CAPE MAY — There are no bad locations in Cape May, only different flavors to appeal to different palates.
Some people long to live alone in a minimally furnished room with a view of the sea, while others prefer the feeling of trees all around in a snug family home all cozy and safe.
Many are searching for convenience, while a rare few are drawn to “amenities” to make all the difference in a life by the shore.
To really feel as if one lives full-time in a resort, as if the holiday never ends, takes exceptional amenities to achieve. For these people, the Canyon Club at 902 Ocean Drive overlooking Cape May Harbor offers exactly that experience in a location that combines views, convenience and an active lifestyle on the water.
The multi-story condominium unit 1504 is packed with hidden surprises and perks, although it appears quite simple at first. Recent renovations on the unit, built in 2005, have created a sleek interior with mood lighting along with sparkling white tile and stone finishes around the kitchen and bar seating.
The hardwood floors balance all that modern design, making a comfortable space ideal for entertaining that looks outward over the complex.
Just below, carefully planned perennial gardens surround a kidney-shaped swimming pool — one of three available to residents of the Canyon Club. This elegant view is just one part the newest part of the complex, which is set back slightly from the rest so it feels like an exclusive enclave within the private club.
Upon arrival, residents can choose to park in their allotted spot or leave their car in their half of a two-car garage (shared only with the nearest neighbor).
From the front entrance, a quick trip up the central staircase brings residents to their door on the second landing, giving no hint that unit 1504 is actually several levels.
With two stories, the 1,775 square feet of space is divided into three levels, making the most of lofty views from the canal to the harbor, while offering each little zone of the unit some privacy from the others.
The door opens to the open-plan great room, which is drenched in sunlight. Sliding glass doors separate the two areas but open for entertaining or just enjoying the sounds of the harbor and the soft breezes of summer.
A fireplace grounds the corner and makes a focal point for a comfortable seating area, creating a cozy little spot for conversation or a secure corner to watch the party all around.
The dining area fits between the deck wall and the kitchen, completing a trio of dining options: one at the sparkling, under-lit bar forming one wall of the kitchen, with seating for four; the second at the sleek dining table; and the third outside on the deck, where a gas grill and water line are located for convenience.
These decks all look uniform and enclosed from the ground level, but they are deceptively deep to add almost another great room to the overall footprint of the unit. Once personalized by furniture, plants or umbrellas, these decks are perfect for entertaining, cooking, dining, relaxing, growing a container garden or setting up the easel or yoga mat.
Another central staircase climbs up the facade of each condo building, connecting six decks across three stories. Anyone living there is most likely to see their neighbors while on this staircase; it’s important to note that the depth of the decks also ensures more privacy if one just wanted to enjoy the sunshine in silence.
The moment that mood passes, however, the Canyon Club offers multiple ways of having a good time all year round.
Back inside the unit, a short flight of stairs leads up to two guest bedrooms and a shared bath. These rooms are blessed with views of the Cape May Canal from the west, so sunsets can be seen turning the canal waters to a golden mirror, or the changing foliage can be enjoyed.
The bathroom is equipped with a large dual-sink vanity with a granite top, large tub and recently updated fixtures. Due to the almost split-level floor plan of this condo unit, the rooms are not at the top but they still have cathedral ceilings and plenty of natural light to make a guest’s stay memorable; or make a home office that is bright and cheerful.
To reach the top level requires one more short flight of stairs, and there the primary bedroom suite opens up to almost the entire space of the great room just below.
The ensuite bathroom is large with a dual-sink vanity and closet space. High cathedral ceilings, yet another corner fireplace and still more glass doors light this room; the latter opening onto a private deck soaring over the courtyard. This deck has views of the ocean, the harbor and the world’s richest boat tournament (co-hosted by the Canyon Club) every August.
In addition to the boat slips, the club houses, the pools, the tennis and pickleball courts, and the view over the island of Cape May, this location can brag about a few more features.
It’s only a quick hop to the Lobster House across the harbor (faster by boat), a few minutes to the center of Cape May, 10 minutes to drive to Wildwood Crest just up Ocean Drive, and barely a few hundred feet to the entrance of the Garden State Parkway, leading to everything else on Earth one might need or want.
Unless what one really wants is to stay home and enjoy all the fun, sailing, holiday picnics for residents of the entire complex every Memorial Day and Labor Day, and dazzling sights waiting just steps outside the sunny deck.
