Discover Atlantic City

Atlantic City combines the Atlantic Ocean with a distinctive Boardwalk, free sandy beaches and unusual cultural sites. Depending on whether you would like to focus your trip more on the water and activities or on the city’s history, you can choose different highlights. When looking for a vacation rental, it is also worth first considering which aspects of the area interest you most.

Atlantic Ocean, Sandy Beaches and Water Sports

Atlantic City’s sandy beaches are free to access. The Atlantic Ocean off the city is especially well suited to water sports. Surf lessons and equipment rentals are available at Downtown Beach on Raleigh Avenue. So if you would like to include surfing in your trip, you can find both lessons and equipment rentals there. These offerings are a practical starting point for anyone who wants to focus their stay on activities on the water.

Atlantic City Cruises offer another way to experience the city from the water. Visitors can see the Atlantic City skyline and may have the chance to spot marine life. The word “may” is important here: sightings are not guaranteed. The experiences on the Atlantic therefore vary—from water sports at Downtown Beach to a cruise where you can see the skyline and, with a little luck, marine life.

The Boardwalk as a Place to Explore

The Atlantic City Boardwalk is one of the city’s distinctive features and can be explored by bicycle. If you would rather get around on foot, you can use it as a guide as well. There are restrooms at several points along the Boardwalk: at Bartram Avenue, Albany Avenue, Chelsea Avenue, Kennedy Plaza at Mississippi Avenue, New York Avenue, Garden Pier at New Jersey Avenue, New Hampshire Avenue and Caspian Avenue. These location details can be helpful when finding your way along the Boardwalk.

Steel Pier is also home to The Wheel, the third-largest Ferris wheel in the United States. This superlative makes the Ferris wheel a distinctive feature among Atlantic City’s attractions. Together with the Boardwalk, it shows another side of the area: here, prominent structures are as much a part of the cityscape as the beach and the Atlantic Ocean.

Music, Landmarks and City History

Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall is home to the world’s largest musical instrument. This is a remarkable detail for visitors interested in music and unusual buildings. Atlantic City Convention Hall, commonly known as Boardwalk Hall, is a National Historic Landmark. Both names lead into Atlantic City’s cultural and architectural history; its designation as a National Historic Landmark reflects the Convention Hall’s special historic status.

At the Atlantic City Experience, visitors can explore the history of Atlantic City. They can also learn about Atlantic City’s history at the Civil Rights Garden and the New Jersey Korean War Memorial. If you would like to include cultural and historical interests in your trip, you can consider these destinations alongside activities on the water.

Ducktown has its own nickname: the neighborhood is known as Atlantic City’s “Little Italy.” The name marks another facet of the city, showing that Atlantic City is about more than just the beach and Boardwalk.

Waterfront and Travel Interests

Historic Gardners Basin gives boaters access to the waterfront. When weighing up the beach, Boardwalk, culture and activities on the water for your trip, you can take these different interests into account when choosing a vacation rental without combining them into a single itinerary.

Other place names you may want to consider when planning your trip include Galloway Township, Hammonton, Hamilton Township, Somers Point, Ventnor City, Corbin City, Buena Vista Township and Port Republic.

For the broader travel overview: Atlantic.