Hello, August! The first week of the month flew by, and I can’t help but feel like summer is already slipping through my fingers. At the beginning of the season I set a personal mission: to visit a new beach town at the Jersey Shore and spend the day basking under the warm sun — as long as Mother Nature allowed it.

While I’ll admit I can be a little bit of a snob when it comes to beaches — I like my water clear, my sand soft and my surroundings charming (that’s what happens when you grow up surrounded by the beautiful Caribbean Sea) — I’ve surprised myself this season and let my love for the ocean lead me to beaches nearby. My colleagues recently shared about their own local travel adventures, which gave me the extra push to turn my weekends into mini getaways. As a result, I’m starting to grow a new appreciation for what each Jersey Shore beach town offers.

So with sunscreen in one hand, good coffee in the other and a great playlist, I hit the road. An impromptu girls’ weekend took me to the southern gem of the shore — Cape May, New Jersey, in mid-July. I instantly fell in love with the pastel yet vibrant Victorian homes and the soul of the town.

My friend and I checked into the ICONA hotel on a late Friday afternoon and headed straight to the beach. Our reservation came with beach passes and a full beach setup (chairs, umbrella, etc.), so all we had to do was stroll down with our bags. There’s something so therapeutic about catching up with a friend while lying on the sand and feeling the sun. Simply one of those summer moments you know you’ll remember for a while. We didn’t stay long, as we had to get ready for our dinner reservation.

Dinner was at Il Riccio, a charming BYOB Italian restaurant offering Southern Italian coastal flavors with a modern twist. We started with the local scallops, delicately seared and served over a smooth cauliflower purée and topped with guanciale. These were so fresh and delicious, they simply melted in our mouths. For my entrée, I opted for the butter-poached Maine lobster risotto. It was creamy, rich and absolutely perfect. My friend went with the pasta with prime ribeye braciole in ragù sauce, also delicious!

Capesante – scallops.

Acquerello Risotto all’Astice del Maine.

The restaurant was a few steps away from Washington Square Mall, so after dinner we strolled through the square with ice cream in hand as we enjoyed the lively atmosphere and overall old-fashioned feel to the town.

Chalfonte Hotel, Cape May, NJ.

The next morning we started our day by walking to breakfast at Chalfonte Hotel, Cape May’s oldest original hotel, established in 1876. This place was so charming and reminded me a lot of my visit to Savannah a few years ago. The wraparound porch, the creaky floors and the stillness you only find in the South made this the perfect way to start the day. The breakfast, needless to say, was delicious as well. We walked back to the hotel to change into our beach clothes and spent the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon on the beach.

Thai salmon and shrimp from Tisha’s Fine Dining.

Before heading home, we made a quick souvenir stop. I grabbed some stickers and some dangerously good fudge from The Original Fudge Kitchen and then wrapped up the trip with an early dinner at Tisha’s Fine Dining, conveniently located on the Square. I was intrigued by the combination in the Thai salmon and shrimp dish. I’ve never had sweet Thai chili sauce over mashed potatoes, but I was pleasantly surprised by the harmony of the ingredients.

Though it was short and sweet, this was the kind of trip that leaves you feeling like you’ve been away much longer.

— Yasser Gallagher-Ogando, executive media director