Hello Gareth! My home town was Atlantic City, not all that distant from Cape May. Now living in Oxford, UK (how long will this kingdom be united??? wait until Friday to find out!)
I am no longer current in New Jersey, but the Flying W used to be worth looking at, and Red Lion as well. Atlantic City Airport is a long way from Atlantic City these days, my niece works there for the FAA. That's where the commercial flights on way to the casinos arrive.
Whether or not Ocean City is still active will probably show up on the internet! Lots of piney woods in southern New Jersey to get lost over, and every other bit of territory is Suburbia, also easy to get lost over.....despite N.J. being surrounded by New York City, the Atlantic Ocean, and Delaware Bay leading up to the Delaware River and Philadelphia.
Of course these days, its all GPS, so no problem getting lost....
The natives are friendly, and if you find a flying school still active, they will make you feel very welcome. The whole state is fairly flat, so no mountains to worry about.
Best advice is to rent a car at your arrival airport. Don't go for the cheapest, go for midrange, to be more comfortable and safe. The roundabouts in NJ have OPPOSITE RULES from the UK! so beware! Your most difficult part of the journey, as you may have discovered, is driving out of Newark Airport! Philadelphia is much easier and closer to Cape May.
But the road system is diabolical and the road markings far from helpful.
Philadelphia has some of the WORST road surfaces in the nation.
Have fun!