Easter at the Jersey Cape signals the start of a fresh season, brimming with excitement for the summer ahead. Across the picturesque resorts of Cape May, the Wildwoods, Stone Harbor, Avalon, Sea Isle City, and Ocean City, event planners have put together an array of enticing festivities, making it hard to resist a springtime getaway to this charming region.

While summer’s golden shores are still a few months away, April offers a wonderful chance for a quick retreat. As the chill of winter fades, restaurants, taverns, and shops are springing back to life, welcoming visitors with open doors and renewed energy.

For a festive Easter weekend at the Jersey Cape, start in Stone Harbor, where the Volunteer Fire Company hosts an egg hunt for the little ones on Saturday, April 12, at noon at the firehouse.

Head to the Cape May County Zoo for their Easter EGGstravaganZOO from April 18 to 25. This family favorite offers a variety of special events during the 10-day celebration. Find out more at www.cmczoo.com

In Cape May, celebrate Easter in style. On Saturday, April 19, 2025, there’s a free Easter Egg Hunt for children (ages 10 and under) at Cape May Convention Hall Beach, starting at 11AM. Then, on Sunday, April 20, enjoy the Easter Fashion Stroll at 400 Lafayette Street, beginning at 1PM. For details, call 609-884-9565.

On April 19, swing by Sea Isle City for the Spring Fling Family Fun Day at Excursion Park (JFK Boulevard and Pleasure Avenue) from 1 to 3 PM. Enjoy an Easter-themed celebration with live music, crafts, games, face painting, photos with the Easter Bunny, and a Dress to Impress Easter Stroll. Visit www.visitsicnj.com for details.

The Wildwoods offer festive charm, even ahead of Morey’s amusement piers reopening. On April 19, the annual Easter Egg Hunt takes place at noon on the beach at 19th Avenue in North Wildwood. The Greater Wildwood Jaycees will host another Egg Hunt at the same time. Double the hunts, double the fun! Learn more at www.wildwoodsnj.com

Finally, in Ocean City “America’s Greatest Family Resort” many shops, eateries, and boardwalk attractions will be open for Easter weekend. On Sunday, April 20, visit the Easter Bunny at the Music Pier at Moorlyn Terrace for a photo from noon to 2 PM, alongside a Dueling Pianos Show by The Philly Keys. Don’t miss the Great Egg Hunt along the boardwalk on April 12 and 19 from 1 to 3 PM, offering treats from participating stores. Visit www.oceancityvacation.com for details

With the arrival of spring, the Jersey Cape bursts to life as visitors gear up to refresh their gardens and yards for the season ahead. Local nurseries and home stores will be stocked with all you need to embrace the vibrant growth of spring and prepare for the lush beauty of summer.

While the beaches and waterways welcome visitors year-round, it’s worth noting that swimming areas won’t be lifeguarded until Memorial Day, and ocean temperatures tend to stay chilly at or below 50 degrees. However, there’s no shortage of outdoor activities for enthusiasts! Explore scenic bike paths, enjoy a game on tennis or pickleball courts, immerse yourself in the tranquility of wildlife management areas, or simply soak in the fresh air along the picturesque shorelines. The Jersey Cape has everything you need for a spring getaway filled with natural charm and cherished memories.

Easter at the Jersey Cape heralds the beginning of a new season, bursting with anticipation for the upcoming summer. Event planners in the charming resorts of Cape May, the Wildwoods, Stone Harbor, Avalon, Sea Isle City, and Ocean City have curated a series of special events that might just tempt you to pack your bags and head to the Jersey Cape.

Even though a sun-soaked summer vacation is still a few months away, March and April present the perfect opportunity for a quick escape as winter-weary attractions reopen their doors, including restaurants, taverns, and stores.

For St. Patrick’s Day Weekend, the place to be is Carney’s in Cape May, March 14-17. Join brave participants in the St. Paddy’s Day Polar Plunge and 5K, part of a weekend of events starting on Friday, March 14. More details can be found at www.carneysnj.com

On Saturday, March 15, everyone at the Jersey Cape is Irish! Don your green attire for parades and celebrations in North Wildwood and Sea Isle City. Plan to attend both parades, beginning at noon on Atlantic Avenue, North Wildwood. Later, head to Sea Isle City, where the parade starts at 83rd & East Landis Avenue and follows Landis to 63rd St. Sea Isle’s celebration continues with a best-dressed contest and more. Check out the Wildwood’s www.wildwoodsnj.com and Sea Isle City's www.visitsicnj.com websites for more information.

For Easter fun, Stone Harbor kicks off festivities early for the youngest family members with an egg hunt hosted by the Volunteer Fire Company on Saturday, April 12, at noon at the firehouse.

If you're staying in “America’s Greatest Family Resort” on Easter Weekend, you can expect many of the famous Boardwalk eateries, shops, and other businesses to be open. On Easter Sunday, April 20, dress in your Easter best and meet the Easter Bunny for a photo in an Ocean City Lifeguard Boat from noon to 2 p.m. in front of the Music Pier at Moorlyn Terrace, where a Dueling Pianos Show by The Philly Keys will begin at noon. Don't miss the Great Egg Hunt on April 12 and again on April 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. at 6th to 14th Sts. along the boardwalk. Visit participating stores for treats, while supplies last. For more details, visit Ocean City's website at www.oceancityvacation.com

Cape May County Zoo’s Easter EGGstravaganZOO is set for April 18-25 at the zoo in Cape May Court House. Bring the whole family to one of your favorite summertime attractions and enjoy special events throughout the ten-day EGGstravaganZOO. www.cmczoo.com

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 19 for the Spring Fling Family Fun Day at Excursion Park, JFK Boulevard, and Pleasure Avenue in from 1 to 3 p.m. in Sea Isle City. Enjoy spring and Easter-themed fun, including a Dress to Impress Easter Stroll, photos with the Easter Bunny, music, crafts, face painting, games, and more. www.visitsicnj.com

In the Wildwoods, even though Morey’s amusement piers won’t be operational until later in the season, there will be plenty of shops, eateries, and arcades open on the popular wooden way. On Saturday, April 19, the beach at 19th Ave. in North Wildwood will host the annual Easter Egg Hunt beginning at noon. The Greater Wildwood Jaycees will also host an Egg Hunt on the beach at noon on the same day. After all, two Egg Hunts are better than one! www.wildwoodsnj.com

With spring beginning on March 20, many visitors to the Jersey Cape will be eager to prepare their gardens and yards for the coming season. Nurseries and home stores in the area will be stocked and ready to assist as the region sheds its wintry shawl and prepares for the beautiful bloom of summer.

While the beaches and waterways in the region are always open, the beaches will be unprotected until Memorial Day, primarily because the ocean temperature is 50 degrees or cooler. However, outdoor activities are not restricted. The area’s bicycle paths, tennis and pickleball courts, wildlife management areas, and beaches are available for outdoor enjoyment.

February at the shore is a lot different than the peak season months, but many of the area’s accommodations remain open, and the dining options are nearly as abundant as they are in July or August. The pace is a little easier as the long lines are nonexistent and many of the large family outings with children are on hold until summer.

In 2025, President’s Day Weekend begins on Friday Feb. 14 or Valentine’s Day and Monday, Feb. 17, is a day off for most visitors, making the weekend perfect for a getaway with your special someone. Having that extra day means squeezing in another dinner at one of the area’s fine restaurants, spending another day at a nearby winery, or booking that couples stay at the spa that there just isn’t time for during a regular weekend.

One of the best spots for your getaway is Victorian Cape May, which has a plethora of fine dining options, nearby wineries, a beach, and plenty of other open spaces. The organization that coordinates tours and events in America’s first seaside resort, Cape May MAC, is planning a Cape May WIne Trail Tour on Sunday, Feb. 16. Board the trolley and travel to the Bellevue Tavern in Cape May Court House for lunch. Then it’s back on the trolley for an afternoon of touring and sampling wine selections by vintners at Jessie Creek Winery, and Briganti by the Bay Vineyards. Visit Cape May MAC for more information.

In addition to Jessie Creek and Natali, other popular wineries in the region include Cape May Winery on Townbank Road in North Cape May, Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery in Rio Grande, and Willow Creek Winery in West Cape May. All these facilities have indoor and outdoor options, with heated outdoor seating and cozy fire pits to help keep patrons warm.

A visit to the spa is another popular activity for visitors, and spas can be found nearby in Congress Hall, Cape May, Cape May Day Spa, and the Salt Spa at the Reeds at Shelter Haven in Stone Harbor.

While few people are taking their beach chairs to the beach, all the area’s beaches are accessible, and perfect for a bundled-up stroll along the strand. If you are interested in touring Cape May’s sites, in addition to the MAC tours, Cape May Carriage operates during the weekends to take patrons on romantic horse-drawn carriage rides through the resort.

If the weather permits and the great outdoors beckon, the area’s many hiking trails in state parks, wildlife management areas, and beaches are open and lack the crowds one might encounter in season.

When the sun goes down, the area’s vibrant nightlife comes alive. The Jersey Cape is well-known for culinary excellence, and visitors will be surprised to find many of their favorite restaurants are open and better than ever. Afterward, pay a visit to some of the taverns, bars, and nightclubs that shore vacations are known for. There are many spots with live music, so maybe a little dancing can cap off a romantic evening out on the town. After all, romance never goes out of style!

Whether you are looking to book a couples’ getaway or even a girls’ weekend, look no further than the Jersey Cape. It’s nearby, it’s open, and the local businesses are waiting to help you escape the everyday and pursue your passion. www.escapetothejerseycape.com

With the holidays in the rear-view mirror, many people may be considering a winter escape, and New Jersey’s Southern Shore region is an excellent choice just a few hours’ drive away.

While beach time may be limited to a bundled-up stroll or a quick “polar plunge” into the frigid Atlantic, there are still plenty of outdoor recreational and entertainment options, as well as numerous indoor activities. In fact, many prefer visiting the Jersey Cape in the winter for its serene atmosphere, free from the summer’s bustling crowds.

Hotel rooms are readily available—and usually significantly discounted compared to “in-season” prices—in most of the area’s resorts, and parking meters are off, as local innkeepers and shop owners welcome those who venture to the area during the shoulder season.

Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a week-long stay, there’s much to see and do in the region. Outdoor spots like the area’s fine wineries offer seating under outdoor heaters or around cozy fire pits, providing a pleasant surprise for visitors.

If relaxation is your goal, nothing beats a massage and spa day at a local spa, such as Cape May Day Spa, the Sea Spa in Congress Hall, or the Salt Spa at the Reeds at Shelter Haven in Avalon.

Fresh air and physical activity are invaluable, so if the weather permits, bicycle rides on the area’s promenades, boardwalks, and bike paths are perfect ways to enjoy unobstructed seaside views. The area’s hiking trails are also less traveled in the winter, showcasing a different landscape as the seasons change. A notable trail is Higbee Beach in Lower Township, near Cape May, where lucky hikers might see 100-year-old train tracks visible at low tide.

Many of the top-rated restaurants and pubs in Cape May County remain open through the winter, albeit on a shortened schedule. Be sure to call ahead to check operating hours or make reservations.

As the Jersey Shore wraps herself in a winter shawl, indoor pursuits are abundant. Enjoy breweries, bowling alleys, escape rooms, and historical museums. One of the area’s newest venues, Cape Square Entertainment Center in Rio Grande, features eight movie theaters, 16 bowling lanes, an arcade, three bars, two restaurants, and a golf simulator. The owners also operate movie theaters at Harbor Square in Stone Harbor and Moorlyn Square Theater in Ocean City.

Finally, there’s shopping. The region’s niche shops, offering one-of-a-kind and hard-to-find items, remain open, minus the summer crowds.

So, if you’re seeking a fun, relaxing winter getaway, book a trip to New Jersey’s Southern Shore and prepare for exhilarating walks along (nearly) empty beaches, warming cocktails around a cozy outdoor fire pit, soothing massages, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.