There’s more to fall getaways than leaf peeping and pumpkin patches. Give yourself a break with an overnight road trip guaranteed to revitalize you, Jersey-style.

Cape May — Garden State Parkway, exit 0

Why it’s cool: Fall is the best time to visit this Victorian gem, when an Indian-summer sun shines and the beaches are deserted. Located on the southernmost tip of the state, bracketed by the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Cape May delivers gobs of charm with (almost) no kitsch.

What to do when you get there: Park the car and walk everywhere. Take a 90-minute strolling tour of the historic district to get the lay of the land and absorb some of the fantastic architectural details. As the oldest seashore resort in America, Cape May boasts more than 600 stunning 19th-century Italianate, gothic and mansard-style homes designed by architects including Stephen Decatur Button, who designed many homes in Hoboken. Hughes Street, Columbia Avenue, Washington Street and Jackson Street are in the heart of the historic district. Tour the Emlen Physick Estate, the town’s only Victorian house museum, designed by Frank Furness, a prominent Victorian-era architect. Rent a bike and ride to the lighthouse in West Cape May, where — if you’re feeling ambitious — you can climb 199 circular stairs to an observation deck with a vast ocean view. For another perspective of the water, glide through Cape May’s serene wetlands in a rented kayak or with a guide from Agua Trails. Ask about a paddle at sunset or in the light of a full moon. From strolling in the surf to biking, shopping or taking a fishing excursion offshore, there is plenty in autumnal Cape May to keep you occupied. And you won’t have to wait in line to do it.

Best eats: The Blue Pig Tavern and the Ugly Mug Bar & Restaurant for lunch, the Lobster House for seafood, Ebbitt Room at the Virginia Hotel for a swanky dinner featuring produce from the restaurant’s nearby farm. For happy hour and late-night, the Rusty Nail is the best place to mix with the locals.

Where to stay: There are plenty of options, from the grandly restored Congress Hall on the beach to one of the many bed-and-breakfasts around town. Congress Hall is fun because of its old school resort vibe, including a spacious wrap-around porch dotted with rocking chairs, well manicured garden and comfy rooms. Rates start at $129 a night.

After Dark: Carney’s, situated on beachfront real estate at Beach Drive and Jackson Street, is a Cape May hot spot catering more to locals than tourists. The crowd is friendly, there’s a mix of live music and DJs, and if you’re hungry, a menu of typical pub grub (wings, fries, burgers, salads) will suffice.

Occasional weekend jam sessions featuring area musicians kick off in the late afternoon. This is an excellent watering hole for a rainy day. If you’re in the mood for jazz, try the Boiler Room in the basement of Congress Hall. And mark your calendar for the 32nd Cape May Jazz Festival Nov. 6 through 8, paying tribute to the great Count Basie Don’t miss: a walk through the Cape May Bird Observatory on the way to the lighthouse, where you’re likely to see herons, cormorants, egrets, ospreys and some of the many birds that migrate through Cape May in early fall.

For more info: Canoe in the Delaware River
What to do when you get there: Spend some time hiking a section of the 25 miles of the Appalachian Trail that runs through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. After a picnic break, take a driving and tasting tour of some of the area’s wineries, located within the Warren Hills American Viticultural Areas — a designated wine region with some of the same growing characteristics as California and France. Covering about 226 square miles from the convergence of the Delaware and Musconetcong rivers, into Sussex County, you can visit Four Sisters and Brook Hollow Wineries near Belvidere, and Alba Vineyard and Villa Milagro Vineyards, near Finesville.

Best eats: The Fireside Tavern at the Inn at Millrace Pond offers a cozy setting and tasty gastro-pub fare, including delectables like sausage-stuffed mushroom caps and bourbon-basted babyback ribs. The Ship Inn Restaurant and Brewery was New Jersey’s first brew pub after Prohibition, with more than a dozen ales and cider on tap and a menu of specialties from the U.K., including shepherd’s pie and fish and chips.

Where to stay: The Inn at Millrace Pond is well situated in the Jersey Skylands region, close to the Delaware Water Gap and Jenny Jump State Forest. Although you feel a world away, the inn is just 48 miles west of Newark airport. A former 19th century gristmill, the pet-friendly inn offers a variety of rooms, some loft-style, many with Jacuzzi tubs, for one or for two. Rates start at $165 on weekends.

After dark: You won’t find better stargazing than along the secluded roads that follow the Delaware River. Catch the natural light show — just watch out for deer and other wildlife abundant in this area. In Walpack, off Route 206, the rusti