The Thrill Seeker
Sitting
on the beach is certainly
a favorite pastime for
many in Atlantic City.
But for others, and you
know who you are, it’s not
a vacation until you’ve
done something to get the
blood flowing.
Morning: Gardner's
Basin,
located on New Hampshire
Avenue and the bay,
is
the place to catch cruises
and fishing excursions.
Hop aboard Atlantic
City Cruises -
Cruisin’ 1 for
the Morning Skyline
cruise, which provides
a tour of Atlantic
City's ever-changing
skyline and calm
back
bays. Marine
Mammal Adventure
cruises spot
dolphins in summer,
and includes commentary
from an onboard
marine naturalist.
Shore Bet Deep Sea
Fishing sets
out with hopeful anglers
of all ages and skill
levels, from novice to
experienced, for half-day
summer fishing and 6-hour
fall fishing trips.
The "Highroller" also
departs from Gardner's Basin
for back bay fishing on a
50-foot pontoon boat for
a calm-water experience where "Nobody
Gets Seasick." There
are two trips daily, and
private charters are available.
These fun attractions are
seasonal, so be sure to check
availability.
After
lunch in Gardner’s
Basin at Back
Bay Ale House
or
the Flying
Cloud Café ,
head over to the Atlantic
City Boardwalk and continue
your adventure.
Thrill
seekers will definitely
want to stop off at Steel
Pier.
While the historic Steel
Pier does offer kid-friendly
rides such as bumper cars,
a carousel, a climbing
wall,
Ferris wheel and more,
there
are also several rides
that
will get the blood pumping.
Nothing beats a bird’s
eye view of Atlantic
City, and you’ll
certainly get that with
a Helicopter Tour. This
is a thrilling way to
see the city that’s
Always Turned On. Another
way is to be catapulted
into the air from the
Steel Pier on the Rocket
ride.
Another
pier that offers something
for the none-too-faint-at-heart
is Central Pier. Feed
your need for speed with
Nascar go-carts and hit
the gas on this raceway
over the Atlantic Ocean.
Or, instead of speeding
up you can load up and
take a crack at "Shoot
the Geek" paintball.
New
to Atlantic City for
the summer season is Casino
City Jet Ski Rentals.
Available for rent on
the beach in front of Kennedy
Plaza at Mississippi Avenue
and the Boardwalk, you
can
take one of these personal
watercraft from the beach,
through the breaking surf,
into the Atlantic ocean.
If you’re in town
October through May,
a horseback ride on the
beach is definitely the
way to go. You can take
an hour ride or go half
that time and experience
the Atlantic City beach
in a way you’ve
never done before.
Enjoy
a bite to eat on the Boardwalk.
Whether you want to walk
while you eat famous Boardwalk
food like pizza, corndogs
or funnel cake, or enjoy
a relaxing sit-down meal
at any of the restaurants,
you’ll find something
to suit your taste. Then,
head over to The Quarter
at Tropicana and take in a movie
experience with the only IMAX
Theater in
Atlantic City. The theater
is equipped to show 2D and
3D movies as well as the
latest Hollywood event.
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The
Shop-a-holic
There are those who do a
little shopping while on
vacation, and then there
are those that vacation to
shop. For all of you shop-a-holics,
this one is for you.
Grab
a bit to eat at the Atlantic
City Diner or Cavo
Crepe Café before
starting your day of
shopping. Both of these
enjoyable places are
located at Atlantic
City Outlets- The Walk on
Michigan and Atlantic
Avenues. Also located
in
The Walk are 100 national
retail brand outlets
stores
such as Polo Ralph Lauren,
Bass, Jockey, Harley
Davidson,
Borders, Banana Republic,
Coach,
Calvin Klein,
Aeropostale,
H & M and many
more.
After
you’ve walked The
Walk, now it’s time
to venture to another country. Tropicana
Casino and Resort’s
The Quarter brings
the charm and sophistication of
Old Havana to Atlantic City. Get
some lunch and then shop till
you drop because The Quarter
features a mix of well-known
retailers and unusual shops. Check
out retail options like Rittenhouse
Gift & Home,
White House/Black Market, the
Spy Shop, Jake’s
Dog House, Tinderbox/Vino
100 and bluemercury apothecary.
You may want to try out
the bluemercury spa as
well, if you need to rest
those shoulders after carrying
all your bags.
On
to The
Pier Shops
at Caesars.
A pier you ask?
This isn’t
just any pier,
this is a
pier without
peer. From
the makers of The
Forum
Shops in Las
Vegas, the Pier
at Caesars raises
the bar on
shopping in Atlantic
City. You’ll
find never
before seen
in Atlantic City
retailers
like A/X Armani
Exchange,
Bebe, Burberry,
Gucci,
Louis Vuitton,
Hugo Boss,
Tommy Bahama’s
Vilebrequin
and the store
that holds
the famous
little blue
box, Tiffany & Co. For
those who don’t
consider
shopping an art
form, there’s
IT’SUGAR
and James’ Original
Salt
Water
Taffy,
among
others.
The
complex’s
third
floor holds wonderful
dining options
like Trinity
Irish Bar and Restaurant,
The Continental,
Phillips Seafood
Restaurant,
Stephen
Starr’s
Buddakan
and more.
Of course,
there are plenty of unique
shops on the Boardwalk
to venture in and out off
while strolling. But whatever
your taste or budget,
you’ll
find something to soothe
that shopping craving
in Atlantic City.
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Live Like a Local
Like
most of us, nothing beats
experiencing a destination
like seeing it through the
eyes of a local. It’s
how you’ll find the
best adventures, the most
unique enjoyments and the
tasty flavors that you wouldn’t
otherwise find.
They
call it “Antique
Alley” – the
Route 9 corridor stretching
from about 12 miles north
of Atlantic City, south
to Cape May, which is about
an hour from Atlantic City – if
you don’t stop at
every antique shop along
the way. If you’re
looking for that special
piece of Americana or just
looking for something unusual,
there’s a good chance
you’ll find it there.
It’s also where you’ll
find some unusual places
to eat breakfast, though
you may want to head out
early to get in line with
the locals.
For
lunch, visit the nearby
Towne
of Historic Smithville
and Village Greene.
It’s a quaint
setting of more than
60 shops and four
restaurants. Fred & Ethel’s
is a tasty local favorite.
Of course, we can’t
forget about the
little ones. For the
kids, there are plenty
of activities including
a train ride, a carousel
and boating on Lake
Meone.
If
you’re
in the mood for some nature,
a short drive from Smithville
is the Edwin
B. Forsythe
Wildlife Refuge. It
features 40,000 acres
of coastal salt marshes,
upland fields, woodlands
and tidal waters. Local
flora and fauna abound,
and the refuge is a stopover
for over 200 species
of migratory birds. Go
exploring on the footpaths
or take a leisurely drive
along the driving trail.
A
popular spot for many is Sideways of
Smithville at Renault
Winery in
Egg Harbor City. Get a taste
of this 130 year-old
working winery and take
a guided tour, enjoy a wine
tasting, browse the gift
shop and top it off with
a bite to eat at Renault’s
gourmet restaurant.
Nothing
beats dining in Atlantic
City. And, of course,
everyone
knows the best places
to
go are where the locals
hang out. For tasty seafood
check out Dock’s
Oyster House, Back
Bay Ale House, Flying
Cloud Café
and Atlantic
City
Bar and Grill. For
Italian, your choice
is sweet: Angelo’s
Fairmount Tavern,
Tony’s Baltimore
Grille, Girasole
Ristorante, Angeloni’s
Restaurant,
and that’s
just the
tip of the pasta.
Steakhouses
like Ruth’s
Chris Steakhouse and
the Knife
and
Fork
are
all the rage. Head south
of the border for Los
Amigos
Mexican Restaurant.
And for a little taste
of Ireland, try the Irish
Pub and Inn.
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The History
Buff
For those
who think a place’s
history is as enjoyable as
the present, this one is
for you, because we know
it just wouldn’t be
a vacation without stepping
into a museum.
There
is nothing better than a
morning stroll on the world-famous
historic Atlantic
City Boardwalk.
It’s also the first
Boardwalk, built in 1870
to help keep sand from
being tracked into hotels.
It’s also where
you’ll
find many piers, notably
Garden Pier just north
of Showboat casino.
Located
there is the Atlantic
City Historical Museum, where you can get a glimpse of Atlantic
City’s unusual past. An enlightening
30-minute film and the famous Mr. Peanut
are just part of the offerings to enjoy.
Also
just off the Boardwalk is
the New
Jersey State Korean War Memorial,
located in Brighton Park
where Park Place meets
the
Boardwalk. It features
a
12-foot high statue of “The
Mourning
Soldier” clutching
dog tags. A group
of soldiers “under
fire” emerges
through a sheet of
water
just to his left. The
back wall of the
memorial,
beneath an eternal
flame,
is engraved with
the
names
of the 822 New Jerseyans
who were killed or
are still
missing in action.
Located
easily on Pacific Avenue
and Dr. Martin Luther
King,
Jr., Boulevard is the Civil
Rights Garden.
It’s a one-of-a-kind
tribute to the Civil
Rights movement. Eleven
black African granite
columns are etched with
quotes from famous Americans. The
central column features
an upraised hand and
a
large bronze bell over
a reflecting pool.
Located
in nearby Margate, what
was once known as South Atlantic
City, Lucy
the Elephant is
one piece of history you
should not miss. Now
over a hundred years
old,
Lucy The Elephant was
originally built to lure
real- estate investors
to the shore. Since
then she has served
as a restaurant, a tavern
and even a house. She
was restored in the
1970s
and moved to her current
location at Washington
and Atlantic Avenues
in Margate, where she
has resided ever since
as a museum. You
can climb to the “howdah” on
Lucy’s back
for a panoramic
view of the ocean,
beach and surrounding
area. Open
seasonally.
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The Arts and Humanities
Guru
For some,
it’s just
not a vacation unless you
get some cultural understanding
of the area, whether it’s
the whimsical, the bizarre
or the aquatic.
Begin
your tour with a walk on the Atlantic
City Boardwalk to Garden Pier, located
at New Jersey Avenue and the Boardwalk.
You’ll
get a treat when you enter the Atlantic
City Art Center. The
Atlantic City Art Center houses three
different art galleries. The
center hosts monthly exhibits of
unique artwork by noted national and
regional artists. Its
galleries feature paintings,
paper sculpture, drawings,
etchings and more.
Also
on the Boardwalk at New
York Avenue, everyone in
the whole family will love
the Ripley’s
Believe It or Not! Museum.
Though it may look like
it’s
about to be destroyed
by a wrecking ball, the
museum features over
400
of the world’s
most
unusual,
fascinating and bizarre
exhibits in 13 themed
galleries including
a collection of shrunken
heads.
Next,
located at Pacific and
Rhode
Island Avenues, is the Absecon
Lighthouse. What
better way to get the
full
view of the city then
from
New Jersey’s tallest
lighthouse? Make it a
family
outing and climb the
228
steps to the top of the
historic Absecon Lighthouse.
You’ll receive
a “Congratulations,
You Made It” badge
of honor and enjoy
the
sights from this 145-year-old
charming attraction.
Historic
Gardner’s
Basin, we
call it the “other” Atlantic
City. Take a drive
down New Hampshire
Avenue in the Inlet
district and park
on-site. Once there,
take a stroll along
the bay of Atlantic
City and
enjoy wonderful views,
boat side dining,
an artist colony,
and the Atlantic
City Aquarium -
Ocean
Life Center.
The
three-story
aquarium and interactive
marine life education
center
features 11 aquarium
tanks
exhibiting more
than
100
varieties of fish. The
main tank spotlights
fish
of the mid-Atlantic
Ocean. Look
for flounder,
striped
bass, and "Groman," the
resident loggerhead
turtle.
The kids will
love the touch
tank, which allows
visitors to "pet" starfish,
crabs and other
sea life.
Plus, make sure
to check
out the new
exhibits
for
bearded dragons
and for butterflies.
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The Fitness Freak
One…two…three….
one…two… three…if
your idea of relaxing is
a nice five-mile jog, three-mile
swim or meditating with
100 crunches on a hot day,
then boy, have you found
the right place.
According
to many of us, the day doesn’t
begin without our morning workout.
And the Boardwalk is the perfect
place to flex those muscles and work
up some sweat. From 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
bicycling is the way to go on the
Boardwalk. It may not be the Tour
de France, but with more than
four miles of boards to ride, it
certainly can get the job done. The
Boardwalk is also where joggers go
to get in their run, and they come
from far and wide. It’s even
the
location of a yearly marathon
in October.
It
may be a sunbather’s
paradise but the Atlantic
City beach
is
also where you’ll
find plenty of athletes
and competitive opportunities.
Have a ball with a game
of handball or volleyball,
there are even several
volleyball
tournaments that take
place
throughout the summer.
The beautiful Atlantic
Ocean
offers an awesome opportunity
to catch some waves, learn
to surf, or even practice
your breaststroke. And
for those runners who’ve
caught the barefoot running
bug, can you think of
a
better place to get some
sand between your toes?
Four!
Come on, you know you can
fit in a game, especially
with more than 20 golf
courses in the Atlantic
City area. In fact, the
area is fast becoming a
new golf mecca, with high-quality
courses covering
the breadth of golfing
capabilities, from novice
to pro. Many of our courses
are championship-caliber,
designed by some of the
top course consultants
in the country. And if
you’re
looking for diversity,
it lives at the heart of
our golf world – ocean
courses and bayside links,
pine-bordered fairways
and
pristine greens, challenging
bunkers and wind-blown
sand
dunes. Vist the The
Greater
Atlantic City Golf Association
or
call (800) GOLF-222
for
more information about
many
of the courses, or
to arrange
tee times and book
golf
packages. Click
here to view a list
of our
Golf Partners.
You
probably made sure your hotel had
a gym before you checked to see if
there was a vacancy. So make
sure to take advantage of the state-of-the-art
fitness centers - complete with free
weights, treadmills and more - located
in most hotels and casino hotels
in the area. A hair salon, usually
accompanies them, as well as an indoor
and/or outdoor swimming pool.
Of course, spas are a major attraction
in Atlantic City, and they are located
in the casinos and throughout the
region. Whether it’s
a relaxing Swedish Massage or a Sports
Massage, you may want to reserve your
time early… you’re
going to need it. Click
to view list of Spas & Health
Clubs.
You’ll
find something to cheer
about when you find the
boys of summer at Bernie
Robbins Stadium on
the Black Horse Pike.
It’s where our professional
baseball team, The Atlantic
City Surf, plays “America’s
favorite pastime” from
May through October.
Many
games end with a spectacular
fireworks display so
why
not end your day in
Atlantic
City with a bang. |
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