This past weekend, Bryan and I took an impromptu trip to the shore. That’s the beach for those of you not in the PA/NJ/MD/DE area. We’ve been to Atlantic City countless times, but this past weekend we didn’t really have a game plan. If you know me, you know I love to plan everything. Getting up and driving to the beach was very unlike me. I wish we would have been a bit more organized, but the day turned out to be a good time overall.
Today, I’ve put together a list for you of 5 things to do in Atlantic City during a day trip. If you’ve been to Atlantic City, comment below and let me know some of your favorite things to do and places to go.
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1. Spend the Afternoon at the Beach.
Unlike most of the beaches in New Jersey, the Atlantic City beach is free to the public. If you’ve been to other NJ beaches, you know that parking + food and drinks + a beach pass for the day can be pretty pricey. My favorite part about the Atlantic City beach is the short distance from the boardwalk to the water. You’re not walking hundreds of feet in order to cool off! When I was younger, Atlantic City was always the beach town my family visited. Although my days of boogie boarding are over, I still love being active on the beach. Give me a volleyball or frisbee and I’m set.
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2. Take a Stroll on the Boardwalk.
Construction on the Atlantic City boardwalk started in 1870 and has since become a huge tourist destination. You get great views of the ocean on one side and shopping and dining on the other. Atlantic City is my favorite place to get salt water taffy and fudge. What can I say? I love my sweets! If museums are more your thing, the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum is on the boardwalk at New York Avenue, and is great for people of all ages. I went a few times as a kid and it’s really interesting. You see some of the craziest things. If nothing else, the boardwalk is a great place to people watch!
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3. Go Shopping at The Playground Pier (aka The Pier Shops at Caesars).
The Playground Pier, formerly known as The Pier Shops at Caesars, is the place for you if you’re looking for high-end shopping. You can find Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Tommy Bahama, Michael Kors, Gucci, Apple, Burberry and much more. It’s connected to the casino, so if you hit big and want to splurge on a new designer bag it’s super easy!
4. Dine at Gordon Ramsay’s Pub and Grill.
Although there are a bunch of delicious restaurants in Atlantic City, at the top of my list is Gordon Ramsay’s Pub and Grill in Caesars. Bryan and I went there during our trip last weekend and it definitely didn’t disappoint. The head chefs are recent winners of Hell’s Kitchen, Meghan Gill and La Tasha McCutchen. The menu has British pub favorites like shepherd’s pie, bangers & mash and the famous Hell’s Kitchen beef wellington.
Bryan ordered a beer with the Ramsay burger that had maple-peppercorn bacon, melted asadero cheese, avocado, onion rings, grilled jalapeños, tomatoes and lettuce on a buttered brioche bun. I ordered a glass of rosé and the pan-roasted sea bass with butternut squash risotto and maple sage brown butter. BEST RISOTTO I’VE EVER HAD. Hands down. For dessert we shared the Knickerbocker Glory, a huge glass filled with chantilly cream, berry jelly, toasted cake, home-spun vanilla ice cream and chocolate pretzel bark.
Here’s a full dinner menu, if you’re interested in seeing other options offered.
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5. Be Entertained.
Atlantic City declares itself as the Entertainment Capital of the Jersey Shore, and rightfully so! You can experience numerous concerts, beach events, comedy shows and conventions all throughout the year. One of my favorite spots is the Comedy Club at the Borgata. You around $20, you can get tickets for up and coming comedians. It’s a great place for inexpensive entertainment.
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Atlantic City is full of history. Try dining at The Knife and Fork where legendary gangsters once ate and fine dining is still available! If you like cats, visit the Alley Cat Allies Cat Colony which cares for cats living under the boardwalk. Photographing them is one of my favorite things to do when I take a stroll. Treating myself to salt water taffy available at two fabulous candy shops is a fun experience. There are many hidden treasures and a few towns over in Marlton you can visit Lucy the Elephant! There is so much more than the casinos which is what people mostly go there for. Find out what is happening at the Convention Center – so many industries present themselves there!
Where is the best place to park if you wanna do a day trip on the beach? Also, where is there to change after the beach?
Thanks for the info. Very informative. My sis-in-law and I are going there on a bus tour this summer
Glad you found this helpful, Paula! Hope you have a wonderful time!
If you’re visiting with kids (or even if not) Gardner’s Basin offers great views of the Bay, affordable dining (all the locals know Gilchrist has the BEST pancakes), boutique shops a boat tour and the Atlantic City Aquarium (stingray feeding included). A short distance away from the Boardwalk, still in AC, you can find the Absecon Lighthouse, Flyer’s Skate Zone and Marina District where you can rent waverunners or book a parasailing trip.
Those are some great recommendations, Jenn! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Yes! Thank you!
Thanks for this information Nicole. My partner and I are travelling there from Australia next year.
I’m glad I could help. Enjoy your trip!