Jersey Shore Sightseeing, Plan a Wildwood Vacation
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In the Wildwoods – Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood – sightseeing is a must – with an assortment of picturesque and interesting historic sites.
The Doo Wop Bus Tour is a perpetual favorite, the perfect way to experience the Wildwoods’ collection of mid-century “Doo Wop” architecture www.doowopusa.org with its jig-saw angles, neon lights, dramatic overhangs, pagoda peaks and lava-rock sidings. The Wildwoods are home to the country’s largest collection of preserved and restored 1950s and 1960’s commercial architecture.
Also on the island, you’ll find the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, a beautifully restored 1874 “Carpenter Gothic” lighthouse and exquisite English Garden. The Wildwoods are also host to the George F. Boyer Museum www.the-wildwoods.com/history/museum.html, dedicated to the island’s history.
Just off the island you’ll find Historic Cold Spring Village www.hcsv.org, a 19th-century living history museum that offers insight into the lives of the craftsmen of the day - printers, blacksmiths, potters and more - and their families, spinning, weaving and cooking on an open hearth.
At the Naval Air Station Wildwood www.usnasw.org, learn how the region played a key role in training carrier-based airmen in World War II. See the large collection of historic aircraft and enjoy special events from the newly restored Hangar #1, among the nation’s last remaining examples of WW II wooden aircraft hangar construction.
Nearby Historic Cape May www.capemaychamber.com offers one of the country’s most dramatic collections of perfectly preserved Victorian architecture, including colorful “gingerbread” cottages, shops and historic mansions like the Emlen Physick Estate and the Southern Mansion.
In the nearby village of Cape May Point, you can climb the 218 steps of the 1859 Cape May Lighthouse and enjoy the stunning view of Cape May, the beach, wetlands and a few unusual landmarks - including a concrete ship and a World War II artillery bunker. Cape May Point is also a favorite spot to dig for “Cape May Diamonds” the multicolored pebbles, naturally polished during their long journey down the Delaware River and deposited on the beaches of Delaware Bay.
From Cape May, board a train on the Cape May Seashore Lines www.seashorelines.com/ and take a fun and relaxing summer train ride to Cold Spring Village and the Cape May County Park - You might even see Thomas the Tank Engine.
At the park, enjoy the award-winning free Cape May County Zoo, featuring over 180 species of animals like African Lion, Cheetah, Ocelot, Cotton-Top Tamarin and Bison, plus a reptile house, aviary and African Savanna, a “walking safari” where strollers can observe giraffes, zebra, ostriches and more in a natural setting.
The Wetlands Institute www.wetlandsinstitute.org/ near Stone Harbor is devoted to environmental preservation and education. Take a walking tour ... pet a baby Diamondback Terrapin ... and climb the tower to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the local flora and fauna - egrets, herons, ospreys and more.
Follow the butterflies and hummingbirds as they navigate Leaming’s Run Botanical Gardens http://www.leamingsrungardens.com, the largest annual garden in the U.S., featuring acres of beautiful flowers, ferns, lawns and ponds - plus a historically-accurate reproduction of a 17th century Cape May whalers’ village and food gardens.
Visit the Wildwoods to discover even more.
Photo credits (top photos): Craig Terry/Cape May County Tourism
