Why do people take the extra time and drive the extra distance past Margate, Ocean City, Wildwood, Stone Harbor and Avalon to get to Cape May? You could get dozens or even hundreds of answers but among them “the cleanest beaches” is usually the dominant response.
Every summer, people from all over New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and surrounding areas head to the beach for the day, week, or even all summer long. One particular beach town stands out above many: Cape May.
Located on the southern most tip of New Jersey, the population increases from 3,000 to around 45,000 residents during the peak of summer. While other beach towns are much closer for people to travel to, many choose to make the drive to Cape May. One major reason: the cleanliness of the beaches. The cleanliness of the beaches in Cape May is immediately noticeable, and we as temporary residents may not think much of it. It’s what goes on literally under the ground that makes Cape May a top destination.
Over the years, the beaches of South Jersey have had their challenges with beach closings due to contamination. Cape May officials determined the infrastructure to handle storm runoff was the key to keeping the town clean and the waters the cleanest and the safest they could be. It took a lot of work, dedication, and money, but after a few years, the city had revamped their storm sewers, installed pump stations to handling storm overflow, and made changes on the surface of the street to proactively prevent future issues.
Cape May was forced to transition from hazardous to safe in order to save the town, but they went the extra mile to become state of the art. The city has earned distinction of being one of the safest and cleanest beaches in the country, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. The best way to truly enjoy Cape May is to extend your stay at a resort like at the Montreal Beach Resort. You can admire the beauty of the beaches every day by staying at this ocean front resort. Besides being right on the beach, we encourage you to take advantage of our huge oceanfront pool, two sun decks, and our Wine Cellar, which is our very own liquor store with wines, spirits, and craft brews from around the world. Also on the oceanfront patio is our restaurant, Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille, where you can try some of our famous foods like our crab cake hamburger, savor a refreshing drink, or simply relax and enjoy live music, all while taking in the breathtaking view of Cape May beach this resort provides.