The Perfect Day for a Cape May B&B Innkeeper
Read on to learn the perfect day for a Cape May Bed and Breakfast innkeeper – Barbara. This was first published in the May/June 2010 edition of Cape May’s Exit Zero Magazine.
My perfect day starts with the beautiful blue Cape May sky. From my bed, I can see it through the transom above the door that leads to our garden. The bright colors of an early dawn set the tone for my day.
Barbara, with a perfect cup of coffee after a perfect morning stroll.
After a while, I stumble out to fix the first pot of coffee. I have the system down to an art. I can just plant my feet in front of the coffee maker and Voila! – four minutes later – Juan Valdez is wafting through the house.
While the coffee is brewing I set off for a walk around town. I love to take in the rhythms of early mornings in Cape May, whether it is folks just sitting on benches gazing at the ocean, people on their early morning power walk, the more energetic line skaters, or my neighbor, Jay Schatz opening his inn and feeding his cats. Often I walk to the ever-changing Cove and then pause for a moment at every opening at the Pavilion – each offers a different and beautiful view of Cape May.
When I get back to the Craig House Bed and Breakfast Cape May I still have time for coffee and the newspaper before attending to our guests. Our front sun porch offers the most peaceful perfect perspective of other bed and breakfasts running porch by porch down Columbia Avenue.
Although the reality of my work as an innkeeper is repetitive and sometimes trying behind the closed door of “Command Central”, I am energized by our guests’ enthusiasm for their vacation. How wonderful it is to see old friends and meet new guests that become a part of our John F. Craig House family.
At the end of the day I always make my way back to the beach, just to make sure that the ocean is still there. I get ice cream almost every night. Though I’ve been on a Rita’s gelato kick, I still love to go to McGlade’s right next to Convention Hall. Won’t it be great when the New Convention Center is finished….
The perfect day would always have a full moon. I’m a lunatic you know. I’m fascinated by the moon as it lights up the beach and the ocean and our town. On a perfect day, my sweet darlin’, Chip, and I take a few minutes and remember why we are here.
I am a Lucky Lady because I realize that many people work all year to come to Cape May to do what I do – most days – in our wonderful city by the sea.
Tags: Cape May, lodging, New Jersey Shore, restaurants
