Spring is officially only a few days ahead. Why not plan a trip to kick off the entry into improved weather. Atlantic City is a resort internationally recognized for gambling and leisure with a population of 39,558. Its twelve casinos make it the "Gambling Capital of the East Coast". Yet thousands of visitors are attracted daily for the diversity it offers.
There are amusement rides, games of chance, retail stores and restaurants. The key element tying together the seaside resort community attractions is the boardwalk. National Geographic has called it the grandfather of boardwalks, and USA Today named it one of the “Best Boardwalks’.
The 10 feet wide boardwalk was dedicated in 1870 at a cost of $5,000. In the beginning the 12-foot sections were disassembled and stored during winter. After ten years use the boardwalk was worn and replaced with one 4 feet wider at a longer length.
In 1884 the second boardwalk was destroyed by storm with a replacement built twenty feet wide and two miles long. After destruction by the 1889 hurricane, the boardwalk replacement was 24 feet wide, 4 miles long with 10-foot high railings on each side. In coming years further refinements were made to improve its aesthetic and structural integrity. Currently the boardwalk begins north at Absecon Inlet, running along the beach in a southwest direction four miles to the city limit. It then stretches 1.5 miles away into Ventnor City.
One of Atlantic City’s unique attractions is Haunted Tales. It features terrifying narratives about real pirates and the disputed Jersey Devil. Additionally there is the opportunity for Double Coffin Simulation Ride. It produces the experience of climbing into a coffin to hear, feel and smell what it's like after death. Now isn’t that the chance of a lifetime.
Atlantic City is 8.1 miles in length, on Absecon Island coming a city in 1854. It is among the cities of Ventnor, Margate and southwest Longport. This city of 39,558 is 127 miles south of New York City 62 miles southwest of Philadelphia Pennsylvania. The city recently came into the news with the landfall of Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.
Salt-water taffy was accidentally invented in Atlantic City by David Bradley. His candy shop was flooded in 1883 soaking taffy in ocean water. He sold it as salt-water taffy which became an instant success.
Atlantic City is a 400 miles drive from Rochester NY with a 6.5 hour drive. Drive east on I-90 at Syracuse take US 81 south to Scranton PA, then US 476 south to US 76 into downtown Philadelphia. Then take the Atlantic City Expressway into Atlantic City.
Here’s a February visitor’s impression of Atlantic City.
“. . . got to see the sights and sounds of Atlantic City with the calming ocean and beach; had fun on the Steel Pier, rode in the bike taxis, ate ice cream, and wandered in and out of casinos and their shops –“
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