Hikes In Cape May And The Lake Bay Preserve Near Atlantic City.

It was cloudy and a bit warmer when I awoke along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean in Cape May New Jersey last Saturday morning. It was 37 degrees. The strong winds of the two previous days  subsided a bit.  But it was still windy when I left the Jetty Motel, where I was staying,

and walked across Beach Drive to watch the sunrise.

I was the only one on the beach  as I walked through  the dunes,

and down to the  the shore.  It was windy and the clouds made for a dreary winter scene  on the beach. But it was a peaceful and reflective place to be.

The Cape May Lighthouse could be seen in the distance to the west,

and the red glow of the rising sun  behind the could be seen in the southeast.

There was only one other person,  and a few  American herring gulls,  watching the sunrise on  this  windy and cold December morning. 

As I was leaving the beach a few rays of the rising sun peaked through the clouds.

I walked up to Beach Avenue and decided to explore a trail a few blocks from my motel and which I saw when .   I was curious where it led and why there  were  no parking spaces near the trail.  I walked along Beach Drive,

and then turned right on 2nd Avenue. I was walking through a typical beach town community with well kept homes.

 Most homes had Christmas decorations and were occupied while  some  had  signs indicating they were for rent for the Summer seasons.

I walked to Mt. Vernon Avenue where the entrance to the trail was located.

I learned the trail led to  the area on Cove Beach known as Mt. Vernon Beach. and was maintained by the residents in the neighborhood. There were benches, bird feeders and picnic tables at the entrance which was adjacent to the marshes of the Cape May Meadows  preserve.

A boardwalk led to the beach,

where I found a small Christmas tree,

decorated with sea shells.

I walked on the trail which took me through the dunes,

and to the beach where I took my last look at the winter waters of the Atlantic Ocean on this trip.

I was planning on hiking  in the meadows one more time before leaving Cape May but I didn’t think I would see any new wildlife  or birds. I  did some research and decided to drive up to  the Lake Bay Preserve near Atlantic City. So I left the beach and walked back to my motel. I quickly packed,  dropped the key in the mailbox and was driving up the Garden State Parkway by 8 a.m. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web page  with some more photos from my walk   on the beach. Cape May morning December 13 2025.

It was about an hour drive to West Atlantic City where the Lake Bay Preserve was located.  The preserve was located in a industrial/ commercial/ residential area.  The entrance was near a large office building and behind a large residential apartment  complex.  It did not look like a place to observe or enjoy nature. The smell of petroleum or some other chemical in the air didn’t help.

I  walked  on the trail into the 27 acre preserve.. Bayberry thickets and cedar tree lined the trail.

I came to  picnic area with some benches,

then to a sandy beach along Lakes Bay.  It was a desolate looking beach,

but there were some Canada geese, and

a few bufflehead  ducks swimming on the murky water of the bay.

A few American herring gulls flew  over the bay,

and swam in  the water.

I walked along the beach where a cobweb like frost had formed

 on the many mussels growing along the beach. I have never seen this many mussels before. 

There were also a few oysters growing with the mussels. I walked along the beach and the the saltwater marsh

and came to the wooden pilings and ruins of the Ventnor Boat Works, which manufactured wooden cruisers and speedboats from 1902 to 1958. 

I turned back here and walked back along the beach, seeing many seashells,   clams,

 oysters,

and mussels on the beach.

Back at the picnic area I followed a trail into the marsh,

scaring a few ducks out of the reeds as I walked past, I believe this is a black duck,

and seeing  a few ring billed gulls fly overhead.

I found dozens of horseshoe crab shells along the  shore here.

The trail ended with views of Atlantic  City across the bay.

I looked at the skyline and hotels of Atlantic City and reflected on my two visits to this famous resort city, and the wonderful memories they evoked,

The first was when I was 9 years old. It was the first time I saw the ocean. It was on the only family vacation we took in my childhood. We were visiting my aunt Theresa in Cherry Hill , New Jersey, and we took a day trip to Atlantic City. It was a wonderful day.

The second visit was another family vacation, the last with my mom and dad, 20 years later. My sister and her husband rented a beach house on Long Beach island and my brothers and I drove into Atlantic City on the 4th of July. Another wonderful memory.After reflecting on my visits to Atlantic City, I began my hike back to my Jeep. I would have loved to stay and explore more of the shore but I wanted to get home for my great niece Grace’s 3rd birthday party in the afternoon.

I walked back to the parking lot and  finished my 2 mile hike along the I started my 3 1/2 hour drive back home. I didn’t see the harlequin ducks and other shore birds I had hoped to photograph and share but it was still another great adventure. I’m glad you were able to join me. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web  page  with some more photos from my walk in the preserve. Lake Bay Preserve. December 13 2025.

“Beautiful as they are, these tidal places are often moody and strange. Sometimes you can feel the bittersweet tang of your mortality rubbing up against a beachhead of infinity”
― Christopher Camuto