Cape May's Longfellow Guest House vacation tips blog

Thanksgiving in Cape May — Where to Get the Perfect Turkey Dinner

2011-11-04T19:42:19Z

3 Thanksgiving Meal Recommendations

Thanksgiving is a great time to visit Cape May. The town takes on a festive holiday atmosphere and for many it's a favorite time of year to enjoy Cape May's special charms with family and friends. Each year our house guests have asked for recommendations for how to best enjoy a great Thanksgiving meal while they're in town. So we thought we'd put our local expertise to good use and recommend a few options to enjoy Thanksgiving Cape May style.

1. Home Cooked Meal

The turkey and trimmings — One of the great benefits of staying in a guest house during a Cape May visit is having full access to a working kitchen and dining room area so you can really make the cooking be a special part of the day for your whole family. Just like it would be in your own home. If you're staying in a guest house, and especially if you're big on the tradition that requires a home cooked Thanksgiving turkey feast (that was always oiur preference), here are some helpful suggestions.

First off, the turkey. If you're really picky about having the perfect turkey, you may want to bring one from your home town to ensure you get exactly what works best for your group (turkey size, quality etc.). If you buy your turkey here, we recommend shopping at the the North Cape May ACME. They have a much bigger and higher quality selection than the Cape May AMCE. Note: Even though our local Cape May ACME is only 3 blocks from our house (and typically we'd recommend to stick with a local source), we've been burned too many times with poor service, sub quality produce and inflated prices. The North Cape May ACME will have most of your shopping needs covered and you won't be gouged on prices. You may, however, want to call ahead to find out the turkey availability so you can plan accordingly should they be sold out. Click the following link to find contact information and a google map directions for the North Cape May ACME store.

Appetizers, H'ordeuvres and Snacks — For yummy appetizers like cheese, pate, spreads and fresh bread, you need look no further than Cape May's own Seaside Cheese Shop. They really have a great selection and feature many seasonal specials including wine pairings with local establishments like the Washington Inn. If you go ask for Steve and tell him you were sent by the Longfellow Guest House and he'll be sure to take care of you.

Desserts — Thanksgiving has always been a favorite time with regards to desserts for oiur family. And one of our favorite local places for sweets and desserts (in any season) is in West Cape May at Ellie's Bakery. We like them so much we even did a little write up about them here. We can't recommend this place enough, and if you go be sure to ask for Ellie herself and tell her the Longfellow House sent you. They are typically open for Thanksgiving but only the weekend before not the weekend after. So if you order from them be sure to plan accordingly. In addition to their world class sticky buns and pastries, they should have a fun seasonal selection suited just for the Thanksgiving Holidays including pumkin and apple pies, bourbon chocolate cake, and something we've never tried but sounds incredible — Michigan Cherry pie. According to Ellie it has a nice tart and full rich flavor found only in those special cherries. Ellie's only makes that pie if they get a supply in of those specific cherries so you may want to call ahead if that interests you. Here's Ellie's Bakery Facebook listing.

Wine, beer and Liquor — For wine, beer and liquor we recommend Collier's Liquor Store right in town center on Jackson Street near the walking mall. Definitely get your supplies ahead of time because typically there's a rush right before Thanksgiving day. And don't forget to stock up on extra ice.

2. Turkey Meal Take Out at the Depot Market Cafe

Now if you're big on having your Thanksgiving meal be as simple and carefree as possible, here an awesome option. And this can work weather you're staying in a guest house, a hotel room, or condo. Order a Thanksgiving meal take out!

The Depot Market Cafe has for a few years running put together a complete Thanksgiving meal that you can order ahead of time, and pick up the day before Thanksgiving. Everything is included right down to the cranberry orange relish! And since their chefs used to work their culinary magic at the Mad Batter (a great local restaurant), you can rest assured that it will be a tasty and satisfying meal. This option is perfect for groups (like those staying in our guest house) that want a home cooked, fully prepapred, high quality Thanksgiving meal, but without the hassle of preparing or cleaning up. Our family has enjoyed this approach a few times and we have to admit every time it was tasty and really enjoyable. The food was really well prepared and cleanup was a breeze. We highly recommend! Be sure to read the details on the menu (see graphic on the right), to make sure you get your order in on time and that you pick it up on time too (the day before, and before noon!).

3. Fancy Pants Thanksgiving Meal

And finally, for a Thanksgiving meal bumped up to the realm of fine dining, we have a few suggestions.

Washington Inn — You really can't go wrong with any meal at the Washington Inn. The service and food are top notch and they have one of the largest wine cellars in South Jersey. Their menu moves away from the traditional turkey dinner, but they do such an incredible job with all their meals that we're sure you won't miss the traditional fare. To help you decide if this is a good option click the graphic to see their menu.

Ebbit Room — The Ebbit room is another establishment that's built a strong reputation over the years for having top notch food and overall fine dining. This is the one place where we haven't actually experienced their Thanksgiving meal, but when reseearching for this article, we looked at the menu it looked so good we thought we'd list it here.

Let Us Know About Your Cape May Thanksgiving Experience

So there you have it, Thanksgiving in Cape May with options from making it yourself right on up to a dressed up meal at some of Cape May's finest restaurants. However you decide, just be sure you enjoy yourself and really give thanks since that's what's really important. And be sure to let us know how you made out. We'd love to hear about your Cape May Thanksgiving experience in the comments, so that insight can help out others next year.

Seaside Cheese: The Best Place to buy Cheese in Cape May

2011-09-11T13:48:25Z

Delicious Artisinal Cheeses In Cape May

If you love Cheese, you need look no further than the Seaside Cheese Company located at 600 Park Blvd in West Cape May. It's the place for Cheese Lovers!

Cheese Platters for the Perfect Party or Event

If you're staying in Cape May and need H'ordeorves for a family event or party, it used to be you had to rely on the local Acme which can be a nightmare experience with their limited selection, high prices and spotty service. Luckily for local residents and visitors alike, Steve and Barb White, owners of Seaside Cheese, saw a need and created a wonderful boutique cheese shop that has a deliciously diverse selection of fresh breads, gourmet crackers, Olives, Balsamic vinaigrette, spreads, anti pasta and of course cheese, cheese, cheese! They're super friendly and really know their cheese. Be sure to ask about their seasonal specials that pair up cheeses with selections of local wines. You're sure to find something to suit your taste.

A Longfellow Family Favorite!

Here's a Longfellow Family favorite: Order the D'Affinois which is a smooth French Double Cream soft cheese made from cows milk (similar to Brie but with a buttery rich flavor). Try it with the fresh bread or as part of a cheese platter with fresh fruit. Delicious. And if you go, be sure to tell Steve or Barb that the Longfellow Guest House sent you, and withough being too cheesey they should give you the VICheese treatment.

Open 7 days a week Seaside Cheese Company (609) 884.8700

Victorian Week: One of the Best Times to Visit Cape May

2011-09-11T12:22:58Z

Our family has always been a fan of the fall season in Cape May. It's one of the most beautiful times to visit. With terrific weather and typically smaller crowds it's a perfect time to get out and explore all that Cape May has to offer. For the last 38 Years, in October The Mid Atlantic Center For the Arts honors Cape May’s unique Victorian heritage by sponsoring a week of Victorian related activities, including: Victorian Fashion Shows, Glass Blowing Demonstrations, Brass Band Concerts, Private Home Tours, Champagne Brunch Walks, Winery Cellar Tours & Tastings, and Crafts & Antiques Shows to name just a few of the fun activities around town.

A Longfellow Family recommendation is The Emlin Physick Estate; an 18 room mansion which operates as a Victorian Historic House Museum. It's a fun visit and if you have kids, they will love some of the old vehicles that are at times on display. To learn more, contact MAC at 609.884.5404, or visit their website.

For Fresh Seafood, The Lobster House Is Perfect for a Family Meal

2011-09-03T14:46:18Z

Fresh, Locally Caught Seafood Your Whole Family Will Love!

A family vacation to the seashore just isn't complete without at least one delicious meal of fresh, locally caught seafood. Our family growing up had many memorable seafood feasts (both at our house and at local restaurants) and the Lobster House Restaurant & Fish Market was a big part of that experience. That's where we'd get our fresh seafood from! The Lobster House, on the water at Schellenger's Landing, is a popular South Jersey tourist destination located at the base of the Cape May bridge. It's 49,000 square feet large that includes:

The Lobster House Restaurant
Schooner American
Take Out, Raw Bar
Fish Market
An Old Fashioned Diner

So whether you are just stopping in for an early breakfast or want to buy fresh seafood for a party, during the peak summer months, knowing how to navigate the options can help you get the most out of your visit.

Lobster House: A Perfect Family Meal for Lunch or Dinner

The main Lobster House Restaurant features 5 dining rooms for lunch and dinner. From the servers uniforms to the table settings the place has a distinctly nautical theme. There are no advance reservations; you simply show up, give your name to the hostess and if it's busy they'll give you an electronic beeper to notify you when you're table is ready. Their full Dinner Menu has a varied fresh seafood selection. A Longfellow Family favorites is the Planked Red Fish, served on an oak plank with whipped potatoes and grilled vegetables - very tasty.

On busy summer nights the wait can be 2 plus hours, time which can be enjoyably spent on the Schooner, visiting the Gift Shop, or wandering the docks to view the commercial fishing boats that sail by (kids love this). As kids, we remember heading over to the fish market and to see the live lobsters in the huge water tank.

The Schooner American: The Perfect Place for Cockails & Hor d'oeuvres

The Schooner American is a 130 foot Grand Banks Sailing Vessel that works quite well as a cocktail lounge. You can order drinks and appetizers while watching the sport fishing boats and pleasure yachts on their way into South Jersey Marina. On busy summer nights they even have live music to entertain the guests. It's a fun place for drinks with family and friends and you just can't beat the atmosphere.

Take-Out: Fresh Boiled or Fried Shrimp, Flounder and Other Delicious Seafood

The Take Out Window serves a variety of fried and broiled seafood, soups & chowders and seafood combo platters. You can order To Go or, if you prefer, enjoy your meal dockside overlooking the Schooner & Fishing Boats docked nearby. Checkout the take out menu to see what might appeal to you and your family.

The Raw Bar: Drinks, Lobster, Crabs, Steamers

The Raw Bar is located on the main dock, across from the Schooner American. It features seafood classics such as steamers, fresh lobster, seasoned chesapeake crabs, and a super rich and yummy crab soup. And unlike the Take Out window, they also serve alcholic beverages. You can order from the counter and enjoy your meal dockside, or you settle in to the bar or tables inside and be waited on. On busy nights you'll wait for a table, but it's generally not as long a wait as the Restaurant. Here's a what the raw bar menu looks like.

Longfellow Family Tip Order from both the Take Out & the Raw Bar and enjoy yourself at a dockside table. The kids, for example, might enjoy the fried seafood (take out), but the adults might prefer fresh steamers, lobster and beer (raw bar.) And on busy nights scout out dock tables while others place the orders.

Lobster House Fish Market

Their Fish Market sells freshly caught seafood. They also bring in frozen fish from around the world so be sure to ask which is which if that's important to you. They also have all the trimmings for a delicious seafood meal such as lemons, cocktail sauce and Bay Seasoning, as well as some prepared specialities such as ready to be cooked clams casino and crabs cakes. The Lobster House Fish Market is definitely the go to place if you're planning a big lobster dinner for friends & family, or a small seafood meal for yourself. And if you are leaving Cape May to head home they will pack up your seafood in ice so it's safe to transport for your drive home.

The Diner

And last but not least, their Diner is a great place in classic diner style, for an early morning breakfast. It has stools for counter service only and is really more of a place for a quick early morning bite for locals (one or two people at at time).

If you have a favorite Lobster House experience or meal, let us know in the commnets below. We'd love to hear your thoughts and share with our readers.

Cape May on a Rainy Day Can be a Blast!

2011-09-03T14:45:51Z

Fun Activities on a Rainy Day

Families love Cape May’s beautiful beaches, but when mother nature doesn't cooperate and gives you rain instead of sunny skies, often parents are left wondering what to do to entertain the kids. Not to worry, there are lots of fun activities to do on a rainy day in and around Cape May, if you know were to look.

Cape May County Zoo: Family Fun For Kids and Parents

Consider a trip to the Cape May County Zoo. It's really a sweet little zoo that your kids are sure to love, remember and talk about for years (really). Admission is free and the 85 acre zoo features over 250 different species including wild cats (Lions, Cheetahs & Tigers) which are a very popular attraction.

Now certainly the zoo is a beautiful experience when the weather is sunny, but here's a secret: when it's rainy (a bit rainy, not too rainy), it will be practically empty and your whole family and kids can have free reign on the place. Just make sure you wear comfortable rain gear to stay warm and dry. A Longfellow Family favorite is to walk the "African Savanna" section. They've built an extensive walkway where you can walk above a recreated African Savanna with Zebras, Ostriches and Spotted Leopards to name a few animals. It’s really well done and quite unbelievable that it's in Cape May County. We've found that if it's not raining too bad, and if you have some good rain gear, the zoo can be a really fun place to enjoy. Check out this zoo brochure for additional helpful information.

Mini Golf: A Cape May Favorite

One of the Longfellow Family's favorite Cape May pastimes was to take our group of friends and family to play mini golf. Our favorite course is the Ocean Putt Golf Course, on Beach & Jackson Street (just across from Hot Dog Tommy’s). It's had the same course layout since the 60s and is really a throw back to old style mini golf. For our taste, this is the real deal. And if you sink the 18th with a hole-in-one shot you win a free round! Michael Longfellow (of the Longfellow Family) has the course record — a fairly "unbeleivable" 27 — which he says he shot when he was 16. You get a 27 score by shooting 9 holes in one and the rest 2s.

Mini-golf is perfect for those cloudy days when the beach just won't do and you're looking for something the entire family can enjoy together.

Cape May Point State Park & Lighthouse

Here's a neat idea: walk up to the top of the Cape May Point Lighthouse. Built in 1859, this historic landmark is a must see, and visitors can walk to the top to get a fantastic view of Cape May Point Park. Side note: on a nice day the Cape May State Park has a great walk on wooden walkways that goes inland past some of the local flora & fauna and ends up on the beach. It's an easy walk with beautiful scenery and worth a visit for your family. And the kids will really get a kick out of the Lighthouse spiral staircase that takes you to the top.

That's Entertainment: Movies

And if it's really pouring rain and you've done all the shopping (Washington Street Mall) you can handle, there is of course the rainy day standby; take the family and kids to the movies. The closest (decent) movie theatre is a 12-plex in Rio Grande. And actually it's really quite a nice theater with its big comfy chairs and clean feel. It's called Frank's Theater and is about a ten minute drive from the Longfellow House up Route 9 (or exit 4 on the Garden State Parkway.) For movie listings you can call 609.889.4799 or visit this movie listings link to see what’s playing.

Good luck, and if you have any other great ideas about fun things you've discovered that you and your kids can do in Cape May on a rainy day — let us know. We'd love to hear about it!

Cape May's Best Beach Lunch Features Hot Dogs & Frozen Coke!

2011-08-12T18:41:00Z

Creative and Unique Hot Dogs, Frozen Cherry Coke & Fun!

The Kind of Place Your Kids Will Love and Remember!

Walk down Jackson Street, just past the Virginia Hotel & Mad Batter Restaurant and you’ll see an unusual site; 30 to 40 people patiently waiting to step up to a window where there's a guy with a stuffed hot dog on his head.

Cape May's Best Hot Dogs are right next to the Beach

This is where you can get the most unique hot dogs in Cape May. And it doesn't hurt that the people who run Hot Dog Tommy's — Tom and Mary Snyder — really understand what friendly personal service means. A Longfellow House favorite is the Jersey Slaw Dog — a truly creative combo that features a 100% Blank Angus Beef dog, with yellow mustard and Mary's own home made Cranberry Jersey Slaw (Tom's wife Mary makes it and it's really good!). Definitely give this one a try.

Frozen Cherry Cokes Top it Off!

Hot Dog Tommy's serves other unique selections too. For example, there are Potato Tornados — a mix of Mashed Potatoes with chilli, beans and other toppings that really delivers on taste, texture and for sure it will fill you up for the rest of your afternoon. Add in a frozen Cherry Coke and you have a quick, and quite inexpensive lunchtime meal that will satisfy the youngest and harshest food critic in your family. So be sure to check out Hot Dog Tommy's, you and your kids will be glad you did. Tell them the Longfellow Guest House sent you and you'll get extra special treament!

Find full details about Hot Dog Tommy's on their helpful website:
Hot Dog Tommy's Website

Family Fun at Cape May's only Brick Oven Pizza Joint! (video)

2011-04-26T03:38:55Z

Your Kids Will Love this Family Style Eatery

Lucky Bones is fast becoming (though really it already is) a must visit Cape May establishment. With a large restaurant footprint (i.e. tons of room), family oriented menu, a large bar and live music, and plenty of on site parking, it makes for an easy way to spend dinner with the whole family. The large bar allows you to sit and watch the game or just converse with your friends, and the separate dinning area has big tables to accomodate large groups, and third room is kind of a combo dining area that features an occasional live band performance. It's in that room that you'll see their one of a kind brick oven pizza. All their breads, roasted garlic and peppers along with hand made pizzas are cranked through this oven and it makes for some delicious fare.

My Interview with Lucky Bones Owner - David Craig

This interview originally appeared on my capemayX website, but since that site went on a sabbatical, we decided to bring it on over to the Longfellow Guest House website. After all, the video features the type of content that is exactly what our house is all about: fun things to do in Cape May with your family and friends. So check it out. You can get a sense for what Lucky Bones is all about and may be motivated to take the whole family. They can get busy in the Summer so definitely call ahead to get a sense for how packed it is and how to reserve a table.

Video Interview with David Craig
6 minutes view time
Lucky Bones phone #: (609) 884-2663
Lucky Bones Website

Spring Cape May Getaway Weekend Special

2011-04-18T00:30:20Z

Enjoy a Perfect Cape May Getaway Weekend with Your family & Friends

We still have a few weekends open for our Spring 2011 season, before we kick into our summer rental season. For those that's haven't experienced Cape May in the springtime, Spring is such a beautiful time to visit as the flowers are in bloom, the weather can be spectacular, and it's not too crowded. So to help motivate you to grab one of our last weekends still open to enjoy with your family and friends, we're offering the following special:

For any new confirmed Spring rental for our remaining weekends still open in April and May of 2011, we'll provide a complimentary linens package.

There's Great Value in a Vacation Home Rental

Now first off, a vacation home (or guest house as it's commonly referred to) is a fantastic family vacation value anyway. It's really the perfect way to enjoy the best of what Cape May offers, while providing all the comforts of staying in a beautiful, comfortable home. And with this special, we've made it that much easier to get in and out without having to bring (or clean, or drop off) your own linens. Our offseason in-room linen packages can cost up to $195 for a full house, so this special adds up to a nice savings, which can be important these days.

Let Us Know by May 5th, 2011!

We're offering this special to new guests (rental guests that sign up after April 17, 2011) that confirm a rental (confirm means we've received a signed lease and payment) by May 5th, for any of our still open times in April and May 2011. Just tell us in your communications you'd like to have the 2011 Spring Weekend Linen Special, and you'll be all set.

Thanks, and don't forget to sign up for our private email list where we usually announce these types of specials before posting them to our blog. It's a fun newsletter and only goes out a few times a year.

Contact The Longfellow Guest House Today

If you have any questions about the above special, or to inquire about availability, call us directly at (609) 884-3482, or email us today and we'll get right back to you! Our 2011 Spring Getaway Weekend Special is first come first serve so let us know if you are interested, and thank you so much! We appreciate your time and hope to see you down here.

Cape May Family Fun — Take Your Kids for Homemade Ice Cream (Video)

2011-02-20T15:11:42Z

A summer time must do family activity

We're in the heart of winter, so what better time to share a tip about ice cream! Actually, the following tip is a super fun thing you can do with your family and the kids (and the kid in all of us) will surely love it. We're talking about the Vanilla Bean Creamery which features Cape May's best (and only maybe?) home made ice cream. They are only open during the summer months but when they are we highly recommend making the trip to get some.

Video Interview with Vanilla Bean Creamery Owner Joanne

This 2 minute video originally appeared as part of a series created by Michael Longfellow for the Cape May X website. Well, even though Cape May x is somewhat on standby, the content is still fresh and helpful. If you stop by the Vanilla Bean Creamery, tell owner Joanne that you saw her Michael Longfellow interview and she'll be sure to scoop you up good. Unfortunately they don't have a website, but here's a link to their contact info and a google map.

Cape May's History in a 100 Year Old Post Card!

2010-11-07T18:14:16Z

The oldest street in America's oldest shore resort

Cape May has so much incredible history, which isn't surprising given that Cape May is this country's oldest shore resort. The Longfellow Guest House enjoys a unique a part of that history since our address is on the oldest residential street in Cape May, Hughes Street. Not to mention we've had that distinction since 1851. So when you enjoy your Cape May vacation in our home, you are smack dab in the middle of the historic victorian district, surrounded by the architecture, history, and interesting landscape that defines the heart of soul of of this town.

Our history is Cape May's history

Look at this fantastic old postcard we discovered recently in our family archives. It's a hand painted postcard from 1903 or earlier (that's the postmark on the stamp), looking down Hughes Street from about 3/4 the way up the first block. If you stand in the exact place today you'll recognize those three houses indicated on the left. And our home would be down about five houses on the right.

It's quite amazing to see how wide the streets were back then, though that may just be the depiction in this card. Look at the simple bike the kid is on, and his knee high knickers, and how well dressed the adults were - we've found that to be consistent in all our old photos - including shots of people going to the beach in their three piece suits.

Our vacation home features lots of old photos that we've hung so our guests can enjoy them too. They are throughout our home. We find that sharing old family artifacts or photos that capture Cape May's history, really helps to connect people with what makes this town so unique, and makes them feel the special charm of Cape May while they are here enjoying their family vacation.

We'll post other fun images as we find them in our archives. Feel free to comment below if you have a question or can add some further helpful insight to this postcard.