Atlantic City
Around Atlantic City
Photo: Jim D · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · New Jersey · 372k people
Atlantic City
Locals say AC · “America's Playground”, “Monopoly City”
Atlantic City · Hammonton
Boardwalk days and blueberry nights.
Ocean BlueBoardwalk BrownBlueberry Purple
Welcome to AC and the Jersey Shore! Whether you're here for the boardwalk, the beaches, or the blueberries, you'll find your spot. Grab a pork roll sandwich and settle in—there's always something happening.
Clubs for Atlantic City
No clubs for Atlantic City yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Atlantic City. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Atlantic City. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Atlantic City Boardwalk Iconic wooden walkway with shops and casinos
- Steel Pier Historic amusement pier with rides
- Boardwalk Hall Historic arena hosting concerts and events
- Ocean City Boardwalk Family-friendly boardwalk with amusements
- Cape May County Park & Zoo Free zoo with many species
- Cape May Lighthouse Historic lighthouse with panoramic views
- Outdoors Surf fishing
- Outdoors Kayaking in the back bays
- With kids Riding the Ferris wheel at Steel Pier
- With kids Visiting Lucy the Elephant
- Evenings Casino nightclubs
- Evenings Boardwalk bars
- Locals love Casino buffets
- Locals love Boardwalk arcades
Through the year
- Atlantic City Airshow August Thunder over the Boardwalk, August
- Hammonton Blueberry Festival June Celebrates the blueberry harvest with food and music
- Ocean City Night in Venice July Boat parade along the bay
- Atlantic City Seafood Festival September Seafood tastings and live entertainment
- Cape May County 4-H Fair August Agricultural fair with rides and animals
Hot, humid summers with sea breezes; mild winters. Best time to be out is late spring to early fall, especially for beach days. Best: Late spring to early fall, especially summer for beach days.
Talk like a local
- “AC”
- Atlantic City
- “the Shore”
- The beach area of New Jersey
- “pork roll”
- Breakfast meat, also called Taylor ham
- “shoobie”
- Day-tripper tourist
Getaways
- Philadelphia Big city attractions and history
- Vineland Wineries and farm stands
- Dover State capital with museums
- Trenton State capital and cultural sites
Local flavour
Teams
- Stockton University Ospreys NCAA Division III
Also rooting for Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), Philadelphia Phillies (MLB), Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), Philadelphia Union (MLS)
Eat and drink
- Saltwater taffy A boardwalk classic, sold in every candy shop along the piers.
- Pork roll (Taylor ham) A New Jersey breakfast staple, often on a bagel or roll.
- Blueberry pie Hammonton is the Blueberry Capital of the World, so fresh pies are a summer must.
- Boardwalk pizza Thin, crispy, and served by the slice on the boards.
- Funnel cake Powdered sugar fried dough, a boardwalk indulgence.
- Seafood (clams, oysters) Fresh from the Jersey Shore, often at casual clam bars.
Where people go
- Boardwalks The iconic wooden walkway lined with shops, arcades, and food stands.
- Casinos The glittering resorts that define the skyline and nightlife.
- Beach resorts Sandy shores and family-friendly seaside towns like Ocean City and Ventnor.
- Blueberry farms U-pick fields in Hammonton and the surrounding Pine Barrens.
- Piers and amusement rides Steel Pier and other historic amusement areas with ferris wheels and roller coasters.
- Diners Classic New Jersey diners serving pork roll, disco fries, and endless coffee.
Heritage and traditions
Atlantic City and the surrounding shore towns take pride in their boardwalk heritage—the world's first boardwalk, saltwater taffy, and the Miss America pageant—alongside the Italian-American warmth of Hammonton and the family-friendly, dry-town charm of Ocean City.
Say it like a local: “youse” — you all (plural)
Festivals
- Hammonton Italian Festival September Celebrates the town's Italian-American roots with food, music, and processions.
- Ocean City Boardwalk Art Show August Local and regional artists display and sell their work along the boardwalk.
- Atlantic City St. Patrick's Day Parade March A lively parade with bagpipers and floats, marking the Irish heritage of the area.
- Hammonton Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel July A traditional Italian religious feast with a procession, food, and fireworks.
- Ocean City Christmas Parade December A festive holiday parade with decorated floats and Santa along the boardwalk.
Landmarks with a story
- Somers Mansion Built in the 1720s, this is the oldest house in Atlantic County, now a museum in Somers Point.
- Historic Smithville A restored 19th-century village with shops, a lake, and historic buildings, popular for day trips.
- Renault Winery A historic winery in Egg Harbor City, dating to 1864, known for its sparkling wines and tours.
- Ocean City Tabernacle A large historic church in Ocean City, founded in 1879, central to the town's Christian heritage.
- Atlantic City Historical Museum Located in Gardner's Basin, it showcases the city's resort and gambling history.
- Gardner's Basin A maritime area with a fishing pier, aquarium, and historic boats, reflecting the shore's working heritage.
Food traditions
- Water ice A frozen Italian treat, similar to sorbet, sold at stands all summer; a local favorite for cooling off.
- Tomato pie A rectangular pizza with sauce on top and no cheese on top, a South Jersey specialty often found in bakeries.
- Crab cakes Made with local blue crab, often served at shore restaurants and backyard cookouts.
- Blueberry pancakes Hammonton's blueberry harvest inspires breakfasts with fresh berries, especially at local diners.
- Italian sausage and peppers A staple at Hammonton's Italian festivals and family gatherings, reflecting the town's heritage.
Music and arts
- Doo Wop music scene In the 1950s-60s, Atlantic City's boardwalk clubs featured doo-wop and R&B groups, influencing the shore's musical identity.
- Boardwalk performers Street musicians, magicians, and sand sculptors entertain crowds along the boards, a living art tradition.
- Italian folk music Hammonton's Italian community keeps folk songs and tarantella alive at festivals and family gatherings.
A little history
- 1854 Atlantic City founded as a seaside resort
- 1870 First boardwalk built in Atlantic City
- 1921 Miss America pageant begins in Atlantic City
- 1976 Casino gambling legalized in New Jersey
- 1978 First casino opens in Atlantic City (Resorts International)
Rivalries
- Atlantic City vs Ocean City Casino nightlife vs family-friendly dry town
- Game day High school football
- Game day Surfing competitions
- Outdoors Crabbing
- Outdoors Clamming
- With kids Playing arcade games on the boardwalk
- With kids Riding a surrey bike along the boards
South Jersey locals speak with a Philadelphia-influenced accent, often dropping the 'r' and using 'wooder' for water. The 'pork roll vs. Taylor ham' debate is a daily part of life, and 'down the shore' is the universal phrase for a beach trip.
Only here
- The world's first boardwalk was built in Atlantic City in 1870.
- Ocean City is one of the largest dry towns in the US—no alcohol sales since its founding.
- Hammonton is known as the 'Blueberry Capital of the World' for its abundant blueberry farms.
- The Miss America pageant originated in Atlantic City in 1921.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to say 'pork roll' (not 'Taylor ham') if you're in South Jersey—it's a local pride thing.
- Try a pork roll, egg, and cheese sandwich on a bagel or roll for breakfast.
- Get used to summer traffic on the Atlantic City Expressway; leave early for the beach.
- Ocean City is a dry town—no alcohol sold there, so plan accordingly if you want a drink.
- When locals say 'down the shore,' they mean going to the beach—it's a verb, not a place.
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Part of Greater Philadelphia
Nearby
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Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.