The Virginia Hotel, Cape May, New Jersey

Cape May looks like a movie set of Victorian homes and storefronts. Huge mansions line the beachfront boulevard, culminating in the stately Virginia Hotel. Rent one of its five cottages in the heart of downtown. Use the elegant hotel for the amenities, but pretend you’re a wealthy industrial baron in your summer beach house.

Field trip: Climb the 199 cast-iron spiral stairs to the top of the 1859 Cape May Lighthouse and wander through wetland trails on the property.

Night out: Reserve a table on the oceanfront patio at Peter Shields Inn, then look for the Maine lobster crab cake.

Rates: Cottages rent by room, $90–$700/night. White Cottage rents by floor. Summer rentals are generally weekly; 800/732-4236 or virginiahotel.com.

 

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