Cape May Point Lighthouse
215 Lighthouse Avenue, Cape May Point, NJ 08212
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Sharing the seaside town I have spent every summer in with my boys is one of the best things about summer. But even a seasoned Slo-Cal (summer local) like me knows that when you have toddlers and you are at the beach nothing can destroy happiness like a rainy day. Unfortunately last Friday the dreaded “rainy day” happened to me. Which is how I found myself at the bottom of the Cape May Point Lighthouse with two rammy toddlers…thinking…can I do this? With hours to go until dinner, books and bedtime…I really didn’t think I had much of a choice.
Two adults, two toddlers and up we went. The cost is $7.00 per adult and a little less for kids ages 3-12. (coupon for kids to climb free). The boys were ridiculously young to do this so….they were FREE.
There are exactly 217 stairs to the top and 199 of them are spiral! At the top you can see the whole island of Cape May and Cape May Point while you are safely encased in a red cage. The cage goes the full 360 around the lighthouse but it is not wide and you will be competing for space to take pictures with the ocean in the background. For the complete history of the CMP Lighthouse you will have to click this link because I was WAY to tired to read all the historical stuff on the way up and at the top.
Want to climb the lighthouse for FREE and at night? (I will keep my comments to myself) Well your dream has come true because it is time for the LIGHTHOUSE FULL MOON CLIMB. See the gorgeous view from the top beneath the full moon!
JUNE 4, JULY 3, AUG. 2 & 31 and SEPT. 29: 8-10PM
Join the Friends of the Cape May Lighthouse and climb the Lighthouse FREE!!
If you find yourself in Cape May on a non beach day and you are toying with making the climb up the Lighthouse just know this before you go….
1. To get to the top it is a single, spiral staircase that handles both the going up and coming down traffic.
2. There are several landings on your way up so you can stop and catch your breath or so you can wait for opposing foot traffic to pass but these landings are narrow and small.
3. People will apparently stop and take pictures on the stairs even though they see you lugging a 30 lb’er.
4. I would never do this on a hot & busy weekend.
5. When you can’t take it anymore you finally reach the top.
6. I am in really good shape and I was huffing at each landing.
7. The families with tween and teenaged children seemed fine on the climb.
7. Cape May Point is just a 10 minute drive from Cape May proper, parking is free and there is a small nature center, beach access and nature walk.
8. The fore mentioned nature walk does not have a good loop back if you have little ones. It drop you out on the beach pretty far from your car. You will all survive but I am just saying.
9. In a pinch I do think Cape May Point State Park is worth visiting and depending on how well you do on that nature trail it will burn 1-2 hours.
10. There is no food services at Cape May State Park so stop at the Cape May Point General Store (The Red Store) for your “provisions”
