Cape May is a peninsula, the southern tip of which is the southernmost point of the state of New Jersey, United States. It runs southwards from the New Jersey mainland, separating Delaware Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. The cape is named for Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, a Dutch explorer who was working for the Dutch East India Company.
The city of Cape May is located in the south of the peninsula and home of the oldest seaside resort in America, with historical roots dating back to the 1700s. The entire city was designated as a National Historic Landmark on May 11, 1976, and many of the buildings throughout the town are original Victorian structures that have been maintained in pristine condition.
The peninsula comprises the municipalities of Middle Township, Avalon, Dennis Township, Stone Harbor, North Wildwood, West Wildwood, Wildwood, Lower Township, and Wildwood Crest, New Jersey. The region is a popular destination for Québécois tourists. It is part of the Southern Shore Region.
Cape May is also famous as one of the top birding sites in North America. Due to its location at the southern tip of New Jersey and numerous nature preserves and wildlife refuges, large concentrations of birds can be found in Cape May, especially during spring and fall migration. The Cape May Bird Observatory acts as the central coordinator of birding activities in Cape May, including the World Series of Birding, held in Cape May (and throughout New Jersey) each May.
