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Resources for Coast Guard Families
Every Friday is graduation day
in Cape May for recruits at the U.S. Coast Guard
Training Center. Attendees are expected to be at the base at 9:30
AM. There will be a brief orientation. Graduation takes place
promptly at 11 AM and is a formal military ceremony. For a full
graduation schedule and more details on the US Coast Guard Training
Center be sure to visit
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/capemay/
CapeMay.com often receives inquiries regarding how to get here,
where to stay, where to eat and what to do. So – here’s the scoop.
Getting to Cape May
 Driving to Cape May
Most people drive to Cape May. Cape May is an island, accessible
by one of two main bridges that cross the canal waterway linking the
Delaware Bay with the Atlantic Ocean. The bridge nearest the base is found at mile-marker zero (the end) of the Garden State Parkway. The
road straight ahead at that point crosses the canal and becomes
Lafayette Street on the other side of Schellenger's Landing. The
base is located at Pennsylvania Avenue, off Pittsburgh Avenue.
From the Garden
State Parkway
Drive to the end of the Garden State Parkway, which becomes Route
109 S. Continue over the large bridge (over the canal) and a second
smaller bridge. Keep left; when the road divides, turn left onto
Sidney Avenue. At the stop sign, make another left onto Washington
Street. Immediately get into the right-hand lane, making the
right-hand turn past the C-View Inn where the road divides. The road
is now Texas Avenue. Stay on Texas Avenue as it curves right and
becomes Pittsburgh Avenue. Take Pittsburgh Avenue to Pennsylvania
Avenue and make a left. Continue to the Training Center's main gate.
If coming up from the south, you may want to take the
Cape
May-Lewes Ferry which leaves from Lewes, Delaware and docks in
North Cape May.
Follow 109 (toward Cape May). Turn right at the third traffic light
onto Route 626 (Seashore Road) and drive straight across into West
Cape May. This road becomes Broadway and terminates at the Ocean in
Cape May City. You are now on Beach Avenue. Turn left. Stay on Beach
Ave. until you come to Pittsburgh at the other end of the avenue.
Turn left. Stay on Pittsburgh until you come to Pennsylvania Avenue.
Turn right. Follow to the Training Center's main gate.
By Airplane
If you are flying into the area, the nearest commercial airport is
in Atlantic City (ACY), about 50 minutes from Cape May. The nearest large
airport is Philadelphia International (PHL), under 2 hours away.
Trains/Buses
Trains do not run from major cities to Cape May, but buses do.
Click here for
the NJ Transit Station schedule.
Car Rentals
Car rental reservations should be made at the airport for pickup
at the time of your arrival. View
local car rental agencies.
Cape May Accommodations
 Now you’re here and you need a place to stay. One thing you should
be mindful of – there’s a huge difference between Cape May "in
season," basically May through October when all the hotels, B&Bs,
and restaurants are open and fully operational, and Cape May "off
season," when the choices in all categories become far more limited.
Use our listings of
Places to Stay on the left menu bar and call
to reserve your accommodations ahead of time. Specify if you will be
a late arrival. You may be surprised how many people neglect this
process and end up disappointed.
The largest motor inns are along Beach Avenue. The other main
streets that are parallel with the beach include Lafayette,
Washington and Columbia. The higher numbers are nearest to the Coast
Guard Training Center. The lower numbers are in the historic
district.
Year-Round Hotels/Motels
Year-Round Bed & Breakfast Inns
All of these hotels and B&Bs either have a dining facility
or have access to one nearby. This is very important during those
winter months of January through March when the dining options are
really limited.
What hotels are closest to the
Coast Guard base?
Groceries, Banks & Bikes
 But for those you coming April through December, the sky’s the
limit. Just remember to make your reservations early at any of
Cape May's fine
restaurants.
A few year-round restaurants
- The Pilot House
- The Ugly Mug
- Jackson Mountain Cafe
- The Lobster House
Cape May has four convenience stores that are open early
and late all year.
- 2 Wawas: one on Pittsburgh Ave. and
one on Bank St. next to Swain's
Hardware
- 7-11 on Sunset at Broadway
- Acme Grocery Store,
located in Victorian Commons on Lafayette Street
TIP:
There are also year-round
restaurants, grocery stores, and convenience stores, including
Wal-Mart, just four miles up the Garden State Parkway in Rio Grande.
If you’re spending a few days or weeks in Cape May, getting around
town is easier and more fun on a bicycle. You don’t need to bring
your own. There are several bike rental agencies that offer daily or
weekly rental periods and can even deliver the bikes to your hotel,
motel or B&B. Riders need to follow traditional traffic rules and
children under 13 must wear helmets (free with rentals).
TIP:
The best time and place to ride? On the promenade before 10AM
and along Sunset Blvd. to Sunset Beach - at sunset.
The best way to see Cape May is to walk through town. Cape May is a
small island with so much to see that walking is the best way to
explore the town. Newly placed in key locations are pedestrian
crossing signs at traffic lights. Be sure to walk when the sign
indicates it is safe; don't cross when the hand indicating stop is
showing. Drivers at the traffic lights are not paying attention to
the walk or don't walk signals; they are waiting for the lights to
turn green.
TIP:
Be aware of what the cars around you are doing. Drivers
generally yield to pedestrians (in the cross-walks it is a New
Jersey law). But to avoid congestion at busy intersections use the
pedestrian crossing signals.
Banks and ATMs are situated in all of the most visited areas.
Public bathrooms can be found near the Washington St. Mall and the
Victorian Commons as well as along the beach and promenade.
What
to Do in Cape May
 So now you’re here – you have a place to stay – you know where
you’re going to eat – what are you going to do?
Of course, there’s always the beach, biking, and walking, carriage
rides, miniature golf, the movies, golf, fishing, tennis – well –
you get the idea.
The Mid-Atlantic
Center for the Arts (MAC) sponsors a number of tours of the Cape
May’s many historic homes. Information can be obtained by calling or
e-mailing MAC directly or by visiting the information booth located
at the end of the Washington Street Mall.
 In addition, the island is a huge draw for migrating birds and,
therefore, migrating birders.
The
Cape May Bird Observatory at Cape May Point always has full
schedule of events for the beginner as well as the seasoned birder.
The
Nature Center of Cape May, right on Delaware Avenue near the US.
Coast Guard base also offers a host of activities, especially on the
weekends "in season." They also run a popular day camp Monday
through Thursday June 30 and continuing until August 21.
The Cape May County Park and Zoo on Rt. 9 (2 miles north of Cape May
Courthouse) is open 7 days a week from 10 AM to 4:45 PM. Admission
is free and you can get there "in season" by taking the train which
leaves from the Welcome Center on Lafayette Street. The train also
takes you to Historic
Cold Spring Village which is a 19th century, open-air, living
history museum built on a 22 acre wooded site which includes 25
restored historic buildings. Costumed shopkeepers and craftsmen will
guide you through your travel back in time.
And if you have children with you on your visit, don’t forget to
take the short drive over to
Wildwood
which is a town devoted to the doo-wop theme and has any number of
amusement parks and water slides to entertain the whole family.
Well, that’s about it. Enjoy your visit and our congrats to the
newly appointed Seaman Apprentice or Seaman Fireman. |
