What do these three have in common?

So what does a wheel chair, stomach virus, and Strep throat all have in common? If you guessed that all three occurred during our trip to Virginia Beach a couple weeks ago, pat yourself on the back for being so perceptive, then read on-and if you didn’t guess, well better luck next time.

Now I know bad luck often comes in threes for some reason, therefore I’m always waiting for the other shoe to drop so to speak. The thing is, I thought I had my three before our vacation-my son’s foot, our leaking furnace, and the problems with our satellite TV-but I guess the powers of the universe weren’t done with us yet. You already know about my ankle from my last Virginia post, but now I’m going to tell you about our actual trip, and yes, I’m laughing about it now. And my husband, who is still not too crazy about my blogging fixation, said near the end of our vacation, "I hope your taking notes for your blog," so I'm using that as the go ahead to reveal all…

Like I said previously, it took a lot of convincing on my part just to get my husband thinking about attempting this trip with my bum ankle, but with the help of my daughter, we were able to get the rest of our stuff packed. My husband then did some research online and he found a rental company that rented wheel chairs and beach wheel chairs for the week-I wasn’t to thrilled about a wheel chair, but after falling that night using my crutches in the bathroom, I agreed. I called the next day during our trip down, and as it turned out, the company had both a regular wheel chair and beach wheel chair available (according to the woman on the phone, the beach wheel chairs never hang around long, so this one must have been destined for me-I can’t say that I was ecstatic, but this was our first piece of good luck in a while…)

But that good luck started to run out during the trip down-what should have been a 5-6 hour trip soon turned into an 8 1/2 hour trip, and by the time we arrived, my son was complaining about a sore stomach and headache. We tried to get him to eat dinner, but he refused, and about an hour after we settled in our condo, he was throwing up. My husband was giving me the "I told you we shouldn’t have come" glare, but I still tried to remain positive.

Once again our luck turned-by next morning my son was back to his old self, so we headed for the beach. I love watching the waves, but I did start feeling a little sorry for myself as I watched my husband, daughter, and son enjoying themselves in the ocean. Plus, it got a little hot in my beach wheel chair (105 degree temps everyday will do that), especially since I had to keep battling our beach umbrella every time the wind blew, but I didn’t let on to my family.

We stuck mainly to the beach for our daily entertainment (other entertainment was who would push mommy in her wheel chair), as we got used to the two wheel chairs, but by Tuesday I was bored, so we decided we would head to the aquarium that morning. It turns out that the daycare and summer camps in the area had also decided on a Tuesday morning trip so the place was packed. My husband was worried someone was going to bump my foot (a daily occurrence from my son, so I was always wary of where he was at all times), my daughter started complaining about a sore throat and wanted to sit on my lap, and my son kept complaining about the crowd and how he wanted a snack. The perfect family outing!

We were also supposed to take a boat ride through the canal after lunch, but we were all pretty sick of one another by then, so we opted to go back to the condo. But it turns out that this might not have been the best decision-a freak storm had hit while we were in the aquarium, and although it was sunny out, none of the buildings on the boardwalk had electric including all the hotels and our condo, and the traffic lights weren’t working. So we headed away from the beach and drove to an area where we could watch the navy fighter jets landing, but by now my daughter was complaining of a back ache and curled up in the fetal position in the van, and my son was whining. And then I was looking frantically for a bag so my daughter could throw up-ah, the memories!

This was our clue to head back to the beach (and quickly), and we were relieved to see the traffic lights working again. But just as we thought we were in the clear, we noticed that the northern end of the boardwalk-where we were staying-was still dark. There was still no electric in our condo, we were on the 8th floor, and I didn’t have my crutches with me! My husband made the decision to high tail it up eight flights accompanied by my son and the flashlight on his cell phone (the stair wells were all dark-the emergency lights are on a battery and only work for so long), while my daughter and I waited at a boardwalk bench. It wasn’t until they both came back down that I realized I too would have to get up those stairs… It took me twenty minutes to tackle those stairs, and I was both sweaty and crying by the time I reached the top. And you know what? The electricity came back on exactly five minutes after we got there! My husband headed back down (this time in the elevator) to get us subs for dinner, and that’s when I got a flashlight to look at my daughter’s throat. Her tonsils were swollen and covered with white spots, so I called my husband and talked about taking her to the emergency room after dinner-he agreed.

The hospital was ten minutes from the beach and even though it was crowded in the emergency room, two triages-for severe cases and for cases like my daughter’s-meant we didn’t wait long. We decided on seats near a man in a wheel chair sleeping with his head on a waiting room chair-he looked harmless enough. But on closer inspection, the stub of his missing right leg sat on the chair as well, so I graciously said I would stay in my wheel chair, while my daughter and husband dove for the empty seats furthest away from the man. My son shot us a look (thank goodness he didn’t say anything) as he took the chair next to the man. My husband and I looked at each other and then at my son and almost lost it-I had to bite my tongue pretty hard to keep from laughing as my son glared at me. When we got in a room, my son said, "I can’t believe you made me sit by the man with one leg-he was looking at me," and even my daughter was laughing!

Better daughter, new umbrella, braver me!

When we were seen, my daughter’s temperature was 103 (note to self, stash a thermometer in your suitcase next time), and the doctor said that since she had 8 out of 10 symptoms for Strep throat, she was just going to go ahead and treat her for that-hallelujah! We were also able to get her prescription filled at a 24 hour CVS, and they had all my daughter’s records in their computer. She spent the better part of Wednesday sleeping and watching TV, while I watched my husband and son playing in the ocean below. We were tossing around the idea of going home Thursday morning, but my daughter started feeling better by that evening, and cried when we mentioned cutting our vacation short. So we took it slowly Thursday and Friday, spending the mornings on the beach and heading down the boardwalk for some entertainment in the evenings, and as it turns out, those two days were the best days of our trip-my daughter and son were both smiling again!

Now there is a bit more about Thursday and Friday than that, but I will save it for when I review Virginia Beach as a vacation destination. Until then, wash your hands and watch your step (okay, I think that’s funny, but I have so little entertainment these days…)

Oh those Cape May diamonds (and other noteworthy activities)

Sunset Beach

Cape May diamonds you ask, well, yes and no. Sunset Beach is located at the very tip of New Jersey State, but this is not your average sandy beach. In fact, this beach is more rock than sand, made up of small pebbles and reflective stones known as Quartz crystals. The crystals originate from the Delaware River, and over time have invaded this beach landscape. When these crystals are polished, they emit a shine equal to diamonds, and the gift shop located on the beach has some good examples, and can give you some tips for your hunt. But the real fun in going to this beach is the finding, and if you have kids, it doesn’t take long before they become quite enraptured with the search for that perfect Cape May diamond. If you find the perfect specimen, consider having it polished and set because Quartz is said to have healing powers, so why not?

Another time you might want to consider Sunset Beach is at sunset of course, not only because of the spectacular views, but also due to the very moving flag ceremony that honors a fallen veteran. Each flag that flies on the beach belonged to a veteran who has passed away, and at sunset the ceremony starts with a recording of Kate Smith singing God Bless America, then The National Anthem plays and the flag is lowered. This year was the first time we attended the ceremony, and only did so because a friend recommended it. Older veterans did the lowering on our visit, and I got a little choked up after seeing others in the crowd saluting. I think my family’s patriotism might have jumped up a notch that night.

There is also another unusual site jutting out of the surf at Sunset Beach that deserves another look. During World War I, the United States decided to try building a few ships out of concrete instead of steel, but scrapped the project because concrete ships weren’t very fast. One of the ships, the Atlantis, was towed to Cape May and was going to be sunk and used as a base for ferry transport, but on the way the boat got stuck on a sand bar, and you can see the partial remains today. The picture shows the Atlantis and the Lewes, Delaware ferry coming to Cape May.

Dolphin cruises

I wanted to end my Cape May reviews with a few additional activities that you and your family might also enjoy when visiting this quaint little town. As I said earlier, Cape May is a prime spot to observe dolphins feeding along the shoreline, but taking a dolphin watch cruise can be even better. The Cape May Whale Watcher and Spirit of Cape May cruises offer daily excursions to see dolphins, whales, and other marine life, setting sail from the Cape May Whale Watcher and Miss Chris Marina off Washington street as you head out of town. The boats are huge with both an upper and lower deck, and an air-conditioned deck for those who want to get out of the sun. Keep in mind, however, that the front of the boat and top rock and roll the most, so if you think you may get sea sick, you might want to consider another seat.


The crew practically guarantees sightings or you get a return voucher, but the cost of these excursions may scare more than a few families away. The cruises are not cheap ($28 for adults and $18 for children 7-12), but you can always find coupons-sometimes with a buy one get one free-in many of the Cape May tourist guides that float around town. (Many of the restaurants carry displays loaded down with information about many of the attractions and events happening during the summer months.) It’s up to you on whether you feel an excursion is worth the expense, but if you go, I would stick to just the dolphin cruises because the whale watcher cruises are considerably longer and seeing whales is still iffy. My family has always included this little “splurge” in our vacations because you do get awfully close to the dolphins, and sometimes the dolphins hang around the boat to get a better look at you.

Victorian mansions

Why not also consider taking a tour of one of the many Victorian mansions around the town? This year we decided to take a look inside the Physic estate that includes both a house and a small museum/gift shop inside the estates carriage house, mainly because they offer tours directed at the younger set. The tour guide more than aptly describes life back in the Victorian period by explaining the purpose of the mansion's rooms and giving detailed descriptions of some of the many Victorian artifacts contained in those rooms. The cost was about $25, and included a walk through in the museum, and we were invited to join the staff in a free (yes, I think I heard that right, but don’t quote me on it) storytelling luncheon at the carriage house tearoom and café. We had other stops on our agenda so declined the offer.

Other activities

There are also four man bicycle rentals so that you can tour the town on your own and rental rates are very reasonable, carriage and trolley tours, a zoo, and neighboring Wildwood amusement park if the kids get a little bored. The fact is, there are many diverse activities at the Cape, but here’s a warning. There is usually a cost involved, so decide what is important to you and choose accordingly. We stay in places with kitchens and prepare most meals at home because eating out can put a dent in the old wallet as well. Remember, your main objective should be relaxing, so don’t fill up all your time with activities, and take the time to just “be.”

Get to the Point, Cape May Point I mean...

Cape May Lighthouse

A trip to Camp May should also include a visit to Cape May Lighthouse situated near the tip of New Jersey in Cape May Point State Park. The lighthouse is over 150 feet high and visitors can make the climb to the top in only 199 steps -yes, that's right-on a winding metal staircase to get a breathtaking view of the Cape May Peninsula below.
For some reason my family and I have always included this climb in every one of our visits to Cape May, and I remember one harrowing time when my then 3 year old refused to be carried and made the decent one step at a time, literally. My husband and I were both sweating bullets by the time we got back down on the ground
The Point is also home to many migratory birds so if you are a birder, you can get a good look from both the lighthouse and from some wooden platforms on trails throughout the park. Walking the trails is a very peaceful way to appreciate the surroundings, and a nice break away from the roaring surf.

WWII bunker

As you make your way to the beach, a massive concrete structure is sure to catch your eye. This was once part of a defense plan during World War II, and the park itself used to be a military base. The bunker had been high atop a hill, but now as more evidence of beach erosion, it is much closer to the surf.

"On the Way to Cape May" Beaches

The beach

Ok, so you now know all about Cape May's atmosphere and your best bets when it comes to accommodations, but you still don’t know anything about the beach itself. The Cape May area consists of several sections, and beaches are located in the heart of Cape May and at the very tip of New Jersey known as Cape May Point. The beaches today are long and narrow due mainly to the Canal the Army Corps of Engineers dug from New Jersey to Delaware Bay during World War II, and the extreme erosion to the shore this eventually caused. The sand remains North of Cape May and refills the beaches on the neighboring resort town of Wildwood, so most of what you walk on is replenished sand brought in by the government years back. Today I will focus on the area in the heart of Cape May

If you stay in Cape May, you will probably spend most of your time in the main beach area that runs along Beach Avenue from Pittsburg Avenue to Second Street. You can access this beach at any time but you will have to pay to use it between 11 AM and 5 PM. (Paying to access the beach is not a unique thing in New Jersey, and the general consensus is that the "pay" beaches tend to be cleaner than other areas. At least the upkeep of this region is a lot more detailed.) The cost of entry depends on how many days you use this beach, but it cost $13 per person for a week, $10 for three days, and kids under 12 are free. Vacationers that spend the entire summer season in Cape May purchase a season tag that runs from about $15 to $25 depending on the date of order, and the earlier the purchase the better.

Regardless of which plan you choose, you won’t be sorry because the sand is soft but not gritty and fine like you find on some of the southern state beaches. And this unique texture makes it easier to remove from your feet, but I also have a special secret when it comes to removing sand from your feet, and that is baby powder. The baby powder actually adheres to the wet sand so removal is that much easier, so just sprinkle it on any areas covered with sand and then brush the sand off. (I always carry some in the beach bag.)

The ocean

Cape May Beaches are great for small children because even in high tide the surf is not too powerful, but I am not saying that you should let your guard down because you definitely can get a one-two punch on occasion. You will also have a front row seat when it comes to dolphin watching because they often feed along the shoreline throughout the day, so be sure to pack your binoculars for a closer look, then sit back and relax because isn't that why you're here?