If you’ve ever caught a glimpse of the tv show Jersey Shore chances are you have no desire to visit there. Why would you? Unless you like the idea of hanging with “eight of the hottest, tannest, craziest Guidos” (MTV’s words, not mine!) in sleazy nightclubs.

But if you head south of Atlantic City, you will come across some of the prettiest (and kitschiest) seaside towns imaginable. Think clean beaches surrounded by pastel late-Victorian beach houses.

(above is Cape May) So many flags.

Driving south from Atlantic City you will first hit the Wildwoods (four communities with Wildwood in their name). Wildwood has over 200 motels built in 1950s-60s doo-wop style. Lots of Vegas style neon signs. Wildwood also has a pretty tacky boardwalk, it’s lots of fun.

I wish I had tried Philly cheese steak.

Further south is Cape May, which claims to be America’s first seaside resort. It was beautiful. The only place I’ve ever had to pay to go on the beach. It was worth it.

Even the booze store looks classy.

At Duffers Kate and I shared a chocolate fudge sundae. We also ate a lot of Saltwater Taffy, which I love.

We also visited the Cape May lighthouse, which I didn’t find particularly impressive. But overall I did love our tour of Jersey Shore. It felt so American. And there weren’t many other foreign tourists around. We were driving a hire care with a Tennessee licence plate though, so we stuck out like a sore thumb.