We created the Best of Cape May to recognize local businesses who contribute to an unforgettable Cape May vacation experience. Every August, we poll our readers to determine the best Cape May has to offer in accommodations, shopping, dining, and leisure. We are happy to see a few new names on the list this year, and we were excited to have the closest Best B&B vote in the history of the survey! Without further ado, here are those you have deemed the Best of Cape May for 2012:

• Best Bed & Breakfast Inn: The Queen Victoria
  Runner up: The Mission Inn
• Best Guest House: The Highland House
  Runner up: The Columbia House
• Best Hotel or Motel: Congress Hall
  Runner up: Victorian Motel
• Best Campground
  TIE: Beachcomber Camping Resort and Seashore Campsites
• Best pet-friendly accommodation: The Highland House
  Runner up: Billmae
• Best place to stay with kids: Victorian Motel
  Runner up: Congress Hall
• Best restaurant customer service: Washington Inn
  Runner up: Lucky Bones
• Best accommodation customer service: The Queen Victoria
  Runner up: The Mission Inn
• Best store customer service: Whale’s Tale
  Runner up: White
• Best clothing store: Klothes Kove
  Runner up: Colors
• Best place to get beach wear
  TIE Pete Smith’s Surf Shop (pictured) and Dellas 5 & 10
• Best jewelry store: Henry’s
  Runner up: Splash
• Best place to find a bargain: Dellas 5 & 10
  Runner up: Sunset Beach Gift Shops
• Best place to buy accessories: Madame’s Port
  Runner up: West End Garage
• Best candy store: The Original Fudge Kitchen
  Runner up: Morrow’s Nut House
• Best gift store: Whale’s Tale
  Runner up: Sunset Beach Gift Shops
• Best coffee: Avalon Coffee
  Runner up: Tommy’s Folly
• Best breakfast: George’s Place
  Runner up: Mad Batter
• Best brunch: Mad Batter
  Runner up: George’s Place
• Best place for a quick lunch: Hot Dog Tommy’s
  Runner up: The Depot Market
• Best pizza: Louie’s
  Runner up: Lucky Bones
• Best hamburger: Lucky Bones
  Runner up: Ugly Mug
• Best sandwich or cheesesteak: The Depot Market
  Runner up: Zoe’s
• Best takeout: The Lobster House
  Runner up: The Depot Market
• Best fine dining: Washington Inn
  Runner up: Tisha’s
• Best restaurant with kids
  TIE Lucky Bones and Uncle Bill’s Pancake House (pictured)
• Best seafood restaurant: The Lobster House
  Runner up: Cape May Fish Market
• Best crabcakes: The Lobster House
  Runner up: Mad Batter
• Best ice cream, custard, or gelato: Kohr Brothers
  Runner up: Ben & Jerry’s
• Best off-island restaurant: Harbor View
  Runner up: Harpoon Henry’s
• Best overall restaurant in Cape May: Washington Inn
  Runner up: Lucky Bones
• Best place for cocktails: Martini Beach
  Runner up: The Brown Room
• Best bar for music: The Boiler Room
  Runner up: Ugly Mug
• Best bar to meet up with friends: The Rusty Nail
  Runner up: Ugly Mug
• Best overall bar in Cape May: Ugly Mug
  Runner up: The Brown Room
• Best beach for tanning: Steger Beach
  Runner up: Poverty Beach
• Best beach for surfing: The Cove
• Best beach with children: Poverty Beach
  Runners up: Steger Beach and the Cove
• Best place to escape the sun: At your favorite watering hole. Carney’s, Cabanas, the Ugly Mug, and the Rusty Nail (pictured) all received multiple write-ins!
• Best thing to do on a rainy day: Shop on the Washington Street Mall
  Runner up: Wine tastings
• Best kid-friendly activity: Miniature Golf
  Runner up: Cape May County Zoo
• Best area winery: Cape May Winery
  Runner up: Hawk Haven
• Best spa or massage: Cape May Day Spa
  Runner up: Sea Spa at Congress Hall
• Best festival or parade: West Cape May Christmas Parade
• Best birding spot: Cape May Point State park
• Best tourist attraction: Lighthouse at Cape May Point State park
  Runner up: Sunset Beach and the sunken ship
• Best area golf course: Cape May National Golf Club
  Runner up: Avalon Golf Club
• Best miniature golf course: Cape May Miniature Golf and Cocomoe’s Premium Ice Cream Parlor
  Runner up: Ocean Putt
• Best watersports activity: Kayaking
  Runner up: Parasailing
• Best bicycle route: Sunset Boulevard toward Sunset Beach
• Best free or low-cost activity: Walking around town
  Runner up: Cape May County Zoo
• Best history tour: The Physick Estate
  Runner up: Trolley tours
• Best ghost tour: Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tour
• Best water or boat tour: Cape May Whale Watcher
  Runner up: The Silver Bullet
• Best place to meet up with people: Washington Street Mall
• Most likely place to meet a local: The C-View Inn (pictured) and WaWa
• Favorite Victorian building: The Queen Victoria and the Emlen Physick Estate
• The one place you ALWAYS go when you visit Cape May: Sunset Beach (pictured), The Lobster House, and Washington Street Mall

Thank you for voting and celebrating all that Cape May has to offer!