Lighthouses, Lilo and Stitch, and Lazy Hikes
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By Collin Hall
Welcome back to Island Hopping! Summer is more than halfway over – this is our seventh edition of Do the Shore magazine. Just five editions to go. Welcome to the other side of the hump! But we aren’t going to let summer get away that easily. Let us take you to some of our favorite events, nature spots, and businesses in Cape May County.
This week, we’ll start our day over in Wildwood for an hour of beach yoga. “Beach yoga” might sound hoity-toity and expensive, but these five-times-a-week classes are only $7.50 per session. Yoga has been a huge source of strength in your editor’s life. Even if I can’t get into a good metal flow during the workout, I’m a little bit closer to touching my toes than I was before.
The classes take place at the beach on Burke Avenue from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Labor Day in Wildwood.
If yoga isn’t your thing (even though we think everyone could benefit from it), our next stop is the Woodcock Trail in Cape May Court House.
This 1.2-mile loop is hidden behind a residential development at the end of Woodcock Road on Route 47. It might feel strange driving through a quiet neighborhood, but there’s a well-marked trailhead waiting for you.
The loop has a lot of variety in its short length. You’ll start by walking through a sandy “corridor” of evergreen trees that eventually spits you out into a small, gorgeous field. Much of the loop skirts right by the edge of a nearby forest.
This trail is incredibly verdant. We saw mushrooms that we have not seen elsewhere in the county, dozens of butterflies, and abundant dragonflies that flock to the nearby salt marsh. Southern gray tree frogs can be found here, as can the marbled salamander. This is a great place to see a slice of the natural diversity that lives where cars aren’t roaring, and tourists aren’t flocking. There’s even a cute little wooden bench halfway through the trail.
But remember: bring bug spray! A beautiful blooming trail means lots of bugs. We also recommend wearing long pants to help protect your leg against ticks.
Next, we’re headed back to either North Wildwood or Cape May Point for National Lighthouse Day. This mini holiday is one of your editor’s favorites. Both lighthouses will see increased activity on the holiday – the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse has an amazing, furnished interior with free tours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We were lucky enough to get a free “I Love Lighthouses” sticker from this event a few years back.
If movies are on your mind – and they should be – Cape May County has a stronger film presence today than it has in many years. A year ago, there was just one movie theater in our county. Now, there are three, with another on the way later this year.
The newly opened Cape Square Entertainment has nine screens, including a massive auditorium screen with Dolby Atmos sound. But the other theaters have 7.1 Dolby sound systems that also pack a punch. This new spot is more than a theater – it also hosts two restaurants, an outdoor beer garden, an arcade, and a 12-lane bowling alley.
It’s great to have movies back on the mainland. We’re thankful to avoid Stone Harbor traffic just to see a flick.
But hey, movies are expensive, especially for families. Luckily, there are free movie showtimes across Cape May County. Check out our events calendar for full details, but in the next week, there are free large-screen showings of Lilo and Stitch, Lightyear, Night at the Museum, and Jaws.
And that’s all for Island Hopping this week! Phew, we’re tired. Let us know if our weekly guides are helpful, or if you have suggestions for future editions. Email the editor at chall@cmcherald.com