Gingerbread Victorian Mansion a Half Block from the Beach

There are few houses that have been picked up and moved in their entirety—let alone twice. Even fewer that make the claim that they’ve been completely cut in half. The Angel of the Sea has endured all of these in its 164-year history. The pink gingerbread Victorian mansion was once situated in downtown Cape May, but its original owner, William Weightman, Sr., decided he’d like ocean views instead. He hired local farmers to move it; they chopped the house in half to make it more moveable and pieced it back together. When the mansion was on the verge of being turned into a parking lot in 1962, it was bought and moved again, this time on flatbed trucks, to its current location—half a block from the beach.

Now fully and meticulously restored, the Angel of Sea has racked up awards for years, even garnering mentions on Oprah, the Discovery Channel, and the Food Network. It has a romantic elegance, with antique velvet couches and period decor. Every space in the mansion is unique, including the premier suites, some of which feature ocean views and balconies.

A full breakfast is served each morning, tea and pastries are laid out for guests at 4 p.m., and wine and cheese are offered at 5:30 p.m. When the weather’s nice, the Angel of the Sea loans out complimentary bicycles to guests, along with chairs and umbrellas for the beach. If you’re interested in learning more about this fascinating inn, you can take a 30-minute guided house tour at 12:15 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, which gives the full history of the inn and allows you to take a peek into other guest rooms.

Cape May, New Jersey: Seaside Resort Town with Victorian Architecture

Long billed as America’s oldest seaside resort, Cape May sits at New Jersey’s southernmost tip. The setting is so idyllic that Travel Channel named the town’s coastline 1 of the top 10 beaches in the country. Aside from beachcombing, popular pastimes here include fishing, whale watching, and bird watching. In fact, the New York Times called Cape May “one of North America’s hottest birding spots.” You might see bald eagles, herons, and woodcocks. In the spring, keep your eyes peeled for the latter’s intricate mating dance.

After a fire ravaged most of Cape May in 1878, residents rebuilt in the contemporary style of the time, and dozens of their stately Victorian homes remain standing today. Consequently, the Cape May Historic District has earned the distinction of being a National Historic Landmark. Horses and carriages tour the colorful, cottage-lined streets, which have been deemed off-limits to chain stores in order to preserve the classic small-town atmosphere.  Along Delaware Bay stands the 1859 Cape May Lighthouse. Those who climb the tower’s 199 stairs are rewarded at the top with an unbeatable view of the Atlantic Ocean.

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