Heading South Along the Jersey Shore

Dave and Mercedes Rizzo discovered peace and calm on an overnight trip to the beach. 

There’s a catchy little song known by many New Jerseyans (and people from other places too) called "On the Way to Cape May" by Maurice “Buddy” Nugent. Cape May is the southernmost town in New Jersey. Of course, we love the song because it names a series of beach towns and we’ve been to all of them. The song is both a love story and a journey. 

We went to Cape May last month to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary. It’s amazing how going away for an overnight stay in scenic surroundings, just a short ride from home, can rejuvenate your soul. An added bonus was to go after the season ended, but the weather was still sunny and warm. This allowed us to bypass the crowds and enjoy all the beauty that was around us.  

Historic Cape May  

There’s plenty to see in Cape May. The lighthouse is a famous landmark. In fact, we have a print of it hanging in our house. Climb just 199 steps to the top where you can view the Atlantic Ocean in all its glory. We made sure to stop in upon our arrival. Nearby, the Sisters of Saint Joseph used to own a large retreat house overlooking the beach. You can watch sunsets and whale watch.  

On this trip, we stayed at the historic and popular Congress Hall. We had always wanted to stay there, and our anniversary was the perfect occasion to do so. It’s a beautiful hotel originally built in 1816 and later rebuilt in 1878 after a fire. Four U.S. presidents have stayed there. Benjamin Harrison liked it so much that he made it his official summer White House.  

The town has an outdoor pedestrian mall that is popular with tourists. While we were there, we popped into Our Lady Star of the Sea Church to pray and admire the stained-glass windows and altar. We lit a candle there, as we often do. The church had a lot of visitors that day, which was nice to see. When we came back out on the mall, we couldn’t help but notice the displays of mums, pumpkins and cornstalks. This was our first time in Cape May in the fall. Up till then we had only seen the town in the summertime. It was truly beautiful in October! We encourage making a trip in the off season if you can.  

Meeting God in a Relaxing Environment  

Life is sometimes stressful. We are all in need of a break once in a while. Short trips like these provide us an opportunity for refreshment and relaxation. We walked away feeling that way. Going to the beach brings a calmness and serenity like no other. Hearing the muffled roar of the ocean and feeling the wind on your face makes you feel free. You get in touch with the rhythms of nature and can catch a glimpse of God’s presence in His creation. Such an experience puts you in touch with Christ, who says to us,   

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you  rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and  humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) 

God calls us to a life of change and stillness at the same time. He asks us to embrace the seasons as they arise, exist, and fall away. When we look at the world around us, we see that there are rhythms and cycles to everything. Learning to live in a way that honors these rhythms and cycles helps us move through life with a renewed sense of calmness. When we connect to God and discover this silence and stillness, we find the energy and strength we need to meet the demands of life. 

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Copyright 2025 David and Mercedes Rizzo
Images: copyright 2025 David and Mercedes Rizzo, all rights reserved.