Cape May named as among country’s ‘happiest’ seaside towns

Cape May is one of the ten happiest seaside towns in the United States, according to Coastal Living magazine.

The historic community, well known for its 19th century Late Victorian style homes and bed and breakfast establishments, joins communities in California, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, South Carolina, and Washington.

They’re towns, according to Coastal Living, “that are sure to make you smile—for a weekend or a lifetime.”

From the article:

Called “The Queen” of seaside resorts, this tiny city of 3,558 is a National Historic District, with nearly 600 preserved Victorian buildings (including grand hotels), sweeping beaches, and a charming promenade. Just a 2½-hour drive from Manhattan, Cape May is the ideal destination for design lovers who enjoy exhilarating (but non-strenuous) outdoor activities, plus cocktailing and watching the colorful non-stop action on gingko-lined Jackson Street. Cultured, fun-loving, and gracious, Cape May is a true gem on New Jersey’s fabled shore.

Cape May is no stranger to accolades. In 2015, Oyster.com, a hotel rating company, named the Victorian community as among the country’s “most adorable” beaches towns.

John Cooke, the manager of Cape May’s Victorian Motel and a radio talk show host and blogger, says the latest praise doesn’t surprise him. 

“People who visit and love Cape May as well as those who live here generally love the Cape May experience,” he said. 

Just to the north, Ocean City was named the country’s beach town last year in a reader survey conducted by the magazine. 

Self-billed as “America’s Greatest Family Resort,” Ocean City was named the state’s most popular beach in 2009, 2014, and 2015.