Highlights of Atlantic City

I wanted a look at Atlantic City after being away for almost 3 years - this article is simply intended to give an overview of the action for newbies to help decide whether to visit or not. I was there for a weekend and there was much action to cover. After the pandemic-related comeback, this summer the casinos themselves are thriving, and making money. The most popular in July 2021 were definitely the Borgata and the Hard Rock Casino, formerly Trump's Taj Mahal - both now very crowded on weekends. The Hard Rock Casino has a popular $30 buffet, where you can choose among American, Asian, Italian and other selections and order most anything on the big menu. If you're not into buffets, there are many, many individual restaurants where you can order everything from stuffed grinders to full steak dinners. Harrahs Casino has nice waterfront tower rooms, where you get a beautiful harbor view and there are elevators that are unmonitored that you can privately have guests of your choice. Harrahs also boasts a very large indoor pool, sparkling with sunlight through enormous skylights, dj music and a steamy, oversized jacuzzi. Nice hotel rooms with great views can also be easily booked at Ocean Casino, Caesars Casino and the Hard Rock Casino. The famous Boardwalk offers the ocean beach, clothing shops by the beach, Asian massage places along the beach, food shops and decent light shows at night. Most strip clubs in the city have tourists as their primary customers, most have some rules prohibiting full nudity and thus the action is toned down by most standards, especially at those strip clubs trying to lure casino big spenders. The Crazy Horse, a strip club right outside A.C., has re-opened and is now trying to recruit enough dancers to attract more gents. In nearby Pleasantville, the action centers around "spas', not strip clubs, that provide stress relief through Asian-style body massages - and the robes worn by the sexy spa attendants come off after a round of negotiation. Among these spas, popular among the visitors are a spa called Seven Stars and another called Apple Spa. Is Atlantic City worth a visit? It seems that the tame strip club scene, by comparison to others, should Not be your primary reason for making a long trip. Rather, if you're attracted to Boardwalk bars, the ocean beach scene, a variety of casino-type entertainment and shows, a large number of dining choices from Johnny Rockets to buffets, often well-decorated and furnished hotel rooms - many with beautiful views - and, last but not least, many available spa attendants, or masseuses, to relieve stress - then in that case Atlantic City might be more to your liking. If so, you cannot go wrong by choosing the Summer or Fall season as a decent time to visit.