Hoorah! Hooray! It’s the First of May! Can June be far behind? Time flies when you’re having fun, and we hope you’re having fun right now! We’ve had a lot of April showers to make our gardens grow (thanks to a ‘Noreaster), and the robins have to be happy with the food supply in the yard, so May flowers have a good chance of being in full bloom this season.

   We kicked off our fantastic new service - GreatVacationShore Rentals.com & GreatVacationPropertyRentals.com – in our last issue, and so many places that are quiet throughout the late fall, winter and early spring are now awake and open in anticipation of your arrival that the number of attractions to visit and things to see and do increase exponentially (which means “.. a lot!”)  at this time of year. We’ll be running to keep ahead of what’s happening in order to help you stay even with your information.

   As usual, PLEASE email this FREE newsletter to everyone you know – and even to people you don’t know – to spread the word, especially regarding our new members of the Great Vacation family: GreatVacationShoreRentals.com. & GreatVacationPropertyRentals.com. This service is going to be very important to everyone now and in the future because it’s your direct connection to vacation rentals. If you happen to be a vacation property rental owner it’s a fantastic way to reach the people who are looking for the perfect vacation destination, and if you’re a vacation rental customer, it’s your user-friendly, one-stop, online place to choose the best vacation spot that will meet your needs and budget.

   Check out this issue of the Great Vacation newsletter for things to do, places to stay and dine, photos, and all sorts of information on entertainment, beaches, tourist attractions, and places for fun in the sun. Welcome aboard! We hope your vacation this year is the best ever!

Event: Join the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey for the 4th Annual Make-A-Wish Weekend on Thursday and Friday, May 3^rd and 4^th, 2007 in Cape May County! The weekend consists of two incredible events.

Thursday evening, May 3, 2007 “Garden State Dredging Celebrity Bartender Night” will be held at Menz Restaurant, 985 Route 47 South, Rio Grande, N.J. (609-886-9500)

Friday, May 4, 2007, the Make-A-Wish Golf Outing will take place at the Cape May Par 3 and Driving Range, next to Menz’s Restaurant off Fulling Mill Road. (609-889-2600). Year after year this has been a sold out event with 200+ golfers.

Times: Thursday, May 3, 2007 at 5:00 PM at Menz Restaurant.

Friday, May 4, 2007- 12:00PM and 4:00 PM start times at Cape May Par 3 and Driving Range.

Contact: Stacy Redelheim sredelheim@wishnj.org 908-964-5055

May...

Mommy & Me Children’s Program, Fridays 10:30 -11:30 Nature center of Cape May 609-898-8848

Harbor Safaris, Nature Center of Cape May, Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. 609-898-8848

Aqua Trails Kayaking Nature Tours begin on May 12, Daily – 11:00 a.m. Nature Center of Cape May 
609-898-8848

2: Event: Natural Habitats Trolley Tour, Nature Center of Cape May – 10:30 a.m. 609-898-8848

3: Event: Martin Z. Mollusk Day” 11:00 a.m. at the 9^th Street Beach in Ocean City, N.J. 609-525-9300

4-6: Event: 6^th Annual South Jersey/ASA Spring Striper Tournament, South Jersey Marina, Cape May. 609-884-2400

5: Event: Spring Block Party from 9:00 – 5:00 on Asbury Avenue in Ocean City, N.J. from 5^th to 14^th Streets. 350 crafters, food vendors, music and more. 609-525-9300

5-6: Event: Sail into Summer Weekend/Boat Show and Seafood Festival weekend: Stone Harbor, N.J.
10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.April 27-29: Event: Sensational 60’s Weekend: Wildwood, N.J.

5 – 7: Event: Boardwalk table sales in Ocean City, N.J. 609-398-4662

11-12: Event: Dancefest, Convention Hall, Cape May. 301-320-7099

12: Event: The Gardens of Dr. West, Azaleas & Rhododendrons, Nature Center of Cape May, 1:00 p.m.                            609-898-8848

17-20: Event: Spring Sidewalk Sale, Washington Street Mall & Square, Cape May.

18: Event: Cape May Spring Weekend Specials, Various Activities, 609-898-8848

18-20: Event: Cape May Spring Audubon Weekend 609-884-2736

Avalon Inn
The Avalon Inn Resort is a peaceful retreat from the world, located at 7929 Dune Drive in Avalon, New Jersey.  It’s a quiet, family-oriented motel with all the amenities, and just steps away from the beach. (click here)

Beachcomber Resort
Beautiful beaches and tall dunes, a relaxed, refreshing atmosphere, secluded pool – it’s “The suite approach to your seashore vacation.” (click here)

Concord Suites
For the perfect getaway, the Concord Suites have the perfect package. (click here)

Desert Sand Inn
The ocean is calling you to its waters for sun, surf, fun, relaxation, and a tranquil haven away from the hustle and bustle. It’s the Desert Sand Resort – perfect! (click here)

Sealark Bed & Breakfast
Lovely accommodations, a light and airy atmosphere, and incredible breakfasts. It doesn’t get any better than the Sealark Bed & Breakfast. (click here)

The Windrift Resort Hotel
For fine dining, entertainment, swimming and more, the Windrift Resort Hotel, 80^th and the beach in Avalon, New Jersey is the perfect place for a fantastic weekend, week, or for season. (click here)

Buttonwood Manor
You’ll enjoy the warm, friendly atmosphere in a comfortably beautiful turn-of-the-century home at the bed and breakfast inn closest to the Cape May Bird Observatory and the Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Meadows Refuge (click here)

Reeves Motel
On four acres in a quiet country setting, the Reeves Motel is just four miles from Cape May Beach or the Wildwood Boardwalk. (click here)

West Cape Motel
The closet motel to the bird sanctuary, boat and surf fishing, Cape May diamonds, and much more. (click here)

The Hyland Motor Inn
The inexpensive alternative to beachfront accommodations. (click here)

Beach Club Hotel
On the boardwalk overlooking the Atlantic, where you’re welcomed with warmth and style. (click here)

Crossings Motor Inn
Located in the beautiful south end of Ocean City. (click here)

Osborne’s Inn
Just  a short distance from the beach and the boardwalk. (click here)

Ocean Front Motel
Natural beauty, relaxing atmosphere, and one of the best beaches in North America. (click here)

Port-O-Call Hotel
Ocean City’s Number One Resort, with spectacular beachfront accommodations. (click here)

Budget Inn
Open year round, the Budget Inn Motel and suites offer you wonderful hospitality and service at reasonable rates in Somers Point. (click here)

Economy Motel Inn & Suites
Somers Point’s home-away-from home, with all that Somers Point and Ocean City have to offer. (click here)

Owl Motel
Open all year. The Owl Motel in Somers Point is the place to stay for business or pleasure. (click here)

Pier 4 Hotel
The ideal place to stay on Broadway Avenue and the bay. (click here)

Risley House
Victorian flair. Awake to the aroma of fresh coffee and home-baked muffins, and enjoy your newspaper in a high backed rocker on the veranda. (click here)

The Colonial Lodge
Located in a beautiful residential area with varied accommodations in a quiet and friendly atmosphere. (click here)

The Lark Motel
A very special place just one block from the beach. (click here)

Aztec Resort Motel
This is a great place to stay for all the events year round, and it’s two blocks from the boardwalk and a block from the beach. (click here)

Dining at the Shore...all within a short walk or drive from your accommodations!

Bella Vida
Bella Vida Café’ on “Broadway” (406 North Broadway, West Cape May, New Jersey) begins with breakfast, presents lunch, and ends with dinner. Their homemade soups & quiches, made daily, are the talk of the town. (click here)

The Cape Orient Oriental Restaurant
This is Historic Cape May’s only oriental restaurant open from 11:30 a.m. for lunch and dinner daily. Cantonese and Szechuan favorites, plus Sushi and Sashimi. (click here)

No. 1 Chinese Restaurant
Open year round for lunch and dinner, when you sample their fare you’ll them one of your number ones choices for great food in Ocean City! (click here)

Oyster Bay Restaurant and Bar
Cape May’s choice for steamed lobster, succulent steak, or both – and that’s just the beginning of the good food and good times. (click here)

Cheeks at the Beach
The FLAX capital of the world, featuring the best in women’s casual clothing in natural fibers that are cool and comfortable. Bryn WALKER, Sarah Arizona and more. (Click here)

Harley-Davidson of Wildwood
The fun begins at Harley-Davidson of Wildwood – with sales, service, parts, accessories, apparel, and their fantastic rental program. Once you rent a Harley you’ll want to buy a Harley from Harley-Davidson of Wildwood. (Click here)

Oma’s Doll Shop
Playable dolls, collectible dolls, doll clothes and accessories for all ages, located in the Washington Mall in Historic Cape May. You’ve got to experience Oma’s Doll Shop. It’s delightful! (Click here)

Sunset Beach
A great place to shop for area collectibles, Cape May fashions, the largest collection of jewelry in Cape May, apparel for men, women and children, home décor needs, and much more. Enjoy a meal at the Sunset Beach Grill, dolphin watching in warm weather, bird watching, and don’t miss the evening flag ceremony, a Cape May tradition for 40 years. (Click here)

Toy Shop of Cape May
Incredibly imaginative toys that are great fun for kids, and those big kids disguised as grown-ups! You’ll find games, beach toys, kites, water toys, LEGO and much, much more! (Click here)

Diller-Fisher Realtors
Serving Stone Harbor and Avalon, New Jersey since 1930 with the best in real estate sales, rentals and insurance. Avalon              (click here)
Stone Harbor    (click here)

Century 21 Gilmartin & Co.
From the most “well-known name in real estate – Century 21” we offer sophisticated marketing tools and advertising programs that work for you. (click here)

Homestead Real Estate Company, Inc.
Their award-winning agents provide you with courteous, honest service with integrity for all your real estate needs in Cape May, West Cape May, Cape May Point and surrounding areas. (click here)

   There are many special stores on the Washington Street Mall in historic Victorian Cape May, New Jersey, but none more special than Andrews LTD. This is the place where shoppers discover antiques, collectibles for all ages, estate jewelry and more. Andrews LTD is the place for extraordinary gifts and selection at reasonable prices.

   When you visit Andrews LTD you’ll see items such as vintage toys dating to the 1930’s and 1940’s, beautiful decorative stain-glass panels, antique men’s watches, music CD’s, hand-colored photographs by renowned artist Wallace Nuttings, and much more.

   Open year round, Andrews LTD is a storehouse of very special gifts for your favorite people, as well as for colleagues at work, special events, birthdays, anniversaries and corporate gifts. You’re sure to find hidden treasures waiting for you to discover on your next visit to Andrews LTD. If you’ve never been there before there’s no better time than now to shop at Andrews LTD. For more information: (click here).

 
  If you define “fun” as “…having a great time and doing something for the first time…” then it may be time for your first trip aboard Cape May Whale Watcher, the largest (at 110 feet in length), and fastest marine mammal sightings boat in New Jersey. The Cape May Whale Watcher is also the only boat to guarantee marine mammal sightings on all their regular cruises.

   This is the best way for families and groups of all sizes to see some of the earth’s biggest mammals (whales), as well as the dolphins that swim the waters off the New Jersey coast. This is the ideal trip for educators who enjoy taking students on field trips, for groups and organizations, for corporate trips, and for families, friends and anyone who enjoys the sea and its incredible mammals.

   The Cape May Whale Watcher also features lighthouse trips that take you to a number of the sentinels of the sea on each voyage for an enjoyable time of sightseeing. The Cape May Whale Watcher sails from March through December, weather permitting, from the Miss Chris Marina in Cape May, New Jersey. For more details (click here)

Click here for the newest fishing reports...

The Pinelands National Reserve

   In an exhibit titled “Coastal Connections: a Family Perspective,” two artists featured in this newsletter in past issues will join forces to kick off the summer season at the Chalfont Hotel’s Magnolia Room, 301 Howard Street in Cape May, New Jersey beginning with the opening reception on Sunday, May 27^th, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and continuing through June 28, 2007.

   Marie Natale, whose work is featured annually at the Chalfonte, will be joined by her nephew, Mark Natale, in the joint display of their paintings capturing the New Jersey shore communities, in Marie Natale’s watercolors, juxtaposed with coastal scenes painted by Mark Natale during five years in the Savannah, Georgia region – another historic East Coast community.

   The similarities and the differences in the paintings of coastal New Jersey and coastal Georgia promise an intriguing look at the work of two gifted and award-winning artists whose styles, choices of subjects and themes are truly a family perspective. The gallery will be open daily May 12 to June 28^th, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 609-884-8409 for more information.

Let Them Entertain You…….

Box Office Telephone Numbers:

Atlantic City Hilton (609) 340-7160

Balley’s Park Place (609) 340-2709/(800) 772-7777

Boardwalk Hall (800) 736-1420 (TicketMaster)

Borgata (609) 317-1000

Caesar’s (800) 677-SHOW (7469)

Claridge (609) 340-3700 / (800) 752-7469

Harrah’s (800) 2HARRAH (242-7724)

Resorts (609-340-6300 / (800) 322-SHOW (7469)

Sands (609) 441-4137/ (800) AC-SANDS

Showboat (609) 343-4000/(800) 621-0200

Tropicana (609) 340-4020 / (800) 526-2935

Trump Marina (800) 284-8786 / (800) 777-8477

Trump Plaza (800) 759-8786

Trump Taj Mahal (609) 449-5150 / (800) 825-8888

TicketMaster

1-800-736-1420 or www.ticketmaster.com