One of America’s oldest seaside resorts and the gambling capital of the East Coast, Atlantic City boasts the distinction of being the city upon which the board game Monopoly was based. Additionally, the town features the world’s first boardwalk, the annual Miss America Beauty Pageant and several interesting nearby sights to see via rental car from Atlantic City.
Getting there
Situated 10 miles from the centre of town by car rental is Atlantic City’s own airport, which mainly services domestic flights. Additionally, direct transatlantic flights, as well as flights from Canada and the Caribbean, go to Philadelphia International Airport, 90 minutes away. Casinos also offer direct shuttle buses from many nearby cities.
Alternatively, to get to Atlantic City by rental car from Philadelphia, take I-76 to state road 42, which connects to the Atlantic City Expressway. Take the Lincoln or Holland tunnels or the George Washington Bridge from New York, to the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) south, and then take the Garden State Parkway at Perth Amboy and travel south to exit 38, which then connects to the Atlantic City Expressway.
Key attractions
Most of the casinos are positioned on the famous boardwalk, which supplies the bulk of the entertainment in the city. Adjoining the boardwalk is the historic amusement pier built in 1898 – Steel Pier. It is a great family attraction with plenty of rides, other amusements and games, and has a rich history of playing host to some of the biggest vaudeville acts, TV stars, and bands. Every September sees the Miss America Beauty Pageant, which is held in a stunningly built hall, completed in 1929. Look online for national travel deals to Atlantic City
Out and about
Cape May is situated around 30 miles southwest of Atlantic City and boasts a rich maritime history, lovely beaches and a gorgeous collection of old Victorian-era cottages. It is also possible to go whale-watching from there. Perfectly preserved 1950s-style motels with gaudy neon signs as well as plenty of shops, great amusement parks and pretty beaches offering parasailing, can all be found at Wildwoods, 25 miles southwest of Atlantic City by car rental. The still operational Absecon Lighthouse, containing a small museum, is the third tallest in the US and worth a visit.
Leisure options
The range of dining options available here is too large to mention, but the city caters for all conceivable tastes and includes some of the finest cuisine and national travel deals to be found on the East Coast. An interesting place for children and adults alike is the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum, which features a regularly changing display of all that is grotesque, weird and seemingly
unimaginable.
Safety
The sheer volume of tourists and amount of money that passes through Atlantic City every hour makes the city a pickpockets’ heaven. As well as falling foul of someone’s scam, a myriad of dangers await any traveller or tourist who isn’t vigilant when visiting somewhere new. We therefore advise visitors to be sure of their safety by taking out travel insurance covering everything from loss of money to difficulties with travel arrangements.