Atlantic City Casinos – Atlantic City is known world over as a first-rate casino-gaming mecca. Atlantic City boasts the most exciting casinos in the world, with elegant and themed gaming rooms, world-class entertainment, shows, and concerts, diverse restaurants, luxurious spas, and exciting attractions. Whether you're looking to while away some time at a low-stakes slot machine or play some high-powered poker, Atlantic City gambling halls have the thrills you want. With 12 casino resorts, there's plenty of 24-hour excitement and fun in Atlantic City. Atlantic City casinos offer slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, keno, race books and specialty table games that provide non-stop action along the Boardwalk and in the Marina District. Check out these favorite gaming spots just a few miles from the hotel:
The Showboat offers a festive New Orleans
motif. Owned by Harrah's Entertainment, the
Showboat also houses a large
House of Blues complex with a
Southern-inspired restaurant, nightclub,
show room and House of Blues-themed slot
machines and poker room.
Just beyond Showboat, you'll
find the Garden Pier, home to the Atlantic
City Historical Museum and the Atlantic City
Art Center. In 1913, the pier was an
open-air theater and was named for the
flower gardens laid out in its center. Today
you can visit the museums every day from 9
a.m. to 4 p.m. There is no admission charge.
A few blocks beyond the museums, you'll find the original
site of Iron Pier. Opened in 1886, the Iron
Pier later became the Heinz Pier. It was
purchased by H.J. Heinz to promote his 57
varieties of pickles. At Heinz Pier there
were free pickles and free pickle lapel pins
for everyone. You can still get pickle pins
at the
Atlantic City Historical Museum.
If you visited Virginia
Avenue and the Boardwalk decades ago, you
would have seen the unmistakable Mr. Peanut.
This costumed character greeted visitors
outside the store. The aroma of fresh
roasted peanuts drew tourists inside. Mr.
Peanut is now memorialized with a statue
further south on the Boardwalk.
Virginia Avenue is also
where you'll find Steel Pier, one of
the best-known Atlantic City piers. It
originally opened in 1898-the first one to
be built on iron pilings and steel girders.
In its heyday, it was home to entertainment
and stunts, sometimes drawing as many as a
million visitors each season. At one point,
it demanded full evening dress and offered
16 hours of continuous entertainment for one
admission. It hosted opera and vaudeville,
big bands and news figures. Perhaps the
best-known stunt was the High Diving Horse
that jumped from 40 feet with a young woman
on its back into a pool of water.
Pennsylvania Avenue is the former site of Steeplechase
Pier, bought by a Coney Island businessman.
Opening in 1904, the pier rented out clown
costumes for tourists to wear on rides. The
pier also featured the largest electric sign
in the world. The sign advertised
Chesterfield cigarettes, using 27,000 light
bulbs.
Resorts Atlantic City was
the first casino to open in Atlantic City in
1978. It is the former location of Chalfonte-Haddon
Hall, an old Quaker-owned hotel that once
refused to sell alcoholic drinks on its
premises. Haddon Hall was used as a hospital
during World War II. Many of the original
Art Deco touches from the original structure
remain intact, including the decorative work
around the elevators.
Tennessee Avenue was the site of the first successful
amusement pier built by James R. Applegate.
Opened in 1884, Applegate's Pier was 625
feet long with four decks. It had picnic
areas, vaudeville concerts and a huge
ice-water fountain that used up to 3,000
pounds of ice a day.
On the corner of New York
Avenue and the Boardwalk you will find
Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Museum. Open all
year, the museum features over 400 exhibits
in 13 themed galleries that will amaze and
entertain those of all ages.
On the block between
Kentucky and New York Avenues, you'll notice
there's a James' Salt Water Taffy
store. The building actually houses the
factory where James' and Fralinger's salt
water taffy, fudge and macaroons are made,
packaged and sent all over the world for
distribution.
Central Pier
Central Pier was erected in
1913. It was a well known home of commercial
exhibits, including model home displays. It
is now home to an amusement arcade and
go-cart rides.
A few blocks down from
Indiana Avenue on Martin Luther King Blvd.,
you can visit the Civil Rights Garden at
Carnegie Library. The only one of its kind
in the Northeast, the Civil Rights Garden
pays tribute to those who have championed
civil rights causes. The garden features a
one-of-a-kind sculpture by world-renowned
artist Larry Kirkland. The curvilinear brick
garden path recalls the journey from slavery
to freedom of African Americans.
Strategically placed unfinished columns are
inscribed with "passionate voices" of the
movement. The garden is open seven days a
week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Claridge was once a
grand hotel-one of the last to be built near
the Boardwalk, and is now part of Bally's
Atlantic City. Twenty stories high, it was
completed in 1930. In the 1940s, the
Claridge was Frank Sinatra's Atlantic City
home, and home to other show business giants
of that era.
Brighton Park is also the
site for the
New Jersey State Korean War Memorial.
The memorial honors New Jerseyans who lost
their lives in the Korean War. It consists
of an upper plaza, just off the Boardwalk,
with a bronze sculpture and a black granite
wall of names. The lower plaza features a
sculpture and an eternal flame.
Brighton Park also hosts
concerts, art shows and flea markets during
the year.
If the name Park Place is
familiar to you, it's probably because you
know it from the game Monopoly. Monopoly got
its start here in Atlantic City, where its
creator Charles B. Darrow invented it in
1929. He used the names of the local
streets. He chose Atlantic City because the
town was known for its opulence, and he
thought it might be a way for people to
"escape" from their financial hardships
during the Depression.
At this Park Place, you'll
find Bally's Park Place which houses Bally's
Wild Wild West Casino, Claridge Casino and
Coyote Kate's Slot Parlor.
A hundred years ago, you
would have been standing here, between Ohio
and Michigan Avenues, in front of a hotel
known as the Marlborough-Blenheim. This
hotel was the first Atlantic City hotel to
offer hot and cold running saltwater and the
first to have a private bath in every room.
The hotel also was one of the first
fireproof hotels in Atlantic City. It was
constructed of reinforced concrete, a
process supervised by the developer-Thomas
Edison.
The Marlborough-Blenheim is
long gone, and in its place you'll find
Bally's Wild Wild West Casino, designed to
resemble a western frontier town. If you
look closely, you can spot the original
Warner Theater and the Dennis Hotel, both
Atlantic City landmarks, which have been
incorporated into the current structure.
Arkansas Ave was the home of
Young's Million Dollar Pier, which opened in
1906. It was a place of great entertainment
where performers like Harry Houdini appeared
and the early Miss Americas were crowned.
Today Arkansas Avenue is the
home of Caesars Atlantic City and The Pier
at Caesars. Caesars Atlantic City Hotel and
Casino is the gateway to the opulence of
ancient Rome. Imported marble and flowing
fountains decorate our four-story atrium,
setting a majestic tone that defines every
element of this resort.
While The Pier at Caesars,
is a lavish shopping-dining-entertainment
complex that features top name retailers,
fine restaurants with a view of the ocean,
an elegant wedding chapel, fountains and an
hourly water-light-and-sound show at the
very end of the structure.
The Missouri Avenue beach is
also known as Chicken Bone Beach. In the
early 1900s, African Americans were socially
restricted to the Missouri Avenue area.
Thousands of African American families
flocked to the shore with their chicken
laden picnic hampers, giving the area the
affectionate nickname, "Chicken Bone Beach."
Major African American entertainers who were
playing at Atlantic City's popular
nightclubs joined them, including Sammy
Davis Jr. and "Moms" Mabley. During the
summer, the Chicken Bone Beach Historical
Foundation hosts free jazz concerts at
Kennedy Plaza (between Mississippi & Georgia
Aves.)
Trump Plaza was built by
Donald Trump and is one of three properties
in town that bear his name - the others
being the Trump Marina and the Trump Taj
Mahal. This was the site of the first Ferris
wheel built in 1872. The inventor was Isaac
Newton Forrester. The Ferris wheel is
incorrectly named for George Ferris who put
up a similar wheel in 1894 at the Chicago
Exposition.
To the right, you'll see a
building on the National Registry of
Historic Places. It's known as Historic
Boardwalk Hall and it was Atlantic City's
original convention hall. Today, the city
has a new Convention Center (which opened in
1997) just a few blocks from the Boardwalk.
Once known as the hall where
the Miss America Pageant took place,
Historic Boardwalk Hall is now Atlantic
City's premier entertainment center,
featuring concerts by such stars as Madonna,
Barbara Streisand, and Britney Spears.
When it first opened in
1929, Boardwalk Hall was hailed as an
engineering and architectural marvel. It was
the largest freestanding building in the
world. It did not use support columns to
prop up its arched roof.
The building has seen a lot
in time, from indoor horse races and
helicopter rides to football games. In the
1930s, a semi-pro hockey team called the
Atlantic City Seagulls played here. During
World War II, the U.S. Army leased this
property as a training facility. Tens of
thousands of service men trained in Atlantic
City. The hall served as a central place for
exercise drills. It was the summertime home
of the Ice Capades and the scene of Lyndon
Johnson's 1964 presidential nomination.
Recently, the building went
through a $90 million restoration that
helped to recapture the great hall's
magnificence. Renovations included the
delicate preservation of the building's
Roman Revival and Art Deco architecture. It
was also updated with new seating, lighting
effects and sound technology.
Across the Boardwalk is
Kennedy Plaza, a tribute to late President
John F. Kennedy. You can visit his bust
there. Kennedy Plaza is the site of free
outdoor concerts in the summer season, as
well as Atlantic City's miniature golf
course.
This is also where a statue
of Mr. Peanut graces the Boardwalk. You'll
find him relaxing on a bench, waiting for
you to sit and take a photo with him.
In the early part of the
20th century, you would also have seen the
Ambassador Hotel in this area. Located
between Stenton Place and Brighton Avenue,
the Ambassador buzzed with excitement. Like
many of the hotels of the time, people
gathered to dance in the ballroom and drink
in the bar.
Today this area is occupied
by the Tropicana Casino and Resort. The
Tropicana is not only a casino-but also the
site that hosted many young comics before
they became household names. Rosie
O'Donnell, Tim Allen and Ray Romano have all
performed at the Tropicana's Comedy Stop,
which is now in its 21st year.
Inside the Tropicana you'll
also find another Atlantic City icon, James'
Salt Water Taffy. Another popular brand is
Fralinger's. Salt water taffy is the candy
that the city made famous. No one knows for
sure the origin of the candy. A famous story
says that in 1883, a taffy stand was swamped
by a storm. The effect was a delicious candy
that has entranced visitors since that time.
The Tropicana is linked by a
skywalk over Pacific Avenue to The Quarter,
an Old Havana-themed complex with an
eclectic mix of shops, restaurants with
cuisines from around the world, an Imax
Theater and a variety of high-energy
nightclubs.
Formerly known as The Grand,
the Hilton is now owned by Colony
Capital, which also owns Resorts Atlantic
City.
If we were here earlier in
the last century, there would have been a
huge structure just behind us-situated
between Hartford and Albany Avenues. This
was the President Hotel, one of the larger
hotels at the time. It would cost you $5 for
a room at any of the top 10 hotels in town
in 1900.
The average high/low temperature:
Spring 60/42; Summer 85/64; Fall 66/48;
Winter 45/27.
The Absecon Lighthouse is the
tallest of the New Jersey lights.
Visitors can climb its 228 steps for a
spectacular view.
Atlantic City's four miles of white
sandy beaches are free.
The world's first Boardwalk was
built in Atlantic City in 1870.
Salt water taffy originated in 1883
on the Boardwalk after a storm flooded a
candy store.
Steel Pier, once the world's premier
amusement pier, opened in 1898.
Rolling chairs debuted on the
Boardwalk in 1887.
The first paid Beach Patrol debuted
in 1892.
The term "airport" was first used in
Atlantic City.
The first Miss America was crowned
in 1921.
Charles Darrow developed the game of
Monopoly in 1929 using the city's
streets.
Atlantic City's first casino,
Resorts International, opened May 1978.
SHOPPING
Atlantic City Outlet –The Walk - Outlet shopping, great restaurants and unique entertainment can be found at The Walk in Atlantic City. The outlet shops at The Walk feature name brand fashions at discount prices. Shop for apparel and accessories at American Eagle Outfitters, Banana Republic, Bass, Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, Guess, and more. The Walk also features exciting new restaurants and eateries, such as Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Applebees, as well as family events. Don’t miss Passport: Voyages of Discovery, a unique multi-media, multi-sensory entertainment experience. Visit www.acoutlets.com.
Hamilton Mall – Hamilton Mall is a modern regional shopping mall in Mays Landing, just 6 miles from the hotel. With over a million square feet of shopping and entertainment, Hamilton Mall features JC Penney, Macys and Sears, plus 140 specialty stores, restaurants, an international food court,
Computer Stop Internet Cafe (www.cs-nj.com) and year-round events. Visit www.shophamilton.com.
Shore Mall - Shore Mall, in Egg Harbor Township, offers 60 stores and restaurants, including Boscov's, Value City, Burlington Coat Factory, Circuit City and TGI Friday's. Visit www.shoremallshopping.com.
Siganos Plaza –Siganos Plaza offers a variety of fun shopping and dining experiences all in one great Atlantic City Boardwalk location.
The Quarter at Tropicana - Enjoy a taste of Old Havana while in Atlantic City at The Quarter, featuring world-class restaurants, non-stop entertainment, a dazzling array of shops and experiences. The Quarter at Tropicana is like no other dining and entertainment venue on the East Coast.
Wrangleboro Consumer Square Mall – Located in Mays Landing, Consumer Square Mall features a variety of stores and restaurants, such as Kohl’s, Best Buy, Walmart, Old Navy, Men’s Wearhouse,
Dick’s Sporting Goods and Godfather’s Pizza.
GOLF RECREATION / SPORTS
THINGS TO
DO IN ATLANTIC CITY:
Tee-up for a round of golf, catch
the one-that-got-away, or just relax
and sink your toes in the sand,
Atlantic City has it all. Discover
everything Atlantic City has to
offer with a complete list of
attractions including cruises, water
sports, fishing, golf, parks, tours
and much more.
Atlantic City's golf courses are
among the best in the Northeast, all
have been rated by Golf Digest as
best places to play. Courses feature
bayside links, undulating
pine-bordered fairways or
picturesque large greens surrounded
by sandy white bunkers.
Enjoy the many outdoor activities
Atlantic City has to offer. Hop
aboard a deep-sea fishing or
romantic evening cruise along the
Atlantic City coastline. From a day
at the spa to a night at the ball
game Atlantic City has it all.
Atlantic City has some of the finest
beaches in the country. Atlantic
City’s beaches are always free and
protected by Atlantic City Beach
Patrol, so learn to surf, enjoy a
volleyball tournament or just relax
the day away!
Atlantic City Golf Courses
Atlantic City
golf has become one of the most
popular attractions for visitors to
Atlantic City. Atlantic City's golf
courses are among the best in the
entire Northeast, as all of them
have been rated by Golf Digest's
best places to play.
The Greater
Atlantic City Golf Association (GACGA)
and the Atlantic City Convention &
Visitors Authority (ACCVA) have
teamed up to provide golfers more
choices and make it easier for you
to plan a golf vacation like no
other. Atlantic City's golf course
members and area hotels offer custom
golf vacations, package pricing
including tee times, air travel and
car rentals, plus easy online
booking or with a simple phone call.
Choose
Atlantic City golf courses featuring
bayside links, undulating
pine-bordered fairways or
picturesque large greens surrounded
by sandy white bunkers. Select stay
and play Atlantic City golf packages
that entail three nights stay and
four unforgettable rounds of golf.
Greater
Atlantic City Golf course members
and hotel members combine to offer
some of the most valued golf
packages and custom golf getaways on
the East Coast with the ease and
convenience of online booking or use
of a central call center. For
accommodations, advanced or
last-minute tee times, air travel
and car rental, visit
www.gacga.com
or call (800) GOLF-222.
Start planning
now for your next Atlantic City golf
vacation!
NIGHTLIFE & ENTERTAINMENT
ATLANTIC CITY
ENTERTAINMENT:
Come experience the city that's "Always
Turned On", Atlantic City's nightlife and
entertainment will capture your spirit and
leave you wanting more! From lounges to
dance clubs, fine dining to beach bars, live
entertainment, comedy clubs and more, it's
all here in Atlantic City. Visit the
Calendar of Events
for a complete listing Atlantic City
entertainment.
Bubba Mac presents Mid-Atlantic
Blues & Music Festival at Bernie
Robbins Stadium, Atlantic City. 17
national acts will rock the stadium
for this 2-day event on September
29th & 30th. Click here to
purchase tickets online.
As the sun sets over the
water, Atlantic City’s nightlife is
just beginning to heat up. The
hottest comedy and dance clubs,
lounges and live entertainment keep
Atlantic City Always Turned On.
Experience Old Havana in
Atlantic City. The Quarter at
Tropicana is like no other with
world-class restaurants and
entertainment. Featuring Cuba Libre,
The Comedy Stop Café & Cabaret, IMAX
Theatre, Missile Bar, Planet Rose,
Tango’s, and Wellingtons
Boardwalk Hall was once where Miss
America Pageants took place, today
it's Atlantic City's premier
entertainment center offering
historic charm with modern seating,
lighting, and sound technology. Many
of today's top stars appear at the
hall.
Visit the *NEW* Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
A place to interact, play,
indulge and escape. A location that contains the
best of life, from international cuisine to
relaxing restaurants. A resort for you to escape
the ordinary.
One Borgata Way Atlantic City, NJ
08401 Room
Reservations:1.866.MY BORGATA
Hamilton Mall – Hamilton Mall is a modern regional shopping mall in Mays Landing, just 6 miles from the hotel. With over a million square feet of shopping and entertainment, Hamilton Mall features JC Penney, Macys and Sears, plus 140 specialty stores, restaurants, an international food court,
Computer Stop Internet Cafe (www.cs-nj.com) and year-round events. Visit www.shophamilton.com.
