I grew up going to Wildwood Crest as a child, but now as an adult and with kids
I have fallen in love with beautiful Cape May. Last week I had the opportunity to stay in Cape May with my family at the ocean front Montreal Beach Resort. Our room was the perfect fit for our family of 4. We had 2 queen beds, one sofa bed, a kitchenette, full size bathroom, 2 TVs and the perfect ocean view balcony. The balcony overlooked the beach, pool and Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille, which is attached to the hotel. The staff at check in were super helpful and courteous.

Because arrived early, our room wasn’t quite ready, so they told us they would call us as soon as it was ready. This gave us time to enjoy lunch at Harry’s Ocean Bar and Grille. I love the convenience of having a restaurant attached to the hotel. It wasn’t long after that I got a call saying our room was ready. After getting settled we went down to the pool and just enjoyed a relaxing afternoon and ordered some of the most fantastic cocktails.

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The following day we had plans to go whale watching with the family after breakfast at Harry’s again, and it didn’t disappoint. After whale watching we were back at the hotel ready to check in at our cabana on the beach. The resort offers cabana services, but with every room you can request beach chairs and umbrellas to use on the beach as well.

Later that night we enjoyed some dinner and drinks back at Harry’s, and like I said the convince of having a restaurant on location was key to me; especially with kids.
The resort was very clean and they also had sanitizing stations throughout the hotel. Our room was comfortable and we had everything we needed in our mini kitchenette. The story behind this family owned property is quite amazing.

The story starts as far from Cape May’s sandy shores as you can possibly imagine. It centers around Harry and Sophie Hirsch, a young couple from Poland. Like many, they were seeking a better life after World War II. The couple decided to leave the life they knew and pursue an American dream in the United States.

Harry and Sophie arrived in a Philadelphia port via cargo ship in 1951. Having been raised in the isolated villages of Poland, neither spoke a word of English at the time. Relying on their perseverance, good fortune and the kindness of strangers, they began to build a life for themselves in Philadelphia’s Strawberry Mansion neighborhood.

Harry was a skilled carpenter. This allowed him to work a series of construction jobs to make ends meet. In 1955, Harry and Sophie decided to leave city life behind and settle down in the countryside. Thanks to a loan from his uncle, Harry set up a chicken farm in the small agricultural town of Corbin City, New Jersey. Years of hard work paid off and the farm grew. This prompted Harry and Sophie to open an egg and poultry delivery service. During this time, the couple provided provisions to local restaurants. Harry’s route often took him to the Jersey Shore and, at times, to Cape May – a town with which he and Sophie began to fall in love.

In 1965, Cape May beachfront property became available at the corner of Beach Drive and Madison Avenue. Harry and Sophie knew they had to have it. Gambling the future of their young family, they dug into their meager savings and bought the empty plot of land. Within a year, they pulled together enough money to begin construction on a new 27-room family Cape May hotel.

In this new business, Harry hoped to recreate the family-style atmosphere from the “old country” he had loved so much. Soon, Cape May’s beautiful beaches and historic Victorian architecture began to draw large numbers of visitors from all over the world. The small hotel simply couldn’t meet the demand, so Harry and Sophie began to expand. A third floor was added, then a fourth – creating the 70-room Cape May, NJ hotel now known as The Montreal Beach Resort. Sophie passed away in 1975. Shortly thereafter, son Larry joined his younger brother, Joseph, and entered the family business full-time. Harry passed away in 2011, but he leaves a proud legacy. Nearly half a century after its founding, the Montreal Beach Resort is a thriving three-generation family business. I love a good motivational story. 

The other thing I loved about the resort is how close it was to the entertainment, restaurants and sight-seeing that Cape May had to offer. One of the cool things we got to do was experience the Revolution Rail Co. This is a must try when you are in Cape May. The nice thing with staying at Montreal they will help/recommend you find fun activities to do with the family.
We really enjoyed our stay at the Montreal Beach Resort and we can’t wait to go back and visit.

Montreal Cape May Resort Amenities

• New! Electric Car Charging Station

• Large Oceanfront Outdoor Pool and Whirlpool*

• Guest Changing Facilities and Showers

• Two Oceanfront Sun Decks

• Fitness Center

• 24-hour Guest Services and Expert Concierge

• Business Center

• On-Site Parking

• Elevator

• Gift Shop*

• Harry’s Ocean Bar & Grille*

• Poolside and Beach Food and Beverage Service*

• Conference Center

• Complimentary high-speed wireless internet