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June 17, 2011

Dining, Shopping, Touring, and Falling in Love at Congress Hall, Cape May, NJ

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There are so many reasons why travelers fall in love with a place. There is often one really special reason we choose to go back year after year, over all other choices.

For me, when visiting Congress Hall in Cape May, NJ, that special reason would be its story. Not to say that it doesn’t have a lot more to offer, but to know the history of this picturesque resort in the Jersey Shore, is to allow yourself to be transported back in time and enveloped in the beauty of one man’s dream come true.

I met Curtis Bashaw, General Managing Partner, in a pretty formal way, as one in my industry normally would – through the efforts of a press trip, in a casual meeting setting, while preparing for an overview of the locale.

At that point, in my mind, I was simply impressed with the sophistication of Congress Hall and the Cape May area. Beautiful, serene beach town. Lovely resort, good food, comfy beds, amazing spa, pretty decor – you know, real classy stuff.

But to hear Mr. Bashaw tell the story of Cape May, the ups and downs of Congress Hall, and how his childhood vacation retreat is now one he proudly co-owns and manages, is nothing short of awe-inspiring. He gifted us all with a copy of Tommy’s Folley by Jack Wright, which tells the story of Thomas Hughes, who founded Congress Hall in 1816 and all that followed after wards.

But he also gifted us with a personal insight into what this place represents and means to him. In listening to Mr. Bashaw speak of his history here – and that of his family before him, of the moment as a teenager when looking out into the ocean and feeling inspired to transform this place to what it is today – makes one feel immediately connected to it and a bit in love with it all.

During the time of my stay, I felt relaxed and delighted. For despite the little I know about the Jersey Shore, this was nothing like what I expected. When not blissfully serene, there were festive moments and sounds of celebration, as was the case during the beautiful wedding that took place on my first full day there. I saw families, with members of all ages, enjoying the beach, the pool, and the various other activities in the area.

I was able to enjoy some light shopping, a special spa treatment, as well as experience some exquisite dining.

And this brings me to the food. Who would’ve thought that Cape May, NJ would host such a wonderful selection of culinary divinities? The first experience was at the Beach Plum Farm, a short drive away from the beach, and a world away from every day life.

When I arrived, the sun was hot and bright. Covered in a protective layer of bug spray, I toured with Mr. Bashaw as he told the tale of how he came about this vast 65 acres of land. It’s been restored and re-purposed to give meaning to the “Garden State” label of New Jersey state, planted with summer crops like blueberries, asparagus, tomatoes and strawberries, large perennial herb garden, all harvested as organically and naturally as possible. This farm supplies Cape Resorts Group’s restaurants with close to their 50% of seasonal produce.

And it was my fortune to have experienced something they hope to offer more in the future – a luxurious lunch on the farm hosted by The Ebbitt Room’s very own Lucas Manteca.

The food was incredible. Fresh, full of flavor, perfectly prepared and presented. The spectacular views of the farm complimented the meal and it was the highlight of my visit. They offer guests organized bike tours twice weekly in addition to the picnics, which hotel guests can reserve through the concierge for groups of six or more.

Another unforgettable dining experience was at Congress Hall’s own Blue Pig Tavern. Named after a gambling parlor sited in Congress Hall in the mid-1800s, it was the first tavern in Cape May.

The setting outside was beautiful as the pinkish-blue sunset colors adorned the skies. The dining experience here too, along with the impeccable service, made this a wonderful last meal during my stay. Again, all food was fresh, well prepared, and beautifully presented. A great example of what a dining experience should feel like, but is so rarely had.

Congress Hall is one of several resorts under the Cape Resorts Group umbrella. Other resorts include:

The Virginia Hotel and Cottages – Best for couples and those visiting without small children, this hotel is offers 24 intimate rooms in the main house and 5 spacious cottages along Jackson Street. A beautifully restored 1879 landmark building, The Virginia Hotel is one of the most luxurious hotels in the area.

The Star Inn – Is the B&B for families. Within walking distance from Congress Hall, The Star offers 2 spacious condos and 9 rooms. Guests enjoy ample space for families to spread out and take in the Summer or the beauty of the colorful Fall months here. It’s the only hotel in the area with a coffee shop featuring Starbucks products.

The Beach Shack – The most casual of all the hotels, the Beach Shack is welcoming of flip-flops, shorts, and sand in your toes. A family favorite, this locale offers easy access to The Rusty Nail, a casual eating spot, recently named one of America’s Best Beach Bars by Travel and Leisure.

The Sandpiper Beach Club – Meant to accommodate those travelers planning on staying a bit longer than most, this resort offers all the amenities and comforts of home, including housekeeping services, kitchen, living room, balcony, and beautiful ocean views. There are a total of 51 one or two bedroom units in this newly renovated family friendly condominium.

The Chelsea Hotel is in Atlantic City, and is one of Cape Resorts Group’s newest addition. Catering in luxury to the Atlantic City crowd, it promises to bring a taste of Cape May quality to the Atlantic City shores.

There is an endless (truly) list of activities and celebrated events here. No matter what the season, or the weather. The purpose is to celebrate family and bring them together, to inspire happy moments and create lasting memories.

Between this and providing as much comfort as they possibly can, even in minimizing the amount of carry-ons to the beach through their cabana services, it’s no surprise families have made this a favorite destination for so many years.

It’s important for me to note a few things:

There are no trains that go into the Cape May area. You must drive or take a bus. Visit njtransit.com and search for buses to Cape May for more information. The resort is about a 3.5 to 4-hour drive from Manhattan, and once you get there, you can store away your car keys during your stay, as you won’t need them. For more information on traveling into Cape May from NYC and the surrounding areas visit the Getting Here section of CapeMay.com.

Easter, Fourth of July, Christmas are all great holidays and are greatly celebrated in Congress Hall. However, they are also incredibly popular and there is a high demand for them. If you’d like to experience any of these celebrations in Congress Hall and the surrounding resorts, check their Calendar of Events and if you are interested in being a part of the festivities, be sure to reserve your room ahead early, as they book fast.

When looking to book a stay at any of the resorts, be sure to check out the site and even call ahead and let the concierge know what you are looking for and what your expectations are. All the resorts are great, but they also all offer a different experience to each traveler. For example, as noted above, if you are a traveling family you might want to look at the Beach Shack or The Star Inn, as opposed to the Virgina Hotel. If you are looking for more peace and quiet, note that Congress Hall is the central destination for celebrations, gatherings, and other festivities, which can make it a bit noisier at times. Rooms on the 4th floor are the most quiet, but rooms in The Annex are the least so.

Congress Hall and its sister hotels are luxury destinations, and it can be a bit more of a financial commitment for a larger family, such as hers and mine. What was wonderful about discussing these concerns with Mr. Bashaw and his team is that they were able to also express a sincere interest in opening up the experience for more families to enjoy.

 

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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13 Comments
  • Jo-Lynne {Musings of
    June 17, 2011

    SO much fun getting to know you better. Your post makes me want to go back right. now.

    Reply
  • Carol Cain
    June 17, 2011

    Thank you! Hope we can make it back soon Jo-Lynne!

    Reply
  • Joey Fortman
    June 17, 2011

    Wowzers!! Your pictures are absolutely amazing!! They go perfectly with your personality. =) I loved getting to know you better. And I especially am grateful for your pep talk. You are the real deal. Hope to meet up soon! xoxoxo – Joey ( http://www.RealMomMedia.com )

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      Joey Fortman
      June 17, 2011

      Aw! Thanks Joey! It was so great chatting with you too : ) Good luck in all you do!

      Reply
  • Melisa
    June 17, 2011

    This post was great: so well-written (almost like poetry!) and informative. I'd love to visit this place. (NOW. 🙂 )

    Love the picture of Liz on the beach, too!!!

    I'm glad you had a great time!

    Reply
  • Liz
    June 17, 2011

    Our friend Melisa is absolutely spot on — this post is sheer, unadulterated and absolute poetry, my dear — LOVED the chance to experience one of my most favorite places on the "real" Jersey Shore, with you 🙂 Although, after readying your awesome recap, I miss you terribly.

    Reply
  • Bicultural Mama
    June 18, 2011

    What a gorgeous place. I can tell you enjoyed it a lot from all the great pictures you took. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  • Ellen
    June 21, 2011

    Lovely post! So lovely I'm sitting here at my desk, feeling quite nostalgic at the moment. Wish we were back there! I enjoyed getting to know you better over the weekend, Carol, and I hope we'll see each other at another event soon. Good luck with your move!

    Reply
  • Dining, Shopping, Touring, and Falling in Love in Cape May, New Jersey, Travel | BlogHyped Blog Promotion Network
    July 1, 2011

    […] Home › Travel › Dining, Shopping, Touring, and Falling in Love in Cape May, New Jersey […]

    Reply
  • Glamamom
    July 5, 2011

    I love the romantic way you've recounted the trip. I'm honored to have shared this special experience with you. xo

    Reply
  • Carol Cain
    July 8, 2011

    Thank you so much for your kind compliments everyone : )

    Reply
  • Antoinette | love.an
    July 5, 2012

    The REAL Jersey Shore, as they all like to say! It's funny how you came out with a Cape May post shortly after I was asking New Jersey friends and patients about it. I've never been and I've always been so curious about this [now I know] gorgeous place south of Jersey! Great post Carol, and yummy food photos!

    Reply
  • Carol Cain
    July 6, 2012

    @ Antoinette | love.antoinette:

    Thank you! It's a really pretty spot. Definitely go

    If you get a chance : )

    Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a des If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a destination for you. This list of good eats were all within close proximity to each other and spots we made time for during our short weekend visit. So definitely note that this doesn’t even begin to cover the tip of the iceberg, but makes a good starter list!

📍@ShortStackEats in the heart of Downtown Madison is clearly a UW favorite. Loved their pancakes! We thought it was a pricey for breakfast, and only offered drip coffee, but the scene was fun, food was good, and service was friendly.
📍@SardineMadison is a waterfront French bistro that has stood the test of time (we’ve been coming here since we lived in Madison!). It can feel very corporate some nights, but their Happy Hour and brunch are definite highlights and it’s a really nice dining experience overall.
📍@EatattheAudrey impressed us! It’s not your usual “hotel restaurant” and I would say it easily stands alone as an eatery worth checking out in Madison. Great breakfast options, cozy vibes, nice bar, and good service!
📍@RamenStation1124 good, affordable ramen.
📍BlindShotSocialClub We really loved this spot for brunch (sorry, was enjoying the company and totally spaced out on capturing food images!). Golf fans will love hitting the putt here (you can reserve a private room too), and what I though was most cool was the delicious and wide selection of non-alcoholic cocktails to choose from. This place is a total vibe!
📍@StringsRamen is a chain, but I have to say it is some of the best ramen I have had in a long time. I especially loved how you can choose your ramen but heat level but also by Japanese region which allowed us to taste a couple of new flavors!
📍@Parthenongyros has been around awhile (hubby recalls coming here during his college years!) and was voted #1 take out in Madison! Though we indulged inside and away from the snow. A delicious, quick bite when strolling around State Street.

And again, this is just a starter list. There is so much more to eat and enjoy in this top foodie city! What other spots would you add to this list?

#madisonwi #foodiegram #foodiedestinations #goodeats @destinationmadison
I love to travel. It has always been important to I love to travel. It has always been important to my family. My parents got my first passport weeks after I was born. They couldn’t afford to travel like I do now, but they understood, as immigrants, the absolute privilege that comes attached to having that shiny blue American booklet and they wanted me to have it.

I was yet again reminded of my privilege when my travel back home on this last trip was delayed over 24 hours. I have a village in place to make sure my kids were ok. Having my own business meant I didn’t have to report in to anyone, and was still able to work remotely so none of my clients were inconvenienced by it. Though the airline covered our hotel and food, we never worried that we couldn’t do it ourselves otherwise. While we were annoyed, we weren’t stressed.

So while I love to travel, and I love sharing my travels with you, I acknowledge that being able to do so, and dealing with the consistent travel disruptions so prevalent today without worries is a privilege…one that started with a little blue booklet that gives me more access to the world than some others do.

And I want us all in this travel space to be reminded of this. Of how lucky we are. Of our privilege to access and time and money.

So let us travel with grace and awareness. Let us remain rooted in reality and perspective. Acknowledging that our escapism isn’t one so easily accessible to others. Understanding that this is also why local stories have as much value as those to exclusive destinations, if not more. And, never forgetting, especially in the travel influencer and media space, that were it not for hosted campaigns and paid-for travel opportunities, most of us wouldn’t be able to afford the lifestyle we so beautifully curate online.

It doesn’t matter how often you travel, or how far. Just that hopefully you will be able to gift yourself the experience of doing so and experiencing something new.

#travel #travelmedia #travelinfluencer #wheretonext
As I work on compiling all the good eats I experie As I work on compiling all the good eats I experienced in Madison, WI, I have to ask: what is your favorite meal of the day, and where did you experience a highlight of the same?

I am a huge fan of breakfast. This beauty was a blueberry pancake order from @shortstackeats. Pancakes are not a big thing for me, but these were pretty perfect. I am craving them still. 🥞♥️

#madisonwi #goodeats #travelingfoodie @destinationmadison
We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a qui We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a quick trip to Madison, WI - my first time back in 14 years! Though we were here for family matters, we did take a moment to explore a bit of what used to be a place we called home.

We couldn’t do anything else until we drove around Lake Monona, where we once had a home, and took in the wintery views (there is an epic 13.2-mile trail that loops around the lake that is worth exploring if you visit!). Though our time was limited, we were able to enjoy some of it along State Street exploring the shops, eateries, the FREE @mmocamadison, and the beautiful architecture of the WI State Capitol Building (the Dane County Farmers Market will soon pick up again - Saturdays, April 15 thru November 11, 2023 around the Capitol Building and it is one of the best farmers markets anywhere!). 

We booked a room at the @hiltonmadison Monona Terrace to be within walking distance of all the downtown fun (tip: for a room with a lake view make sure to book at the upper levels above 10th floor for an unobstructed view of Lake Monona). 

Madison, WI is a skip and a hop from the Finger Lakes so this short and sweet visit didn’t feel difficult at all. And we absolutely loved the winter scenery and seeing what has changed (a lot) since we lived here.

Stay tuned for my list of where we ate!

Have you ever been to Madison, WI?

#madisonwi #weekendgetaway #wisconsin @destinationmadison
The joy of that first sip of the day. #randommom The joy of that first sip of the day. 

#randommomentsarethebest
I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t be I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t believe how easily I’ve been waking up in the early mornings since our last trip. Not sure how to shake it, or if it’s temporary, but here it is: the rare sighting of me up and moving early in the day. Am I a morning person now? Has travel ever permanently changed any of your habits?

#morningperson #lifeinthecountry #newme <-😂

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