The Boardwalk
(888) 847-4822,
(609) 348-7100
It’s the most valuable property on the Monopoly board, which was modeled
after Atlantic City, and it’s the hottest spot in town. Built in 1870,
it’s the world’s first boardwalk. Victorian ladies and gentlemen once strolled
its venerable planks – “walking the boards” – to take in the ocean breezes.
Now, the 4.5-mile Boardwalk is lined with casinos, hotels, restaurants,
shops and amusements, all overlooking the crashing waves of the Atlantic.
Atlantic City Convention Center
Mississippi Avenue
Atlantic City, N.J. 08401
(609) 449-2000
The new, $268 million ultra-modern convention center dubs itself “America’s
Northeast Business Address.” With 500,000 square feet of exhibit space
and an additional 109,100 square feet of meeting space, the facility is
larger than any other convention center from Boston to Atlanta.
Atlantic City Historical Museum
Garden Pier
Atlantic City, N.J. 08401
(609) 347-5839
Free
Adjacent to the Boardwalk, the museum features a permanent exhibit titled:
“Atlantic City: Playground of the Nation,” which includes costumes, posters,
souvenirs and Miss American memorabilia. Other exhibits showcase the city’s
piers, nightlife and ethnic contributions.
Ocean Life Center
Gardner’s Basin
800 N. New Hampshire Avenue
Atlantic City, N.J. 08401
(609) 348-2880
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
This marine science attraction explores the connection between the sea
and the land, especially well-suited to its venue, as Atlantic City is
located on a fragile barrier island. The center’s goal is to increase awareness
and appreciation of the ocean world. An atrium contains 29,800 gallons
of live exhibits, and the center also features interactive displays and
indoor/outdoor observation decks.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum
New York Avenue and Boardwalk
Atlantic City, N.J. 08401
(609) 347-2001
This odd museum exhibits oddities from Robert Ripley’s world travels.
Visitors can also view films and experience an interactive funhouse.
Absecon Lighthouse
Rhode Island Avenue
Atlantic City, N.J. 08401
(609) 449-1360
Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday, or by appointment
Opened in 1857 and last used in 1933, historic Absecon Lighthouse once
helped guide mariners into the island’s treacherous inlet. The double-walled
masonry structure is the tallest lighthouse in New Jersey. Though no longer
used, it is a romantic symbol of days past.
Lucy the Elephant
9200 Atlantic Ave.
Margate, N.J. 08402
(609) 823-6473
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends, April to mid-June and September
to October
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily mid-June to Labor Day
There is nowhere else in the world you can step inside a 6-story, 90-ton
metal elephant, which was built in 1881 for $38,000 as a real estate marketing
stunt. When she was new, Lucy attracted throngs of visitors who wanted
to tour her insides and step out on the "howdah" - her observation deck
- to view the ocean. In the 1970s, Margate residents raised money to repair
Lucy, who had fallen into disrepair and had been closed to visitors since
the early 1960s.
Towne of Historic Smithville
Route 9 and Moss Mill Road
Smithville, N.J. 08201
Hours: Variable by season
(609) 652-7777
Take a 10-mile ride from the glitz and glitter of the casinos and you
can immerse yourself in an 18th-century village. The Smithville Inn was
once a stagecoach stop; today, the painstakingly restored property serves
as a fine restaurant. Other restored cottages and colonial homes are now
used as gift shops and smaller eateries.
Wheaton Village
1501 Glasstown Road
Millville, N.J. 08332
(800) 998-4552
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily April 1-January 2 (winter hours limited)
Glassblowing is a time-honored South Jersey craft, and Wheaton Village
is dedicated to the art. The museum showcases some of the finest glass
art of the region, and includes educational displays about the glassblowing
process.
Noyes Museum of Art
Lily Lake Road, off Route 9
Oceanville, N.J. 08231
Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday
Dedicated to art collection, the Noyes Museum features the work of regional
artists as well as 19th- and 20th-century folk and fine art.
