The cottages, which sleep between eight and 12, are painted in colors with names like colony green and whispering spring, and they are furnished with a mix of modern pieces and antiques. Each comes equipped with an outdoor shower, washer and dryer, screened-in porch, barbeque grill, firepit and a golf cart for heading into town, plus access to a 40-foot pool and vegetable garden. Retro-styled Smeg (great product, awful name) refrigerators and custom cabinetry in each kitchen are stocked with either farm-fresh ingredients or prepared meals, depending on your preference. Scratchmade doughnuts and fresh eggs can also be delivered each morning. Or you can learn to harvest these eggs yourself while sporting a pair of Hunter boots, provided at check in. The ultimate goal? Experiencing what Riccio calls the “magic” of connecting with nature. Sure, the polished concrete floors of these cottages may be heated and, okay, you’re not exactly roughing it when you’re lounging on a rolled-arm Anthropologie sofa in the Winona Cottage, an arts-andcrafts style home that was a popular mailorder house available through the Sears catalogue in the 20s and 30s. But these luxuries don’t distract from the beautiful sight of morning dew on the vibrant leaves of a swamp maple tree, or from the happiness of a perfectly roasted marshmallow eaten under a star-studded sky. Then there’s the rare pleasure of quality time spent with loved ones. (There are TVs in each cottage, but Riccio says board games on a sundappled porch have been more appealing to guests.) Perhaps the biggest draw of the cottages is their seamless melding of old and contemporary. The Hill Barn, for instance, may be a new building, but it’s outfitted with windows salvaged from the historic Rutherford farmhouse. Recently torn down, this was the circa 1782 headquarters of a dairy farm that used to exist on Seagrove Avenue. Childhood drawings done by late owner David Rutherford are framed and hanging in another of the farm bungalows, the Plum Cottage, which is a beautifully restored, 1890s carriage house with its original beams and beadboard in tact. Other windows and doors throughout the five homes are from old iterations of Congress Hall. One door came from Riccio’s childhood home. “Part of what we’ve done here is give these pieces life for another 100 years,” he said. “This project is two-fold. It’s about what we can offer our guests but also about what we can offer these old buildings.” Take the Whalers Cottage. Built in 1760, this would have been the original farmhouse on Stevens Street. Built by a whaler as a gift to his daughter on her wedding day, it features all of its original beams, an original fireplace and a special playroom loft. Riccio has restored the floors, found playful, vintage garden furniture for the sunroom, and given new life to some antique pieces with whimsical coverings from LA-based designer Peter Dunham. Of course, this is all a bit technical for what may, for a lot of people, turn out to be just a different, fun, aesthetically-pleasing way to vacation. “Really,” Riccio said, “what it all amounts to is a comfortable, cozy, warm setting. At the end of the day, it’s all about the experience.” The Perfect Escape THE DAY SPA & HOLISTIC CENTER Make a date with the Cape <strong>May</strong> Day Spa and treat your body to an uplifting, luxurious spa experience. The Cape <strong>May</strong> Day Spa is a full-service spa offering state-of-the-art spa services in a tranquil, richly-appointed ambiance of total comfort. Book your appointment today by calling 609.898.1003. Massages • Facials • Manicures Pedicures • Baths • Couple’s Packages 607 Jefferson Street • Cape <strong>May</strong>, NJ www.Cape<strong>May</strong>DaySpa.com 609.898.1003 exit zero 90 april-may
Cape <strong>May</strong> Wicker 203 Sunset, West Cape <strong>May</strong> 609-884-1849 1930 Route 9, Clermont 609-624-3031 The Cabo Collection BY NORTHCAPE 5-Seat Sectional $1999 choose from 3 great wicker colors & 11 sunbrella fabrics in stock! set includes corner, loveseat left & loveseat right. Other configurations, accessories & cushions also available.