We created the Best of Cape May to recognize local businesses who contribute to an unforgettable Cape May vacation experience. Every August, we poll our readers to determine the best Cape May has to offer in accommodations, shopping, dining, and leisure. We are happy to see a few new names on the list this year, and we were excited to have the closest Best B&B vote in the history of the survey! Without further ado, here are those you have deemed the Best of Cape May for 2012:
Best Bed & Breakfast Inn: The Queen Victoria
Runner up: The Mission Inn
Best Guest House: The Highland House
Runner up: The Columbia House
Best Hotel or Motel: Congress Hall
Runner up: Victorian Motel
Best Campground
TIE: Beachcomber Camping Resort and Seashore Campsites- Best pet-friendly accommodation: The Highland House
Runner up: Billmae 
Best place to stay with kids: Victorian Motel
Runner up: Congress Hall
Best restaurant customer service: Washington Inn
Runner up: Lucky Bones- Best accommodation customer service: The Queen Victoria
Runner up: The Mission Inn 
Best store customer service: Whale’s Tale
Runner up: White
Best clothing store: Klothes Kove
Runner up: Colors
Best place to get beach wear
TIE Pete Smith’s Surf Shop (pictured) and Dellas 5 & 10
Best jewelry store: Henry’s
Runner up: Splash
Best place to find a bargain: Dellas 5 & 10
Runner up: Sunset Beach Gift Shops
Best place to buy accessories: Madame’s Port
Runner up: West End Garage
Best candy store: The Original Fudge Kitchen
Runner up: Morrow’s Nut House
Best gift store: Whale’s Tale
Runner up: Sunset Beach Gift Shops
Best coffee: Avalon Coffee
Runner up: Tommy’s Folly
Best breakfast: George’s Place
Runner up: Mad Batter
Best brunch: Mad Batter
Runner up: George’s Place
Best place for a quick lunch: Hot Dog Tommy’s
Runner up: The Depot Market
Best pizza: Louie’s
Runner up: Lucky Bones
Best hamburger: Lucky Bones
Runner up: Ugly Mug
Best sandwich or cheesesteak: The Depot Market
Runner up: Zoe’s
Best takeout: The Lobster House
Runner up: The Depot Market- Best fine dining: Washington Inn
Runner up: Tisha’s 
Best restaurant with kids
TIE Lucky Bones and Uncle Bill’s Pancake House (pictured)
Best seafood restaurant: The Lobster House
Runner up: Cape May Fish Market
Best crabcakes: The Lobster House
Runner up: Mad Batter
Best ice cream, custard, or gelato: Kohr Brothers
Runner up: Ben & Jerry’s
Best off-island restaurant: Harbor View
Runner up: Harpoon Henry’s- Best overall restaurant in Cape May: Washington Inn
Runner up: Lucky Bones 
Best place for cocktails: Martini Beach
Runner up: The Brown Room
Best bar for music: The Boiler Room
Runner up: Ugly Mug
Best bar to meet up with friends: The Rusty Nail
Runner up: Ugly Mug
Best overall bar in Cape May: Ugly Mug
Runner up: The Brown Room
Best beach for tanning: Steger Beach
Runner up: Poverty Beach
Best beach for surfing: The Cove
Best beach with children: Poverty Beach
Runners up: Steger Beach and the Cove
Best place to escape the sun: At your favorite watering hole. Carney’s, Cabanas, the Ugly Mug, and the Rusty Nail (pictured) all received multiple write-ins!
Best thing to do on a rainy day: Shop on the Washington Street Mall
Runner up: Wine tastings
Best kid-friendly activity: Miniature Golf
Runner up: Cape May County Zoo
Best area winery: Cape May Winery
Runner up: Hawk Haven
Best spa or massage: Cape May Day Spa
Runner up: Sea Spa at Congress Hall
Best festival or parade: West Cape May Christmas Parade
Best birding spot: Cape May Point State park
Best tourist attraction: Lighthouse at Cape May Point State park
Runner up: Sunset Beach and the sunken ship
Best area golf course: Cape May National Golf Club
Runner up: Avalon Golf Club
Best miniature golf course: Cape May Miniature Golf and Cocomoe’s Premium Ice Cream Parlor
Runner up: Ocean Putt
Best watersports activity: Kayaking
Runner up: Parasailing
Best bicycle route: Sunset Boulevard toward Sunset Beach
Best free or low-cost activity: Walking around town
Runner up: Cape May County Zoo
Best history tour: The Physick Estate
Runner up: Trolley tours
Best ghost tour: Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tour
Best water or boat tour: Cape May Whale Watcher
Runner up: The Silver Bullet
Best place to meet up with people: Washington Street Mall
Most likely place to meet a local: The C-View Inn (pictured) and WaWa
Favorite Victorian building: The Queen Victoria and the Emlen Physick Estate
The one place you ALWAYS go when you visit Cape May: Sunset Beach (pictured), The Lobster House, and Washington Street Mall
Thank you for voting and celebrating all that Cape May has to offer!