Waterfront Escape Welcome Guide (2025-2026)
https://www.waterfrontescape301.com/welcome-guide 

• No smoking or vaping of any kind

• No bonfires or open flames

• Maximum occupancy of eight people

• Pets may not be left unattended unless crated

• Pick up pet waste immediately

• Use the beach path to get to the beach (don't cut through the dunes)

• Use of any bikes, kayaks, or recreational equipment is at your own risk

• Quiet hours are 11pm - 7am

• Follow the departure checklist

• Dial 911

• Three Fire extinguishers: hanging adjacent to stairs and outside grill, and in pantry closet

• Smoke alarms have a 'silence' button for false alarms

• Water cut-offs are below each sink and toilet

• The whole-house water cut-off is in garage at the crawl space entrance
  (look under the AC unit for the hanging tag attached to the valve handle)

• The electric breaker box is in the garage above the workbench/tools

• Leave comments or suggestions in the mailbox in garage

• Return deck furniture to porches; re-stack stack-able chairs

• Place upper and lower deck cushions into the respective deck storage box

• Close and re-tie shade umbrellas on decks

• Rinse and return beach chairs, bikes, kayaks, etc equipment back to where you found them

• Pick up any doggy waste (+ $50 charge)

• Turn off exterior shower and water hose at respective valves and recoil hose

• Logout of personal Internet accounts (e.g. Netflix, HBO max) on TVs

• Empty washer and dryer; leave washer lid open

• Empty main refrigerator of food and ice; leave on

• Empty and unplug the small refrigerator

• Turn off propane valves and re-cover the BBQ Grill and Firepit Table

• Wash dishes and coffee maker
  (you can leave one load running in dishwasher)

• Run sink disposer for a moment

• Set thermostats: 'Heat' to Low and 'Cool/AC' to 76 (F)

• Pack all trash in plastic bags and put to curb in black bins

• Place recycle loose (no bags) in blue bins and put to curb
  (recycling takes rinsed plastic bottles, glass, cans, and cardboard)

• Close the garage door and windows

• Scan the house for forgotten stuff: chargers, phones, keys, socks, etc

• Turn off lights

• Place keys back in table-top box

• Drive safely

• WIFI and Internet
  Network name and password are in your arrival instructions email

• Cooling (Central AC)
  Thermostat in living room

• 4 TVs, all with Roku, YoutubeTV, and DVD players

• Recreational equipment

  • Various sized beach chairs and shade umbrellas

  • 2 Kayaks and assorted flotation vests

  • 6 bicycles and tire pump

  • 3 Yoga mats, 1 yoga block

  • Light 'hand' weights (1, 2 & 10lb pairs)

• Beverage tools

  • Beverage refrigerator

  • 4 Coffee makers (Keurig machine, filter drip, Moka pot, French press)

  • Hot water electric kettle

  • Blender

  • Shake mixer
    Recipe: 1 pint ice cream, 1/2 cup milk, blend until smooth
    Straws in pantry closet on top shelf

• Cooking:

  • Electric cook top, oven, and microwave

  • Outdoor propane grill; utensils in drawers left side of stove

  • Pots and pans, bake ware and cooking utensils

  • Large slow-cook 'crock pot' sitting above refrigerator

• Cleaning

  • Washer, dryer, dishwasher (for soap, see Supplies below)

  • Vacuum and mini shop-vac

  • Hair dryers

  • Iron and small ironing board (upstairs bathroom closet)

  • Exterior water hose

• Extra TP are in the bathroom closets

• Paper towels are in laundry room and bathroom closets

• Hand soaps are in vanity cabinets below sinks

• Dish soap for kitchen-sink dispenser are in bottles below the sink (fills from top)

• Dishwasher soap pods are below kitchen sink

• Salt and pepper are in upper cabinet right of sink

• Basic cooking oils and spices are on counter left of stove or in pantry closet

• Sugar, sweeteners, and coffee filters are in cabinet right of microwave; dry creamer in pantry

• Trash bags are below the laundry room sink

• Food storage 'ziplock' bags and aluminum foil are on pantry closet top shelf

• Spare light bulbs are on laundry room shelf

• Specialty cleaners (e.g. Ajax, scrubbing pads) are below the kitchen sink

• Washing machine soap pods are on shelf above the machine

• First aid kit, alcohol, band aids, and sewing kit are in cabinet right of kitchen mirror

• Butane lighters (for Grill and Fire pit, if needed) are in cabinet right of kitchen mirror

• 'Doggy cleanup bags' are in tote bag on coat rack left of front door

• Batteries are in box in cabinet below kitchen mirror
  Please do not throw away rechargeable (white EBL brand, green Amazon) batteries
  Just place discharged batteries in the box provided

• Vacuums (upright and shop-vac) are bag-less
  Please empty if you use them
  There is a spare drive 'belt' in drawer below kitchen mirror

• Extra Propane bottles are outside behind house
  Please refill/exchange a tank if you empty one at:
  propane exchange ($25) at Wawa, ACE, Lowes
          or refill at P & J Propane on Bayshore Rd. ($20)
  Never bring propane into the house or garage

• There are two kayaks, paddles, and an assortment of floatation vests in the garage

• Use the kayak caddy/cart to roll the kayaks to the beach
  Please don't drag the kayaks

• Bring the kayaks in at night
  Do not leave them on the beach overnight

• The red kayak is a sit-on-top and easier for beginners

• Use at your own risk

• Please bring your own linens, towels, and beach towels
  The main bedroom has a queen-size bed. All other beds are twin-sized.
  Pillows are provided. Bring pillow cases.

• You can also rent linens and towels from linenladies.com (reservation required)

• Six bicycles are in the garage (two fixed gear, four with gearing)

• Also a hand air pump

• A Crescent wrench for seat adjustment is on garage workbench

• For flats, there are spare tire tubes on the shelf near the garage door

• Use at your own risk

• Cornhole board and sand bags are in the garage

• Also kites and string

• In the living room closet:
  Jigsaw puzzles of various sizes
  Monopoly, Clue, Life, Trivial Pursuit, and Battle of the Sexes
  Uno cards
  Playing/Poker cards
  Poker chips (in silver metal box)
  Backgammon
  Dominos
  Sidewalk chalk
  Drawing colored pencils (in plastic box)
  Children's Drawing book
  Maze book

• Also in living room closet:
  a few beach-reading books
  about a dozen popular movie DVDs

• There is a 'curbside library' paperback book box
  Two blocks north on Delaware Ave (aka Beach Ave) in front of 505 Beach

• Pets are allowed on the Bayshore beach (behind the house) year-round before 11am and after 4pm - and all day after Labor Day

• Other beaches that allow dogs include:

- Higbee beach all the time (remote)

- Wildwood at the dog park/beach' at Glenwood Ave & The Beach

- Stone Harbor on the ocean beach daily after 7pm

• In all places, pets should be on a leash

• Please help keep the beaches clean by picking up after your pet. 
  There is a supply of 'doggy cleanup bags' in the tote bag near the front door

• Never leave pets unattended in the house or garage unless they are crated
  There is a large dog pet crate in the garage

• Pick up pet waste immediately
  There is a supply of 'doggy cleanup bags' in tote bag near front door

• Do not allow pets on beds, couches, or furniture

• Beware of rabbits!
  If your dog chases them into the dunes, there are sharp burrs and thorns that can injure your pet. 

• Check for thorns and nettles
  If you see your pet limping, check for thorns in footpads
  Thorns are prevalent in the dunes and along beach paths

• Check for ticks
  Especially if you take your pet to visit a nature preserve like Cox Hall Creek, Higbee beach, or areas with tall grass or shrubs

• Dog flotation
  There is a yellow pet flotation 'vest' in the garage sized for medium to large dogs.
  Use at your own risk

• There is a 'trundle bed' under the left bunk bed

• There is a card table and folding chairs in living room closet along with family games (e.g. Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, jigsaw puzzles, etc)

• Appliance instructions are in the folding file in lower cabinet below mirror

• Binoculars are near the upstairs and downstairs sliding doors

• The freezer contains trays for large ice cubes for cocktails
  There are low-ball tumblers in the cabinet with glasses

• There is a shake mixer and cups (shelf above the beverage refrigerator, or in pantry)

• A giant inner tube is in garage. Inflate it with a hair dryer or shop vac

• There is a kayak cart to help move kayaks

• A yellow 'dog flotation' vest is in garage. It fits a medium-large dog

• Two blocks north on Delaware Ave (aka Beach Ave) in front of 505 Beach, there is a curbside library where you can get/borrow beach reading softback books. There are also some books in living room closet

• Yoga mats, block, and some light weights are in garage

• Basic first-aid and sewing kit in cabinet next to mirror

• Appliance instructions are in the folding file in lower cabinet below mirror

• Disposer switch is in cabinet below right side of sink

• Stove hood vent fan switch is on the microwave panel
  It prevents smoke detector false alarms

• Hold the 'silence' button on smoke detectors to silence false alarms

• Ceiling fan speed is controlled by 'pull chain'
  Fan on/off is via light switch on wall

• Kitchen sink soap dispenser refills from top (takes about 8oz or 1/2 bottle)
  Extra dish soap is in cabinet under the kitchen sink

• The beach behind the house is free. No tags required.
  This beach extends from Green River (3 miles north) down to the Ferry (4 miles south).
  At mid to low tide you can walk the entire distance
  Allows kayaks, fishing, swimming, rafting, and beaching watercraft,
    but no lifeguards or bathrooms except one on North Cape May beach
  There's more people, sailboats, and activity as you go south
  Dogs allowed before 11am and after 4pm (all day after Labor Day)

• For scenic serenity but with people, try the free Sunset Beach
  No dogs allowed between 1 April and 16 Sept
  Offers a fair amount of free parking, but can get filled
  Swimming is allowed, small waves, but no lifeguards
  Has two shops, a cafe, and port-a-pottie bathrooms

• For free beach walks, try Cape May Point State Park or Stone Harbor Conservation Beach
  No dogs allowed
  Free parking
  Swimming is not allowed. Both have bathrooms or port-a-potties

• For free waves, the Wildwoods
  Allows dogs only at the dog beach
  But finding parking can be a challenge
  Swimming is allowed only at lifeguard protected zones
  Has boardwalk, eating, bathrooms, and lots of people

• For quiet remoteness, Higbee beach
  Allows dogs all day
  Free parking lots along road leading to beach, up to 1/2 mile walk
  Isolated. Don't leave valuables in your car.
  No lifeguards. No bathrooms (lots of bushes) Bring bug repellent
  You can also reach Higbee from Sunset beach parking lot

• Strathmere beach on Sea Isle City Island
  Offers free classic Atlantic beach with no fees and free parking
  Has lifeguards and porta-a-pottie bathrooms
  Dogs are not allowed

• Elsewhere, beach tags are required between Memorial Day and Labor Day
  In general, towns do not accept another town's beach tags
  Cape May and Cape May Point (CMP) do not accept each other's tags
  Avalon and Stone Harbor do accept each other's tags, but do not accept Cape May or CMP
  
  

• The WIFI password is in the arrival information email

• Each TV has

  • 120 'cable' channels on YouTubeTV app in Roku on house account

  • Roku box (for apps like Netflix, etc)

  • HDMI cables for use with game controllers in living room TV cabinet
    (use HDMI 2, please leave Roku on HDMI 1)

• After turning on any TV, press the 'Home' button on the Roku remote to wake the Roku box

• Be sure to logout of personal Apps before you depart
  (see departure checklist, don't logout of YouTubeTV)

• The large shade 10' umbrella fits into the black and grey base
  The smaller 8' umbrella fits into the gold base
  The bases are heavy but have 'feet' that slide on deck

• To prevent jamming, keep umbrellas at least 5 feet from deck rails while opening

• Please do not leave open umbrellas unattended
  Close and tie umbrellas at night or during storms

• Before you depart, close and tie umbrellas and place seat cushions into the outside storage box

This list is ordered by approximate distance from the house; closest things first:

Within walking distance

• Ship watch (see binoculars) and identify ships at www.marinetraffic.com

• Chill on the beach at sunset, or
  search beach for Cape May diamonds, or
  search beach for Indian arrowheads (2 found in 2024)

• Fly kites (kites and string in garage)

• Bird watch for eagles and vultures

• Dolphin watch (mid- to high-tide)
  Kayak out to dolphins (wear flotation, don't get too close)

• Look for tagged horseshoe crabs
  Report finding and get certificate at https://www.fws.gov/crabtag/

• Walk your dogs on trails at the nearby 300 acre Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management area

Within 5 Miles

• Visit the ferry terminal and watch ferries (possible to bike or beach-walk there)
  or watch from David Douglas Memorial Park near the ferry

• Attend free lawn concert at Cape May Ferry Terminal (5:30pm Wednesdays, July & August)

• Visit Higbee Beach (Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area, dog friendly)

• The West Cape May Farmers Market (every Tues 3pm-7pm between 20 June-29 August)

• Tour the 200 acre Nature Conservancy preserve at South Cape May Meadows

• Visit the Cape May Point State Park (all free, except the Lighthouse Tour)

• Attend Sunset Beach flag lowering ceremony (daily, at sunset)

Within 10 Miles

• People-watch/sight-see on the Wildwood boardwalk (no pets)

• Window shop on Cape May outdoor mall (no pets) or Stone Harbor 96th street

• Visit the Cape May County Zoo (free, 10am-4:30pm)

• Visit the Wetlands Institute near Stone Harbor (free daily events during summer)

• Visit the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary (111-117th streets, outdoors)

• Wildwood is free and Cape May is closer, but here are two more recommendations
  (require tags):

Hobie Cat Beach in Stone Harbor (123rd street)
Free close parking lot and free close-by street parking
You can buy tags from any tag inspector you encounter (tags good in Avalon)
Lifeguards and Porta-potty bathrooms
Dogs are allowed after 7pm
The Stone Harbor Point conservation beach is adjacent
- Great for strolling
- But no dogs on the conservation beach at any time.

    44th-60th street beaches in Avalon
A natural dune setting away from crowds
Free street parking
Lifeguards at 44th, otherwise no lifeguards or swimming; No bathrooms
Often there is no one checking beach tags between 47-56th streets