The beach--a short stroll from John F. Craig House.

Memorial Day marks the start of summer, and summer means the beach. Since Memorial Day Weekend is almost here, it’s time to start planning your next trip to the beaches of Cape May, NJ.

One of the great things about John F. Craig House, our Cape May Bed and Breakfast, is that we’re just one block from the beach. One block from long beach walks, basking in the sun, and cooling water. Our location is one reason guests keep coming back, year after year.

Borrow a beach towel and chair (available for our guests), then head down for a few hours of sun and surf. You can pick up a beach tag here at the inn, and you can leave your car here, too. Just imagine a day at the beach without parking worries!

Should you feel like a change of scenery, you may borrow a bike and pedal the four miles to Sunset Beachat Cape May Point, on the Delaware Bay. The swimming is fantastic at Sunset Beach, as are the views of the SS Atlantus, a concrete ship from 1918 that sank about 150 feet off shore. See her now before she completely succumbs to time and water and disappears beneath the sea.

The S.S. Atlantus, off Sunset Beach.

Higbee Beach, also on the Delaware Bay, is one of our favorite spots.
Park your bike in the parking lot at the end of New England Road, and then follow the trail through woods and sand dunes to the lovely stretch of beach. There’s a quicker way to get to Higbee Beach, but not a prettier way.

Not far from Sunset Beach is the Cape May Point State Park. Here you can add variety to hours at the beach with a climb to the top of the Cape May Lighthouse or a walk along the three miles of trails. You’ll want to bring a picnic if you’re looking to spend a day at Sunset Beach, Higbee Beach, and Cape May Point State Park.

If you stay on the beaches close to our Cape May Bed and Breakfast, as many people do, nearby McGlades on the Pier is a good spot to grab a lunchtime seafood platter or salad. For snacks, it’s hard to beat Morrow’s Nut House; it is the place to pick up tasty treats like roasted nuts and fudge.

Each evening around 5 p.m., our guests are invited to cool off with a drink on the porch. We think there is no better place to be after a day at the beaches of Cape May.

The Cape May Music Festival opens with an All American Memorial Day Party at the newly restored Joseph Hall Cottage. Guests will enjoy local wines and craft beers with tasty, down home appetizers. The evening concludes with a performance by the Atlantic Brass Band at the Rotary Bandstand.

Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, festival-goers are treated to extraordinary performances:

• New York Chamber Ensemble, May 29.

See Eilen Jewell in Cape May, June 10, 2012.

• Masters of the Celtic Harp, May 31.

• Tribute to George Mesterhazy, June 3.

• New York Chamber Ensemble, June 5.

• Bay-Atlantic Symphony, June 7.

• Eilen Jewell, June 10.

• New York Chamber Ensemble, June 12.

• New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Chamber Players, June 14.

Try a Bach Lunch some day at the Carriage House Café & Tearoom, as well.

Weekends in the summer fill early, but we often have rooms available at our Cape May Bed and Breakfast during the week. Why not take a few days off and treat yourself to a musical feast at the Cape May Music Festival.

Tickets are available at Cape May Music Festival.

Celebrate the Cape MAYgration at John F. Craig House .

Already this year, a few Summer Tanagers, Red-eyed Vireos, and Blue-winged Warblers have been seen. Double-crested Cormorants are being spotted throughout the peninsula these days, and the first Sandpipers of the season are busily running up and down the shoreline.

Guided walks to such bird-rich destinations as Belleplain State Forest, Cape May Point State Park, and Higbee Beach are informative and fun, and take place daily in May.

Bird watching boat trips also take place frequently throughout May; they run every weekend and many Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays as well. Try a Salt Marsh Safari or Back Bay Birding by Boat. The best way to see waterfowl is to visit them in their own element.

The Cape Maygration Celebration adds workshops, kayak trips, photo expeditions, and a number of indoor programs to the already full schedule of birding events. Additional information is available at Cape May Bird Observatory.

May is a good time for bird lovers to spend a few days at our Cape May Bed and Breakfast. Clean your binoculars and make your reservations soon.

See Azaleas in full bloom during the Cape May Spring Festival.

It feels like spring here at our Cape May Bed and Breakfast. The weather has been glorious: warm but not hot, frequently sunny. No wonder the annual Cape May Spring Festival starts today.

Many private gardens are open to the public during the Spring Festival; it’s amazing to see the astounding array of plants that avid gardeners can coax from the ground. Cape May Garden Tours take place April 28, 2012, at 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. These walking tours last an hour–wear comfortable shoes.

Tomorrow, April 28th, is also the 33rd annual Cape May Flower Festival. Rotary Park is will be transformed into an open-air marketplace featuring arts, crafts, and a wide variety of flowers. Rotary Park is just a few blocks from John F. Craig House.

We still have availability at our Bed and Breakfast Cape May during the Spring Festival, and we hope you’ll take some time to come help us celebrate spring.

Learn more about the many Spring Festival events here.

Learning about many natural aspects of Cape May.

One of the best ways to see Cape May is by trolley. The trolley tours of Cape May are legendary. Even folks who think they don’t like trolley tours often find these tours fun.

There are all sorts of trolley tours through Cape May, each one focusing on a different neighborhood or aspect of the town’s colorful past. Try one, and if you like it, try several more. Many guests of our Cape May Bed and Breakfast have a favorite.

Cape May Trolley Tours:

• Welcome to Cape May Trolley Tour: perfect if this is your first trip to Cape May.

• Historic District Trolley Tour: 45 minute tour through the Cape May Historic District.

• Historic District Trolley Tour and Physick Estate Tour:  a two hour trip through the historic district and the Victorian house museum.

• Cape May by Moonlight Trolley Ride: explores the town by moonlight and discover the romantic customs of the Victorians.

• Ghosts of Cape May: discover the haunting past of many Cape May properties.

The Cape May Trolley in front of the John F. Craig House.

Pick a pleasant spring afternoon to travel by trolley around Cape May. Learn a little something about the history of the place. Then come back to our whimsical Cape May Bed and Breakfast for a glass of punch or wine, and share your adventure with other guests.

Learn more about Cape May Trolley Tours here.

The 2012 John F. Craig House Bunny Cake.

The 2012 bunny cake was both beautiful and delicious. Thanks to the guests of our Cape May Bed and Breakfast who helped decorate and eat it!

Another delightful holiday at John F. Craig House.

Beer....

The 2012 Cape May Spring Festival runs April 27 through May 6. Make your plans to stay at our Cape May Bed and Breakfast soon!

Just what happens during the Spring Festival in Cape May? Read on for a list of festival highlights.

• Chocolate and Beer Tasting.You’ve heard of pairing chocolate and wine; why not chocolate and beer? Sample great combinations of beer and chocolate on April 28 at 2 p.m.
  

  ... and chocolate, together at last.

• Sweet & Savory Smackdown. Tour historic properties and sample their signature sweet or savory snacks. April 28 from 1-3:30 p.m.

• Spring Festival Crafts & Antique Shows. Big shows on April 28 and May 5 at the Emlen Physick Estate.

• Luncheon & Temperance Debate. To drink, or not to drink? That is the question that will be fiercely debated over lunch at the historic Merion Inn. April 26, 12:30-2:30 p.m.

• Private Homes Tours. A rare chance to get inside several charming private cottages in and around Cape May. April 28 and May 5, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

When not engaged in Spring Festival fun, roll up your pants and walk barefoot on the beach. Sit on the porch of our Cape May Bed and Breakfast with a book and cool drink in hand. Spring is glorious, no matter what you do.

For a complete list of Spring Festival events and activities, please see the Cape May Spring Festival.

The porch of John F. Craig House is a lovely place to relax.

The Kentucky Derby means putting on a fine hat and sipping Mint Juleps. It means placing $3 bets and spending an afternoon with old and new friends. Watching the Kentucky Derby with guests is a cherished tradition at our Cape May Bed and Breakfast. It is pure silliness and fun.

Will Creative Cause win this year? With an impeccable pedigree, the odds are good. Secret Circle is also a strong contender, as is Union Rags. Then again, the winner could be a complete surprise. It’s happened before.

As of this writing, we still have a couple of openings at our Cape May Bed and Breakfast the weekend of the Kentucky Derby, which falls on May 5 in 2012. Join us, and perhaps we’ll feature your photograph in a blog!

Do you dare spend midnight at the Emlen Physick Estate?

Craig McManus is a fascinating man, and a regular guest at our Cape May Bed and Breakfast. In tune with all things paranormal, one of his favorite places to haunt is Cape May. Why? Why because the town has such a rich history!

Craig will be back in town the weekend of April 13-14, 2012 for a Paranormal Weekend in Cape May: Dinner with the Ghosts, Ghost Tours, and Midnight at the Physick Estate. This is sure to be a fun weekend, and it may surprise you as well. You may find you experience things you never would have thought possible.

The Paranormal Weekend includes:

• Dinner with the Ghosts at the Inn of Cape May, Friday April 13, 7-9 p.m. Enjoy a delicious dinner and an interesting lecture on the ghosts of the inn by Craig.

• A Trolley Ride with the Ghost Writer, Saturday April 14, 7:45 and 9 p.m. Learn more about the paranormal activity of Cape May in general as you travel the town by trolley. Tours last two hours.

• Midnight at the Physick Estate, Saturday April 14, 11 p.m. until after midnight. We’re told there is always a lot of paranormal activity at the Physick Estate. Experience it if you dare!

Spring is a wonderful time at our Cape May Bed and Breakfast. Right now we’re having a lovely stretch of warm weather and enjoying the various flowers that are blooming around town. Just think how lovely it will be in mid-April, during the Paranormal Weekend with Craig McManus.

Learn more about Craig at his website.

Tanya decorating the bunny cake.

There is nothing quite like an Easter Bunny Cake. An Easter Bunny Cake is inherently quirky and funny. It brings up memories of childhood, and it puts a smile on everyone’s face.

Each year, we bake a Bunny Cake at our Cape May Bed and Breakfast. Each year, a couple of our guests decorate it. Every cake ends up with its own unique personality. Some are wonderfully whimsical, others are….. well, most are wonderfully whimsical. It is, after all, a Bunny Cake.

The real Easter Bunny visits us every year, and on Easter morning, guests hunt for eggs while we have fun watching the hunt. And then, of course, there is the cake; it’s nice to look at, but even better to eat.

Our Bed and Breakfast is close to several Cape May churches, all of which welcome guests:

• Cape Island Baptist Church
• Cape May United Methodist Church
• First Presbyterian Church
• Our Lady Star of the Sea

After the decorating comes the eating.

After church, citizens and guests of Cape May traditionally take part in the Easter Stroll along the Washington Street Mall. After all, what good are Easter dresses and bonnets if you can’t show them off a little? This year’s Easter Stroll begins at 1 p.m. on April 8.

Several restaurants in town offer special Easter menus, as well. The Merion Inn is serving a special Easter menu (in addition to their regular menu) between noon and 8:00 p.m. The Washington Inn is serving an Easter brunch that includes fresh croissants, prime rib, and individual chocolate mousse cups. Delicious.

We invite friends old and new to join us for Easter at John F. Craig House. Let the Bunny Cake decorating begin!