41 Jackson Street, Cape May

Not a typical post on management, but I am on vacation.

The best place to stay in Cape May, New Jersey just got better. This serves as both a review and recommendation. Last year, we decided to take a chance and abandon our condos up in the northern end of the beach for a smaller place on the historic Jackson Street. It was called Finley’s place - Apartment 3. The house was built in the late1800s and is now converted into several units.

Harry Kulkowitz and Vickie Seitchik, the founders of the popular, Mad Batter restaurant, sold Apartment #3 to Charles and Leslie Kelly several months after our week in Cape May. The Kelly family vacationed at 41 Jackson Street for 18 years. Their dream of owning their own place came true in the fall of 2007.

As we arrived for our second year at 41 Jackson Street, my wife opened the door and her jaw dropped (along with my two oldest daughters). The apartment was completely transformed. The old kitchen at the back of the unit was now a bedroom. The bedroom where the girls slept was now a gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a wonderful island. Walls and doors were moved to fix the awkward flow of the old apartment.

The Kellys did a phenomenal job creating the best place to stay in Cape May. 41 Jackson Street is located a block from the main beach and a block from the Washington Mall (shopping and restaurants), which was rededicated the day we arrived. I wasn’t too thrilled with what they did to the mall. All of the nice older trees were gone, replaced by small new ones.

It has been wonderful sitting on our front porch watching all of the vacationing people, young and old walk by. Bikers cruising down the street, the smell of seafood, cool breezes, and meeting our neighbors have made it feel like a home away from home once again.

It is always so peaceful here. We can walk to the coffee shop and the Patisserie in the morning. We walk to the grocery store and our favorite restaurants. We leave the van parked all week. My oldest son and I have our bikes with us this year.

Those who have made Cape May their beach of choice, know just how wonderful this town has become. This 387 year old ocean town, streets lined with beautifully restored Victorian homes has a special place in the hearts of my wife and me and our five children. Molly may only be 9 months old, but we can tell she likes it here as well.

This year is our twentieth wedding anniversary. When my wife and I got married, back in 1988, we were saving every penny to buy our first house. Instead of going to the Caribbean or Hawaii, we went to Cape May for our honeymoon, never dreaming that it would become our beloved summer haven.

We are thankful to be here once again. God has blessed us with awesome weather and an awesome place.