More Than a Vacation: Fifteen Summers of Family Memories at Cape May's Washington Street Mall
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A Tradition That Began Fifteen Summers Ago
Some places are destinations. Others become part of your family's story for generations.
Since 2010, our family has made the trip from western Pennsylvania to Cape May nearly every summer. What began as a beach getaway quickly became a tradition we couldn't imagine missing. Like so many families who return year after year, we've discovered that the Washington Street Mall isn't simply a place you visit; it's where traditions begin.
In fact, whenever we talk about vacationing somewhere different, our children always give the same response:
"We can't skip Cape May."
What began as our tradition has become theirs, and we hope one day they'll continue it with their own families.
The Heart of Every Vacation
For us, every Cape May vacation begins with a visit to the Washington Street Mall.
Our mornings often begin with a leisurely stroll along the charming brick walkways, coffee in hand, as we admire the beautifully maintained gardens and the quiet beauty of the town waking up. By evening, the Mall comes alive with the sounds of live musicians, families browsing the unique boutiques, and the scent of homemade fudge drifting through the air. It's where we slow down, reconnect as a family, and leave the worries of everyday life behind.
The Washington Street Mall isn't just where we shop or dine—it's where our vacation truly begins.
Shopping That Became a Family Tradition
Every summer, one of our favorite traditions is wandering through the Mall's unique locally owned shops. Whether we are searching for Cape May T-shirts, beachwear, gifts to bring home, or simply browsing together, shopping has become one of the traditions we look forward to every single year.
We always look forward to visiting familiar favorites like Whale's Tale, Across the Way, and Just for Laughs. Over the years, we've watched new businesses arrive while longtime favorites continue welcoming generations of visitors.
There's something comforting about returning year after year and recognizing the storefronts that have become part of your family's traditions. Looking through our vacation photos today, we don't just see our family growing; we see the Washington Street Mall growing alongside us. Businesses have evolved, new shops have opened, and favorite storefronts have changed, yet the feeling of coming back has always remained the same.
Favorite Restaurants, Familiar Faces
The Washington Street Mall has also been where we've shared countless family meals.
Stewarts of Cape May quickly became one of our favorite gathering places after opening in 2012. Although it closed in 2021, the memories we made there remain some of our family's favorites. We also look forward to meals at Fins Bar & Grille and the Ugly Mug Bar & Restaurant.
Those restaurants have become much more than places to eat. They became places where we celebrate another beautiful day together, share stories after long afternoons at the beach, laugh until our sides hurt, and enjoy being together as a family.
Some of our happiest Cape May memories are made around those tables.
The Perfect Ending to Every Summer Day
No summer evening at the Washington Street Mall ever feels complete without ice cream.
Whether it is Ben & Jerry's, Kohr Bros. Frozen Custard, or a stop at the Original Fudge Kitchen for homemade fudge and ice cream, dessert has become part of our nightly routine. We stroll through the Mall with shopping bags in one hand and ice cream cones in the other, enjoying the warm summer evenings and never feeling rushed to be anywhere else.
Sometimes it's those simple moments that become the memories you treasure most.
One Photograph Every Summer
Every year, before exploring the Mall, our family gathered in front of Stewart's Root Beer—now Sunflowers at 500 Washington Street—for our annual family photograph.
At the time, it simply seemed like a fun vacation tradition.
Looking back today, those photographs have become priceless.
They tell the story of our family through the years—our children growing taller, grandparents proudly sitting beside grandchildren, and generations coming together in the very same place. Those pictures capture much more than vacations. They capture the passing of time, the love of family, and the traditions that have shaped who we are.
When Stewart's closed and the building became Sunflowers, we simply continued taking our annual photo there or close by. The storefront changed, but our tradition—and the memories connected to that special place—remained the same.
A Place for Life's Biggest Moments
Cape May has been the setting for some of our family's most meaningful milestones.
In 2019, our family celebrated my parents' 50th wedding anniversary with a vow renewal on the Cape May Promenade, surrounded by their children and grandchildren. It was a beautiful reminder that Cape May isn't just where families vacation; it's where they celebrate life's biggest moments together.
Sadly, shortly after that trip, my mother was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia and, just this past February, lost her courageous six-year battle with the disease. Even as dementia gradually stole many of her memories, her love for Cape May never faded.
Every year after our vacation, we would sit together and look through our family photographs from the Washington Street Mall, the beach, and the Promenade. Those pictures became a way to revisit treasured moments together, and they always brought a smile to her face. Cape May remained a place of peace, joy, and family, and held some of her happiest memories.
Looking Toward New Traditions
Although our family has only experienced Cape May during the summer, we've already begun talking about visiting sometime during the Christmas season.
We can't wait to see the Washington Street Mall decorated with twinkling lights, festive displays, holiday music, and all the charm that has made Cape May so special to us over the years.
Just as summer became our family's tradition, we're hoping Christmas in Cape May becomes the next chapter of our story.
More Than a Place to Visit
After fifteen summers, we've realized that the Washington Street Mall is much more than a collection of wonderful shops and restaurants.
It's where children grow up.
It's where annual photographs become priceless keepsakes.
It's where favorite restaurants become family traditions.
It's where evening ice cream becomes expected family rituals.
It's where parents become grandparents, traditions are passed from one generation to the next, and visitors return year after year because it simply feels like home.
Every family who visits Cape May writes a story of their own.
Ours has been written one summer at a time.
And if we're fortunate, one day our children—and eventually our grandchildren—will continue writing the next chapters.
About the Author
By Kimberly Orlando
Kimberly Orlando is the founder of Sunny by Kimberly, where she creates digital resources, printables, and educational content to support dementia caregivers and families. Inspired by her mother's journey with Lewy body dementia, Kimberly is passionate about helping caregivers create meaningful moments, preserve precious memories, and find hope along the caregiving journey.
This story is shared on behalf of the Orlando, Christensen, and Schulz families, who have been making annual summer trips from western Pennsylvania to Cape May since 2010. Together, they have celebrated milestones, created cherished traditions, and made the Washington Street Mall the heart of their Cape May experience. They hope that these family traditions will continue for generations to come.
In loving memory of Vicki Schulz, whose love for Cape May, family, and creating memories continues to inspire every visit.
