Chesapeake Bay to Cape May

B

blues46

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Sep 28, 2003
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12252
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There are several of us that are going to travel from Middle River Md., up the C&D, cross the Delaware Bay, to Cape May in mid to late June 2011. Anyone made the trip and have any good advice or recommendations on Marinas in Cape May?

Thanks, and come on Spring!
 
I went in '05. Nice trip but pay close attention to the weather when transiting the Delaware Bay. It can get nasty in a hurry and there are precious few bailout ports.
We stayed overnight at Summitt North marina (on the C and D) and made an early morning crossing. In Cape May we stayed at South Jersey marina and had a great time, but missed a pool. If a pool is important consider Schooner Landing in Wildwood.
 
We stayed at Schooner Island Marina in Wildwood last summer. It is a clean, friendly marina (and had great fuel prices). It has a pool, is within walking distance to the supermarket, liquor store and the beach.

I highly recommend it.
 
We stayed at S. Jersey Marina. Agree with Rob's comments but would ass that we stayed there because it is a short walk to The Lobster House. MMmmmmmmmmmmm Good!
 
Thanks for the replies! I made the trip from Cape May to the Chesapeake back in April 2002, helping a friend bring a boat down from above Boston. It was too much of a white knuckle trip to really notice anything except 5 - 7 footers. Arks1, what you describe is what I had in mind, and have actually contacted South Jersey Marina. We will watch the tide, leave early, and get uderway as it is going out. How far was the Marina from the beach or decent swimming area?

Thanks again!
 
Good advice here. We like Utsch's Marina in Cape May a lot, across the parking lot from Lobster House. Very friendly, great staff, nice "welcome wagon" goodie bag. Cape May is always a two night stay for us when heading up and down the coast. The Lobster House, which to me is a fun but not fantastic restaurant, has an outstanding seafood market. My wife can do far more with those ingredients than the chefs there.

BTW, we also stayed at Summit North on our way once, and it was great too; very pretty and good facilities with a pool.

George
Hatteras 56MY
Boston Whaler 130 Sport
 
We have made the trip up from Cape May to mid Chesapeake several times. The sister marina to South Jersey Marina is the Canyon Club, which is right next to the Cape May canal. Nice facilities with a great pool, downside you cant walk to cape may proper easily. In season there may be a trolley in service to transit to Cape May. Schooner Island is also nice, but the channel up from Cape May is very shallow at the edges at low tide. I would avoid Utsches, not the greatest facilities and not the friendliest in my opinion. We currently are at Summit North, a nice quiet place to stop on the way through the C&D they also have a shuttle service if you need to get provisions The Chesapeake inn in Chesapeake City is also an option if you want a little more to do and a small quaint town and an interesting canal museum.
 
We stayed at Schooner's Island. Very nice marina, with a pool. We walked to the boardwalk, with three young kids. It is about 8 blocks to beach, and then about 5 or 6 up to the boardwalk. First class marina. It takes about 1/2 hr to go to Schooner Is, past Canyon Club and other Cape May marinas. Plenty of water for us (5' needed). North of the Cape May Harbor is a bridge, but we cleared it with antennas down.

When we planned the trip, we couldn't get into any marinas in Cape May due to fishing tournaments. Turns out, Schooner Is. was a better fit for us.

We rented a car from Enterprise. It is about 15 minutes from Schooner Is. They bring to you and take you back.

Lobster House was great. Also, you must go see the Dolphins. Hundreds of them swimming in the cove East of Cape May canal entrance, by the Ferry terminal. Definitely the highlight of our trip in August 2010.

We left from Annapolis. Stayed in harbor at Chesapeake City. then straight to Schooners. On the way back, we went out the North Inlet for Cape May, out into the Atlantic. Then we came past Cape May, and watched dolphins in the Delaware Bay at the spot I mentioned. The Cape May area has shoaling which goes miles out, so pay attention to charts.
 
Made the trip from Annap. several times. I usually stay at Summitt North, and leavee on that outgoing water. I can make the trip in one day, but prefer watching that weather. We have never gone around, and always take the Cape canal. Watch the ferry boats when you turn into the canal, they back out of the dock without alot of regard. We have stayed in all mentioned, and like Ustches and also up to Wildwood. We always cut the corner from mid De. bay to the canal.
 
If you go to Cape May & don't dine at the Washington Inn don't bother going. The Lobster House is just a tourist trap restaurant in my opinion. When we were there, staying at South Jersey Marina, there was only one (1) cab & it didn't run very late at night. One night after dinner at Washington Inn we could not get ride back to marina. Manager at W.I. drove us back in their van.
 
I agree that the Lobster House is an overpriced tourist trap - don't waste you time or money there.
 
Gee, you guys are tough on one of my favorite places (tourist trap???) . I still say Lobster House is well worth the trip. Haven't been to the Washington House but I'll try it the next time we're in Cape May.
 
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