I'm a New Yorker who spent 4 days in Atlantic City. Here are 7 things that surprised me.

A New Yorker shares surprising things about visiting Atlantic City, from the free beaches to the chef-owned restaurants.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderI've lived in New York City for six years and have only been to Atlantic City once before.I recently spent four days visiting the beachside city and was surprised by parts of the experience.The restaurant scene impressed me, as did the free beach and ease of getting there.I'm a New Yorker, so my summer weekends are usually chock full of trying the latest restaurants, hitting the beach, and taking strolls in the park right within my own vibrant city.However, this summer I decided to venture a little further from home and explore a beachside escape a few hours away: Atlantic City, New Jersey.I've been to Atlantic City just once before, to attend a concert at Ocean Casino Resort in Ovation Hall. We arrived the night of the concert, stayed overnight in the Golden Nugget, and were on our merry way the next morning. It was hardly an opportunity to really get to know what Atlantic City has to offer.So, after spending four days in the beachside locale, I was surprised by how many activities there were to do — and, as a food reporter, just how much potential there is in the restaurant scene there.Here are seven things that surprised me about visiting Atlantic City as a tourist this summer.It's surprisingly easy to get to Atlantic City from New York or Philadelphia.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderWhen it comes to traveling from New York City, I've come to dread the terms "JFK," "LGA," or worst of all, "EWR." However, one of the benefits of visiting Atlantic City was that due to its proximity to New York, I only needed to take a bus to get there.I booked a Greyhound bus from the Port Authority in Manhattan to the Resorts Casino in Atlantic City. I was surprised it took only three hours to get there, and I felt like the time passed quickly.I got a window seat and, for $25 each way, was able to look out the window, listen to music, and just relax on the journey to AC.It's also only an hour-and-half bus ride from Philadelphia to Atlantic City, making it an even easier journey.The biggest celebrity names in food have restaurants in Atlantic City.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderOne of the biggest draws for me in visiting Atlantic City was the high concentration of celebrity chef restaurants, but I didn't realize just how many there were … and how much I would enjoy dining at them.Gordon Ramsay has three restaurants in Atlantic City: Gordon Ramsay Steak, Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, and Hell's Kitchen. Other popular celebrity chefs have also set up outposts in Atlantic City, from Bobby's Burgers by Bobby Flay to Guy Fieri's fast-casual chicken restaurant Chicken Guy.But the food scene goes far beyond celebrity-chef restaurants.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderMy impression of Atlantic City was that it was packed with restaurants so, if celebrity-chef restaurants aren't your thing, there are a number of other acclaimed spots.While there, for example, I dined at The Knife and Fork Inn, a 113-year-old steakhouse in Atlantic City, and was impressed by the tasty appetizers — order the cornmeal-crusted calamari — and the reasonably priced steaks.In fact, my dinner there was one of the best meals I've had in years, something I never would have guessed before arriving in Atlantic City.I didn't have to leave my resort to feel like I was on vacation.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderBefore I arrived in Atlantic City, I was admittedly a little nervous; I had heard about its reputation of being empty, a little run-down, and overall not as charming or glamorous as other vacation spots I've been to in the past, like Portland, Maine, last summer, or Las Vegas.However, I was surprised by just how much there was to do right in the resort I stayed at.I spent four nights at Ocean Casino Resort. I did check out other casinos, dined outside the resort, and walked the boardwalk and outlet mall. But afterward, I realized I didn't need to go far from my hotel to feel like I was on vacation.Between the resort's multiple pools, fireworks show, casino, spa, and on-premises dining options, I could have easily spent four days just within the resort's glass walls.The beach was beautiful, and it didn't cost me anything to go.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderOne of the most surprising things about visiting Atlantic City was the access to the Jersey Shore beach. This is one area where AC has a leg up on destinations like Vegas: Just steps from many of the boardwalk casino resorts is the beach, and it's a nice beach at that.I spent multiple mornings walking along its sandy shores, swimming in the clear — though admittedly very cold — waters, and lounging on the sand.I'm used to lugging my beach gear down winding trails, or taking an hourlong ferry or even longer subway ride to one of the New York City beaches. This was a completely different experience, since the beach entrance was located just off the boardwalk and unbelievably easy to get to.The beach was also free to access, even if you're not staying at one of the boardwalk casinos. While most of the beaches in New York City are also free to access, I was surprised that the beach in Atlantic City was free given how close they were to the resorts.There were other free activities, too, from fireworks shows to strolls on the boardwalk.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderIn addition to the beach, Atlantic City offers other free activities to pass the time.During my stay, I attended a fireworks and drone show at the resort, which is also open to the public. I walked the boardwalk, took in the sights and sounds at Steel Pier, and wandered around the casinos.One afternoon, I took a stroll through the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, which houses a surprisingly large collection of rock-and-roll memorabilia, from outfits worn by The Beatles to a silver 1963 Rolls-Royce owned by Elvis Presley.Parts of Atlantic City looked more run-down than I was expecting.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderWhile I overall enjoyed my stay in Atlantic City, I would be remiss if I didn't admit that some parts of the city were less than picturesque.Driving through town, I passed closed storefronts and piles of construction rubble, and got the overall impression that while it may have been a thriving beach city at many points over the past century, some businesses are seeing the effects of weakening tourism numbers.Some revitalization efforts are underway — including a $26 million boardwalk restoration and upgrades to infrastructure in some neighborhoods, among other projects — but Atlantic City's reputation has suffered from Hurricane Sandy, the COVID-19 pandemic, declining tourism, and competition from other casino hubs.Add in higher-than-average unemployment and crime rates, and the city's image often feels less than sunny — something you'll notice if you visit the city for yourself.Read the original article on Business Insider

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