Living Social currently has a deal for Carroll Villa Inn in Cape May, NJ. It isn’t exactly “beach weather” so right now is the time to go if you want to miss the crowds and get a deal at the same time.

My husband and I took advantage of this deal when they had it back in October and it was definitely worth it. The inn was quiet and so peaceful. The staff was excellent.

If you go, I highly recommend you have a meal at the Mad Batter, their on-site restaurant. The breakfast was amazing and the service again, excellent. It was so relaxing soaking up the quiet as we ate our breakfast and enjoyed fresh squeezed orange juice. Plus, a breakfast without kids? Need I say more?

If you enjoy history I also suggest you take advantage of the trolley tour. I am so not a “touristy” person but learning about the history was fun and the tour guide was a riot.

Make sure you also check out the mall on Washington Street. No matter how many times you visit there is always something new to see. I especially love the taffy store and Laura’s Fudge, across the street by the ACME parking lot is the best.

Also stop at Hawk Haven Vineyard for a tasting if you like wine. We recommend the Pinot Grigot and Red Tail Rose.

Make sure to take a stop on the beach but bundle up. The wind can be quite cold. I know some people wonder what is so great about a cold empty beach when you can’t even go in the water or sit in the sun.  Maybe it’s just me. Growing up we couldn’t really afford vacations and my grandparents lived in Cape May. The few times we got to go visit were “off season”. I would venture a guess that my grandparents probably paid for at least part of our trips. I treasure memories of walking along the shore with my grandparents. I remember that even though my grandfather could no longer see well, he taught us to slow down and look carefully, to listen to what was going on around us.  Hearing the world from my grandfather’s sight and finding fragile pearly shells our boisterous runs down the beach would never have shown us are irreplaceable.  Those walks on the cold empty beach didn’t cost anything but they are some of my greatest treasures.