As the holidays bring worries about choosing gifts, planning meals and scheduling parties, make space for a break, and step back to a quieter time – when fresh greens graced curved staircases, gas lanterns lit the streets and high tea was a daily occurrence.

Welcome to Christmas in Cape May. It’s an experience tough to match and sure to fill visitors with the holiday spirit of love and hope.

Known as America’s only National Historic Landmark City and the first seaside resort, Cape May has been welcoming visitors for centuries and there are few better times to visit than during Christmas.

“We are very well known for our historic homes, which are preserved lovingly by their owners,’’ said Susan Krysiak, director of media relations, Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture). “We love to celebrate Christmas and hope visitors come away from Cape May with a renewed sense of the Christmas spirit.’’

Holiday events, shopping, dining and a myriad of tours take visitors along the town’s historic streets, which are lined with Victorian homes bathed in twinkly lights and give visitors plenty to buoy that holiday spirit.

The city’s crown jewel and perfect starting point for experiencing Christmas is the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, Cape May’s only Victorian House Museum. 

An architectural wonder, this 18-room mansion was designed by famed American architect Frank Furness. It is one of the best examples of Victorian Stick Style architecture in the country, with gigantic upside-down corbelled chimneys, hooded dormers and huge stick-like brackets on the porch. 

At Christmas, the house is decked out in authentic Victorian style, with a variety of Christmas trees that depict different eras of Victorian Christmas celebrations. Emlen Physick, the grandson of Dr. Philip Syng Physick, is considered the father of American surgery, and guides portraying Physick family members share stories and holiday traditions. 

Tours of the museum also include a visit to the Carroll Gallery – the old carriage house located behind the mansion – to see “An Old-fashioned Christmas” exhibit, which features a huge Christmas tree, model trains and an elaborate Dickens village collection.

“We decorate the house in true Victorian style with different Christmas trees representing different eras,’’ Krysiak said. “It is not only lovely, it tells the story of how Christmas evolved in Victorian times.’’

A beloved Cape May tradition, the Annual Christmas Candlelight House Tours offer a rare peek inside private residences, along with inns, museums and churches. Started nearly 50 years ago, the tours celebrate the best of Cape May at Christmas. 

Stroll along the gaslit streets, hear musicians and carolers, and visit more than a dozen homes, inns, B&Bs, churches and hotels, all elaborately decorated for the holidays. The tours are held the first three Saturdays of December from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

“These are remarkable tours that people come back to do year after year,’’ Krysiak said. “It’s a wonderful way to spend an evening in Cape May. It’s like an open house and really makes you feel like you’re stepping back in Victorian times, visiting your friends.’’

Trolly rides abound in Cape May, especially during Christmas. A favorite is Santa’s Trolly Rides with Mrs. Claus, who comes direct from the North Pole to lead this tour. She tells stories and sings holiday songs on this jolly trolley ride through town. Santa joins the fun at the Gazebo on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate. 

Or try the Ghosts of Christmas Past Trolly Rides, where visitors hear dramatic tales of Christmas woe that feature Victorian ghosts, told by a member of the East Lynne Theater Company, as they ride along Cape May’s historic streets. 

For something even more old-fashioned, check out the Cape May Carriage Company’s half-hour horse-drawn carriage tours offered each weekend. Bring a blanket and enjoy a cozy clop through the streets of Cape May. Tours leave from the corner of Ocean Street and the Washington Street Mall. 

You’ll also want to budget time to visit the Cape May Lighthouse, located just a few minutes outside of downtown in Cape May Point State Park. Climb the 199 steps up the original, cast-iron spiral stairway to the top of the 1859 lighthouse and be rewarded with a stunning view of the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean, the surrounding nature trails of Cape May Point State Park and Cape May Point Borough. The lighthouse is listed in the state and national Registers of Historic Places.

Amid all this fun, you also can get some holiday shopping done, especially for those people on your list who have everything. Sophisticated boutiques and shops sell curated items that are hard to find elsewhere. Washington Street Mall is the city’s shopping hub. This outdoor pedestrian promenade spans three blocks that are lined with brick pathways, decorative fountains and wooden benches, all decorated for Christmas. 

In addition, both the Emlen Physick Estate and the Cape May Lighthouse have gift shops selling Cape May-related treasures.

“Escape traffic with a visit to a street mall only open to pedestrians,’’ said Doreen Talley, executive director, Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May. “Specialty boutiques line the streets of Cape May and create the perfect place to browse merchandise while enjoying the fresh sea air. The small town, locally owned shops are unique; no big box stores here.’’

And there is no reason to go hungry. The town is brimming with fine dining, casual eateries and campy restaurants that will satisfy any palate. 

“Named ‘The restaurant capital of New Jersey’ by The New York Times, Cape May offers an assortment of cuisines any ‘foodie’ would love,’’ Talley said. “Elegant atmospheres complete with Victorian charm and hospitality invite guests to relax and enjoy a total dining experience. Top chefs dot the kitchens in Cape May and impress guests with attention to detail and an appreciation of food as an art form.’’

One of Cape May’s most iconic restaurants is the Washington Inn, built in 1846. Stately columns reach to the third floor, mimicking those of Mount Vernon, George Washington’s plantation house. With the help of Mimi Wood, executive chef of more than 25 years, the Washington Inn serves up both warm hospitality and exceptional New American cuisine. It is one of the top ranked and most visited fine dining restaurants in Cape May.

With all there is to do, it’s a good idea to book a spot to stay. There are plenty of options. From stately, historic hotels to meticulously maintained bed-and-breakfast and cozy guest houses, Cape May offers vacationers all types of lodging experiences. 

One of the city’s most iconic hotels is Congress Hall, a four-story, Tuscan-yellow hotel that has been welcoming guests along Cape May’s beachfront since 1816. A stay here will not disappoint.

Or go for a cozy bed-and-breakfast, many of which boast period furniture and serve up elegant afternoon teas. Try the Queen Victoria, an award-winning bed and breakfast resort located in the heart of historic Cape May. Savor a generous breakfast served buffet style and afternoon tea in the British fashion, complete with decadent sweets served in front of a crackling fire.

Most accommodations are within walking distance of the beach, with easy access to the Washington Street Mall, and provide a variety of amenities, from swimming pools to pet-friendly lodging.

For more information, visit capemay.com. Self-guided Christmas Candlelight House Tours require advance ticket purchase. Visit capemaymac.org, and online reservations for horse-drawn carriage tours can be made at capemaycarriage.com.