Atlantic City: A Monopoly on Entertainment
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| The beach in Atlantic City, New Jersey |
The four miles of sandy beaches and the famous attractions surrounding the Boardwalk serve only to accent Atlantic City's vibrant past. From gangsters to beauty queens, there is little that has not been seen in Atlantic City, and plenty for the visitor to discover.
HISTORY
Atlantic City was founded in 1792, becoming the first settlement established on Absecon Island. Dr. Jonathon Pitney originally developed the city as a bathing village and health resort for the wealthy residents of Philadelphia. The tourist boom of the city came with the development of a railroad, making it far more accessible to tourists.
This influx of tourists instigated the construction of numerous amusement facilities. The famed Atlantic City Boardwalk was constructed in 1882, and soon after nightclubs and other attractions began to pop up along it.
By the time the Roaring Twenties rolled in, the city was a playing field for the wealthy. It was here that singer and actress Lillian Russell and Diamond Jim Brady, an ostentatious railroad tycoon, allowed the events of their affair to play out. Also in 1921, the first Miss America pageant was held here. The event was wisely placed on the September calendar, with hopes of keeping tourists around following the Labor Day weekend.
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| The Atlantic City Boardwalk |
Atlantic City also evolved into a 'pre-Broadway' stop on the theatre circuit. Over the years, many famous acts would perform on the city's stages. It was in July of 1946 that Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis first made headlines after performing sold-out shows at the 500 Club. Other artists of the era, including Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Frank Sinatra, would also grace the stages of the city over the years. The city's Steel Pier was nicknamed 'the showplace of a nation'.
Atlantic City would not enjoy this tourism forever. By the 1960s, vacationers were heading to more tropical climates such as the Caribbean, and Las Vegas, Nevada, was suddenly the entertainment hotspot of the country. The tourist numbers decreased, and with this came an increase in unemployment, crime statistics and drug abuse. Even the mafia no longer played here. The city was in dire need of help.
Help came in the form of legalized gambling. In 1976, New Jersey residents voted in favor of a referendum that legalized gambling in Atlantic City but not elsewhere in the state. This was done in the hopes of re-vitalizing a dying city. In 1978, Resorts International opened its gaming floor as the first legal casino in the city. Over the next ten years, a dozen casinos would open, with several helmed by real estate mogul Donald Trump. The casinos served the purpose for which they were intended, as vacations in Atlantic City became popular once more. The rejuvenation of the city's tourism industry is visible, as many neighborhoods are being refreshed, and numerous social and economic programs are being implemented.
Today Atlantic City takes a page from Las Vegas, as many of the casinos and resorts feature the gregarious style of architecture so popular in their Nevada counterparts. Development of more hotels, casinos, amusements, and attractions are constantly underway, and Atlantic City is, yet again, in a tourist boom.
CLIMATE
Any time of the year can be a good time in Atlantic City. Located on the south Jersey shore, it is warm in the summer and cooler, but still relatively mild, in the winter. Summer sees average high temperatures of 85 Degrees Fahrenheit (29 Degrees Celsius) and lows of 66 Degrees Fahrenheit (18 Degrees Celsius). In winter, the average highs are approximately 50 Degrees Fahrenheit (10 Degrees Celsius) and lows are 28 Degrees Fahrenheit (-2 Degrees Celsius). The average snowfall is approximately 16 inches (40 centimeters).
TRANSPORTATION
Getting to Atlantic City should pose few problems, regardless of travel preference. The Atlantic City International Airport has various carriers with scheduled arrivals and departures. There is also an international airport in nearby Philadelphia. A train, courtesy of New Jersey Transit, connects these two cities, which is a relaxing way to travel and provides an exceptional look at the Pennsylvania and New Jersey countryside. For drivers, the Atlantic City Expressway is a direct route from Philadelphia, and there are various other expressways and interstates that connect to the city from other centers.
Once in Atlantic City, there are a variety of ways to get around. Throughout the city, New Jersey Transit offers bus service. Visitors should also take a jaunt on a Jitney. These small busses carry folks to and from the casinos, and all around Atlantic City. They run twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, and tout themselves as being an Atlantic City tradition since 1915. By far the most unusual way to get around is via a Famous Rolling Chair. The name is by no means deceptive, as these are large, wicker, two-person chairs that are rolled up and down the boardwalk. The Famous Rolling Chairs are not necessarily the fastest way to get around, but they are certainly the most romantic, and a trip to Atlantic City definitely warrants a ride on one.
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| Roulette wheel in Atlantic City |
The hub of activity in Atlantic City tends to be centered in the vicinity of the Boardwalk. Planks were laid in the sand out of logic, not attraction, as they were intended to keep vacationers from tramping sand into the hotel lobbies and railroads. The attraction did subsequently follow, though. It was developed by Alexander Boardman, and was originally called Boardman's Walk. The name was shortened to Boardwalk, and the activity and surrounding attractions quickly followed.
The Boardwalk runs along an eight-mile stretch of beach and is dotted by many of Atlantic City's best-known sights. Shopping, dining, and a variety of entertainment fall along these planks, and it is, bar none, the best place to start sightseeing in Atlantic City.
Numerous piers dot the Boardwalk, and the most well known of these is Steel Pier. It opened in 1898, and at that point, patrons were required to be in formal attire for the 16 consecutive hours of entertainment that their ticket provided them. The list of entertainers playing Steel Pier was quite impressive, as vaudeville acts and bands performed. This was also the place to catch a show of the High Diving Horse. In this act, a horse topped with a scantily clad female rider, leapt into a pool of water from a 60-foot tower. Today, Steel Pier is quite different. There is a large amusement park with 25 rides to please thrill seekers.
Also along the Boardwalk is Chicken Bone Beach. It is located near the Missouri Avenue area of Atlantic City where African American tourists and residents were restricted from the early 1900s to 1950s. These families would arrive on the shore with baskets full of chicken, hence the origin of the name. Major African American entertainers of the time, such as the Club Harlem showgirls and Sammy Davis Jr., would perform here. Chicken Bone Beach is now a designated historic site, and serves as a reminder of times past.
The Old Atlantic City Convention Center, the home of the Miss America Pageant, opened in 1929. At that point, it was the largest auditorium in the world that had no interior roof posts or pillars. The main hall of the center is an impressive sight to behold. It boasts the largest pipe organ of its kind in the world, featuring a whopping 33,112 pipes. Throughout the year, numerous trade shows are held here.
The tallest lighthouse in New Jersey and the third largest in the United States is located in Atlantic City. It is the Absecon Lighthouse, and is still fully functional to this day, particularly following the renovations that took place during the 1990s. Visitors can take a 228-step climb to the top for a stunning view of the area. There is also a small museum that focuses on the lighthouse and its evolution on the premises.
Despite all the unique attractions, the real draw of Atlantic City would have to be legalized gambling. There are many casinos in the city, and each features their own brand of delightful excess. Some of the casino names will be familiar, as they have a Las Vegas equivalent. Caesars, the Tropicana, and the Sands all are here in their own Atlantic City version, and Donald Trump has no less than three casino resorts bearing his name. The most impressive of these is the Trump Taj Mahal, where the entryway has nine limestone elephants greeting patrons. Most of the casino floors in Atlantic City are several thousand square feet to accomodate virtually any gambling fancy, from baccarat to the slots.
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| New Jersey Pine Barrens in Autumn |
The surrounding area of Atlantic City also provides numerous worthwhile attractions. The New Jersey Pine Barrens can be found approximately 55 miles from the city, located between the New Jersey turnpike and the Garden State parkway. They are a massive expanse of land, mostly undeveloped, and covered in vegetation and wildlife. The Barrens take up roughly 1.1 million acres of southeastern New Jersey, which is almost one quarter of the state's total land area.
The Pine Barrens received their name from the 17th century settlers who were unable to grow traditional crops on the 'barren' soil. The land was not in fact barren, but featured sandy, acidic, and low nutrient soil, which made it difficult to introduce new plants. Today, farming does take place, and most crops feature indigenous plants, such as blueberries and cranberries. Pitch pines, scrubs, oak and cedar trees, as well as other plants and flowers, are abundant.
Even more abundant in the Pine Barrens is the rich wildlife population. Bears, badgers, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and numerous bird species can all be spotted in the woods. This is also the rumored birthplace and home of the Jersey Devil. The Jersey Devil is a creature of folklore that according to legend, sports the head of a horse, a serpent-like body, and large claws and wings. It is believed that sighting the Devil is an omen for disaster, and documented sightings have occurred prior to wars and shipwrecks. There have been no reports of the Devil being sighted since the late 1960s, but the area residents (called Pineys) are fond of sharing tales of the creature's legend.
When not searching for mythical creatures, visitors to the Pine Barrens will find a variety of recreational opportunities. In an area so massive, it is easy to provide almost any outdoor activity. Four-wheel driving, canoeing, golfing, hiking and many others are available here.
There are also a number of forgotten towns in the region. These essentially are ghost towns, and have little more than ruined buildings to declare their one-time existence. They are best discovered with a four-wheel drive equipped vehicle. Dining, accommodations, taverns and more can also be located throughout the area.
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| Wine Bottles from Renault Winery |
In nearby Egg Harbor City is the Renault Winery. It is one of the oldest continually operating wineries in the United States, first opening in 1864. In 1870, Mastervintner Louis Nicolas Renault introduced his New Jersey Champagne. The Renault Winery offers free guided tours and wine tastings. The tour is extensive, going throughout the winery to such features as the Antique Glass Museum, where a variety of priceless wine and champagne glasses, some of which date back to medieval times, are on display. In the Hospitality Room, the history of the winery and its founder is discussed. The European Courtyard is a beautiful setting and an ideal place for photographs. An antique winemaking equipment room, pressing room, and wine cellar are all visited prior to the final stop in the Tasting Room. Here, the winery's products can be sampled. While at the Winery, it is a good idea to schedule a meal at the Renault Gourmet Restaurant. The menu changes weekly and is always a culinary delight.
Pleasantville, another town close to Atlantic City, features a family-appropriate amusement park by the name of Storybookland. The rides and attractions all focus on keeping the spirit of childhood alive in a fun, yet educational atmosphere. There is an array of rides here, including trains, Ferris wheels, and more. In addition to the rides, there are animals in petting zoos and more than 50 buildings and displays that portray scenes from storybooks and fairytales.
