Cape May Point State Park

A visitor to West Cape May is only 2 miles from Cape May Point State Park. The Park has lots to see. The beach, dunes, wetlands, forested areas make it a favorite destination for bird lovers and nature enthusiasts. The park is home to the famous Cape May Lighthouse plus there are boardwalks over wet areas and clearly marked nature trails that wind through the marsh, around ponds and grassy dunes to the beach.

The park has free nature walks throughout the year, a pavilion with tables overlooking the ocean and large clean restrooms in the headquarters building.

Cape May Meadows

If you are in the area for serious bird watching or a visitor who loves nature and the finer things in life then the Cape May Meadows is a must visit place for you.  So close it could easily be considered a part of West Cape May and it certainly is a part of the West Cape May experience, the refuge is a great place for early morning walks offering spectacular sunrise views of natural habitats.

Open 7 days a week from dawn to dusk the trails loop about 1 mile in length, access from the parking lot on Sunset Blvd, winding through the dunes down to the beach and back through the meadows. The natural beauty and abundance of wildlife offer great photo opportunities and is an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area
This one and one-half mile stretch of beach on the western side of Cape Island contains the last remnant of coastal dune forest on the Bay Shore. The inland dunes are more than 20 feet high in some places. A forest of holly, red cedar, and beach plum stabilize them. Several hundred acres of wooded upland with a dense understory, a freshwater marsh, two freshwater ponds, a hardwood swamp, old farm fields, and a coastal dune forest all provide cover for migratory songbirds, raptors, and butterflies. Higbee beach is managed specifically to provide habitat for migratory wildlife.

Nearby Parks and Recreation Areas

There are many recreation areas, parks and places of interest within a few miles of the island on shore but still on Cape May Peninsula.

Less than 15 miles from West Cape May, the Cape May County Zoo is a must see when you are in the area.It makes an ideal day trip for the family.The zoo encompasses 80 acres of exhibits and a boardwalk through the trees to an African plains exhibit.There are more than 200 different species of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles.A very large picnic area and open play fields and best of all admission is free.

The Cape May County Park Central is over 200 acres (including the zoo) with many forested areas maintained in their natural state.Within the park, you will find picnic areas, walk/bike paths, fishing ponds, playgrounds and more.

The park is open from 9:00 a.m. to dusk, while the zoo opens at 10:00 a.m. and closes at 3:45 p.m. (4:45 p.m. during summer hours).