Autumn at Cape May, New Jersey

There's nothing I love more than walking along a sandy beach, hearing the waves crash along the shore. Swimming and laying out in the sun (with plenty of sunscreen, of course) is always nice during the summer, but there's something so peaceful about the shore during the fall. One of the best parts about living in Philadelphia is the easy access to so many Jersey beaches. I've been to a few including Wildwood and Ocean City, but Cape May is my absolute favorite! It's an adorable shoreside town with big beach houses painted in pastel colors and a cute little shopping center full of Ma and Pop shops. It's a breath of fresh air from outlets or malls.
 

We decided to have dinner at the Blue Pig Tavern, which is my personal favorite at Cape May. The food is always fresh and local, and the dining area is so pretty and cozy - complete with a fireplace! I had an apple cider sangria to drink and it was so yummy, the perfect cocktail for fall! I may even try and duplicate it at home with THIS recipe from Smitten Kitchen.I recommend a bowl of the clam chowder soup along with one of their many delicious salad options. I usually don't go with salad at restaurants but here each salad is full of flavors and ingredients, and the freshness of the food makes it even better. Derek got the fish and chips, which was equally as good - so next time I may have mix it up and go that route (aka the fried but delicious route). The end of our trip included walking along the beach until the sun was setting, which was the perfect way to end the day. I found so many huge seashells along the water that I collected to take home with me. There were also so many jellyfish washed up on the shore as well! We were the only two on the beach, which makes fall almost the perfect time to be there if you aren't eager to swim. It was such a lovely day to escape the city and be somewhere so peaceful and relaxing.