Bring Your Pup to the Boarding House — Cape May, NJ’s Finest Dog-Friendly Hotel

Cape May, NJ – February 10, 2021 – The Boarding House – the #1 Traveler-Ranked Hotel in Cape May on Tripadvisor and New Jersey’s finest dog-friendly hotel – is the perfect destination for vacationers and their four-legged friends.

The Boarding House team pulls out all the stops for their canine guests by offering dishes of cold water; complimentary custom-made peanut butter and bacon treats from local vendor Black Sheep Dog Treats; and doggie waste bags. Guests also receive a discount at the nearby Muddy Paws self-service dog wash and boutique as well as at Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille, a dog-friendly restaurant located on the Cape May beachfront. Dog walking services (fee) are also available upon request.

The hotel’s first four-legged guest, an Australian Terrier named LJ, checked in Memorial Day Weekend 2019. The Boarding House has since welcomed over 300 furry friends.

Located in the heart of downtown Cape May, the unique, surf-inspired hotel is right across from the Lafayette Street Dog Park and just a short walk from the Washington Street Outdoor Mall. Hotel guests are granted free access to the dog park from dawn to dusk. (There is typically a license fee to bring dogs.) Select beaches in Cape May are dog-friendly during the shoulder season, and year-round dog beaches are located just a short drive away.

“Cape May is one of the most walkable, dog-friendly vacation destinations in New Jersey,” said Boarding Hotel co-owner Jonathan Hirsch, noting the abundance of outdoor activities and pet-friendly shops and restaurants – many within walking distance of the lodge.

The 11-room Boarding House is also an ideal destination for groups traveling for weddings and family reunions. Off-season, groups and their pups can even book the entire property, ensuring that when the entire family travels, the family dog can travel, too.

There is a $45 fee per dog per night for up to two dogs. (This fee does not apply to guide dogs or assistive dogs.) There are some ground rules: Dogs must weigh less than 80 pounds; and they must be controlled on a leash when not inside your room. Click here for the full pet policy.

The Boarding House opens for the 2021 season on April 2 for weekends only (Thursday-Saturday), with daily availability starting in May. Dog-friendly rooms can only be booked via phone: 609-884-4884.

Pristine Accommodations

The Boarding House’s safety and sanitation practices, above and beyond their already-extensive room cleaning process, place special emphasis on frequently touched surfaces. High-touch areas such as doorknobs and handles, light switches, clocks, bath and shower fixtures, remote controls, thermostats, furniture handles, arm rests, chair backs, and more are thoroughly sanitized before and during each guest’s stay. Additionally, carpets are shampooed in dog-friendly rooms after each stay.

Housekeeping staff wear face coverings and gloves; for the safety of all parties, guests are asked to vacate the room while it is being cleaned.

A Warm Welcome

The Boarding House exterior welcomes guests with soft landscape architecture that echoes the surrounding beauty of Cape May. The interior décor emulates the outdoors with calming blues, greens, and neutral sand tones.

A custom blend coffee by Cape May Roasters is served at the lobby coffee bar, and dog owners can find tasty custom-made take-home treats for their pets in the lobby shop, along with human treats including handmade lavender lemongrass soaps by Shore Soaps of Cape May, gift sets/items for the beach and bath, coffee mugs, bags of coffee, T-shirts, umbrellas, and hats.

Local Partnerships

Upon check-in, guests are not only greeted with a smiling face, but also an impressive original painting by local artist David Macomber. The painting – a detailed view of a surfer’s feet on their board, surrounded by ocean waves – was designed specifically for the Boarding House lobby. Macomber’s work can also be seen throughout the property, adding color, interest, and character to every room. For the last 18 years, Macomber has made a name for himself in the Cape May area as a professional artist and designer, and his work has been featured in international surfing publications. He has also raised over $5,000 for Waves for Water through various art projects.

Hanging on guest room walls alongside Macomber’s art are photographs by Kathy Fallon, whose work captures a vintage beach vibe through the camera’s lens. Her photos pair beautifully with each room’s clean, simple aesthetic.

The centerpieces for most guest rooms at the Boarding House are custom, mounted surfboards, each imprinted with the Boarding House logo. Hotel co-owner Jonathan Hirsch partnered with Kona Surf Co., a 50-year-old surf shop in Wildwood, NJ, to create these one-of-a-kind, authentic boards, in colors that complement the Boarding House brand.

For more information about the Boarding House, visit https://boardinghousecapemay.com/