Twenty-five Years of Romance at The Washington Inn

Famed Cape May restaurant celebrates its silver anniversary by inviting its brides and grooms back for a special dinner.

CAPE MAY, NJ -- The Washington Inn in Cape May, NJ, is owned and operated by the Craig family. This spring they will proudly celebrate their twenty-fifth year of ownership. Since 1978, The Washington Inn has been the scene for hundreds of wedding receptions and thousands of anniversaries and proposals. In fact, the Inn was named one of the Top Five Most Romantic Places to be Married" in the state by New Jersey Monthly. To celebrate twenty-five years of romance, the Craigs are conducting a nationwide search for couples who were married at the Inn and are inviting them back for a complimentary anniversary" dinner.

We are always so proud to host a wedding or special romantic occasion," says general manager Michael Craig. Weve done everything from white-glove weddings to lobster-bake receptions on the beach. Weve hosted brides from down the street and across the country. We look forward to reminiscing with couples who started their married lives here with us and seeing where they are now." Couples should contact the Inn directly by calling Michael at 609-884-5697 by December 15, 2003.

The Washington Inn was created on something of a romantic whim. When Rona and Toby Craig, former schoolteachers from Wilmington, Delaware, bought the inn in 1978, they had idyllic dreams but no restaurant experience. Rona, Toby, and their three teenage children lived in a tiny two-bedroom apartment above the inn and all worked hard to make the family dream come true. Cape May had just been declared a national historic landmark, but the restoration of its jewel-box collection of Victorian houses had barely begun. In those days you had to be a visionary to grasp the possibilities of a place like The Washington Inn. The Craigs did, and they set the stage for a host of followers.

Consistently voted Best of The Best, Best Service, Best Wine List, Best Atmosphere, and Most Romantic" by New Jersey Monthly, The Washington Inn is now the flagship of fine dining and romance in Victorian Cape May, one of the East Coasts premier tourist destinations.

Nationally, critics have applauded the Inn and tourists have made it the" dining destination in Cape May. Nestled on a tree-lined street in the Historic District, the gracious 1842 plantation-style mansion boasts four unique dining rooms, a retro-'30s bar, and southern New Jerseys largest wine cellar featuring a hand-picked 10,000-bottle wine collection. Favorite recipes have been compiled in The Washington Inn Cooks for Friends" cookbook published by Love the Cook Books.

The Washington Inn, located at 801 Washington Street, is open from Valentines Day through New Years Eve and serves dinner nightly in season. The Web site is www.washingtoninn.com.

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