Family Vacationing in Sea Isle City Discovers Megalodon Tooth

Issue #780

August 17, 2026

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In This Cape May Local Scoop Issue…

 📆 Cape May Events

☀️ Cape May Local Weather 

🦈 Family Vacationing in Sea Isle City Discovers Megalodon Tooth

🍽️ Cape May’s Ebbitt Room Named Among America’s Top Hotel Restaurants

🏛️ Greek Food, Music and Dancing Take Over North Wildwood for a 3-Day Festival

Don’t forget to vote for Cape May.com’s The Best of Cape May!

👇 Here’s what’s going on in the Cape May Local Area👇  

 August 17

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 Family Vacationing in Sea Isle City Discovers Megalodon Tooth

 A Pennsylvania family's search for seashells along the Jersey Shore turned into a remarkable encounter with the prehistoric past when they discovered a fossilized megalodon tooth on a beach in Sea Isle City.

The Bowers family, from the Pittsburgh area, was vacationing in the South Jersey shore town when they headed out to look for shells. During the search, Mike Bowers noticed something unusual lodged inside an opening in a rock.

Unable to reach the object himself, Bowers called his son, Bo, over to help. With smaller hands, Bo was able to reach into the opening and retrieve what appeared to be a large fossilized shark tooth. The discovery was later examined with help from the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center, which confirmed that the object was a megalodon tooth. The organization characterized the discovery as an exceptionally rare, potentially once-in-a-lifetime find.

Megalodons were enormous prehistoric sharks that inhabited oceans millions of years ago. The species disappeared approximately 3.6 million years ago, long before humans began visiting the beaches that now line the Jersey Shore.

Scientists estimate that the largest megalodons may have grown to around 60 feet long, putting them among the largest predatory sharks known to have existed. Fossilized teeth are among the most recognizable remnants of the ancient predator. Sharks continually replace their teeth throughout their lives, giving teeth a greater chance than other remains of eventually entering the fossil record.

For the Bowers family, however, the scientific significance came with an especially memorable vacation experience. What began as an ordinary search for interesting shells ended with the discovery of a fossil left behind by a massive shark that inhabited the oceans millions of years ago.

The family plans to keep the tooth, turning an unexpected afternoon on a Sea Isle City beach into a permanent souvenir of their Jersey Shore vacation.

Cape May’s Ebbitt Room Named Among America’s Top Hotel Restaurants

Cape May is well known for Victorian architecture, beaches and a thriving restaurant scene, but one local destination is gaining national attention for bringing two parts of the visitor experience together under one roof. The Ebbitt Room, located inside the historic Virginia Hotel on Jackson Street, has been highlighted by Chowhound as New Jersey’s standout hotel restaurant. The Cape May dining destination has also earned a place on OpenTable’s list of the Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in the United States.

The recognition puts the South Jersey restaurant among a select group of establishments helping turn hotel dining into an attraction of its own.

The Ebbitt Room specializes in contemporary American cuisine with an emphasis on seasonal, farm-to-table ingredients. Its connection to Beach Plum Farm helps supply produce and other ingredients that influence dishes throughout the year. Guests can choose from à la carte selections as well as a nightly prix fixe menu centered on seasonal offerings. The restaurant pairs its modern approach to food with the distinctive surroundings of the Virginia Hotel, a restored property in Cape May's historic district. For guests staying at the hotel, the arrangement provides an upscale dining experience without requiring a trip elsewhere in town.

The Ebbitt Room's reputation extends beyond its recent national mentions. It has received a Best of the Best honor from New Jersey Monthly, while its wine program has earned recognition from Wine Spectator.

OpenTable's inclusion of the Ebbitt Room among its Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in the United States comes as dining appears to be playing a larger role in how travelers select hotels and plan trips.

Research from OpenTable and KAYAK found that 73% of Americans would consider returning to the same hotel after having a positive dining experience there. Nearly half, 47%, reported having planned a trip specifically around visiting a restaurant. The research also found that 58% of Americans surveyed believe hotel restaurants have improved in recent years, citing factors such as food, atmosphere and service.

Those trends could be especially relevant in Cape May, where restaurants and historic accommodations are central to the city's tourism industry.

The Virginia Hotel brings nearly 150 years of Cape May history to the experience. The property opened in 1879 as the Ebbitt House and took its name from its original owners, Alfred and Ellen Ebbitt. By the early 1890s, it had become known as the Virginia. Over time, the property developed into a popular summer destination for visitors heading to the Jersey Shore, including travelers from Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

Today, the restored luxury hotel remains part of Cape May's collection of historic properties. Its Victorian-era setting and the Ebbitt Room's contemporary farm-to-table menu create a combination that reflects both the city's past and its modern tourism appeal. With recognition at both the state and national levels, the Ebbitt Room is helping demonstrate that in Cape May, a memorable meal can be as much a reason to visit a hotel as the overnight stay itself.

 

Greek Food, Music and Dancing Take Over North Wildwood for a 3-Day Festival

The sights, sounds and flavors of Greece are returning to the Jersey Shore as North Wildwood prepares for three days of food, music, dancing and family fun. St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church will host its second annual OPA Greek Fest from Friday, August 28, through Sunday, August 30, 2026. The late-summer festival will celebrate Greek culture and hospitality, and admission is free throughout the weekend.

Food will be a major attraction at OPA Greek Fest, with visitors getting the chance to enjoy authentic Greek cuisine and traditional drinks. The entertainment will keep the celebration going with live Greek music, a high-energy Greek DJ and traditional folk dancing. Festivalgoers will also be able to browse a Greek market featuring unique goods and specialty items.

With activities and entertainment for different ages, organizers are billing the event as a family-friendly celebration for both local residents and visitors spending a late-summer weekend at the Jersey Shore. The festival will take place at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 321 Saint Demetrios Street in North Wildwood, New Jersey. All proceeds from the festival will benefit St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church.

For anyone looking to squeeze another celebration into the final weeks of summer at the Jersey Shore, OPA Greek Fest offers a chance to experience Greek food and culture without leaving North Wildwood.

Cape May diamonds are famous for being found on its beaches. What are these "diamonds" actually made of?

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 Answer to the August 16th Trivia Question 

Cape May, New Jersey, is recognized as the oldest seaside resort in the United States. In what year did Cape May first begin hosting vacationers from Philadelphia?

A) 1650
B) 1766
C) 1812
D) 1900

Answer: B) 1766

Cape May began hosting vacationers from Philadelphia in 1766, marking the start of its long history as a popular seaside resort destination.

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