Trip to Cape May: From Ocean to Harriet Tubman’s Museum

It has been over five years since I have had a real vacation. After two surgeries, walking with a walker, and trying to walk on my own, it has been an uphill battle. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of taking a trip back to my home away from home — Cape May. Though I still have a problem walking distance without pain, it was difficult but worth every step. I don’t know what is so captivating about this town. It may be the African American history of the island, the beautiful Victorian homes, the clean beach and fresh air, the marketplace, events, boat rides, or tours; there are lots to keep you coming back. Each season brings new adventures.
Since 1609, ships have been sailing in the waters surrounding the cape. These small and short tours are where herds of Dolphins and massive Whales were seen feeding on a bounty of fish present in the Delaware Bay. Flash forward to now–
Captain Jeff Stewart and his family have provided whale and Dolphin watching tours through the Cape May Whale Watcher Spirit of Cape May at Miss Chris Marina, located at 1218 Wilson Drive.
The featured “Cetacean Spectacular” experience takes you on a 3-hour tour of the Bay and the Atlantic for a real whale and dolphin watching expedition. “We have the largest and fastest marine mammal watching boats in New Jersey, and we are the only boats with the never expiring “Marine Mammal Sighting” guarantee.”
Through the history-telling cruise, guests learn about water life and how a storm destroyed the seawall, flooded the town for three days, and destroyed several of the old Victorian homes. Land developers came to Cape May to tear down the homes and put up modern structures and hotels. Captain Jeff explained,” At this point, the grassroots movement known as the Museum Arts and Culture (MAC) was mostly responsible for most of the Victorian Cape May that we see today.
The early morning cruise was a relaxing joy with the many sightings, storytelling, and engaging passengers, thanks to Lauren and her fellow crew members. If an early morning cruise isn’t your thing, guests have the choice of a Sunset Dolphin tour, a Prime-Rib Dinner cruise, and a morning History cruise in conjunction with the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts – sailing from March until December.
That’s one of the things I liked the best about Cape May–the place can be visited year-round, so the fun doesn’t end just because it’s August. When the tour was over, we headed to Brother’s for Cheese Steaks, then off to the Harriet Tubman Museum.
Five years ago, I was in Cape May and saw signs promoting the museum, so it was without a doubt I planned to go on a tour. The Harriet Tubman Museum highlights the pivotal role Cape May played in the fight for freedom, but what’s so amazing, MAC is offering an Underground Railroad Trolley Tour and Harriet Tubman Museum combination tour.
Cape May was part of the Underground Railroad, and this trolley tour, which is part of the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom and also one of just 13 sites nationwide on the Park Service’s Travels with Tubman app, tells of those dangerous days. Enslaved persons fled their captors in Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia and braved strong currents and stormy seas, guided by the beacon at the Cape May Lighthouse.
Check out next week’s paper to hear about that awesome trolley tour and museum experience. Well, That’s The Philly Beat!! Don’t forget to tune in to the New World View with David Barnes and Yanina Carter on WURD 96.1 FM. 900 AM and WURDTV LIVE.