So, you want to get away for a lovely, long week where you can unwind, relax, take in the sun, eat some fantastic seafood and soak your toes in some beautiful white sand. But you don’t want the hassle of airport check-in. So where should you go? How about the beautiful towns of Cape May and Diamond Beach, New Jersey? From NYC, you can be there in under 3 hours! That’s less time than driving to an airport, waiting to check in, boarding, and unboarding, really.

Diamond Beach, New Jersey is on the Jersey shore, on the way to Cape May, New Jersey, about a 10-minute ride away. The beach is wide and long, great for running or taking a pleasant stroll in the white sand.  It is a very relaxing beach and what I mean by that is that it is not full of rowdy people. A great beach to build sandcastles with children, young and older. Cape May, New Jersey is at the southern tip of the Jersey Shore. It is more of a family-friendly stay area with a beautiful, quaint downtown that has so many pretty shops and many fabulous restaurants.

You can spend hours just visiting the pretty shops and indulging in some of the best food around. All the shops and restaurants take great pride in presenting their businesses in a warm and inviting way. Staff in the restaurants are always so happy to greet and serve you and make sure your food is to your satisfaction with a smile. Various shops carry some local artist merchandise that is a treasure to purchase and display at home or surprise someone with a gift.

I recently visited there, and the accommodation was very lovely at The Seapointe Village. This is a beautiful, oceanfront, gated community with 4 pool areas, one being an indoor/outdoor pool that is open year round,( great for any rainy days or cooler temperatures) hot tubs, firepits for cozy evening gatherings, spa, steam room, exercise room, tennis courts, basketball court, bocce court, playground for the kids, game room, BBQ grills to make your meals, 24 hour security all year and so much more.  There is so much to do here, and the beach is only a few steps away! On the 4th of July you can see their beautiful fireworks display right on the beach or from your balcony, depending on where you are staying! The accommodation at The Seapointe Village is just like home away from home, with all the necessary items to make your stay convenient. The kitchen, yes, a full kitchen, is stocked with whatever cooking items you need to prepare a meal, beds are made with linens, a living room with plenty of room to watch tv or play a board game and a balcony with chairs to take in the ocean views! I enjoyed my morning coffee on the balcony watching the sunrise over the ocean. Afterwards, I would go for a walk on the soft, white, sandy beach, take in the sun and then go for a swim in the beautiful pool. In the evening it was so relaxing and cozy to sit by the fire pit, roasting marshmallows and listening to the sound of the ocean waves.

I want to share with you a delicious recipe from one of the restaurants I visited, Joe’s Fish Co. Their very popular “Golden Fish Sandwich” is a packed with flavor fish, served in a buttered roll with a side of super crispy fries, yum! Now for the recipe, Joes’s uses a “tilefish” which is not easily available, so I am substituting it with a flounder fillet. A delicious, delicate, mild flavored fish seasoned with some Cajun seasoning and served with a cilantro cream sauce that will make your mouth water! Oh, and don’t forget the crispy fries! Enjoy!