City of Fun & Games
Beaches, Boardwalk and Casinos – Atlantic City has it all.
by Lee Barnathan
Vacationer's Vision
"We have everything you want in a vacation," says Elaine Zumansky, media relations manager of the ACCVA. "We have gambling. We have the beach. We have the Boardwalk. We've added a whole lot of shopping. …Before the casinos (which first arrived in 1978) came to Atlantic City, there was already a boardwalk. There was already a population."
Indeed. The Boardwalk was first built in 1870 as a way to keep sand out of hotel lobbies, and later landed top space in the Monopoly game. Today, at 60 feet wide and nearly five miles long, with several piers jutting out, it is considered the nation's longest boardwalk. Half is commercial and half is residential. It's similar to the Las Vegas Strip in that eight of the 11 casinos are on it.
It even has RV shows twice a year – in March and October – located at the Convention Center. RV dealers and manufacturers show off their models, from the smallest pop–up to the $700,000 motorhome and everything in between. Also on hand are campsite representatives, displaying photos of their grounds.
Where the Action Is
To paraphrase Bob Dylan, all along the boardwalk is where much of Atlantic City's happenings take place. Many of the casinos stand on sites of former great places, such as the Queen Anne–styled Marlborough House (Bally's). Other fascinating attractions include the oldest remaining Ripley's Believe it or Not! Museum, which features 400 exhibits and 13 themed galleries, with three piers.
At the Central Pier, you can enjoy any of several arcades along the Boardwalk, ride NASCAR–style go–carts and engage in paintball wars. And the owners of the Caesars resort recently opened The Pier Shops at Caesars, a four–story, high–end retail mall that is glass–enclosed, extending into the water and offering plenty of ocean views.
On the Garden Pier sits the Atlantic City Art Center, also known as the Florence Valor Miller Arts Center. Admission to the 2,500–square–foot gallery at New Jersey Avenue and the Boardwalk is free.
The Atlantic City Historical Museum tells stories of the town through photos, local artifacts and video. Here, one can learn about the now–gone Traymore Hotel, which was called the Taj Mahal of Atlantic City decades before Trump built a hotel/casino with that name. It was demolished in 1972, footage of which opens the film "Atlantic City." You can also learn about the 1964 Democratic National Convention that was held here, in which Lyndon Johnson and Hubert Humphrey were nominated for the White House and went on to win.
That political convention took place at the Atlantic City Convention Hall, now named Boardwalk Hall. After a $90 million renovation, the famous 1929 structure, designated a National Historic Landmark, has become Atlantic City's premiere entertainment venue. It hosts concerts of all types, from classical musicians to pop and rock stars. The Miss America Pageant was here, too. In the spring, the Atlantic–10 men's basketball tournament was held, with the winner heading to the NCAA Tournament.
At Missouri Avenue is Chicken Bone Beach, so named because African–Americans, who once were limited to this beach, enjoyed many a chicken picnic there between 1900 and the early 1950s. To celebrate African–American heritage, jazz concerts are held every Thursday in July and August, pairing a jazz giant with a jazz local.
The New Jersey Korean War Memorial is at Park Place. Similar to the previously completed Vietnam Veterans Memorial, this tribute to those who fought in Korea hopefully heals the spiritual and psychological wounds suffered by these veterans, their families and friends.
Off the Path
As you travel away from the Boardwalk, there is still plenty to see and do. The Absecon Lighthouse is said to be the oldest and tallest in New Jersey and third–tallest in the country. Visitors can climb its 228 steps to have higher views of the ocean, skyline and Boardwalk.
The Atlantic City Aquarium, which features touch tanks and interactive exhibits, also offers rental boats and kayaks. Here you can sign up for dolphin and whale–watching cruises.
The Civil Rights Garden is a public sculpture garden featuring 11 granite columns inscribed with notes of history, events or phrases spoken by famous people from the Civil Rights Movement. In the center is a bronze bell that chimes throughout the day. A reflecting pool with a hand coming out of it is etched with excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s more memorable speeches and letters.
Leaving Atlantic City's limits leads to a few other worth while stops. Check out Storybook Land in Egg Harbor Township, where you and the kids can ride through 50 famous children's tales, such as Humpty Dumpty and Alice in Wonderland. In December, Santa is around, and the Easter Bunny comes in spring.
A trip to the area would not be complete without visiting Lucy the Elephant. She's not an elephant at all, but a building in Margate, shaped like a pachyderm. A real estate agent built her in 1881, hoping to attract people to come in, climb to the top and look at the land they could buy. Today, Lucy is a National Historic Landmark and open for viewing.
There's also an art museum in Oceanville where one can gaze at the numerous bird decoys. At Historic Cold Spring Village – a living–history museum in Cape May – you will see folks in period costume portraying colonists and living as their ancestors did so long ago.
For More Information
Atlantic City Aquarium
800 N. New Hampshire Ave.
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
(609) 348–2880
Atlantic City Historical Museum
On Garden Pier
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
(609) 347–5839
Boardwalk Arcade
1315 Boardwalk & Ocean Ave.
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
(609) 345–3710
Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Museum
New York Ave. & The Boardwalk
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
(609) 347–2001
Atlantic City Blueberry Hill
P.O. Box 219
Port Republic, NJ 08241
(609) 652–1644
www.blueberryhillrvpark.com
Atlantic City North Family Campground
P.O. Box 242
Stage Rd.
Tuckerton, NJ 08087
(609) 296–9163
www.campacn.com
Avalon Campground
1917 Route 9 North
Clermont, NJ 08210
(609) 624–0075
www.avaloncampground.com
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Consult your 2007 Woodall's North American Campground Directory for a complete list of area campgrounds.
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