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Let’s face it. There’s a lot of action in Atlantic City, no matter time of year. Casino hotels are always busy, booking big-name entertainment; adding new dining, shopping and other amenities; and refreshing guest rooms. And come fall through early spring, as temperatures drop a few degrees, so do rates. Deals also pop up for motorcoach tours.
It’s a perfect time to visit, with plenty to do and always something new.
Here are some new and old favorites.
• Expect a greeting from Groman, the 225-pound loggerhead sea turtle, in his new digs at the renovated Atlantic City Aquarium, which proudly shows off 100 species, many from the sea not far from its front door. Groman swims with local fishes like brown drum and Atlantic permit as small sharks in touch tanks await gentle strokes and a Fu Manchu lionfish and Unicorn Tang peer out from a live coral reef. After a tour, local favorites in Gardner’s Basin beckon. Gilchrist Restaurant, famous for hotcakes, is open for breakfast and lunch. Back Bay Ale House works wonders with seafood, from starters like ahi tuna wonton nachos to more traditional crab cakes and seafood samplers. Both restaurants sit right on the marina.
• A free tour at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall is literally music to the ears. Offered April through December, it shows off the hall’s two pipe organs, including the Midmer-Losh, described as the “Sonic Mount Rushmore.” The tour covers ongoing organ restoration efforts and introduces the dedicated volunteers who work on the musical treasures. Also at the Hall, the Atlantic City Experience is a fun and free look at Atlantic City’s history, from tales of diving horses and dancing girls to Mr. Peanut and black hair care entrepreneur Madame Washington.
• When it’s too cool for the outdoor pool, retreat to the tropics and an adult pool at the Island Waterpark at Showboat Resort. Even non-swimmers are entertained with minigolf, billiards, go-kart racing or a cavalcade of arcade games.
• Take off the chill at Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, where patrons can warm up at a firepit as they play lawn games or sample craft beers. It’s in AC’s lively Orange Loop, where a cigar bar is among the new businesses, and Bar 32 serves up the city’s most decadent chocolate-infused after-dinner cocktails and desserts.
• For a stay with a tranquil vibe, check out the new 105-room The Seahaus Hotel, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio lifestyle hotel. It’s on the boardwalk, without the bustle of nearby casino resorts. Guests can kick back and soak in the sea view at this oceanfront treat, then take a few steps down the boardwalk to casinos, shopping and live entertainment.
