South Coast

Sunday, June 24, 2007

ATTRACTIONS AND DISTRACTIONS

SEA ISLE CITY: The Sea Isle City Historical Museum (4208 Landis Ave., 609-263-2992) has more than 3,000 photos. Both Kix-McNutley's (6400 Landis Ave., 609-263-6341; $5) and Ocean Drive (3915 Landis Ave., 609-263-1000; $5) host live acts.

AVALON: Check out vintage swimsuits at the Avalon Museum and Historical Society (215 39th St., 609-967-0090). The Wetlands Institute (1075 Stone Harbor Blvd., 609-368-1211) leads nature walks from the 48th Street beach path (Wednesday 9 a.m.; $3 donation). Send putts to Davy Jones's locker at Pirate Island mini golf (27th Street and Dune Drive, 609-368-8344).

NORTH WILDWOOD: The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse (First and Central avenues, 609-522-4520, http://www.herefordlighthouse.org; $4) has a tiny museum. For test-tube shots and '80s and hip-hop hits, go to Echo's (Walnut and Olde New Jersey avenues, 609-522-8570).

WILDWOOD: The George F. Boyer Historical Museum/Historical Society (3907 Pacific Ave., 609-523-0277, http://www.the-wildwoods.com; donation suggested) is a Wildwood trivia trove. The Casba Comedy Club (3810 Atlantic Ave., 609-522-8444, http://www.casbacomedyclub.com; $15) has two shows nightly. Stroll the boardwalk. Sunset Cinema shows movies on the beach (609-522-6340; $8).

WILDWOOD CREST: Hit the Lakeview Docks (Park Boulevard and Rambler Road, 609-522-0471, http://www.lakeviewdocks.com) for Waverunners. The beach at the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge Two Mile Beach Unit is closed through September, but walking paths are open.

CAPE MAY/CAPE MAY POINT: For all things Victorian, go to the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts/Emlen Physick Estate (1048 Washington St., 800-275-4278, http://www.capemaymac.org). Try a Haunted Cape May Walking Ghost Tour (727 Beach Ave., 609-884-4202, http://www.hauntednewjersey.com; $12) or a horse and carriage ride ($40 for 30 minutes for two).

At Cape May Point State Park (609-884-2159, http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/capemay.html), climb the lighthouse ($6) or go Cape May di amond combing (they're actually quartz). The Northwood Center of the Cape May Bird Observatory (701 East Lake Dr., 609-884-2736, http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/CMBO) has an extensive bookstore. Hit the water with the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center (1286 Wilson Dr., 609-898-0055).

LODGING

SEA ISLE CITY: Relax on the wraparound porch of the Colonnade Hotel (4600 Landis Ave., 609-263-8868, http://www.thecolonnadeinn.com; from $158), a 17-unit Victorian property. Party animals can play at the LaCosta Deck Bar and sleep at the adjacent Coast Motel (4000 Landis Ave., 609-263-1111, http://www.lacosta-seaisle.com/coastmotel; from $98).

AVALON: The Avalon Inn Resort (7929 Dune Dr., 877-282-5663, http://www.avaloninn.org; from $174) has a pool half a block from the beach.

STONE HARBOR: The sedate Colonial Lodge Motel (181 93rd St., 609-368-2202, http://www.stoneharbormotels.com/colonial.htm; from $168) has 16 rooms on two levels. Rent a room or the entire three stories at Pebbles Guest House (9400 First Ave., 609-368-2203; rates from $170).

NORTH WILDWOOD: The adorable Summer Nites B&B (2110 Atlantic Ave., 866-762-1950, http://www.summernites.com; rates from $145) has eight '50s, '60s and '70s-themed rooms, with breakfast served by the poodle-skirted owner. Rooms at the Lollipop Motel (2301 Atlantic Ave., 609-729-2800, http://www.lollipopmotel.com; from $185) are maintained by their owners at this doo-wop-style "condotel." The Candlelight Inn (2310 Central Ave., 800-992-2632, http://www.candlelight-inn.com; from $169) offers eight rooms as well as suites in the adjacent carriage house.

WILDWOOD: Stay in doo-wop-style rooms at the Starlux Boutique Hotel & Meeting Place (305 E. Rio Grande Ave., 609-522-7412, http://www.thestarlux.com; from $209) or bunk at the hotel's two Airstream trailers across the street. The 21-room Starfire Motel (5100 Ocean Ave., 609-522-6767, http://www.starfiremotel.com; from $110) has a pool, as does the 37-room Caprice Motel (4200 Ocean Ave., 609-522-3845, http://www.capricemotelwildwood.com; from $140).

WILDWOOD CREST: The Caribbean Motel (5600 Ocean Ave., 609-522-8292, http://www.caribbeanmotel.com; from $99) is doo-wop from head to toe. Rooms at the Bel Air (5510 Ocean Ave., 800-528-7991, http://www.belairmotel.net; from $139) come with fridge and microwave. The Pan American (5901 Ocean Ave., 609-522-6936, http://www.panamericanhotel.com; from $233) is a relative behemoth at four stories, with ocean views and a neat circular pool.

CAPE MAY: The town is dotted with hotels, but B&Bs are the real draw. See our picks on Page P8.

PLACES TO EAT

SEA ISLE CITY: Folks have headed to Busch's Seafood Restaurant (8700 Landis Ave., 609-263-8626; entrees from $18.75) since 1882; it's known for its she crab soup ($6.25). Scoop Daddy's (3210 Landis Ave., 609-263-3141) has canopied seating perfect for devouring a $4 Cafe Crunch sundae. Coffee.COMedy (29 JFK Blvd., 609-263-5282) is a coffee shop, Internet cafe and standup venue.

AVALON: A family atmosphere and an eclectic menu (baked brie with wild berry compote for $13.95) keep beachgoers coming to Bobby-Dee's Rock 'n Chair Restaurant (2409 Dune Dr., 609-967-3300). After a seafood dinner at Cafe Loren (2288 Dune Dr., 609-967-8228; entrees from $29), try to down the Shipwreck, 12 scoops of ice cream with every topping ($24) at Buccaneer Ice Cream and Candy (2659 Dune Dr., 609-967-1119).

STONE HARBOR: Green Cuisine (302 96th St., 609-368-6486) offers smoothies ($4.95) and sandwiches (try the Garden Delight, $6.25). Mainstay Marabella's (9426 Third Ave., 609-368-5037) serves Italian lunch and dinners; entrees from $12.50. Join the line at Springer's (9420 Third Ave., 609-368-4631), serving ice cream since Prohibition.

NORTH WILDWOOD: Try a grilled Reuben "Solar Specialty Sandwich" ($8.20) or a Greek specialty (souvlaki platter, $9.15) at the Star Diner Cafe (325 W. Spruce Ave., 609-729-4900). Order a six-scoop Scoop DeVille ($12.50) -- and sit in a vintage-car booth -- at Cool Scoops Ice Cream Parlor (1111 New Jersey Ave., 609-729-2665). For massive meat and veggie dogs served in, yes, doggie bowls, locals pack into Maui's Doghouse (806 New Jersey Ave., 609-846-0444).

WILDWOOD: The owner sings Sinatra and a single pasta serving is enough for four at La Piazza Cucina (4600 Pacific Ave., 609-522-8300; entrees from $12). There's intriguing picnic fare such as Bulgarian eggplant spread at Europa Delights, an international grocery (4722 Pacific Ave., 609-522-1149). Stop at Marvis Diner (4900 Pacific Ave., 609-522-0550) and get the house omelet ($7.25), which comes with Tater Tots.

WILDWOOD CREST: The Peanut Butter Fluff sundae ($5.10) at Sea Shell Ice Cream Parlor (Rio Grande and Atlantic avenues, 609-522-7822) could feed a family. Duffy's on the Lake (7601 New Jersey Ave., 609-522-1815) is the place for a short stack ($4.25) with a water view. For an upscale New American dinner where jackets aren't out of place, try Marie Nicole's (9510 Pacific Ave., 609-522-5425; entrees from $21).

CAPE MAY: At the Pier House (1327 Beach Ave., 609-898-0300), the New American menu lives up to the artful presentation (entrees from $19). The veggie pita with garlicky tzatziki ($6) at small, sunny George's Place (301 Beach Ave., 609-884-6088) will jump-start any day. For Caesar salad, burgers and club sandwiches ($6 to $11), grab an outdoor seat at the Blue Pig Tavern (251 Beach Ave., 609-884-8422). Gussy up for the venerable Washington Inn (801 Washington St., 609-884-5697), a circa-1840 plantation house serving duck, steak and soft-shell crab (entrees from $20, surf and turf $63).