Highs Beach, New Jersey
Cape May County, New Jersey - this 2 bedroom cottage is a year round holiday home situated along the Delaware Bay at High’s Beach (a small community rarely on the map).
Shore birds and wildlife abound on 30 acres of privately held land. Fishing… crabbing… peaceful walks along the beach… a perfect retreat!
Far from the madding crowd, yet Cape May, Stone Harbor and the Wildwoods are a mere 15 minute drive from the cottage.
Ever-changing sky and seascape - bring your camera and sketchbook. Views of the natural surroundings from inside and out - large front deck overlooks the dune to the Bay.
Fully heated and air-conditioned, comfortably furnished and well appointed with ease of enjoyment in mind.
Living area with fireplace, dining area and modern kitchen surrounded by large windows - beauty all around - no other house in sight, private yet not secluded.
King size bed in one bedroom, two twins in the other - with a small deck off the twin room that overlooks a fresh water pond.
Two decks - a large one overlooking the bay beach, and a small one to the rear of one bedroom - overlooking the pond and woodland behind the cottage.
We've been happily sharing our cottage with holiday guests since 1989.
Frog chorus… bird song… rustle of bay breezes… wintertime crystalline sparkle on sea oats… sunrise view over the woodland & pond… sunsets…
Here are the answers to a few FAQs -
Is the kitchen well equipped
The kitchen is equipped with the usual appliances. There is a huge sink, a nice quiet dishwasher, a coffee maker, toaster and microwave, as well as a range and refrigerator.
The kitchen is stocked with dishes, stainless steel pots and pans and cutlery. The cooking island view is westward - of the bay and sunset, a relaxing cooking experience...
Are there laundry facilities
A full sized washer and dryer are in an alcove off the bathroom.
What are the bathing facilities
The bathroom contains a large shower, toilet and sink. There is an outside shower and stall behind the cottage, and a hose to wash off the sand on the deck near the entrance door to the cottage.
Is there beach protection for swimmers in the Delaware Bay
Although the Delaware Bay beaches in New Jersey are open to the public, there are no life guards. Every once in a while we have noticed someone swimming in the Bay. Swimmers choose to do so entirely at their own risk. The floor of the bay gradually slopes out from the shore. At low tide there are alternating ribbons of sandbars and water way out from the shore line. You can see this in one of our photos.
Is there a grill
Yes, we have an electric grill situated on the larger of the decks. We ask that our guests clean the grill after use...
How far are the nearest protected public beaches
The beaches in Cape May, the Wildwoods, and Stone Harbor are within a 15 - 20 minute drive of Bay Cottage. Most of these beaches require beach tags during the summer season, which are available for purchase in each community.
How far is the nearest shopping area from Bay Cottage
Within two miles of the cottage there is an excellent garden center/farmer's market, a fish market/ tackle store/takeout restaurant, and a roadside breakfast lunch restaurant. The nearest convenience store is approximately 4 miles away. The major supermarkets, major chain stores etc. are within a 10 minute drive in either the Rio Grande area, or Cape May Court House. The best prices for gasoline are in Rio Grande NJ, just about 4 miles south of us. There is a wonderful variety of interesting specialty shops in the nearby shore towns, notably Cape May and Stone Harbor.
What sort of wildlife has been sighted at the cottage
The cottage sits on a rather unique section of the Delaware Bay coastline in that it is not nearly as developed as most of the surrounding shore area of Cape May County. A multitude of species of shorebirds, songbirds, and raptors have been spotted in the wooded areas that surround three sides of the cottage, as well as on the beach. Our son was delighted by the sight of a large buck (with antlers) as well as a bald eagle, standing on the sand flats at low tide one early morning as the sun rose over the woods. If you're on the lookout for out of the ordinary (and ordinary) species of butterflies, frogs, turtles and small mammals, they do show up. And, of course, there are the horseshoe crabs who arrive during spawning season, and other marine life.
Is there an Audubon Center nearby
An excellent Audubon Center and branch of the Cape May Bird Observatory is about 5 miles north of us on State Highway Route 47 between South Dennis and Goshen.
Can you launch a boat on the Bay Cottage property
You may launch a small boat off the beach at high tide - but you will have to have someone to assist you to pull it up onto the beach from the driveway area across the path that leads to the beach in front of the cottage. This has been done, many times, with the right man power. There is also a marina about 4 miles north of us on Route 47, where boats can be properly launched and docked.
Is there cable television
The cottage is equipped with basic cable and with a small television.
Is there Internet capability
Yes, we have wifi at the cottage.
Is there air conditioning and heat
The central air/ heat works well. We have both central heat and a pleasant little free standing gas stove. During a very hot summer day, due to the lack of tree canopy over the cottage roof, it is well to keep the shades half drawn during the afternoon, the windows closed, and the air on. Under those circumstances the temperature inside the cottage normally stays cooler than 80 degrees.
Is the beach accessible all year around
During the past few years the State of New Jersey has imposed restrictions on beach access during the migratory period for the Red Knot. Typically the dates for the beach closure run from around mid-May to around June 4. The exact dates vary from year to year. During that period of time, although the beach is not accessible for walking, you can still put a beach chair out there on the dune, to catch the bird activity (the dune is part of our property). And we wish to stress that the view is great from the cottage itself. There is a long shell covered road on our property, just south of the cottage, that we call "Gus's Beach Road". It stretches one mile back to Route 47 through woodlands and wetlands areas. We welcome the many cottage guests who take advantage of this walk.
Are there good places to walk
There is a nice long beach to walk. South of us are just a few other homes and the oyster research facility run by Rutgers, then nothing but the woods on the left and the bay on the right for quite a nice long distance. This walk is beautiful at all times of year and times of day. The sun rises over the woods, and sets over the Bay.
How far is Bay Cottage from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry
A fifteen minute drive. And that's a great ferry ride, if you've never taken it!
Is the pond behind the cottage a good place to fish
Not really. The best fishing and crabbing is on the bay beach, in front of the cottage. You can see some good bird life around the pond - various herons, and other water fowl, frequent the pond. During periods of minimal rainfall, the pond is sometimes reduced to a large puddle!
Why do your rates change throughout the year
Cape May County is a resort area. We happen to love it at any time of year, so we offer our cottage to visiting guests during all four seasons. We like to reduce our rates in the off-season in order to encourage visitors to this incredibly beautiful area. We only rent the cottage out for weekends and weeks because we and our family use it ourselves every chance we get. A year round constant renter would not afford us that opportunity.
What is it like in the winter
That varies. There can be sunny clear cold days, there can be very windy days, etc.. One of the most beautiful times of year is when the frosty feathery tips of the phragmites glitter in the sunlight and the rising or setting sun blankets the partially frozen bay in a subtle glow.
Is there privacy at Bay Cottage
This is one of the finest aspects of the cottage location. Our property is over 400 feet wide at the bay end. We moved our cottage to the midway point of this width. As a result, the nearest house on either side of the cottage is at least a good long city block distance away, with vegetation in between, so, yes, there is privacy. We have been allowing our neighbor to travel on our driveway, on a temporary basis, so a few times a day their vehicles pass by. Other than that, and the occasional stroller or fisherman on the beach (on the other side of the dune from the cottage), there is the ultimate in privacy.
Are there nice things for children to do in Cape May County, besides going to the beach
Lots in the shore towns and inland as well - miniature golf, the arcades, etc. A very nice large zoo and excellent playground is situated in Cape May Court House, and an excellent library. The Wetlands Institute on the road to Stone Harbor is a few minutes away. Cape May is a lovely town for young and old - full of beautifully restored Victorian houses, good restaurants, shops, tours, boat rides, music and theater festivals etc.. Stone Harbor is a classic shore town with lots to offer. The Wildwoods are host to that famously extensive boardwalk...
More spacious than I had expected; extremely comfortable and well-appointed. Wonderful access and view to the beach (a few yards across the dunes) and easy driving access to other attractions on Cape May. Really great communication and information from kind, responsive host. A fantastic getaway.
The 5-days that my wife and I stayed at Lila's beautiful cottage was the most relaxing and peaceful trip we have been on in years. The cottage was comfortable and homey, and was very well appointed. As we cooked everyday, we were also happy that the cooking accessories were all high quality. We were lucky enough to have great weather the majority of our stay, and took multiple walks each day on the bay's shoreline with our dog. Each sunset was a work of art, and each was unique onto itself. Lila was also a great host, and was very responsive in all our communications. We will definitely return to this beautiful place again to rest and renew.
The house had a great view of the bay. We enjoyed walking on the beach. It was secluded which we loved. The grill did not work but the owner was very responsive and was going to bring a new one. It was a George Foreman electric. We did not need it. It is well water we bought bottled water and it was fine. We had a great experience there.
Tucked away on a private bay beach, this gem of a vacation cottage has everything that relaxation requires. Tranquil and peaceful, the only sounds are bird songs and gentle bay waves. The beach is a 20 second walk across the driveway and is full of treasures after each high tide, with sea glass, sponges, shells, pebbles, and driftwood all waiting to be discovered. Egrets and herons and bald eagles visited during our stay too... it really is an amazing delight to be surrounded by so much natural beauty. Cape May and the Wildwoods are only a short drive away, and grocery stores and restaurants are even closer. But we found ourselves enjoying the deck overlooking the beach and taking long beach walks with our dogs Rosie and Finnegan, who wore themselves out every day. We had a wonderful time in every way at Bay Cottage and recommend it highly. Thanks so much Lila and Steve for sharing your beautiful home!
Our family had a great stay on the bay here. It was exactly what we had expected and hoped for — quiet, with amazing views of the bay (and the stars) and easy access to the water that made beach going with two littles (and a dog) as easy as can be. In addition to the wonderful location (direct access to the beach/bay, a quick drive to the beaches in the ocean side, and an even shorter drive to other fun family-friendly activities like mini-golf and bowling/movies), the house had all the amenities we could want — AC, reliable WiFi, washer/dryer, comfortable beds, pet-friendly, wonderful hosts who were available but also let us do our thing, and more. Our entire family had a great week! Thank you, Lila and Steve!
Had a great time and the location and view were amazing
the property had spectacular views, was very comfortable and a short distance to get to many different beaches and restaurants
We liked our stay at the cottage. Host was available when needed.
Property exactly as described. Easy communication with owner. Very private. Beds comfortable! Had a great stay and would like to return!
Incredible water view! We (two couples) wanted a relaxing, fully-equipped cottage with ready access to a variety of seashore experiences-- beach, wetlands, places to walk among trees and birds. We got that and more-- gorgeous sunsets over the water and a cozy feeling of being right in the midst of nature. We loved it!
Our stay was cozy and quiet. Loved the chorus of bull frogs during the nights!! It's just a hop and skip over the dunes to the beach. My 9 yr old grandson had the time of his life as did our dog and us too. thanks so much. we will definitely check if available again!
Great location with a wonderful view of the bay right off the deck. We had the most beautiful weather and truly enjoyed idyllic sunsets, walks on the beach, and our four-legged buddy loved her swimming!
excellent location to enjoy peace and tranquility. My family and pups enjoyed every minute!
Our vacation was spectacular! The location is amazing, very private and comfortable. We saw eagles almost daily, all kinds of shore birds and deer on the beach! As we prefer to be away from the crowds, this spot was perfect for us. We can't wait to visit again. Highly recommend!!!
A beautiful spot overlooking the Delaware Bay reminiscent of what summer at the shore was many years ago. Enjoyed beautiful sunsets sitting on the deck while sipping a fine wine. Witnessing all the changing colors of nature from sunrise to sundown. Walking the beach with small waves lapping at your ankles at high tide and exploring the sand bars far out into the bay at low tide. Quiet and peaceful. For anyone interested in a little more excitement, Cape May, the Wildwoods, Stone Harbor and more are all a short drive away. We very much enjoyed our stay.
This peaceful bayside cottage was the perfect home away from home for our family and such a wonderful way to start the summer. We enjoyed being a short drive away from the beaches of Cape May and the Wildwood boardwalk, but mostly appreciated the serenity of starting and ending each day in the cottage.
Property as advertised... Supportive home owner!
Property is all you can ask for and more. Location, Location, Location. Communication before, during and after stay was above and beyond all you could ask for. We were not lacking for any items within the cottage. We always strive to look for different and unique properties every year, hard to top this one. 2 Thumbs up! Thank you Lila for everything.
Just spent one week … a party of 4+2 dogs and had a wonderful time! The cottage is small but perfect not lacking a thing. The VIEW is Marvelous… the wild life abundant …there is no need to go any place else.. But we did and Experienced Delicious meals and some shopping in Cape May which was a 15 minute ride not a problem. I will rent this little jewel again.
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