America’s Favorite Playground: Atlantic City, NJ

The next stop in our “Here’s to” series is the Jersey Shore. The following is a guest post from Anthony D’Alicandro who is the owner of Coldwell Banker Casa Bella Realtors in Atlantic City, NJ.

Whether you are visiting or live locally, Atlantic City boasts a unique combination of historic significance with amazing contemporary entertainment.  A barrier island along the Atlantic Ocean,  Atlantic City is located just 60 miles from Philadelphia, 125 miles from New York City and 175 miles from Washington DC, which offers cultural proximity that few cities across the country can match. Plus where else can you walk the streets from Monopoly?

Summer in Atlantic City is clearly like no other destination.  It’s the real Jersey Shore with its warm sun, beautiful breezes and plenty to see!  You can check out the Historic Absecon Lighthouse, New Jersey’s tallest and the third tallest in the Country! Or pay a visit to the Historic Gardener’s Basin in the North Inlet area featuring casual waterfront dining & shopping as well as the Ocean Life Center, Atlantic City’s Aquarium.

If you’re here on business, you may be visiting the impressive Atlantic City Convention Center. At one and a half million square feet…it is among the largest on the east coast!

Pack your clubs?  Good! Atlantic City was recently named one of the ‘Top 10 Golf Cities in America’ by ForbesTraveler.com.  In fact, we even offer a little history here as the term ‘birdie’ was first coined in 1903 at Atlantic City Country Club.

As outdoor enthusiasts, we love the hundreds of miles of ocean and inland waterways available to boaters, kayaks and more. Few people realize that was also have just as many miles of country roads, trails and paths available to bicyclists, hikers and wildlife explorers.  But don’t forget to return to the Boardwalk to have a little fun at Steel Pier, Atlantic City’s Historic Entertainment & Amusement Pier, or unwind at the Hard Rock.

In the evening, the city truly comes to life and features some amazing dining experiences that combine historic landmarks with world renowned restaurateurs, like Luke Palladino.  To end the evening, you can work off that dessert by walking through the hundreds of shopping options available.

In Atlantic City, entertainment is taken seriously.  With the world’s most popular artists & shows packing the calendar, regardless of personal taste or genre, there is truly something for everyone. Among the country’s great and historic venues is Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. If you have never been, I highly recommend it.  Boardwalk Hall has played host to the most significant & iconic performers of their time since it’s dedication in 1929 including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, the Miss America pageant and dozens of heavyweight boxing title fights.

Lastly, the casinos are an obvious cornerstone of Atlantic City’s modern image and culture, but it has been a relatively recent addition.  Casino gambling was not legalized until 1974 and operations did not commence until 1978.  Today, Atlantic City Casinos offer a wide variety of experience beyond gambling alone.  Several world class spas are located within casino hotels along with night clubs, lounges and larger entertainment venues.  The broader range of none-gaming activities was heightened with the recent addition of the internationally acclaimed Revel Resort to the north end of the Boardwalk. And I use the term ‘heightened’ quite literally as the Revel Tower is now the tallest building in New Jersey.

So here’s to Atlantic City featuring miles of beautiful beach, the historic boardwalk and all the things that make it– America’s Favorite Playground!….Oh and the salt water taffy!

Photo credit of Anthony on Steel Pier: Michelle Riordan