Inn, Cape May's top-rated bed and breakfast and the product of my mid-life crisis! :-) Curious Cape May is a unique tour company that we started to be able to share our passion for the incredible history of the nation’s first seaside resort. We invite you to take our free walking tour to discover some of Cape May’s hidden stories about its curious past. I look forward to showing you around this amazing town!
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Guide Points
The Boarding House
The Boarding House Hotel is inspired by the classic surf culture of our seaside village. While it's one of Cape May's newest hotels, it's a…
Stephen Smith House
Stephen Smith, a former slave turned businessman, philanthropist, and clergy from Philadelphia, was said to be the wealthiest Black America…
Harriet Tubman Museum
Did you know that Harriet Tubman spent time in Cape May? As one of the most famous leaders of the Underground Railroad, she established a h…
Cape May Welcome Center
Cape May has not had a passenger train service in or out of town since 1982, but for almost a century before that, the Reading Railroad shu…
Our Lady Star of the Sea Church
Known as "the church on the mall", Our Lady Star of the Sea is a Roman Catholic Church that marks the entryway to the Washington Street Mal…
Edgar Arthur Draper Historic Marker
This marker pays tribute to Edgar Arthur Draper - the namesake of "Draper Walk". He was the very first African-American physician in Cape M…
The Ugly Mug
If you are craving something with more substance than fudge, stop into our next location - the iconic Ugly Mug bar. You will find good bar …
Congress Hall
Congress Hall is one of Cape May’s oldest hotels. What started as a simple boarding house by the sea in 1816 has become one of the most his…
Eldridge Johnson House
This historic Gingerbread house is known as the Eldridge Johnson House, but the locals call it the "Pink House." It currently houses a mode…
The George Baum House
Known today as the George Baum House, the Edwardian style structure at 24 Jackson Street is in the heart of the historic district on Jackso…
Iron Pier Craft House
Just past the old-fashioned arcade, on the corner of Beach Ave and Decatur Street, look across the street to find the historic building tha…
John Wesley Inn
The John Wesley Inn located at 30 Gurney Street is one of the original Stockton Row cottages. Built in 1869 as part of the grand Stockton …
The Queen Victoria Bed & Breakfast
The Queen Victoria, situated at 102 Ocean Street, is currently a 35-room bed and breakfast composed of four buildings—The Queen Victoria, P…
First Presbyterian Church of Cape May
This beautiful stone building with the bright red door houses the First Presbyterian Church of Cape May.
The Empress
This was once one of Cape May’s historic bed and breakfasts called the Bell Shields House. Today, the 4,563 square feet home includes 8 bed…
About Sidewalk
The app navigates people through a neighborhood walk using GPS turn-by-turn directions, rich imagery and storytelling.