Atlantic City is an adventure playground that can be found within the Atlantic County of the state of New Jersey. The city is ultimately most famous for its boardwalk, casino gambling, sandy beaches,and shopping centers and of course its spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. A rather unknown fact is that it is also the inspiration for the ever popular board game, Monopoly.

This resort community is located on Absecon Island and is literally surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. It also enjoys a close proximity to Philadelphia, which makes it a great place to escape to for a weekend, or longer if so desired. Essentially, a weekend won’t be enough time to discover all that Atlantic City has to offer, but if that is all the time you have to spare, be sure to at least check out these amazing attractions.

1. Atlantic City Boardwalk

The local boardwalk is essentially the backbone of this seaside resort city. The walk was originally built in 1870 with an aim to reduce the amount of sand visitors dredged into the seaside motels. Today it provides access to hotels, resorts, shops, casinos, and more, making it the most visited part of the city. Several piers stem out from the actual board walk and offer interesting attractions and activities that are suitable for the entire family.

The boardwalk spans for a total or 4.12 miles, making it one of the world’s largest board walks. The walk allows you to enjoy the sights and sounds of Atlantic City, while at the same time permitting you to stretch your legs and breathe in the fresh sea breeze.

2. Steel Pier

Although there are many piers jutting out of the boardwalk, one in particular stands out to tourists. Home to a world class amusement park, Steel Pier offers fun filled thrills for the entire family. While at Steel Pier you can choose to visit the many amusement games or just take a stroll along the pier, taking in the sights and sounds.

However, if you have brought the kids with you, they won’t want to miss out on all the fun and exciting attractions of the amusement park. Popular rides and attractions here include the Crazy Mouse Coaster, Sea Dragon, Ferris wheel, helicopter rides and the Grand Prix Go Karts. The live thrill shows are also extremely popular and will truly amaze and excite you.

3. Atlantic City Historical Museum

To experience the culturally diverse and exciting history of Atlantic City, be sure to pay a visit to the local historical museum. This stunning masterpiece of modern history is home to vintage photographs, local artifacts and a highly regarded video presentation. The permanent exhibition here is entitled “Atlantic City, Playground of the Nation” and displays artifacts, costumes, photographs, song sheets, postcards, souvenirs, and an array of Miss America memorabilia.

This museum is located on the Garden Pier, just off the boardwalk and free admission and car parking make it an even greater place to visit. This is definitely a must-see if local history and culture is what you are after.

4. Atlantic City Aquarium

The fact that Atlantic City is nestled right on the shores of the ocean is an indicator of the importance of marine life here. This is most evident at the Atlantic City Aquarium, which is home to a diverse range of marine species. This aquarium offers something for kids of all ages and is home to over 18 aquarium tanks.

Sea creatures indigenous to New Jersey waters and the Mid-Atlantic region have found a pleasant home here. Popular exhibits to visit include the Live Water Feeding Show, Clownfish and Anemones, Fish of the Amazon River, Fish of the Indo-Pacific, Live Coral or the Loggerhead Sea Turtles. These creatures burst into a colorful display of nature and are truly worth the visit.

5. IMAX Theater at Tropicana

No holiday is complete without a visit to the theatre, and when it comes to theaters in this city, you really can’t go past the IMAX Theater at Tropicana. The Quarter here is home to the city’s first and only IMAX theater, which is a massive five and a half story screen with enough surround sound to transport you into another world.

The great thing about this theater is that you can see blockbuster Hollywood films as well as IMAX 3D documentary releases. This is an experience that will make you feel like you are in the film and is guaranteed to be one the kids never forget.

Atlantic City is a must-see city is you are after resort, seaside living and want to experience adventure, fun and surprises around every corner. So if this sounds like the kind of holiday you are after, why not start planning your next family adventure to no other than Atlantic City.

Christine Barton

Christine Barton is a blogger and Content Writer for Jurnii Car Rentals, America’s new travel focused online rental car company. He writes frequently for the Jurnii USA Car Rental, blog and enjoys travel in the U.S and abroad.