Victorian architecture along the promenade in the historic district of Cape May
For over 200 years, Cape May, New Jersey, has welcomed travelers to its boardwalk and beachfront, including the elite of New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. But Cape May isn’t just a summer destination: During the winter season, this shore town transforms into a storybook holiday town. A two-day tour offers the opportunity to experience historic Cape May and its Victorian elegance during a magical time of year.
Upon arriving in Cape May, enjoy lunch at the Washington Inn—a local landmark constructed in 1846. Afterward, meet your step-on guide for a tour of Cape May Point at the tip of the peninsula to see the World War II lookout tower and 1859 Cape May lighthouse, which boasts breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay. Your guide discusses the history and restoration of both sites.
Spend time exploring the shops on the Washington Street Mall before checking into Congress Hall, where four 19th-century presidents stayed. Dinner is followed by a talk on Christmas traditions of the Victorian era and an evening trolley ride through the town to enjoy the holiday lights and decorations.
The next morning, after breakfast at the hotel’s Blue Pig Tavern, board the trolley for a guided tour of the historic district, featuring a variety of Victorian architectural styles. Local guides discuss the importance of preservation and Cape May’s status as a National Historic Landmark site. Stop off at the Emlen Physick Estate, an 18-room mansion designed by American architect Frank Furness and festooned in authentic Victorian holiday decorations, for a guided look inside at period architecture and lifestyle. Built in 1879, the home is one of the best examples of Victorian Stick style in the country.
After lunch at Cold Spring Grange Restaurant, explore everyday life in the 19th century at Historic Cold Spring Village—the largest open-air living history museum in New Jersey—before returning to Washington, D.C.
Know Before You Go
- Cost includes bus transportation, lodging, all activities, and the following meals: 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, and 1 dinner.
- Overnight accommodations are at Congress Hall.
- Tour departs by bus from the Mayflower Hotel, Connecticut Ave. and DeSales St., NW, with a pickup stop at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Laurel (15101 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, Maryland) at 7:40 a.m.
- Single-room supplement $150 (factored into the Single Room Member and Single Room Non-Member pricing).
- Singles registering at the double-room rate are paired (on a nonsmoking basis) if possible, but must pay the single-room supplement otherwise.
- Detailed information is emailed to registrants about four weeks prior to departure.
- Participants are advised to purchase travel insurance for overnight and multi-day tours from a provider of your choice. Travel insurance provides additional coverage against unforeseen incidents that require last-minute cancellations.
General Information
- Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
- The tour departs by motorcoach from downtown Washington, DC with a designated secondary pick-up outside the city. Content delivered by the study leader on the way to the destination, after the secondary pick-up, is an integral part of the study tour experience. Meeting the group once the tour is en route is discouraged.
- Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
- As we aim to move away from single use water bottles, guests are strongly encouraged to get in the habit of bringing their own reusable water bottle on tour.
- For additional tour information:
