One of the oldest seaside resorts in North America, Cape May, New Jersey, has been a vacation spot since the 18th century.

These days the city's history is as big a draw as its award-winning beaches and it's that mix that makes the Cape such an attractive family destination.

Route to relaxation

Before you leave home, there is a choice to make: highway or ferry?

Cape May can be reached by road from the north via Interstate 95 or from the Eastern shore via the ferry at Lewes, Delaware. Watching the beach approach from the ferry's deck is a sign of free summer days ahead.

Among the city's countless original Victorian houses and historical hotels, there is no dearth of lodging options. The city has done a remarkable job of maintaining the vibe of a classic northeastern beach town.

It might be the absence of national chains, the authenticity of the architecture or even the quaintness of the beach's modest boardwalk — but Cape May avoids the tourist-targeted tackiness that plagues other seaside locales nearby.

Still in luck

Which isn't to say that you're out of luck if you are looking for funnel cakes, a boogie board or a piece of shell-framed art. It's all there but has been gracefully folded into the life-size dollhouses, restaurants and boutique shops.

Cape May isn't devoid of tourist traps. Sometimes that's a good thing.

Warm crowd

The Lobster House could be easily mistaken for one of those restaurants that churn through out-of-town customers.

Located on Fisherman's Wharf in the harbour, the restaurant keeps customers waiting up to two hours in peak season.

Still, with a waterfront location in view of the fishing fleet an on-site seafood market and a takeaway window offering the option of carrying your meal on to the pier, it is understandable why you can hear the staff shouting warm greetings to locals across the crowded place.

Most haunted

If you have fully embraced the tourist spirit, one of the best ways to spend the day away from the beach is to invest in a book on local ghosts and take a walking tour of the sites.

The city has a reputation as one of the most haunted places in the US — and it has turned that into something of a publishing cottage industry.

It seems as if almost every small shop carries a handful of such books. There are also several organised ghost tours for those seeking professional guidance on paranormal phenomena. If ghosts aren't your thing, head to Cape May Point.

You will find the historical lighthouse, hiking trails, a bird sanctuary, an abandoned Second World War-era bunker and one of the best places for spotting Cape May diamonds.

The diamonds are actually quartz crystals that come from the Delaware River. Searching the beaches to find them is a popular family activity.

Avian delight

The trails and the bird sanctuary encourage exploration of the amazing avian diversity of the place.

It may even happen that you never stray far from the beach. And it would be perfectly understandable because the beaches are very nice.

Even if you skip the history, natural attractions and dining, the charms of the city are difficult to overlook.

After all, beyond ghost tours, boardwalk pizza and long, sandy beaches, Cape May is selling its charm.

And with more than two centuries to perfect its pitch, this city has only become better at being charming.

Go there ... From the UAE

By Justin Rude, Los Angeles Times Washington Post News Service

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