Sunset Beach has a completely different feel than the main Cape May beaches, and that's exactly what makes it special. It's known for Cape May "diamonds," shells, and beautiful sunsets. While I didn't find many of the famous Cape May diamonds, I still loved walking the shoreline and taking in the view. The atmosphere during sunset was wonderful, with people gathering to watch the sun go down together. There's also a visible sunken ship. Was mostly chill until sunset of course, people gathered to watch the sunset. Restaurant right on the beach, 2 gift shops, a mini cold course, the WWIl lookout tower as well. Plenty of parking. It's definitely worth adding to your Cape May itinerary. read more

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I have grown up coming to sunset beach and love that so many vacaitioners come to enjoy the sunset here and the delightful flag ceremony that they do. The gift shop is the only one you need to go to for all of your souvenior needs. They even carry cape may wine! Sunset Beach is a must do on any trip to Cape May. read more

Great beach in Cape May obviously for the sunsets but for a couple other reasons as well. I believe every Monday-Wednesday-Friday they lower a flag honoring a veteran. During the ceremony they play America the Beautiful, the National Anthem and Taps. It's a great thing to witness and an honor for the families of the veterans represented. They also have a few shops and Mini golf course here. Every year I stop here there seems to be more things to do here. The old cement ship is still here too.....there seems to be LESS of this every time I visit. If you're in Cape May this is a great stop for the flag ceremony and the sunset. read more

I note there are 2 listings here for Sunset Beach - this one being for the beach itself... Sunset Beach is a must-visit every time I go to the Jersey Cape - have watched the ship off shore slowly be reclaimed by the elements. It has also been interesting to watch the little shops slowly expand and update from year to year - now featuring plenty (usually) of parking, a mini golf course, a small but nice restaurant, nearby concrete WWII tower converted to a museum, etc. I have noticed that the Cape May Diamonds® are thinning out a bit compared to the late 70s, but there are still plenty to find - which makes this a great location to take the kids & the great thing is you don't have to spend a dime if you don't want to. Also, there is a reason for the name - great location to watch sunsets out over the bay! Highly recommended! read more

Sunset Beach - Sunset Beach ...about an hour before sunset - Beaches Near Me

Went here on Wednesday August 7th 2024 for the first time with my parents as part of our Cape May/Wildwood Trip. Before this, we went to the World War II Lookout Tower, and came over here to check it out. It is a big beach. There is also a gift shop before the beach, and that was also big, but we couldn't find much of interest. oh well. Great thing is, free parking! We then checked out the S.S Atlantus, which was a ship that was built, and because it sank, it was just left there. Views of it can be seen in the water. It is not everyday one sees a ship, yet alone a sinking ship in the water. enjoyed seeing that sight! read more

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Not the cleanest beach in Cape May but the Sunset really can be exquisite here. You look out onto the Delaware bay and the state of Delaware is but a small thin line by the horizon. There 'dirtiness' is more from the organic debris that washes onto the beach like reeds, seaweed, broken shells etc. The finding of 'cape may diamonds' can be real hit or miss. Good luck. Would likely be better to come in the morning when it is cooler and the sun is in the east. read more

Sunset Beach is mandatory, when in Cape May. The drive to the beach is so nice, passing a long stretch of summer homes on both sides of the road. The sunset is spectacular and you'll never be the only ones there. As you wait for the sunset, you'll be able to visit a few establishments that have souvenirs, food, and drinks. You are in for a treat, when you witness this sunset and beach. read more

Sunset Beach - Beaches Near Me

Great place to stop and sit on a bench like we did. There's a pretty big gift shop to look at little things to remind you of the trip. Beach is thin & long to find a spot to sit. The sand is coarse which feels nice. Different than the sandy beaches of OC beach area. read more

Sunset Beach - Beaches Near Me

The absolute quietness of this area is what struck me the most. It is idyllic. The terminal end parking lot is large enough to negotiate. Sunset Beach Gifts is the real homerun here; the staff at the shop were so helpful. Loved to shop small. They have everything from soaps, jewelry, and even local wines to browse through. Check out their flavors of Hammond's chocolate bars. They also do mail orders. Their is also a small mini golf course adjacent to the store, and the WWII lookout tower is less than a mile or so away. The Cape May lighthouse is about a 5 minute drive. read more

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Store is awesome, the mini golf is my favorite spot in all of south jersey. The older gentleman who is a Vietnam vet is such a nice man. A must visit whenever we come to cape may. read more

Sunset Beach lives up to its name. Coming at the right time will reward you with a beautiful sunset. Open, clear and bright. It is absolutely a great place view this and a perfect way to tell any west coasters who think we on the east cannot see a proper sunset. The earlier the better to come as even on a chilly evening cars filled the lot and then lined the road in and walked to the beach to catch a glimpse. Luckily the beach is wide so their is no shortage of viewing room. There seems to be a shop and restaurant at the entrance of the beach but having come off season I can't say much about them. There are many beaches in NJ and many there are many spots to enjoy the beach in Cape May, but Sunset Beach has its name for a reason. read more

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Beautiful beach to watch the sunset. Not crowded and absolutely stunning view. Would highly recommend going here to see the sunset read more

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Sometimes Yelp is such a jerk. This is one case. I created and wrote a review of Sunset Beach ages ago. And then Yelp renamed the page "Sunset Beach Gifts" for the gift shop next to the sand. A couple years later, someone else created this Sunset Beach listing. So this review below pre-dates any of the others on this page...and I am reposting it after Yelp deleted it. No thanks to you, Yelp moderators. I'll pretend I have the first to review badge. Eye. Roll. --- Sunset Beach is one of my favorite places in New Jersey... and the entire world. Cue dramatic undertones. Seriously, though. What could you possibly hate about this beach....other than the facts that it's a little painful to walk on and you can't swim in the ocean? Who wants to swim in the ocean anyway? That "water" is disgusting. I love that there's always something new to be found here. Most recently, century-old railroad tracks just casually surfaced ON THE BEACH. I mean, really? How often does that happen? (I haven't actually researched this. Perhaps it does happen. Nonetheless: Awesome!) And if you grew up in Jersey and didn't dig for diamonds here, you simply missed out. Go drive down the shore right this instant and go stick those hands of yours in the rocky sand. Now. I don't care if it's cold outside! I've been to this beach when it was 20 degrees outside ... a trip that lasted for about 20 seconds but was still great. I celebrated my 18th birthday with a group of friends here. I've taken past dates here to "see the sunset" because, you know, it's Sunset Beach and who in NJ hasn't taken part in that cliche plan at least once? To sum up Sunset Beach: The place is just gorgeous. It's the best. I will take a day trip to this beach no matter the season. read more

My favorite spot in NJ to view spectacular sunsets. When the weather is right it can be a very healing and grounding experience. It can get a little crowded on weekends so get there early to get a parking spot and a place to put your picnic blanket on the beach. It used to be fun finding little "cape may diamonds"(quartz crystals) in the sand but I haven't seen any in a while. The souvenir shops are fun (gourmet snacks !) and the 7pm flag ceremony in the summer is quite moving. With a view of the SS Atlantus wreckage by the sunset, it feels like true Americana. read more

Sunset Beach - Cape May Sunset Beach and the SS Atlantus ship wreckage - Beaches Near Me

A must-see in Cape May! Beautiful sunsets, the SS Atlantus, Cape May diamonds, memorial benches, and a few gift shops. Parking can be tough- I prefer to come when it's quiet. Unfortunately, I've never made it for the memorial service. If you're in Cape May, worth a trip! read more

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I don't know how to adequately describe what a great place this is in a review. It's a beautiful beach with beautiful sunsets. The parking is much improved in the last few years with the addition of a side parking lot on the right on sunset Boulevard right before the circle. Every sunset is different and unique in its own way so you can't include that in the review because that's something given to us by a higher power. There's a klitzy souvenir shop, An ice cream place, And adjacent to it is a World War II lookout tower worth the climb if you so desire. Oh those sunsets ! read more

Sunset Beach - Beaches Near Me

This beach is not meant to go swimming in due to the rocks but it has the nickname "diamond beach" for a reason. there are many quartz that wash up on the beach making it a good collectors spot. it also is a nice place to watch the sunset and to look at the historic boat wreckage. There are many shops around this beach too read more

This is a place where I literally felt Heaven on Earth. We visited the Cape May, to experience the sunset at this Sunset beach. The scheduled sunset was at 5.45 PM and we arrived there around 5.15 after visiting few other places. The weather was gloomy and hence I had no hopes on what colors the sunset could possibly offer. I decided to just capture few beach sand, waves and the SS Atlantus ship pictures (the broken structure that's on the pics) and pack my kit. The ship was grounded by a storm in the ocean, after it served in the World War I. When I almost started off, my wife asked why not wait for few more minutes and boy how the landscape changed drastically. The hue and colors kept changing with every passing minute and I frantically started clicking pictures to not miss freezing those glorious scenes. Never have I felt so humbled by all of Nature's glory as much as I had, while the sun that we never spotted started setting down and left all of those spectators agape. I'll look forward to returning here soon and often! read more

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Very nice beach! Not much sand, more of a shingle beach. Next time I'll take some tennis shoes instead of sandals. Also take some chairs if you want to see the sunset. We went just to see the sun set and it was very nice. Kids enjoyed playing in the water. read more

Sunset Beach - Sunset - Beaches Near Me

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This is not the Jersey shore you saw on MTV. There may be a Snookie or two here, but for the most part, they're somewhere else that actually has a boardwalk and alcohol. Sunset beach doesn't have a boardwalk and probably doesn't have alcohol either. This is also not a swimming beach, so no lifeguards and as far as I can tell, no beach tags necessary. You're vying for beach space with guys with fishing rods. The parking lot is tiny. Come early. read more

Perhaps the most interesting beach in Jersey?! View a Ghostly shipwreck from the beach, hunt like a pirate for sparkling diamond treasures in the sand and climb the lookout tower. These Cape May Diamonds are everywhere. Secluded and wild, this beach faces south/southwest and has amazing sunset views. Great little beach restaurant, gift shop and even mini golf nearby. That's about it though! Went on a Monday at 1 pm and it was pretty crowded. There is a big parking lot though. Definitely worth the extra time to drive all the way down!! read more

Beautiful and fascinating beach. I couldn't wait to visit here! Splendid views and parking is plentiful if you get there early. I found my Cape May Diamonds, and really enjoyed seeing the shipwreck from the beach. I've seen it twice from a boat and found it super intriguing. Husband recalls seeing half the ship above the water in his youth. Maybe someday the wreck won't even be visible so I'm quite happy I got to see this interesting place- shipwreck and all! read more

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This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. If you are close by, I would suggest biking in as it gets a little crazy with parking. Another mistake we made was that we should have parked on the exiting side of the street as it is incredibly hectic to leave. That being said, it's pretty obvious that on a warm summer night this beach gets pretty crowded. We lucked out and arrived right in time to sit on the beach in front of the water. The view is picturesque. People get a little annoying with their instagramming and snap chatting (like, come on, take a picture and keep it moving) but other than that I would definitely experience this again. Amazing sight to see. read more

Sunset Beach - Beaches Near Me

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Amazing for all sunsets !!!!! Amazing views and perfect for a 7:30 take-out dinner watching the sunset it's also perfect for your first day on vacation- it can definitely get crowded but once you find a good spot you're good. Wear a mask, have sanitizer and you'll enjoy the amazing sunsets read more

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Well what to say that others haven't already. Probably one of the best places in Cape May to view the sun set. Seems like I've been coming here forever, at least for the past 41 years or so. We always visit sunset beach when down by the Crest and I may have missed a few years here and there, it never disappoints. Only thing that changes here besides the passing of time is what is left of the SS Atlantus. This concrete ship was built in 1918 for use during WWI. The war ended a few months after the ship was put into service. It was used to ferry US troops back from Europe. In 1920 it was taken out of service, and in 1926 was purchased to be used in the construction of the dock for the ferries that travel between Jersey and Delaware. Unfortunately the ship broke its moorings during a storm and ended up running aground where it sits now by sunset beach. I remember coming here as a kid and there being a lot more of the ship than what's there now. The sea put her there and the sea will eventually take her back. Sad to think that this little piece of history will eventually vanish. Nothing withstands time. read more

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After so many times visiting Cape May & wanting to go to Sunset Beach, i finally made the trip last night & oh was it worth it to be there for sunset! Sitting there listening to the ocean waves crashing against the shore is always such an unique feeling regardless which ocean you are by ... but Cape Nay holds a special place in my heart & i will keep returning as long as I'm near for more sunsets!! Not too crowded, parking right by the shore & a few nice spots for food/drinks. read more

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Great place to get away from the normal beach crowds , the kids had a blast looking for cape may diamonds and enjoyed the little gift shops nearby . Not too crowed so it was nice to be able to relax and no hear someone else's conversation right next to you . Definitely will frequent this beach more often . Yes the first party of the beach is rocky so not as foot friendly but it turns to sand near the water so there is instant relief for the bare foot crowd . They also have a little cafe and mini golf so you can't go wrong at this spot read more

Sunset Beach has been our families favorite spot to visit during our yearly vacation to Cape May for several years. My children love it just as much as I do! We love the gift shop as well! The view is to die for! My boys always like to comment how much of the ship is still showing each year. We'll continue to visit every year! read more

This FREE beach is located in a secluded, laid back section of the Cape May Coast. It's located right at the terminus of Sunset Blvd, which is the only main road (2-3 miles from West Cape May) that brings tourists and beach goers right in via motor vehicles, bikes, or simply on foot. A gift shop, mini golf course, and bar are available here. A FREE parking lot is available, but kind of small for the amount of crowds that show up at this beach. Hey, if you can't find a spot there, then simply park on the shoulder of the street, like what the other motorists did. On the 1st night, we came here to watch the sunset. When we arrived, we noticed that the area was crowded. We drove into the parking lot. Because someone was leaving (thankfully), we were able to get a spot. If this wasn't the case, we would have parked on the side of Sunset Blvd and walked over. When we arrived on the beach, we noticed that the sun hasn't gone down yet, but the dimming sunlight made the sky look beautiful. We would have loved to stay longer so we could see the entire sunset, but it was getting too cool, and we were wearing shorts since we came from somewhere else. After staying for a little bit, we simply headed back. Dress accordingly in response to the cooler temperatures when trying to get a good view of the sunset. For the 2nd afternoon, I came here alone by bike. Because all of the spots on the bike racks were filled, I created a spot by the wooden fence with my lock. I looked at the gift shop to see what they had (no review since I walked out empty-handed). After that, I walked onto the beach. On the day I came, the temperature forecast was 77 Degrees. That's a little cool for me to relax and jump in the water. But there were other people just relaxing on the beach and snapping photos of the ocean. Speaking of which, I came here to enjoy the water views and generate a picture set by snapping photos. That was an enjoyable activity. If the temperature was in the 80s, I would have biked here in my bathing suit and backpack, simply ready to relax and jump into the water. Oh well, maybe next time. The beach itself was clear of garbage, but watch out for some sharp rock and shell particles when walking through. Overall, this is a very nice beach and I highly recommend visiting and/or relaxing here, especially when you don't have to pay a fee to enter or park. BIKERS: Based on my experience, when you approach the terminus of Sunset Blvd and it's beach entrance, immediately slow down and bike slowly due to cars being parked on the shoulder and one portion of the road being a little bumpy. In fact, you will be sharing this portion of the road with passing motorists due to the parked cars. Also, when leaving the beach and biking back to West Cape May, start slowly due to the parked cars on the shoulder, resulting in you sharing the road with the exit traffic. Once you no longer see parked cars on the shoulder, then you can get into the shoulder lane and increase your speed for your normal bike ride back. read more

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I can't believe I only gave Sunset beach 3 stars. I must have just got back from Hawaii or something. Anyway it is at least a 4 star spot! If it was in NY it would be 5 stars easy. And most of the California beaches I have been to are dirty and if not dirty on the sand at least the water is. Cape May beach water can't be compared to California as it is cleaner and warmer. The reason it is unique and nicer than NY sunset beach in the Hamptons is the Cape May diamonds. http://www.capemay4u.com/cape-may-diamonds.html I also have a link to explain what the ship wreck is in the pictures. http://www.concreteships.org/ships/ww1/atlantus/ read more

Sunset Beach - ship wreck at Sunset beach - Beaches Near Me

As far as beaches go, this one is small and rocky until you actually get to the mouth of the water. There are no lifeguards, but you can wade in the water at your own risk. As the name suggests, it's a great place to watch the sunset but also catch a glimpse of the shipwrecked SS Atlantis, an experimental concrete ship built during WWI that got loose from its mooring during a storm and ran aground, unable to be saved. On the beach you can also be lucky enough to find to find "Cape May Diamonds," clear rocks that are hard to find and can be cut to mining donando of you so choose. A cute game for beach lovers and children alike. read more

Scenic Sunset Beach.. the only place you'll see a sunken WWI cement ship!!! Pretty beach to stroll (lots o' shells n sharp pebbles.. ouch! May want to keep shoes on if strolling shoreline), a few shops, and an eatery. The sunset flag ceremony (summers only) is special.. catch it if you can! And keep your peepers peeled for dolphins! ;-) read more

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This should be 100 stars. And the owner is God. Everyday there is a great sunset, some he might hide for himself. And for the encore, come back the next day. During the summer there is a flag retirement ceremony that is great. I do have one Major is those who can not give the respect to OUR country during the ceremony A must see!!!!!!! read more

Sunset Beach - 9-11 ceremony. Place is pack - Beaches Near Me

So I find myself off season always driving to this area to sit in my car and watch the water. I usually do this after my adventure at the lighthouse not far down the road where I spend many hours looking at birds from the observation deck. Short rest here watching the waves. read more

Great beach for occasional sea glass and sea rocks. Large parking lot with free parking right at the end of the road. We went in off season so no one was there. Saw some horseshoe crabs. read more

One of the only places to see the sunset since it is on the western side of cape may. What an amazing scene it is. They also lower the flag every night to honor a member that has served our country, a spectacular site to see everyone on the beach stand up to pay their respects, I got goose bumps. The beach is free, and there is free parking as well, but come early because it fills up fast. There is also a concrete boat that sunk that drifted over to the beach, though apparently the next storm is going to sink it completely. If you are in the cape may area, you have to come here to see the sunset. read more

Sunset Beach is on the western side of the Cape May peninsula, and it marks the entry to the Delaware Bay. This western location situates it perfectly for viewing sunsets over the bay, thus its name. It is popular to park your car in the first row of the lot and watch the sunset from the comfort of your car. This is especially popular when it's cold out in the off-season, and even then, the lot will fill up daily, and even arriving an hour before sunset, it is hard to get a spot. Others enjoy the sunset from the beach, many bring drinks or snacks. Lots of photo-taking. DOGS IN CAPE MAY This beach is like most Cape May beaches, which open up to dogs for a large portion of the year. Sunset Beach, it is open second-longest for dogs, which allows them access for a good 7 months out of the year, from Sept 15 - April 15. The sand here is pretty rough. I have walked on a lot of beaches around the world, and recently, this sand has gotten pretty harsh. Very pebbly and filled with crushed shell material. It was not that soft, fine sand that I am used to in Jersey. We were recently there in the shoulder season, so perhaps it will be swept, and/or some better sand will be imported for the summer? But just in case, I recommend having a pair of flip flops or water shoes on hand, to walk the sand, and go into the water, so you can best enjoy yourself. This beach is along the ferry route for the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, and these boats can be seen commuting back-and-forth from the Cape May port, nearby. In the off-season, Sunset Beach has a program to recycle Christmas trees. It is very interesting to see them lying neatly along the beach near the seawall. I was told by a former local sea captain that the trees provide environmental protection during the winter. There is a neat piney smell on the beach when they are there, which is not an expected scent, but really neat just the same. We recently saw a British documentary on YouTube about horseshoe crabs, which named the Delaware Bay as Earth's main spawning ground for this species. Therefore, Sunset Beach is part of a vital habitat for the continuation of this species, whose blue-colored blood sells for $7000 per pint, for use in medical research: chemicals in their blood can test for bad bacteria (like E. coli, etc.) in injectable drugs, implantable medical devices, and hospital instruments. (The blood is blue because it is copper-based, unlike our red blood, which is iron-based.) Horseshoe crabs have also long been harvested by local fishermen to use as bait. Unfortunately, the harvesting for bait and blood has reduced numbers of the crabs. Recent bans on horseshoe crab harvesting have impacted local fishermen, because no other bait works as well. Their eggs are also sustenance for the Red Knot bird whose numbers have declined in accordance with declining horseshoe crab numbers. * * * TIP * * * The Jersey Shore is habitat for two of the oldest species still existing on earth. It is amazing to think that the common jellyfish and horseshoe crabs, which litter the beach in prolific numbers, have been here for 550 MILLION and 445 MILLION years respectively. Long before even the dinosaurs existed, these creatures were roaming the seas. Of the 10 oldest species still existing on earth, we have TWO of them (#5 and #3 of the top 10) right here at the Jersey Shore. That is a magical thing. Nowhere else on earth is there something this cool, mainly because all of the other species on the list are ocean-dwelling, and do not come ashore like jellyfish and horseshoe crabs, and the one species that lives on land (of that top 10) is an ant in the Amazon. No one else on earth can observe Paleozoic life like Jersey Shore-goers. read more

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Sunset Beach is a beach that is better to visit as a destination than for a day on the beach. Cape May's main beach is larger and a bit more picturesque. Sunset Beach though is cool not only for the amazing sunsets that give it the name, but also for the WWII lookout tower and the wreck of the ship a few hundred feet off the shore. This is also the place to look for Cape May "diamonds", little rocks that sparkle. Apparently you can fish here too, so watch out for lines and hooks. Still worth a visit for a nice walk on the beach and the scenery though. read more

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A quick and somewhat uncharacteristic (for me) review on this beach. Sunset Beach was the sole reason my family traveled to Cape May, NJ. We wanted our small children to experience the ocean for the first time, and most every review I could find said Sunset Beach was the best place in the country for that... we were not dissapointed. Unlike other reviewers, we did not make it at sunset (funny, I know), but instead visited first thing in the morning, when the girls were on their best behavior. The beach is indeed rocky and somewhat littered with broken shell bits, but there is also a sense of calm I've not seen on many other ocean beaches. In the day's first hours, the shore is lined with would-be fisherman looking for a catch, and in several cases we watched them get it, hauling very large Drum fish from the waters. It was cool to see. The shore glistens in the morning with little quartz crystals (known as Cape May "diamonds), but I notice that local artisians and early beachcomers steal them away quickly, so I'd bet by sunset there are that many left, but for us there were plenty, and we had a ball hunting for them. We also enjoyed looking out at the sunken concrete ship (although there isn't much left these days), and hearing the locals tell stories about how it got there and the process it's gone through to deteriorate. The water was cool and clear, and we saw schools of horseshoe crabs riding the waves inland, which was also unforgettable for our little ones to witness (especially when we realized they are harmless / wouldn't pinch). Of all the vacation destinations I've been on, this little unknown beach on the tip of New Jersey will always remain my absolute favorite. If you are ever able, this one beach is worth the trip. read more

Loved it. About 200 people on the shore to watch the sun drop and change from yellow to orange to red. Two engagement photo shoots, lots of kids running around, and the chance to look for Cape May diamonds in the surf. And parking is free. What more do you want? read more