Atlantic City, NJ - any recommendations on it?

[NewJeffCT]

I haven't been since the late 90s, as my ex-wife had family in the area... however, we're going to be in NJ coming up and I was thinking about swinging by for a night with my wife & 2 year old daughter. How has it changed in recent years? Is it still okay? I know once you get off the boardwalk hotel area, it's not the nicest... but, we'd probably stay at one of the hotels on the boardwalk.

And, what are tolls on the Parkway these days? last time I went, it was 35 cents each.

Thanks!

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

1. Sure!

Don't go! I mean it. Go to Cape May or the shore but if I were you I'd avoid AC at all costs.

[NewJeffCT]

3. my wife would be bored stiff with only the beach

she can't swim, and is afraid to even set a foot in the pool...

[praxiz]

2. I am so completely useless in this thread, it just had to be mentioned

[chickenscratching]

4. I hear bad eggs may give one gas

but that's ok! come over to my house! :bounce:

[bettyellen]

5. if you don't have an EZ Pass get one....

you are seriously screwed on the GSP without one. Thay just fixed it so you can still drive at 55 mph and pay yer toll.
one of the new casinos has been having some decent concerts, it's that one that's trying to be all hip and sexy. damn i forget the name of it.

[Reverend_Smitty]

6. Well it's still pretty much a rat hole

and it hasn't changed much since you've been there last. The Borgata is the newest hotel and it is very nice but it is off the boardwalk, close to Harrah's. The boardwalk is always good for people watching and the casino's are always fun to spend a little money in. Oh and if you are looking for a good buffet, the Fantasy Reef buffet in Harrah's is great for seafood. The scallops imperial, I think that is what they are called are to die for.

and yep the tolls are still 35 cents

[Orsino]

7. Put your make-up on, fix your hair up pretty...

...and meet me tonight.

[Debbi801]

9. LOVE that song...

First thing that went through my head....

Well they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night....

:hi:

[ohiosmith]

8. Best advice: Don't inhale.

[Debbi801]

10. With a 2 yr old...

Maybe consider Ocean City or Wildwood instead. More family oriented.

[Ready4Change]

11. AC Beach?

The two times I've been there I checked out the beaches off the boardwalk. Not a place I'd ever swim.

Basically, to me, it's a boardwalk, some casinos, with trash filled sand and water on one side, and run down slums and pointless stop signs on the other. One of the few places I've ever driven where I felt like I was taking my life in my hands, simply because people run stop signs and lights with abandon.

I imagine you could drive 20-30 minutes north or south and find much nicer places.

Sorry for being so negative. :(

[tjdee]

18. I wonder if they cleaned it up for the beach bars--

this year is the first year the hotels are having some kind of bar/bar service on the beach....I saw some signs for "beach bars"...wonder if they cleaned it up at all.

Plus, if NewJeff is there at night he won't see the trash, LOL!

[bettyellen]

12. if you are looking for a cool sort of family oriented beach

Point Pleasant is very nice. It has a boardwalk and old fashion amusement park with a lot of kid's rides. they make really good frozen drinks on the pier bar too!

[patcox2]

13. And all the boardwalk bars and businesses are mob owned.

Its great. Except Martells tiki bar.

[patcox2]

14. I'd say Ocean City would be pleasant, great family boardwalk.

The Borgata is nice, great, but very expensive, restaurants. The Quarter in the tropicana is a great dining-entertainment-shopping mall, good for a few fun hours, restaurants, bars, shops, an Imax theater.

But with a 2 year old I'd go to Ocean City.

[bettyellen]

15. Martells is Mob-owned?

i know it's cheesy but i love the tiki bar. location location location.
after a storm the waves come up and slap you while you're sitting on the barstool.

[patcox2]

19. no, its the exception.

Of course, I am just kidding, ha ha, there is no such thing as the mafia, any member will tell you that.

[NewJeffCT]

16. thanks, I'll look into it.

It can't hurt to have other options, and before when I didn't have a child, I might not have noticed the unsavory side of AC before.

[tjdee]

17. I was in AC today....

It really is a hole once you get off "The Walk" and the hotel area. Go a few blocks down from the hotels, it looks kind of like a ghetto, IMO. There are a lot of outlets by the hotels (that's what "The Walk" is), so that's fun for a bit...but IMO there isn't much to do there unless you're gambling, shopping, or seeing one of the shows (which are obviously fun in their own way). The beach is not the best, either. I don't know about the boardwalk itself.


on edit: I just reread your post, if you're only going to be there for a night, it'll be pretty cool...so obviously you can't get to Wildwood (which I talk about below).

But Wildwood is better primarily because it has amusement park rides, a waterpark, and a nicer beach (which is a bit of a long walk, LOL, and right now it's got seaweed everywhere for some reason...maybe it was high tide?). I was there Sunday night and they had "Movies on the Beach" which was cool (lots of teenagers there, LOL). But, no glitz/shows/comparable hotels etc. and it's about 45 minutes south of AC. Also, it's not like your two year old is going on a roller coaster.

Ocean City's nice...Cape May is the best of the crew, IMO. Clean, quiet, lots of families...whale/dolphin watching...but Wildwood/Cape May are really far down the Parkway and sometimes that can be annoying as hell.