CAPE MAY — The Cape May–Lewes Ferry (CMLF) and the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities (MAC) have again partnered to sponsor two package tours from the Ferry Terminal into the town of Cape May this summer. Package tours now include a box lunch from the Carriage House Café & Tearoom and feature two tour options — both of which include time for shopping.
While Cape May and its shoreline provides an exciting vista for ferry riders as they approach the New Jersey side of the Delaware Bay, these excursions will allow visitors to see and learn about the historically beautiful town of Cape May up close, on foot and via trolley with informative guides along the way. These two unique, special guided trolley tour packages showcase some of the most popular attractions of Victorian Cape May.
Ferry travelers can leave their cars behind during these roundtrip excursions that depart at 8:45 a.m. from Lewes, Del. for a leisurely 17-mile, 85-minute cruise across the Delaware Bay to Cape May, a National Historic Landmark City. When the boat docks at the Cape May Ferry Terminal, guests will be transported into historic Cape May via a MAC trolley.
Guests can choose from these two Cape May tour package experiences:
Offered on Mondays, July 16, July 23, July 30, Aug. 6, Aug. 13, Aug. 20 and Aug. 27 is the Welcome to Cape May and Lighthouse Tour Package. Guests will board a MAC trolley at the Cape May Ferry Terminal and learn about Cape May from a knowledgeable guide during a Welcome to Cape May Trolley Tour that travels through town. Guests will visit the fully restored 1859 Cape May Lighthouse and can climb 199 steps to the top for a breathtaking view of the Jersey Cape, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, enjoy wildlife habitat along the Nature Trails, or walk along the beautiful shoreline of Cape May Point State Park. Then, guests board the trolley and travel to Sunset Beach to shop, view the sunken concrete ship, the USS Atlantus, play a round of mini-golf or visit the World War II Lookout Tower and learn the pivotal role Cape May played during World War II. Included is a Box Lunch prepared by the Carriage House Café and Tearoom.
Offered on Wednesdays, July 18, July 25, Aug. 1, Aug. 8, Aug. 15, Aug. 22 and Aug. 29 is the Historic Cape May and Physick Estate Tour Package. Guests will board a MAC trolley at the Cape May Ferry Terminal and learn about the architecture and history of Cape May, the nation’s first seaside resort, in an entertaining and informative trolley tour from a knowledgeable guide. Afterwards, guests will enjoy a tour of Cape May’s Victorian House Museum, the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate. After the tour, guests will visit the Carroll Gallery Exhibit, “Capturing Cape May’s Architecture,” featuring pen and ink drawings of the “best preserved late 19th century resort in America.” Visitors will be transported via trolley downtown to explore Cape May’s Victorian charm on foot. Visitors can walk the Promenade overlooking Cape May’s pristine beaches or visit the shops of the Washington Street Mall. Included is a Box Lunch prepared by the Carriage House Café and Tearoom.
The trolley transports guests back to the Cape May Ferry Terminal in time for the 2:30 p.m. return trip crossing to Lewes, Del.
The cost of each package is $48 for adults, $34 for children ages 3-13 and free for children under 3. Each package includes a round-trip ferry ride, transportation via trolley, tours and a box lunch. Visitors arrive back to Lewes, Del. at 3:55 p.m.
Reservations are required and are made for either tour directly with Ferry Guest Services at (800) 643-3779.
Better yet, for passengers who still want to do the standard MAC tours, they still can. Ferry shuttle service to downtown Cape May takes them directly to the Washington Street Mall where they can sign up for any of the existing MAC tours. These tours, however, are no longer sold as a package and can be bought a la carte as desired.
For more information on the Welcome to Cape May and Lighthouse Tour Package or the Historic Cape May and Physick Estate Tour Package and to make reservations, please call (800) 643-3779 or (800) 64-FERRY, or visit www.cmlf.com