Today was beautiful on LBI, but the kids just were not into the beach. Spoiled I suppose being here all summer, but I get it. So, since my sister and her hubs are out of town and my hubs is at home and I have three little girls (10, 8, and 5) for the week, I looked online to something fun to do. Only thing is, the nieces really wanted to go on one of our "adventures". So, I found one, right here in NJ and only an hour and a half away.
We went to Cape May. I had been here before in another lifetime, with no kids, and in the winter. This time, we were about to find and see things none of us had ever seen before.
First stop was on SUnset Beach to see one of the concrete ships built in 1918 and was made of concrete. It was actually launched after the war ended but carried troops home. Once they figured out concrete ships were not the wave of the future, they sunk them. This one is the most famous, or so they say and is the SS Atlantus. Only a portion is seen today, but is easily visible right off the beach. The beach was very different than an LBI beach and the kids wondered in that. They climbed on the rocks out to the ocean and they gathered pebbles as mementos of the trip.
Next stop was Italian Ices, of course. The kids loved that they were soft and more authentic than the ones the get on the beach. The smells were delicious and the sugar gave them the instant energy they were going to need for our next stop.
We drove a wee bit down the road and stopped at the World War II Fire Tower. we read about the history of the tower and I tried to explain how and why it would be used without scaring the dickens out of my three little compadres. We were going to climb it but we had to take a vote: climb this or the lighthouse. Needless to say, the lighthouse won unanimously and so off we went.
The Cape May Lighthouse is much smaller than Old Barney and although white and red, very different. we discussed our last trip up Old Barney in Barnegat Light about three years ago and we also added we needed to do it again next week. We bought out tickets and in a straight line, big girl, medium girl, little girl and momma bear, we all headed up. I guess the Paleo diet is paying off with the weight loss because it was a breeze. Up, up , up we went. At the top we got to lookout over Cape May. First we noticed the Fire Tower, then made our way around the light and saw what we were going to see next. I will keep it a surprise for those not familiar with the area. We tooks some pictures, discussed how much different this part of Jersey looks than our part of Jersey and down we went. At the gift shop we got postcards for friends and families and we all left proudly wearing "I climbed the Cape May lighthouse" pins.
Our final stop was just past the bird reserve and to the left right on the beach. What was it? A freaking BUNKER!! Yes, a bunker. Built in 1942 and not really meant to be permanent, this bunker is still standing strong. It is all closed off, doors removed and filled with concrete. The walls show signs of aging, but the wood pilings it sits upon stand strong. From what I gather, the water just rushes under it. The kids were really in awe of this one because they could touch it. they climbed on the walls. They wondered and discussed the inside: what does it look like? Do they have a bathroom? Did people live in it? It really held a boatload of artillery during the war. All three girls continued to bg to go in...there really was no way to get in...I am not a magician. At that point, they didn't want to leave the bunker, but as I had a small trek home and we had had no lunch, I almost literally had to drag them away.
We drove home, kids all a chatter and full of laughter about the journey in the back seat. My own little spawn and I loved having new adventurers with us while exploring Cape May. And by the excitement I saw in the older girls, I think they might want to tag along at some point in the future too. All in the family!!!
We went to Cape May. I had been here before in another lifetime, with no kids, and in the winter. This time, we were about to find and see things none of us had ever seen before.
First stop was on SUnset Beach to see one of the concrete ships built in 1918 and was made of concrete. It was actually launched after the war ended but carried troops home. Once they figured out concrete ships were not the wave of the future, they sunk them. This one is the most famous, or so they say and is the SS Atlantus. Only a portion is seen today, but is easily visible right off the beach. The beach was very different than an LBI beach and the kids wondered in that. They climbed on the rocks out to the ocean and they gathered pebbles as mementos of the trip.
Next stop was Italian Ices, of course. The kids loved that they were soft and more authentic than the ones the get on the beach. The smells were delicious and the sugar gave them the instant energy they were going to need for our next stop.
We drove a wee bit down the road and stopped at the World War II Fire Tower. we read about the history of the tower and I tried to explain how and why it would be used without scaring the dickens out of my three little compadres. We were going to climb it but we had to take a vote: climb this or the lighthouse. Needless to say, the lighthouse won unanimously and so off we went.
The Cape May Lighthouse is much smaller than Old Barney and although white and red, very different. we discussed our last trip up Old Barney in Barnegat Light about three years ago and we also added we needed to do it again next week. We bought out tickets and in a straight line, big girl, medium girl, little girl and momma bear, we all headed up. I guess the Paleo diet is paying off with the weight loss because it was a breeze. Up, up , up we went. At the top we got to lookout over Cape May. First we noticed the Fire Tower, then made our way around the light and saw what we were going to see next. I will keep it a surprise for those not familiar with the area. We tooks some pictures, discussed how much different this part of Jersey looks than our part of Jersey and down we went. At the gift shop we got postcards for friends and families and we all left proudly wearing "I climbed the Cape May lighthouse" pins.
Our final stop was just past the bird reserve and to the left right on the beach. What was it? A freaking BUNKER!! Yes, a bunker. Built in 1942 and not really meant to be permanent, this bunker is still standing strong. It is all closed off, doors removed and filled with concrete. The walls show signs of aging, but the wood pilings it sits upon stand strong. From what I gather, the water just rushes under it. The kids were really in awe of this one because they could touch it. they climbed on the walls. They wondered and discussed the inside: what does it look like? Do they have a bathroom? Did people live in it? It really held a boatload of artillery during the war. All three girls continued to bg to go in...there really was no way to get in...I am not a magician. At that point, they didn't want to leave the bunker, but as I had a small trek home and we had had no lunch, I almost literally had to drag them away.
We drove home, kids all a chatter and full of laughter about the journey in the back seat. My own little spawn and I loved having new adventurers with us while exploring Cape May. And by the excitement I saw in the older girls, I think they might want to tag along at some point in the future too. All in the family!!!