Atlantic City

Atlantic City—an easy drive from Manhattan—is home to one of the most famous beaches anywhere—and one of America’s great boardwalks. When you add in the casinos, resorts, and luxury shopping, you have everything you need for an amazing seaside vacation.

The famous Atlantic City boardwalk began as a rather practical way to keep the sand away from the hotels. Over the years, it became so much more—today, the boardwalk is four miles long and is packed with things to do. You’ll find sweet shops, excellent shopping, and plenty of games, while the opportunities for people watching are spectacular. If you don’t want to walk the whole length of the boardwalk, you could rent a bike or catch a surrey ride.

Like many of the New Jersey beaches, Atlantic City is located on an island. In this case, AC occupies the northern half of Absecon Island, nestled between the Great Egg Harbor Inlet and the Absecon Inlet. Most of the beaches line the Atlantic Ocean, and all of them are free to visit in any season.

Every year, the Absecon Island Shore Protection Project works to replenish the sand for the Atlantic City beaches, ensuring that the beaches are ready for the crowds. Lifeguards are on duty between the end of June and Labor Day—watching over the beaches where people are going for a swim or a stroll. If you want to do more than pull up a beach chair, you’ll have a lot of choices, including sand volleyball and kayaking.

Atlantic City also is a popular place for surfing thanks to the wind and waves. Crystal Beach and Delaware Avenue Beach are two of the best Atlantic City beaches for surfing, and Downtown Beach is an up-and-coming favorite. The surf season kicks into high gear in the early fall, after the crowds have left the back and gone back to school or work.