Best Things To Do In Atlantic City Besides Gambling

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Atlantic City is in the State of New Jersey. It is a city on the Atlantic coast and is one hour from Center City (downtown) Philadelphia and about two hours from Midtown Manhattan. Atlantic City Expressway connects Philadelphia to Atlantic City and I-95/Garden State Parkway connects New York City to Atlantic City.

Once upon a time, Atlantic City was the only place near New York and Philadelphia, where people from these two large cities could legally gamble. That has changed. Both Philadelphia and New York now have casinos of their own.

But in my opinion the allure of Atlantic City has not faded. The casinos of Atlantic City are much bigger, Atlantic City has a nice boardwalk and beach and many fun things to do for individuals and for families. There are several shore towns close to Atlantic City that are extremely popular with the tourists like Ventnor City, Margate City, Ocean City and Brigantine.

If you are traveling with your friends, you can stay in one of the many casinos of Atlantic City and hit some of the clubs and fancy restaurants. If you are with family, you can rent an AirBnb or a beach house in one of the shore towns nearby and spend a night out in Atlantic City. I have done both several times!

How can I travel to Atlantic City?

• Driving: The best way to get to Atlantic City from Philadelphia and New York is by driving. Atlantic City Expressway connects the City of Philadelphia to Atlantic City. It is about 62 miles. I-95 and the Garden State Parkway connects New York City to Atlantic City. The distance from Philly and New York City will wary slightly based on where you are in these two cities.

• Flying: Atlantic City has an airport and many small airlines fly there. If you are outside of Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York City, Delaware or Maryland, you should also consider flying.

• Train: There is a direct train from the 30th Street Station Philadelphia to Atlantic City. It is cheaper than driving because you do not have to pay all the tolls. There is no easy way to get to Atlantic City from New York by train.

• Bus: Many people (particularly seniors) take the bus from New York and Philadelphia to Atlantic City. There are regular bus services between these cities. There are also specialized services that pick you up, drop you off at a casino and pick you back up after several hours.

Where should I stay in Atlantic City?

This is an interesting decision to make. AC is not a very big city but it has a reputation and it is important to keep that in mind.

• Budget: Many people who visit Atlantic City are going to spend only a few hours in the hotel room. So finding a cheaper hotel makes sense. Instead of booking cheap motels in Atlantic City, I have always booked Motels/Hotels in places very close to Atlantic City like Egg Harbor Township, Pleasantville or Absecon. You can take a Uber from AC to Egg Harbor in about 10 minutes. These areas are much safer and the rooms will be of much better quality.

• Boardwalk: There are many casinos and hotels on the boardwalk. Some of the popular ones are Ocean Casino, Hard Rock, Caesars, Showboat, Tropicana and Bally’s. One of my favorites is the Fantasea Resorts at Atlantic Palace. It is a condo hotel and the shore facing views are very nice. You might find rooms in this hotel on AirBnb also.

• The two best hotels in Atlantic City are not on the boardwalk. Borgata, which in my view is the best hotel in AC and Harrah’s are a couple of miles away from the boardwalk. If money is no concern, I would stay at the Borgata. It is a casino that is very similar to some of the casinos in Las Vegas.

Things to do in Atlantic City.

What do I do in Atlantic City? There are many things you can do at Atlantic City. Typically I travel with my friends to Atlantic City on Friday mornings, check-in early, work remotely from the hotel room and start partying on Friday evenings. Ride back to Philly on Sunday morning after a nice brunch (The boardwalk will be empty on Saturday and Sunday mornings, particularly during Fall and Winter. It is a great place to jog or bicycle).

• Gambling: One of the key reasons why people visit is for gambling. I gamble a little bit for fun in the slot machines but I am not a serious gambler. Borgata is known for its poker (largest poker room in Atlantic City). Ceasars, Harrah’s and Tropicana are known for their slot machines.

• Atlantic City Boardwalk: It is one of the best boardwalks along the New Jersey shore. You will find all kinds of shops and restaurants on the boardwalk. It is a long boardwalk and can be very crowded sometimes. You can bicycle on the boardwalk during certain times. There are a couple of piers, shopping malls and an amusement park. The boardwalk also has trams if you do not feel like walking.

• Atlantic City Beach: AC has a very nice beach. It is not the best beach in New Jersey, but I found it to be clean and family friendly.

• Steel Pier Amusement Park: The Steel Pier Amusement Park is on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. The park was first built in 1898. There are several rides for both adults and kids. From the top of some of these rides, you will see spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Jersey shore. The Amusement Park has restaurants a few bars inside.

• Bally’s Bikini Beach Bar: Bally’s Bikini Beach Bar is one of my favorite places in Atlantic City. It is on the beach right next to the boardwalk. The atmosphere in the evenings can be electric. There is a nice bar in the middle and places to site all round it. If is chilly, you can sit by the fire pit. Most summer evenings, there will be live music and dancing. The prices are reasonable.

• Borgata Casino and Spa: If you feel like you are in Las Vegas, then you have to head to the Borgata Casino. It is a high end casino that has all the amenities that you expect in a place like this. Some of the best restaurants in Atlantic City are inside this Casino. There are many bars inside this Casino as well. My favorite is the B-Bar. It is on the casino floor and in the center of the action. A night of partying in Atlantic City should start with a nice cocktail at the B-Bar.

• Nightlife: Atlantic City has an active night life. MIXX and mur.mur are both inside the Borgata Casino. HQ Nightclub is located at the Revel. Showboat has the House of Blues. My favorite is The Pool After Dark at Harrah’s. There is a massive pool in the middle and a lot of action around it. It is multilevel. From the second floor balcony area, you have a nice view of all that is going on around the pool. It is the number one destination for nightlife in Atlantic City.

• Boating: From Atlantic City you can take several boat tours. There are small sightseeing tours that last an hour or so to the Twrecks Charters that can last upto eight hours. If you are seriously into fishing, I recommend charters like Twrecks.

• Photography: Whenever I visit Atlantic City, I always take a lot of photographs. The view of the sunset from the beach and the boardwalk are awesome.

Atlantic City has had its ups and downs over the years. But I always enjoyed visiting the city. It offers a brief escape from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

Have you been to Atlantic City?

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