Why Locals Love Atlantic City (and You Will Too)

Atlantic City’s reputation is all about resorts, casinos, beaches and the boardwalk, so it’s no wonder people flock to this Jersey Shore destination. South Jersey native Kate Morgan writes about Atlantic City food and travel and says, “I love that Atlantic City really embodies this spirit I feel blue-collar people in South Jersey are proud of.” There are plenty of other reasons she believes you should visit Atlantic City—including what she considers the best people-watching in the world.

Atlantic City is a town of firsts

“There’s so much history here! Jazz music. Civil rights. So many firsts happened in AC,” says Morgan. It’s true. The first boardwalk in America was built in Atlantic City in 1870 in an effort to keep sand out of train cars and hotels. A roller coaster, carousel and big wheel—or Ferris wheel—followed, making Atlantic City an amusement park pioneer. In 1920, Atlantic City hosted the first Miss America pageant, and in 1978 it welcomed the first legal casino outside Nevada—Resorts International, now known as Resorts Atlantic City. And don’t forget Lucy the Elephant, the oldest roadside attraction in the United States, built in 1881.

Some of the first full-color postcards meant to lift hopes during the Great Depression showed bright scenes of Atlantic City, and during World War II, soldiers practiced mock beachfront invasions in Atlantic City to prep for D-Day. In the 1950s and 1960s, celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra frequented the bars and casinos and boosted Atlantic City tourism. The city was such a hot spot that it inspired the popular board game Monopoly, which is based on Atlantic City streets and properties.

“Before air travel was easily accessible, this was the place to be if you were a celebrity or an NYC hotshot,” says Morgan.

One of the most significant firsts sits on Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, near the Carnegie Center. It’s the Civil Rights Garden, the first large-scale civil rights monument built in a northern state, honoring the journey toward civil rights for Black Americans. Granite columns line a path that symbolizes a journey toward equality, though the tops are incomplete, showing there’s still work to be done. Quotes from Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr. and other leading civil rights figures line the columns, and one holds a raised hand symbolizing the right to vote. Follow the columns to a reflecting pool, where you’ll find a bronze bell in the middle that causes the water to ripple when it’s rung, demonstrating continuous growth for the civil rights movement.

There’s a year-round surf culture and plenty of shoreline

Row, row, row your boat off the shores of Atlantic City’s sandy beaches.

“It’s easy to never actually leave the casino, even on a beautiful summer weekend,” says Morgan. But you should make a point to get out into the sunshine and experience the waves when you visit Atlantic City. “You’d be shocked at the surf culture on these beaches,” she says.

Duke Kahanamoku, known as the Father of Surfing, was from Hawaii but spent time on the mainland training in Atlantic City. From mid-May through November, hurricane season creates great surf along the East Coast, drawing surfers from all over to the beaches. Even when the temperatures drop, you’ll still find wetsuit-clad surfers riding the waves.

Even if you’re not into surfing, Atlantic City’s wide, sandy beaches are spacious enough to spread out your towel and relax. On-site changing rooms and showers make it easy to go from the beach to dinner.

It has every type of food you could want

From budget eats like boardwalk fries to fine dining with celebrity chefs, Atlantic City has a great range. “You can get the best gyro you’ve ever had outside Greece on the boardwalk or eat at a Stephen Starr, Jose Garces or Gordon Ramsay restaurant,” says Morgan, adding that the edamame ravioli at Buddakan is a personal favorite.

Whether you’re craving tacos or ribs, Thai food or pasta, chances are you’ll be able to find it in Atlantic City, especially at one of the all-you-can-eat buffets at the casinos. There are great bars too, from The Irish Pub right off the boardwalk, to the more local-feeling Back Bay Ale House along the harbor.

Like any good boardwalk, Atlantic City’s is lined with fudge shops, ice cream stands, funnel cake and shaved-ice sellers, and plenty of candy stores. Most importantly, Fralinger’s, a famous taffy shop, churns out 11,000 pounds of saltwater taffy per day—yes, per day! In 1885, Joseph Fralinger introduced his first taffy, and within years turned it into an empire. Make sure to stop by the original location to get your sticky fix.

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