Info on Atlantic City please

 

Oops!  Hit enter by mistake.

Anyway, I am going to Atlantic City in August with dh - he is going for business for a conference, and I want to go with him.  The hotel is paid for by the company, so the cost will be no more for me to go.  I will pay my own food expenses, his are covered. 

Anyway, does anyone have any info or knowledg of Atlantic City area?  I don't know which hotel we will be staying in, but what is there to do for me while dh is at his meetings?  I don't gamble, just want to get away for awhile, be lazy, and eat some good food, maybe shop.  Actually, I don't really want to go there, they will probably be really crowded, busy boardwalk, crowded beach, etc.  But I can go with him since I just recently retired from my job.  The bad part of it is that originally he was supposed to go to Myrtle Beach for that week, and I was so excited about having a beach vacation, sitting by the ocean, getting a little wet in the warm waters.  The ocean at Atlantic city will be colder, more congested, not nearly as nice as Myrtle Beach.  They are trying to cut costs, so they cancelled that trip, and are sending him to Atlantic City.  I have never been there and just wondered if any one here can tell me anything about it.  Thanks so much.

Betsy

Of course you have your Casinos.  I would go every year with my Aunt and Uncle.  Me and my uncle would walk the boardwalk during the day.  There is also a shopping area with some great shops.  I found this website and it might give you some ideas:  http://www.atlanticcitynj.com/

 

I hope you have fun.  Get a Philly Cheesesteak and a soft pretzel for me!

 

Take care,

Pam

DO NOT LEAVE the tourist areas on foot!  Stick to your hotel, the boardwalk, the beach.  AC is an extremely dangerous city if you get away from those areas.  Even driving can be dangerous.  A hooker jumped right in my brother's car once when he was stopped at a light (keep your doors locked and your windows UP while driving anyplace in AC or Ventnor).

 

Will you have a car?  If so, I'd heartily recommend day trips to:

 

Smithville--quaint little 'villiage' type place up Route 9--interesting shops, nice restaurants.

 

Brigantine--is a residential shore town (Just North of AC).  Not a tourist trap, but the beaches are much quieter and pleasanter than AC.  And if you go to the north end, you may just see some of the little endangered foxes that live there

 

Ocean City--just South of AC is a much more family-oriented place.  You can safely roam pretty much any place there.

 

Lucy--if you're on Absecon Island, and have never seen Lucy, you really shouldn't miss her--larger-than life-sized elephant.  Just head South on Atlantic Avenue, she's in Margate, right off the beach.  Originally built as a hotel.

 

Brigantine Wildlife Refuge--not on Brigantine Island, but up Route Nine.  Great day trip.  You can see all sorts of interesting shore birds.  There are observation towers here and there so you can get a better look.

 

Cape May Zoo--in Cape May Courthouse is supposed to be very nice (haven't been there myself, but I've never met anyone who went who didn't love it.  Think it's free?)

 

There is an outlet shopping center in AC. 

 

If you're from out of the area and haven't been to Philadelphia, it's only a little over an hour via the Expressway--loads of things there.  Museums, America's First Zoo, all the historical buildings and sites, theater, the famous Italian Market.

 

There's Wheaten Villiage in Milleville, NJ with a glass museum, resident crafters you can watch, and the best part--the glass blowers (you can even make your own paperweight--but I think you have to reserve that ahead of time).

 

There are  several wineries around that invite visitors in.

 

Sorry if I've been a bit of a downer about AC, but I live nearby, have a sister who lives on Absecon Island and I know just how bad that place is.  I avoid the place at all costs.  Only time I skirt through even a corner of the place is when I'm going to my sister's house and have no choice but to drive onto the island to get there.  Again, do not leave the beaten track, and be very, very careful.  I'd actually recommend taking a friend or someone with you, so you won't be roaming around by yourself while your husband is in his meetings.  Parts of it are definitely that dangerous.

Thank you Callie and Pam for the info.  I just found out we will be staying at The Sheraton Convention Center Hotel, on Two Miss America Way.  It doesn't look like it is on the beach.   It will only be for a few days.  His travel day is Tues, so we will get there Tues afternoon, and we will leave Friday am.  He has a business car, but we will take our own car, traveling from Central Pa. Insurance does not cover me in the company car.  We will get mileage allowance.   He will be at meetings till around 3 pm, so I will be alone till then.  Is it safe to go to shopping areas alone, or on the board walk?  Maybe I will just stay at the hotel and read, go to the pool, watch tv.  Im not sure if any of the other guys are bringing their wives.  Dh told me today that at least 3 decided not to go since they are not going to Myrtle Beach.  I want to go just to get away.  Any good places to eat?

Thanks again for the info. Much appreciated.  I will study the web site tomorrow.

Betsy

 How do you know the beaches will be crowded,  the ocean won't be warm and that you won't like itif you've never been there?  You have decided you don't like it and you haven't even gone yet.  Give it a chance.

Callie is absolutely right!  AC can be very dangerous if you go off the beaten path.  One block away from the boardwalk is not a good place to be during the day, let alone the night.  When we went to AC we never went away from the casinos.  I'm not a beach person so I never went to the beach. 

 Your hotel may run a bus to the outlet stores, ask them when you check in. 

Also, I've been to the Cape May Zoo.  It is nice there.  I know that they ask for a donation instead of charging to get in.  I'm not sure if they still do that.  It may have that information on the link I posted. 

Take care,

Pam

Betsy--most of the hotels are on the boardwalk or close to it.  If you stick to the hotel, boardwalk and beach during the day, you should be okay. 

 

Believe me, I think it's a shame to have had to post what I did.  I'm old enough to remember when AC was a lovely place to go--when it was the LAW to be dressed up (men in suits, women in dresses, NO shorts/bathing suits) on the boardwalk in the evening.  Can you believe, if you violated that law, a policeman would escort you from the boardwalk!  And you could wander up and down Atlantic or Pacific Avenues on foot, to shop and see the sights.  It wasn't dangerous to drive around Absecon Island to get from one area to another.  Sadly, the place has turned into something else entirely, populated by very dangerous people (and I say that, knowing that my neice and nephew and their friends are among the kinds of people I would not want to meet on a dark alley.)  

 

But the tourist areas are pretty well protected--that is, of course, the city's bread adn butter, so if you stick to those areas, you should be fine.

 

I do hope you have a great time--but if you find the city getting to be a bit much, pull out a map and try some of the nearby alternatives I've listed.  Especially if you're not a big gambler, you may find them more enjoyable than just hanging around the casinos.  Oh, and the beaches shouldn't be too bad--there are miles of them, and most folks go down for the gambling, so I'm sure you'll be able to find yourself a patch of sand.  Be sure to wear some shoes or flip flops, our Jersey sand is beautiful--as fluffy as powdered sugar--but it's silica and gets extremely hot. 

Lovesnow, you are probably right - I really don't know since I have never been there.  I have just heard from friends and relatives (sister lived in NJ for many years) that Atlantic City is crowded, very touristy, etc.  I do know that the water further south is much warmer.  I am more of a quiet type person, and would so enjoy a nice quiet, safe beach.  I am not into casinos and betting.  I think its just that I am so disappointed not to be going to Myrtle Beach.  I will be alone during the day till around 3 - 4 o'clock while dh is at his conference.  I even debated staying home, but I just want to get away and not worry about getting supper, keeping the house cleaned up, just daily grind.  And looking after mil, who is totally disabled and still at her home.  I go there daily to help sil take care of her.  I love her, but it's getting old.  Been over 6 years caring for her. She really should be in a nursing home, but that decision is not up to me.  So I help as much as I can.  I will try to have a more possitive attitude about Atlantic City. 

I live in Northern Jersey........I have friends who went down to AC for a dance competition last week.  She said the water was freezing.  The water temp was only in the 50's. 

Compared to my week in June in Myrtle Beach with the water temp of 83. 

I will talk with her later, I can ask her where they ate, what they did & what they stayed away from.

ejwag_pa,  I really hope you go and that you have a great time.  I've been there a few times- I live in PA too-  but it's been some time.  Anyway,  I hope you are pleasantly surprised!

ITA about staying in the tourist areas.  That's the one place I've been where I thought I might actually get car-jacked.