One overcast and blustery day a few weeks ago, the kids and I were looking for something to do. We had exhausted all of the usual diversions and didn’t want to travel too far in the rain. Like the proverbial New Yorkers who have never visited the Statue of Liberty, we had never visited Wing’s Castle even though the idea had come up many times.

As we drove up the driveway I made scary haunted house noises to everyone’s delight (my children are 2, 6, and 9 years old) as the outline of the castle appeared in the mist. Peter Wing drove by on his tractor carrying a load of stones and Toni Wing met us at the path and began the fascinating narrative of their life’s work.

The Castle sits on property that was once part of the Wing family farm. When Peter returned from military service in 1969, Toni and he began to build Wing’s Castle. Peter had no formal training as an architect, artist or builder, but that didn’t even slow him down. He learned as he built and let nothing stand in his way. Toni has an innate sense of design and a love of the antique which informs her work.

It is hard to describe the artistry, craftsmanship and beauty everywhere you look while waking through their home. There is nothing which has not been thought about carefully and detailed with loving care. Wing’s Castle does not fit in any neat category of art or architecture. The nearest I can come to a description is a cross between a design by the Spanish architect, Antonio Gaudi, and a wild artistic interpretation of a medieval castle.

I returned to visit the Castle and found Peter continuing his work on the groin vault above the passageway to the soon to be completed bed and breakfast annex.

In the upcoming year we will be celebrating the quad centennial of Henry Hudson’s voyage to our neighborhood. In our back yard we have one of the best examples of the early settlers’ tradition of owner built homes: Wing’s Castle. http://www.crisparchitects.com/ James M. Crisp, AIA is an architect working in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Article Source: Wing’s Castle

It is hard to pin down the typical innkeeper. They may be friends who pooled resources to start a B and B, a group of investors, sibling left with a big empty house when folks passed away, husband and wife or mother and daughter. The owner could be an individual who has a day job, a full time mom, an artist, a retired economist, a teacher or a former executive. Anyone can get into the bed and breakfast business. But, not everyone can make it very profitable. And even fewer can make the business thrive for many years to come. An inn can provide primary or a secondary source of income, depending on the number of rooms you have rented and how well you are able to market the business.

Be sure to understand the fees associated with credit card processing. This calculator will help you better gauge what to expect from you merchant account provider.

Some people become innkeepers because they have extra rooms and rent it out for extra income, others treat it as a real profession that entails a business-like approach to marketing and management. If you plan to make your bed and breakfast a real money making business then you will have to find out how to run it properly. This involves a lot of factors from buying the structure and furnishings to marketing and money management. You would have to love people, different kinds from all walks of life. They are your bread and butter and you have to treat them the way they expect to be treated.

Another talent that comes useful is your kitchen ability because you have to provide breakfast to your guests. Then there is marketing, the modern way to attract the modern traveler. Do you think you know what it really takes to run a B&B?

Discover what it takes to be an efficient innkeeper before you venture into a bed and breakfast business, visit Bed and Breakfast Profits.

Article Source: Bed and Breakfast Business – Do You Have What it Takes to Be an Innkeeper?

The Jersey Shore boasts some of the most crowded vacation destinations going. However, one popular resort, The Wildwoods, is truly a happening place and well worth the trip despite the crowds.

Much of this venerable beach community took off in the 1950s with the opening up of the Garden State Parkway and the Atlantic City Expressway. Many of the hotels still gracing the area still reflect that fifties look: tail fins, big hair, Elvis, and more. Old hotels with a bit of tackiness to be sure, but still a fun place to check out.

The boardwalk is a two mile trek laced with all kinds of stores selling saltwater taffy, t-shirts, trinkets, games, rides, junk food, you name it. If you don’t like to walk, tram cars will take you to the end or to any point in between. Soon, you will hear the familiar “watch the tram car” recording emanating from the cars and all you have to do is flag one down, hop on, and you’re off.

The beach is free, by the way. And, it is very wide particularly by NJ standards. Most people familiar with the Jersey Shore know that many beaches are razor thin. This beach has sand added to it constantly and naturally by compliant tidal waters; it is at least 1/4 mile from boardwalk to surf [in low tide, that is].

Certain airline credit cards feature reward programs or bonus points for stays at particular hotels. Be sure to ask your credit card provider for travel benefits before making reservations.

Wildwood now boasts a convention center built on the beach and new rides jutting out from its piers. Historic Cape May, home to more than 600 Victorian houses, is only four miles to the South and a great place to visit when you tire of the boardwalk scene. Atlantic City is one hour to the north and is a frequent side trip destination, especially on rainy days. Alternatively, you can also escape to the county zoo for the day in the town of Cape  May Court House.

The best time to go to the Wildwoods is during July and August as the water temperatures can be too cold before that time. Still, most hotels have outdoor heated pools which you may prefer to salt water.

The resort is changing as many old buildings are being torn down and replaced by condos. Preservationists are attempting to maintain the family welcoming theme of the resort, so it remains to be seen what the resort’s future will be. In the meantime, grab a beach towel and your sunblock and head over to wonderful, Wildwood, NJ!

Born and raised in New Jersey, Matt is no stranger to the Jersey Shore having spent summer weeks on Long Beach Island as a child. Later in life, with a family of his own, the Keegans added Wildwood to their itinerary. This summer he hopes to return to Wildwood despite relocating to North Carolina.

Article Source: Wonderful Wildwood, New Jersey

Pet owners desiring to visit the New Jersey Shore need not board their cat or dog elsewhere or rely on a petsitter. There are some pet friendly hotels on the New Jersey shore that cater to the pet owner and his furry friends.

Most hotels able to accommodate pets and their owners reserve certain rooms for this clientele. The Ocean Place Resort and Spa of Long Branch allows pets and their owners to lodge only in rooms without a view. If a vacationer with a pet asks for a room at the Howard Johnson Hotel of Toms River, he will get one of three rooms in which smoking is allowed. The Days Inn of Neptune designates eight rooms as pet rooms while the Marquis de Lafayette Hotel in Cape May has seventeen pet-reserved rooms on their first floor.

Many of the pet friendly hotels on the New Jersey shore have restrictions on how many pets and how big the pets are that may occupy the rooms. Some rules are fairly lenient. The Econo Lodge Boardwalk of Atlantic City has no weight restrictions or limits. Many Quality Inns, including the Quality Inn West of Atlantic City and the Quality Inn of Toms River, allow a person to have two pets, both of which must be under one hundred pounds. The Sheraton of Atlantic City has a dog-only policy and the animal must be under eighty pounds.

Most pet friendly hotels on the New Jersey shore will charge an additional fee per pet per night. This can be anywhere from $10 per night per pet in the case of the Econo Lodge Boardwalk of Atlantic City and the Crystal Inn of Neptune to $50 per pet per night at the Howard Johnson Hotel of Toms River. The Ocean Place Resort and Spa of Long Branch charges $150 per stay but this includes certain amenities like a water dish with your pet’s name on it, a pet bed, and other things to make your pet’s stay easier. The Residence Inns of Neptune, Tinton Falls, and Somer’s Point require a $100 non-refundable sanitation fee.

In addition to the extra pet lodging fee, many pet friendly hotels on the New Jersey shore will ask for a security deposit from $100 cash (no credit cards) at the Marquis de Lafayette Hotel to $200 at the Palace Hotel of Cape May. These deposits are refunded as soon as housekeeping staff can inspect your room upon checkout and determine no damage has been done.

If you find a hotel which will allow your pet in your room you will likely be asked to sign a pet policy or waiver. This will tell you exactly what the rules are for keeping your pet at the hotel. Hotels generally require pets to remain attended in the room unless being taken outside on a leash for an outing or a walk.

Hotels may amend their pet policies so avoid difficulties and always call the hotel to make sure they know you will be lodging with your pet.

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about pet friendly hotels, please visit The Best Pet Friendly Hotels Today for current articles and discussions.

Article Source: Pet Friendly Hotels of the New Jersey Shore

Cape Henlopen beach camping in Delaware offers surf, salty air and sun for anyone who doesn’t mind a little sand in their sleeping bag.

That’s the thing about beach camping. The sand. You just have to ignore the fact that it tends to sneak into just about everything.

The campsites can be a bit crowded to the point where you will find yourself tent to tent with the campers next door. If you can, opt for one of the campsites (check the campsite map) that are side by side, rather than back to back with the neighbors. The bathrooms can get to be a hike from out there, but you’ll have a better campsite experience. The campground is open from May through October.

The RV sites are simply parking spots along the paved camp road, very easy to get in and out of, even if they do lack a pleasant setting or any privacy. However, you then get your very own sandy campsite to serve as your front yard.

There are so many things to do at Cape Henlopen, or you can just as easily choose to do nothing but simply loaf on the beach. First of all, it’s a very scenic destination full of sand and sky, interspersed nicely with beachy pine woods (Japanese black pines, if you want to be specific).

Cape Henlopen State Park has paved hiking and biking trails, plus free bike borrowing if you want to go for a spin. You can borrow the bikes at the nature center, which is a good place to get a handle on the ecology of a shore area. There is a huge salt water fishing pier with a well-stocked bait shop and snack bar, but you’ll need a $20 fishing license if you are over 16. It’s very inconvenient that for some reason the bait shop does not sell fishing licenses so you’ll have to drive back into town. In the summer, the state park beach is very popular. It has a nice bathhouse and snack bar, plus easy access to the beach via a boardwalk.

The state park staff offers many activities for families, from fall hay rides to wading explorations of the tidal flats.

Camping at Cape Henlopen State Park, you’ll also come across quite a bit of history. The nearby quaint town of Lewes has shops and old houses that date to the late 1700s, including the Cannonball House that was struck by a Royal Navy bombardment during the War of 1812. Pirates such as Blackbeard frequented the area, and rumors persist that he and his buccaneers buried treasure in the dunes. The scenery and the pirate legends have inspired countless artists, the most famous of whom were N.C. Wyeth and Howard Pyle, who used the Cape Henlopen area as a model for many of their iconic pirate paintings.

Cape Henlopen State Park is itself located on land that was once Fort Miles, a World War II base used to guard the entrance of Delaware Bay from German Uboat attacks. The submarine watch towers still stand, as do the troop barracks and massive gun bunkers, all of which are open for tours. If you’re lucky, volunteers who serve as World War II reenactors will be around to explain what it was like to be stationed at Fort Miles and protect the port of Philadelphia from German attack.

The park is maintained in part by the Friends of Cape Henlopen who work to do those little extras for the park that supplement the efforts of state employees.

There are a couple of drawbacks to camping at Cape Henlopen State Park. One is the price — we paid $72 for a two-night stay at our campsite. That’s on the high end for tent camping. The other major drawback was the dumpy, dirty state of the campground bathrooms. There would be no other way to describe the alleged facilities but to call them disgusting and dirty, with plumbing that doesn’t work, backed up toilets and moldy conditions. These bathrooms are long overdue for renovation and the cleaning staff doesn’t seem to work on weekends. It’s a bit puzzling because the rest of the state park is so well maintained, but the campground facilities have been forgotten despite the relatively high camping fee.

But we don’t want to end this article on a sour note, because we love Cape Henlopen camping. On a recent trip, the tide was out on the bay side near the fishing pier. We stretched out on the beach there and watched kids explore under the pilings and through the shallows, finding hermit crabs and shells. Farther out, the Cape Henlopen lighthouse stood watch and the Cape May ferry slid past as it began its crossing of Delaware Bay. All the cares of the world melted away and we realized that gold wasn’t the only treasure to be found at Cape Henlopen State Park.

Ian Fitzell is the editor of Camping Sky, a blog dedicated to upscale family camping. Visit http://campingsky.net

Article Source: Cape Henlopen Beach Camping Offers Sun and Surf

A Cape May, NJ bed and breakfast is a wonderful getaway idea for most individuals that are seeking relaxation. Cape May, New Jersey is certainly an ideal spot for individuals who want a nice and relaxing beach vacation. This shore town is situated at the southern tip of New Jersey and famous for its abundance of bed and breakfast inns. Cape May is a small and fascinating shore town. There are several things you can do in this place including golf, fishing, bird watching, watching great sunsets, and of course sightseeing along the beach. You will surely get the old world charm with friendly people and all sorts of facilities and services available.

New Jersey bed and breakfast accommodations are situated around the town. It differs in sizes and location. Some are very close to the beach while others are close to shopping malls and some are private. So, there is no need for you to worry because no matter what your need is, you will surely find bed and breakfast accommodations that will suit you. In addition, you could use a bed and breakfast getaway as an escape for couples that are seeking for a little privacy together. Cape May is a very good destination whether you wanted to have your vacation with your love one, your family or even if you want to be alone on a vacation.

Most of Cape May’s accommodations are Victorian style buildings that were constructed more than a hundred years ago. You will get the allure that comes with older architecture, quality, and the details that lack with modern day construction. But some of these accommodations have been somewhat modernized in order to have room for a better living style. Hence, the primary thing that you should do in finding bed and breakfast accommodation is to check out for amenities that it offers. It could be better to look for inns that can provide all of the necessary things that you will need during your stay. Cape May, NJ bed and breakfast inns offer everything you will need – food, great rooms and the all-encompassing knowledge that a local innkeeper has to offer.

Have you ever been to a bed and breakfast in New Jersey? Cape May NJ bed and breakfasts offer a great variety of accommodations and you are sure to enjoy your trip! You can find more information on bed and breakfasts by visiting my site at http://www.bedandbreakfastnook.com. Don’t waste time in a stuffy hotel– get the real feel of being a local by staying at a bed and breakfast.

Article Source: Cape May, NJ Bed and Breakfast Getaway

Located at the southern most tip of the state of New Jersey, Cape May is a historic seashore town, a bird lover’s dream come true, and a fisherman’s paradise all wrapped up into a popular vacation destination. Let’s take a look at this noted community located at the point where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Delaware Bay.

Named for the Dutch explorer Cornelius Jacobsen Mey [spelling later changed to May}, the town became America's first seashore resort in 1761. During the 1800s the community rose to fame as it quickly became one of the country's top vacation destinations. Indeed, hundreds of "Victorian style" homes were built in the town and most of these homes still stand today. In fact, no other locale in the USA boasts as many Victorian homes as does Cape May.

To appreciate the history of the area, visitors are encouraged to stop by the Greater Cape May Historical Society, which is located at the Colonial House Museum on Washington Street, right behind City Hall. The historical society features varying exhibits of local historical interest; a visit to the society will rouse your appetite to explore the resort in detail.

The resort is best traversed on foot, which will allow you to take in all the bed and breakfast establishments [which consist of some of the most charming of the Victorian homes], inns, shops and restaurants, as well as taking a stroll on the boardwalk and beaches. In the height of the summer tourist season, foot traffic oftentimes goes faster than automobile traffic so go ahead and get into your walking shoes and prepare to take in the sites and the salty air on foot.

Birders flock to the cape at all times of the year as the area boasts a phenomenal and varied bird population. During the Spring and again in the Fall, members of the National Audubon Society gather together for workshops, boat trips, field trips, bird viewing, and more. Because of its unique position on the east coast, Cape May attracts a stunning variety of migratory birds including hawks, owls, and peregrine falcons. Without a doubt there are few places on earth as popular for bird enthusiasts. When not viewing birds you can take in Cape May’s Lighthouse which still features an operating beacon!

Fishermen are attracted to the area because of the variety of species you can catch. Striped bass, bluefish, and weakfish are all in abundance while white perch, sea trout, herring, croakers, and sea bass are plentiful too. There are ample amounts of tidal creeks and rivers offering access to avid fishermen as well as jetties, inlets, docks and bridges, back bays, sod banks, the ocean, and the Delaware Bay. You can charter a boat for some good quality deep sea fishing as well.

Nearby attractions to Cape May include historic Cold Spring Village, a remake of communities that existed in the area during the 1800s; Cape May County Park and Zoo, featuring over one hundred species of wildlife; the Wildwoods, a thriving resort community just four miles north of the cape; and Avalon and Stone Harbor, fine resort communities between the Wildwoods and Ocean City.

Cape May, New Jersey is located just south of where the Garden State Parkway begins. Visit the Cape May Times’ website for up to the moment resort information and links: http://www.capemaytimes.com/.

Matt enjoys the sea as well as the mountains. When not traveling to either, Matt looks heavenward and manages busy aviation websites including his popular Corporate Flight Attendant Community located at http://www.corporateflyer.net.

Article Source: Charming and Historic Cape May, New Jersey

When most people think of the beach and the ocean, they think of summer time and warm weather. Many small beach towns along the Atlantic Coast will become “Ghost towns” once the summer season has finished for the year. All of the tourists and beach goers will leave for the winter and many shops and restaurants will close down for the winter. This is not the case with Cape May, New Jersey. Cape May is a great place to visit any time of the year.

In the “Off Season,” you will find many Cape May establishments still open for business such as shopping and dining. Since Cape May has a lot of historical significance, you should be able to tour many of the historical attractions around town. There are many organized tours with guides available, but if one cannot be found, you will not regret a simple walk around town. There is a great deal of Victorian Era architecture which can be viewed from the street.

Cape May is also a short drive from many other New Jersey Shore towns. If you would like to take a stroll along a boardwalk, Wildwood, Ocean City, and Atlantic City are all within short driving distance. If you’re spending a longer period of time in Cape May, a day trip to Atlantic City is highly recommended. You can easily drive to Atlantic City from Cape May in one hour or less. Here you will find a Las Vegas style experience on the East Coast (Even in the winter time). Let’s not forget that Cape May also has a zoo which is open year round.

While seeking lodging in Cape May, Cape May Vacation Rentals are a valuable option. Many of the rates will decrease in the winter and “Off Peak” seasons. This is an ideal time to go if you are on a budget or have limited funding. Many properties will provide you with the same amenities that you have at home.

Cape May is a beach town, but there is a lot more there than just the beach. It is a year round resort town. “Off Peak” seasons are sometimes the best times to visit the city. Close proximity to major cities such as Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New York make it a great winter-time weekend getaway!

Article Source: Cape May – Year Round Jersey Shore Vacations