Great (non-Casino) Things

 In and Around Atlantic City

If you are thinking about making a trip to Atlantic City but not really excited about spending all your time cooped up under the neon light of the casino hall, I’m here to tell you there is life outside of the gambling halls down by the shore.   Besides being a great place to absorb some vitamin D on the soft sand, free beaches of AC, there is fine dining, great history and if  nature is your thing, some of the best opportunities to commune with the great outdoors are also within a stones throw.

The Historic Town of Smithville. – With over fifty shops and restaurants, this quaint village is a great place to spend a day strolling and dining while absorbing some of the local flavor of an old time New Jersey coastal village. Located just minutes from Atlantic City and open year round, it’s a great place to take the kids for some old fashioned family atmosphere. Be sure to check out their ever changing list of activities and plan you vacation around a day in the NJ Pinelands. They even have their own accommodations in Smithville if your looking for something country classic as opposed to the glass and steel of the casinos. Be sure to check out the Barn at Smithville or it neighboring facility, The Colonial Inn.

Just south of Atlantic City on AbseconIsland is the town of Margate better known as the home of Lucy the Elephant. If you have never seen Lucy, it’s well worth the 5 mile trip. This 6 story pachyderm, originally built in the 1880’s as one of three gigantic animals, she has served at different times as a hotel, a bar and now as a historic landmark. She has been featured on many TV shows including “This Old House”. Once on the verge of dilapidation, she has been artfully restored and now sits at her place on the beach waiting your visit. After your tour of Lucy, Margate offers some of the finest dining establishments on the island. Check out Tomatoes, featuring Zagat rated Sushi and California cuisine second to none in the Atlantic City market.

If you’re looking for places to amuse the younger kids for an afternoon be shore to check out Story Book Land , another one of a kind attraction just west of AC in EggHarborTownship. Open April thru December, your kids will beg you to take them back for years to come. It’s just that much fun!

And, if you are really the explorer type, might I recommend the Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Galloway Township, a mere ten miles from the heart of Atlantic City. With over 40, 000 acres of dedicated coastal lands, it is a must see for naturalist looking for a getaway as different as a casino as you can get.

So as you can see, there is plenty to see and do in the Atlantic City area that doesn’t require rolling dice or pulling the arm of a slot machine until your own arm is twisted. By all means, test your skills at the casinos if that’s your first true love, but keep these coastal gems on file in case you need to take a break. It could be just the break you are looking for and make a good getaway a great vacation.